The Golden Age Of Womanhood

Oh, to be a woman in Fox Comics back in the 1940s!!

So many career opportunities were available!!

For example, you could be a clerk at a pawn shop!

Of course, that just gets you kidnapped by crooks and tortured. Still a little hair-pulling isn't that bad, eh?


OK, that is a downer...but Blue Beetle saved her, so everything's good!

So maybe pawn shop clerk is out. How about spaceship captain? When you're Rex Dexter's girlfriend Cynde, there are plenty of opportunities!

See, boldly standing up for space ship captain equality!! Take that, Janice Lester!!

Of course, in addition to being equal, a female space ship captain gets the unbelievable bonus of posing for futuristic upskirt shots...

...being hijacked by goons because you're a girl...

...and being rescued by your man!!

What's not to love??

Worried about space sickness? OK, how about trying life as a big-city debutante? That's a winning lifestyle!!

Of course, 11 other debs have been murdered and "cut to pieces." So maybe there's a slight drawback...


For the record, this "doctor" is never named, never given any back story, no motivation or explanation whatsoever--he just likes to carve up young women, I guess.

Hey, Green Mask saved her, so really, how could she have been in any real danger?!?

Don't worry, we have plenty of career options left for you gals. How about secretary to a powerful oil executive?

Oh.

Yes, being kidnapped by stereotypical Chinese masterminds who are "carrying on a vendetta against the white race" is part of the job description...as is:

Again, no worries...the handsome white hero saved her!!

Wow, you dames are pretty picky. Oh, one last try. You can be the inventor of a new secret Navy airplane, and a crack pilot!!

...and they still show you in your undies.

Still, if that's the worst that could happen...

Oh, yeah, well, being snatched (while in your unmentionables) by Russkie spies is all part of the job when you're a famous inventor, right? Right...?

Oh, dear...
Not to worry. Because you're so important, Lt. Drake Of The U.S. Naval Intelligence is on the job, and rescues you!



See...a career that leads to personal happiness!!!

All of these panels are from Mystery Men Comics #13 (1940). You've come a long way, baby!

They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore

Scintillating Golden Age dialogue: Pathetic hero Green Mask is fighting an insane scientist, when the following exchange takes place:


Uh...yeah...that'll show him, unnamed crazy scientist!!

From Mystery Men Comics #13 (1940)

Badmouthing Marmaduke

Pathetic Golden Age hero Green Mask is trying to sneak into a madman's compound, when:

Uh oh!
Wait...are all Great Danes "devil dogs," or just these two? You're defaming a whole breed, dude!!

OK, I am fairly befuddled. "Old law of stick and fang"?? I'll admit, I'm in the dark on that one...anyone got any clue?




The "brains" part might be debatable...

Hey!! Unkind!!
Wait--the guy has no super powers, and he just used up his only stick!! Get your ass back there and kill him, devil dog!!!

[editor's note--yes, I know when Green Mask got his own title, they retconned his origin to give him powers--yes, they were retconning even in 1940--but at this point he was just a guy in a goofy mask, a dumb name, and an occasional stick]

Sigh...you just can't train good attack dogs these days...

From Mystery Men Comics #13 (1940). Yes, Mystery Men. So maybe Bob Burden should just chill.