This time tomorrow, many of you will be whippin' up your very own holiday witchin' brews, whether it be turkey, or glazed ham, or whatever your family tradition calls for. And okay, if that ain't about the cheesiest way to tie-in a story called "The Witch's Brew" for this Thanksgiving Eve post, then also know that this story contains a flashback sequence harkening the witch slayin' puritan days of our founding pilgrim ancestors (emphasis on the GRIM), and seriously, it's just a fun Captain Marvel Jr. fists o'fright tale to add a little bit of excitement to your day off from work, or school (cuz you all know I like to mix things up here at THOIA on occasion.) Plus, a fun, old, ominous cough drop ad at the end, --all of this from the January 1949 issue of Master Comics #99.
I like how the witch in question is a lot more comely than the one seen on the cover and the splash page (who has tusks!) I love how the witch actually puts on a witch's outfit rather than physically transforming into one. I'm kind of amused by the witch whacking Freddy in the head with her spoon and the entire idea that a pharmacy would have such a ridiculous "prescription" to begin with. That panel of Captain Marvel Jr. crashing through the wall on page 7 is hilarious. Also love how easily the teacher dismisses the witch's death. "Eh,don't worry about that dame, she's lived long enough."
ReplyDeleteLike Glowworm, I like how it's an attractive witch -- that basically stays attractive. The cover and splash are a pretty big bait and switch! There's no transforming into an old crone or any such nonsense. Puts on a hat and gets on a broom and off we go. Let's give the artist a lot of credit -- he gives her a horrible look by expression only, which is a great little bit in the art.
ReplyDeletePage 2, panel 2, Freddy is definitely checking out her assets.
Most Caption Marvel stories of all types features our hero(s) reverting back to human form for the most inane reasons because a omnipotent hero really isn't a thrilling story, but it's always so artificial!
I like that the witch was actually going to try to run him through! That's pretty violent for this kind of comic!
I don't know about other readers but I enjoy the 40s superhero meet monster stories, they always have a fun vibe to them.
Brian Barnes, Don't you mean "Bait and Witch"? Heh heh!
ReplyDeleteGreat Halloween feel to this one. Half the panels are like wall decorations.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see a story that sort of supports the idea that spying on your fellow citizenry, jumping to conclusions about their appearance or lifestyle, their house, their neighborhood, can be socially beneficial or even heroic. Do you think this is a holdover from the war years? Now that fascist saboteurs aren't skulking around the bullet factories, we must turn our noble surveillance on, let's see, "well dressed girls in shabby houses." If I was Fredric Wertham, this is the sort of thing that would have alarmed me.
I love the sash knocking Freddy out. I agree with Mr. Barnes that oftentimes, when these Marvel Family members revert to weak children in act two, it feels sorta contrived. Just a plot mechanic to get them in harms way for a minute. The antidote to that, of course, is totally ridiculous danger! Maybe if Freddy had been a little nicer to that house, it wouldn't have coldcocked his ass.
PS, Totally forgot! Happy belated Thanksgiving Eve! Hope you all have a great holiday today. Bring on the animal sacrifices!
ReplyDeleteGreat comments, thank you all for taking the time to stop by over the holiday.
ReplyDeleteThere's a truly foul tasting leftover up next, stay tombed for a little food for thought...
Mr. Cabin- this was close to the beginning of McCarthyism.
ReplyDeleteConk isn't used enough in comic books