Classic Fanzine Heroes

[Brian Gravity]

This thread is to document some of the most prominent superheroes from the fanzine craze of the 1960's and 70's. For those that might be new to the genre, these were heroes who were created by comic enthusiasts like you and me, regular Joe's who had fantastic ideas of heroes they wanted to see in print.

Many of the heroes you will see here were created with little to no artistic backgrounds...just a passion for comics and a wild imagination were needed. But as you will also see, many of these amateur creators made valiant efforts in their creations, some even exceeding their expectations as the heroes they dreamed up went on to bigger and better things.

I will continue to update this thread with fanzine heroes so feel free to input some of your favorites as well, or even opinions on the ideas surrounding the heroes found here!

So let's get started with...

DR. WEIRD

Creator: Howard Keltner
First Appearance: Star-Studded Comics #1 (Sept. 1963)
Origin: It is 2013, and Dr. Rex Ward is experimenting with Time Travel when he ends up in the year of 1963. He surprises two burglars, who shoot him dead...leaving his soul caught in a paradox in the space-time continuum as he has died before he was born. He is allowed to return to Earth but must use his newfound powers to combat the minions of evil!
Powers: Supernatural based, with incredible speed, strength and teleportation via Astral form.

Dr. Weird originally appeared as part of the Liberty Legion in Star-Studded Comics and was inspired by the Golden Age Mr. Justice. He soon branched off into his own more mystical stories where he battled evil beings such as Skullwing and the Green Gnome.



After appearing in several issues of Star-Studded Comics, Dr. Weird disappeared...only to be revived by a young Jim Starlin and George R.R. Martin for a two issue run of Dr. Weird in 1970-71. Starlin revamped the character and gave him a more detailed and iconic costume, and later a fire-breathing sword called Mystere.



Dr. Weird has since become a major character within the Big Bang Comics universe. Although his appearances were prominent during Big Bang's run in the 90's, he has appeared less frequently as time goes on.



Next up: An early Star-Studded Comics Dr. Weird story!

[Brian Gravity]

Dr. Weird in "Slaves of the She-Beast!" from Star-Studded Comics #8 (March, 1966):

[Brian Gravity]

[Aaron King]

This looks like a fun feature. That first picture of Dr. Weird is amazing, and that early adventure looks like it was drawn by a lazy Ditko (which I mean as a compliment).

[zilch]

Very Cool!!!!!!

(extra exclamation for 10)

[MDG]

Boy, there's a look to this kind of fan art that takes me right back to the mid-70s.

[Scott Shaw!]

Landon Chesney -- the artist of "Slaves Of The She-Beast!" -- was a very promising fan artist back in the 60s. His storytelling was quite good and many of us expected to see his stuff make the leap into mainstream comics. Unfortunately, this never happened, but I don't know if he even tried to submit it work to the majors. Sometimes a fan is happier being a fan without the stress of deadlines.

Aloha,

Scott!

[MDG]

Landon Chesney -- the artist of "Slaves Of The She-Beast!" -- was a very promising fan artist back in the 60s. His storytelling was quite good and many of us expected to see his stuff make the leap into mainstream comics. Unfortunately, this never happened, but I don't know if he even tried to submit it work to the majors. Sometimes a fan is happier being a fan without the stress of deadlines.

He did a great job channelling Johnny Craig here



This was a really good color underground; part of it's available here: http://goldenagecomicbookstories.blo...by-landon.html

[dan bailey]

That Weird Fantasies is probably the only underground, aside from Anarchy Comics #s 1-4, that I still own (not that I ever owned but a handful -- mainly the occasional Skull & possibly a Slow Death or two). God only knows when or where I got it, though.

[An Ear In The Fireplace]

I read about Dr. Weird in Big Bang and always wondered about his earlier roots.

That art for Star-Studded Comics strikes almost the right balance for this kind of fan creation. It's good art, but in the flavour of the Golden Age. Also pretty good lettering for a fan publication (hand lettering usually seems to be pretty bad in fan work).

Often fan attempts to ape the Golden Age are a strange mixture of really bad art and really good swipes, that don't hit the right mark.

[Brian Gravity]

The Girl From LSD

Creator: Bill Black
First Appearance: Paragon Illustrated #1 (Sept. 1969)
Origin: Silva Synn was a go-go dancer in Florida when she was kidnapped by the "Brotherhood of Purity", a self-righteous group determined to eradicate anything they viewed as obscene. They turned Synn over to Dr. Dirk Dorcas, a scientist who was trying to perfect a system for cryo-freezing humans and used the victims the Brotherhood brought him for his tests. Before he can experiment on his new specimen, Synn's cryo-tube falls into the ocean...where she is subjected to electric shock. Synn had frequently used LSD, and the residual drugs in her body chemistry reacted with the voltage and expanded her mind to near god-like levels. She became an all-powerful entity, capable of nearly anything except self-control. Subject to frequent acid trips, her powers caused everyone in her vicinity to share her hallucinations.
Powers: Can manipulate reality, conjure illusions, fly, and teleport to other dimensions. She can also cast a psychic blast against her opponents.

Bill Black has created many characters within the AC Comics' universe, but one of his earliest creations appeared within a fanzine titled Paragon Illustrated, where The Girl From LSD was born. Also known as Synesthesia and later just Synn, Black's heroine would reappear in the next few issues of Paragon Illustrated before moving over to Paragon Super-Heroes in 1973.

Synn disappeared for over a decade before her entrance into the Femforce series in 1985 beginning with the fifth issue, and where she still resides today. The fact that she is a "hero" based around an illegal drug makes for one of the oddest characters in comic print.

Next up: The Origin of The Girl From LSD!

[Brian Gravity]

The Origin of The Girl From LSD:

[Brian Gravity]

[Reptisaurus!]

Really neat idea - I haven't heard of any of these before.

[Brian Gravity]

Altron-Boy

Creator: Larry Ivie
First Appearance: Monsters and Heroes #1 (July 1967)
Origin: After his girlfriend's father is kidnapped by the Nazi scientist Voltar, a young boy (real name never disclosed) finds the Altron-Belt in a secret compartment in his home which helps him to defy gravity and fly. The only catch is that he is now in another dimension, so he cannot move solid objects while he wears the belt. He uses the belt to fly to Skull Island where Voltar resides and does battle with various monsters during his quest.
Powers: Wears the Altron-Belt which grants him the ability to fly. Also comes across the Altron-Sword at one point.

Altron-Boy appeared in six issues of Monsters and Heroes, which was Larry Ivie's self-made fanzine that featured up-and-coming artists at the time such as Bernie Wrightson as well as articles on monster movies and odes to Ivie's favorite author, Edgar Rice Burroughs.

While the Altron-Boy story may have been cut and dry, it was Ivie's illustrations that really made an impression among the fanzine circle. The character was outside of the mold when most young superheroes were usually sidekicks of older heroes with enhanced powers.

Up next: The origin of Altron-Boy!