For a long time I mistakenly believed that strong continuity was a hallmark of the Silver Age and beyond, but now, as more and more of the comics of yesteryear become available in this, the Second Golden Age of Comics, it’s becoming clear that some titles experimented with strong elements of continuity even in the original Golden Age. One of the most familiar to modern day readers is the relationship between and among the Silver Streak, Daredevil and the Claw, familiar because it has been reprinted so often (most recently in Supermen! The First Wave of Comic Book Heroes: 1936-1941) and revived/revisited so often (most recently in Erik Larsen’s Next Issue Project and Alex Ross’ Project: Super-Powers). Last night, in anticipation of Dark Horse’s upcoming Silver Streak Archives, I took stock of what to expect in those early issues.
Silver Streak Comics was unique in that its debut cover feature was a villain, the Yellow Claw. This state of affairs lasted only two issues before the Yellow Claw was dropped in favor of a hero named Silver Streak with an origin story by Joe Simon. I’ve never read this story, but I am extremely eager to, because according to the aforementioned S:TFWoCBH collection, “Silver Streak’s origin by Joe Simon is one of the most contrived and convoluted stories of the early Golden Age, and that’s saying something.” Jack Cole (of Plastic Man fame) took over the feature in issue #4, the Yellow Claw returned in issue#5, comics’ first Daredevil debuted in #6, and Silver Streak and Daredevil teamed up to battle the Claw in #7.
Sigh. Now all I have to do is wait until the archive is to be released on June 27.
Replies
Frankly, the Silver Streak origin is awful. I would not have guessed it was by the late Joe Simon and am wondering if there's any possibility that attribution is mistaken (it's not listed as his at the GCD, but perhaps the issue's indexer didn't know). Simon had fairly recently started in comics when the issue came out.
I believe Silver Streak subsequently became a super-speedster, but in his intro story that's not how he's presented.
This archive shipped yesterday (one week early!), but to my disappointment, it does not reprint issues #1-5! It starts with issue #6, the first appearance of Daredevil. I guess I should have known by the book's full title ("Silver Streak Archives Featuring Daredevil"), but I'm going to have to start reading my solicitations more clearly (to avoid disappointment, I mean... not that I wouldn't have pre-ordered it, anyway).
The introduction (by Michael T. Gilbert) gives a more detailed synopsis of the Silver Streak's origin, which only makes me want to read it all the more! (And Luke, it doesn't mention anything about Joe Simon, leading me to believe the information in the Supermen! book may be in error, as you suspect. Other than the fact the first five issues are not included, what I've read of and seen in volume one so far is really good!
Is the villain the Claw or the Yellow Claw?
The Yellow Claw (a.k.a. the Green Claw in one of the early stories).
I recall reading that he'd been called the Green Claw once, but I did not recall his being called the Yellow Claw.
"Not the 'Craw', the 'Craw'!
He is often referred to as simply "The Claw" (perhaps to avoid confusion with Timely/Atlas/Marvel's later charactwer of the same name), but his full appellation is "The Yellow Claw."
Here's a link to a review of the archive: http://bookgateway.com/2012/04/silver-streak/
The Silver Streak origin story can be read online at the Digital Comic Museum or here at the Pure Excitement Comics website.
Harry Mendryk of the Simon and Kirby blog says (here) that Simon's art first appeared in comics in issues cover-dated for January 1940, including a cover and story for Silver Streak #2. I can't find a mention at the blog of Simon's having contributed to the Silver Streak origin, which appeared in #3. I'd assume if he contributed to it Harry would know. For what it's worth, the GCD credits the art on the story to Jack Binder.
That's beautiful, Luke. Thanks! (I'd still like to own a hardcopy of it, though.)
Jack Binder is the name Michael Gilbert associates with the origin story in his introduction.
According to Wikipedia Binder set up his studio in 1942. That implies the earlier work he's credited with was his own work, but I suppose one shouldn't assume that since the truth could be more complex. I've seen well-drawn and badly-drawn Binder stories, but I don't know which of these were in his own hand as opposed to his studio's. He reportedly did the first Gleason Daredevil story.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next