Golden Age Comics T-Shirts

Cover art for Fantastic Comics Jan-Feb 1955 by Iger Shop, now in the public domain.

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The beginning! Marvel Mystery Tails #1, 1939! First appearance of the Asinine Torch by Carl Burgoose and the Sub-Marsupial by Bill Evervet! The Marvel Age starts here!

Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy was a radio adventure series which maintained its popularity from 1933 to 1951. The storylines centered on the globe-trotting adventures of Armstrong, a popular athlete at Hudson High School, his friends Billy Fairfield and Billy's sister Betty, and their Uncle Jim, James Fairfield, an industrialist. In 1936 the Parents Institute began publishing their Jack Armstrong comic book which had a 13-issue run.

Richard Curtis Van Loan is a wealthy socialite who after serving in World War I becomes bored and craves the same level of "excitement" that he became used to in the trenches of the Great War. After being challenged to solve a crime that has baffled the police by his friend Frank Havens, publisher of the New York Clarion, Van Loan finds that he in fact has some ability as a detective. Solving mysteries provides Van Loan with the excitement he craves and so begins the career of the dilettante amateur sleuth, The Phantom Detective.

A pair of militaristic bat wings

A vigilante archer, the Arrow owed his origins to Robin Hood as well as pulp magazine heroes like the Shadow and the Spider. Hidden under a crumpled red suit and face-covering cowl, he was a man of mystery without name or background. The Arrow was the first costumed comic book hero to appear after the debut of Superman. And the first superhero to use an archery as a primary gimmick.

Freedom fighter Kismet hides out in the forests of Southern France, battling his enemy the Rocketeer. He possesses no powers but is a good fighter. Kismet is also one of the earliest Muslim superheroes.

Fantastic cover art for Amazing Stories magazine, November 1931. Artist unknown, now in the public domain.

From comic book's Golden Era, this cover of Career Girl Romances is a pop art classic.

The incredible shrinking woman! Cover of Forbidden Worlds no.58 from 1957. Inks and pencils by Ogden Whitney, now in the public domain.

Bat Wings

Doug and Rod Strange are identical twins who were separated at birth, when Rod was kidnapped by the pirate Sin Chow, enemy of the twins' father, Neville Strange. Raised in pirate dens by Sin Show, Rod became a dangerous criminal mastermind. After spending 5 years in prison, for a crime committed by a brother he never knew existed, Doug decides to track down the man who framed him. In the process, Doug became a highly respected inspector with Scotland Yard. When the brothers finally met, Doug became determined to track down his mysterious look alike. So began a war between the brothers, in which each impersonated the other, or one captured the other and delivered them to their own enemies.

U.S. Army Private Jack Weston wanted to do more to contribute to the war effort than just being stationed at Camp Blaine. He decided to put on a costume and fight as Minute-Man. He also became a member of the Crime Crusaders Club with Bulletman and Bulletgirl. He had no powers, but demonstrated tremendous strength, agility, courage and fighting prowess.

Golden Age superhero

Tom Dash was a humble antiques dealer, who's daughter, Lola, was gunned down in the crossfire of a mob hit. Enraged, Tom swore to avenge his daughter's death, and rid the city of organized crime. For the next year, Tom dedicated himself to intensive training so that he could become the ultimate crime fighter. During his year of training, Tom became a crack shot with a handgun, and an expert in boxing, jiu-jitsu and knife throwing, among other things. He also studied under a Hollywood makeup artist to become a master of disguise.

Cover art for Horrific comic issue 8 from 1953 by Don Heck, now in the public domain.

Rollo P. Quinn (Little Dynamite) was a young leader of a kid gang. He lived in a slum in New York's East Side. He got his nickname because he was a strong fighter with a hair-trigger temper. Rollo did have a soft spot for his older sister, who pretty much raised him. As the years went on, Rollo started to mellow out, and his gang spent more and more time fighting crime.

Golden Age Superhero Shield

District Attorney Jim Hornsby puts on a costume and teams up with his younger brother Bob (aka: the "Cobra Kid") to fight crime. He has no superpowers but is a skilled fighter.

Disco Berne is the son of a scientist who has created a high-explosive depth charge powder. The secret of the powder attracts the attention of foreign agents, and Disco and his dog Nicodemus stops them.

Ace Williams, known as the Ace of the Newsreels, was both a cameraman and journalist. He was assisted by his attractive reporter sidekick Jessica Frances Gibbons, who went by the nickname Foggy. They covered the news in cities such as Hopeville, Circleville, and Capital City. However they did not only report the news, they also fought crime.

Denis Knight was a wealthy American sportsman who inspired by the chivalrous knights of the past, becomes the Green Knight. In this identity, Denis becomes a defender of the defenseless and keeper of justice. While patrolling the Everglades, Denis discovers a young boy has been kidnapped by a blood thirsty Vampire and his hulking minion. After saving the young boy, Lance Cooper, from the monsters, Green Knight adopts him as his crime fighting partner Lance. Green Knight had no powers but he was skilled with a bow/arrow and a sword. He was also capable at hand to hand combat.

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Cosmo Cat worked as a technician at a munitions plant, when he accidentally set off a bomb, U-235. He gained superpowers. He now had flight, super strength, and invulnerability. Cosmo maintained his powers by ingesting Cosmic Catnip Capsules. Cosmo Cat resided in his moon lab spotting evils on Earth using his tele-finder and then headed to Earth in his cat-rocket. He was assisted by his sometimes sidekick, Dunky Duck. During one of his adventures, Cosmo Cat helped to save Little Red Riding Hood from the Big Bad Wolf.

While aiding Dr. Lorenz in an experiment, Dash Dixon allowed the doctor to inject him with perpetual life rays. It made Dash immune to death, gave him superhuman leaps, super strength, and indestructibility. Normally, those powers would dissipate after 24 hours, but Dr. Lorenz gave Dixon a suit of pliable metal that contained his powers indefinitely. He used his powers to aid the police force in catching criminals.

Title from the science fiction comic, Fantastic Worlds.

Bob Dickering had a brother named John who was the superhero, Comet. However, when Bob's brother was shot whilst trying to save Bob from "Big Boy" Malone's gang, he became the hero Hangman to avenge his brother's death.

Sci-fi adventurer Captain Venture who rescued Princess Zyra, the last survivor of Earth's Saturn colony, from the villainous Kag and Kashas. The Planet Princess, as she was called, joined Venture in his adventures from then on helping him fight the Spider People, liberate Camur from the Valhoes, defeat the villainous Zalko and his machines, and also stop an invasion of Gon gas.

A Romantic Adventures cover with a retro couple being dramatic. Perfect for the romantic soul.

Hilarious and just vague enough to make it a complete mystery.

Shield Wizard No.4 Starring the G-Man Extraordinaire and The Man with The Super Brain, All New, Smashing Action

Golden age superhero

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A Romantic Adventures cover with a retro couple being dramatic. Perfect for the romantic soul.