COVER STORY: More Fun Comics #53
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What makes the best comic book covers? It is a great topic for debate. For us, as individuals, there is no wrong answer, of course; it is purely subjective. But, with a little thought it’s possible to explain what it is about a particular image that grabs you. The best images are the ones that make you stop and check out something you weren’t previously planning to purchase – and in some cases, you even end up picking up a title you’ve never even heard of before.
The Spectre is a Golden Age hero from the Second World War who haunts fans to this day – and rightfully so!
More Fun Comics #53 (January 1940) features a striking cover by Bernard Baily straddles crime noir and the supernatural itself. In fact, in the Dick O’Donnell-written chapter, “It’s Magic,” found within the Don Thompson and Dick Lupoff co-edited The Comic-Book Book, the author points out that “fans lose sight of the literal meaning of the titles of comic books and see nothing humorous in the contrast between the hugely emblazoned ‘Fun’ (as in More Fun Comics) and the grisly form of The Spectre coming through the walls . . . to avenge (both his fiancée’s) kidnapping and his murder.”
As far as the character himself, Ray Winninger’s DC-licensed The World at War for Mayfair Games describes him as such: “Clearly some sort of extra-dimensional entity, The Spectre’s powers are seemingly limitless.”
Not bad, eh? Neither is this key issue should you be lucky enough to add it to your collection!
–Scott Braden
