Profiles the dime-magazine godfathers who influenced today’s popular superheroes, and traces the story histories of the costumed crimefighters as well as the “gaudy and glorious magazines that spawned them.” Interviews with “the amazing wordsmiths who churned out their monthly adventures” fill in the gaps. Top heroes who had their own mags include: Superscientist and Bronze Bombshell Doc Savage (the inspiration for Superman), who, along with his quirky sidekicks, stopped an Ice Age cold, and battled dinosaurs, ancient mummies, and even Adolf Hitler. Then there’s Master Aero-spy G-8 and his Battle Aces (sort of flying James Bonds), who took wing to fight Sky Monsters, Corpse Squadrons and Flying Dragons. And colorful Secret Service Operator #5 (a Nayland Smith type, always battling another Fu Manchu), who fought off the Yellow Vulture and the Purple Invasion. Plus a successful clone of the Shadow, “humanity’s paladin,” the Spider (playing a Bruce Wayne/Batman identity game), who was billed as a juggernaut of action and emotion. Says one writer: “The best Spider stories carry an emotional field strong enough to attract nails. They sweep you along, the paragraphs radiating emotion with almost physical intensity, numbing the critical sense. It is basic, simple stuff, overpowering in context. It works wonderfully well. You care for people.” Also features lesser-knowns like Green Ghost, Phantom Detective, Ka-Zar and Captain Future. “An affectionate look back at the outsized heroes who once occupied the imagination of loyal readers.” GR

Publisher: Mosaic
Paperback: 276 pages
Illustrated