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68-446: Blue Ribbon Comics was also the title of an unrelated six-issue comic book series published in 1948–1949 by St. John Publications . The first series of Blue Ribbon Comics #1–22 (Nov. 1939 – March 1942) was a 64-page anthology comic published by MLJ Magazines Inc., commonly known as MLJ Comics, the precursor to what would become the publisher Archie Comics . Issues #9–18 and #22 were cover-titled Blue Ribbon Mystery Comics . The series

136-473: A Western digest ( Gunsmoke ), the scandal-exposé title Secret Life and the men's magazine Nugget . Manhunt began January 1953 as the monthly digest, Manhunt Detective Story Monthly . The title was shortened to Manhunt early in 1956. It expanded to a larger standard-size format from March 1957 to May 1958 but then returned to digest-size and a bimonthly schedule. The popularity of Manhunt kept it running for 114 issues until April–May 1967. Verdict ran as

204-687: A back-up story starring NoMan , one of the Agents. Martin L. Greim 's company-hopping Thunderbunny starred in #13 (Oct. 1984), in a story also featuring Archie Comics' Mighty Crusaders superhero team. The last issue, #14 (Nov. 1984), teamed the Web and the Jaguar. A "next-issue" box in #14 announced that a planned but ultimately unpublished issue #15 would feature a sword-and sorcery adventure, "The Cat Queen", featuring Catgirl by writer Paul Kupperberg and artist Pat Boyette . The series by then had been canceled, along with

272-503: A backup feature in another Archie title, The Shield . There were also two new stories of The Fly and Flygirl , featuring Jaguar , by writers Rich Buckler and Stan Timmons, with art by Trevor Von Eeden in #4 (Jan. 1984), and a two-part Fox story by Buckler and Timmons, with art by Dick Ayers and Tony DeZuniga , in #6–7 (March–April 1984). A revival of Black Hood by Gray Morrow took up issue #8 (May 1984). As well as revivals of MLJ/Archie inventory characters, volume two introduced

340-556: A digest-size monthly from June 1953 to September 1953 and was briefly titled Verdict Crime Detection Magazine (Aug.–Nov. 1956) before a shortening back to Verdict . He acquired the 21-year-old publication Magazine Digest in 1950. The company's comics include the first 3-D comic book, Three Dimension Comics #1 (Sept. 1953 oversize format, Oct. 1953 standard-size reprint), featuring the Terrytoons movie - cartoon character Mighty Mouse . According to Joe Kubert , co-creator with

408-460: A double life as the Shield (hence the title of his comic). In 1999, Archie formally assigned all rights to Lancelot Strong to Joe Simon. When Archie revamped their superheroes under their "Radio Comics/ Mighty Comics " line, a third Shield was introduced as Bill Higgins and Joe Higgins Jr., sons of the original Shield. Bill first appeared in the new Fly-Man #31, and becomes one of the main founders of

476-466: A farm couple and raised as their son. Once he hit his teens, he discovered the truth of his background and his powers: strength, flight, near-invulnerability, vision powers, the ability to generate lightning, and a few more. His father had created a patriotic costume for him, and he started off as the new superhero, the Shield. He soon joined the Army, acting like a Gomer Pyle -style country bumpkin, while leading

544-585: A nurse, and father John, a pharmacist, moved the family to suburban Oak Park in 1910. Following the father's death in 1917 and the mother's eventual remarriage, Archer attended the St. Albans Episcopal Academy boarding school in Sycamore, Illinois . Both brothers became journalists, with Archer founding the Berwyn [Illinois] Tribune in the mid-1920s. He left that newspaper by 1930. By then, he had become advertising manager of

612-525: A secondary character in The Web , another former MLJ hero, the new Shield is Lieutenant Joseph Higgins , stationed in Afghanistan , from where he tries to contact The Web to find his missing father. On the same day however his crew fall victim to terrorists, and Higgins is grievously wounded. To save his life, he agrees to be subjected to secret government experiments, after which an advanced, nanotech battle suit

680-504: A series starring the Joe Higgins version of the Shield in a series titled Original Shield . It lasted four issues. In 1991, Archie Comics licensed their superheroes to DC Comics who created an imprint called Impact Comics . The company launched a fourth solo series, The Legend of the Shield . It featured two Shields, Joe Higgins, who led the series for the first thirteen issues, and Lt. Michael Barnes, his replacement. Barnes continued as

748-584: A series titled, The Double Life of Private Strong . It was cancelled after two issues. Red Circle Comics reintroduced Lancelot Strong in a new series titled, Lancelot Strong: The Shield in June 1983. The series was retitled twice, first with Shield-Steel Sterling in December 1983 and then with Steel Sterling in January 1984. In July 1984, the series ended with its seventh issue. In 1984, Red Circle Comics also released

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816-446: A table in the office and a woman editor put a stop to it. In the early 1950s St. John became friends with artist Matt Baker , who provided most of the comic book covers for the company. When asked about the nature of the relationship, Baker's brother Fred Robinson said in an interview published in 2012, "They had a very close relationship. I don't know exactly what it was." They traveled to Los Angeles together and were photographed in

884-432: Is again contacted by The Web, accepting his request for help. The Shield also appeared in the 2010 DC Comics mini series The Mighty Crusaders . In June 1959, a new Shield was published by Archie that had no connection to the previous version. Joe Simon was asked by Archie to create characters for a new "Archie Adventure Series" line of superheroes. Joe Simon created a new Shield-type of superhero, whose real identity

952-416: Is merged to his burned epidermis. The suit appears on his body at will and grants him the same array of powers of the earlier incarnation, including superhuman strength , limited flight and advanced sensory abilities. Due to his severe injuries, the only major drawback is that if ever he tries to remove the war suit permanently, his bodily functions could shut down. Still fighting as the new, patriotic hero, he

1020-504: Is really chemist Joe Higgins, the son of Lieutenant Tom Higgins. Tom was working on a chemical formula for super-strength which the Germans were after, and is slain by German saboteur Hans Fritz in the Black Tom explosion , for which Tom was blamed. After Tom's death, Joe continues to work on it while continuing his studies of chemistry. Joe finally figures out the solution, which requires applying

1088-522: The Blue Ribbon Comics superhero cluster. Mr. Justice was the cover feature from his debut in #9 (Feb. 1941), then shared the cover with Captain Flag from #16–18, and took over from #19 (Dec. 1941) until the end of the title's run. Blue Ribbon Comics #21 (Feb. 1942) introduced a new direction, advertising on the cover 'new sensational true life features' , with an inside-front cover editorial explaining

1156-585: The Doc Savage -like Doc Strong by Sam Cooper, set on a desolate Earth 100 years in the future soon after World War II had ended (#4–12); and the Green Falcon , a medieval adventurer whose feature was drawn by one of very few women then working in the comics, Ramone Patenaude (#4–15). Two long-running features were "Loop Logan, Air Ace", about an American pilot in WWII prior to U.S. involvement (#4–20), and "Ty-Gor, Son of

1224-547: The Mighty Crusaders . It would be revealed that his father was turned to stone by the villain, The Eraser, and Bill was carrying on his father's work. Bill's 'powers', which seem to be enhanced strength and limited invulnerability, were derived from his costume. He would appear through the end of the Radio/Mighty Comics run. Originally they would switch the name from Bill Higgins to Joe Higgins Jr., from one appearance to

1292-565: The TCL Chinese Theatre in front of Jean Harlow 's footprints. According to the people that worked for him, including Renée, St. John was charming and pleasant to work for, but he struggled with alcoholism. Graphic designer Warren Kramer recounted that St. John would attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and was sober "most of the time". He said that St. John was "almost exactly" like the Harry Myers ' "Eccentric Millionaire" character in

1360-441: The romance -themed Diary Secrets in issues #2, 4 & 5 (the last two fully titled Teen-Age Diary Secrets ), and, in the final issue, the talking-animal feature "Dinky", starring Dinky Duck . In the 2000s came two issues of a fan publication, Blue Ribbon Fanzine (Nov. 2005 & March 2006), published by Mike Bromberg and dedicated to Blue Ribbon Comics . These reprinted selected Mr. Justice, Captain Flag and Fox stories from

1428-485: The 1940s MLJ Blue Ribbon Comics that were then in the public domain . St. John Publications St. John Publications was an American publisher of magazines and comic books. During the 1947-1958 existence of its comic-book division, St. John established several industry firsts. Founded by Archer St. John, the firm was located in Manhattan at 545 Fifth Avenue . After the St. John comic books came to an end in 1958,

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1496-708: The 1960s in several Archie comics series. Next was Mr. Justice (#9–22), a ghostly superhero also created by writer Blair although mainly scripted by Charles Biro with artist Sam Cooper. Inferno the Flame-Breather , originally a supporting character seen in Steel Sterling tales in Pep Comics , was given his own feature by writer Blair and artist Paul Reinman (#13–19). The patriotically themed Captain Flag , created by Blair and artist Lin Streeter in #16 (Sept. 1941), completed

1564-648: The Fly #1–2 (Aug–Sept. 1959), and Simon/Kirby Lancelot Strong: Shield stories primarily from The Double Life of Private Strong #1 (June 1959). However, the second volume largely comprised new stories of previous MLJ/Archie characters: a Mr. Justice origin story by writers Robin Snyder, who also provided a Blue Ribbon Comics checklist over various issues of the comic's run, and Bill Dubay , with art by Trevor Von Eeden and Alex Niño in issue #2 (Dec. 1983). An origin for Steel Sterling followed, in issue #3 (Dec. 1983), leading into

1632-694: The Jungle", drawn by Mort Meskin , about a jungle boy taken to America (#4–20). The first superhero introduced to Blue Ribbon Comics was in the two-issue feature " Bob Phantom , the Scourge of the Underground" (#2–3), with early work by artist Irv Novick . Bob Phantom moved to Pep Comics and was shortly followed by the Fox (#4–22), a costumed adventure hero created by writer Joe Blair and artist Irwin Hasen who would return during

1700-536: The New York City-based model-train maker Lionel Trains Corporation. Among his duties, he edited the company's hobbyist magazine, Model Builder , debuting January 1937. It included true railroad stories in its editorial mix, eventually adding such illustrated featurettes as "Famous Railroad Sagas". By this time, he was married and living in Darien, Connecticut , with wife Gertrude (née Adams) and son Michael. By

1768-630: The Run" strips, subtitled "True Stories of Crime", in #1 and #3, and "Devils of the Deep", a two-part adventure in #2–3. Will Eisner , future creator of the Spirit , produced a single humor strip, "Boodini the Great" in issue #1. By issue #4, however, MLJ replaced the humor strips with more adventure and crime stories, and introduced fantasy - adventure characters such as the mythological Hercules in modern-day America (#4–8);

1836-684: The Shield until the title ended in October 1992. In 2015, Archie Comics began the Shield's return in a new series penned by Adam Christopher and Chuck Wendig . This version of the character is a woman named Victoria Adams. The series was published under the Dark Circle Comics banner. It was originally set to be released in April but was delayed until September. The origin story of The Shield appeared in Shield–Wizard Comics #1 (Summer 1940). He

1904-506: The U.S. At the start of the strip, Higgins' partners are fellow G-Man Ju Ju Watson, and girlfriend Betty Warren. The Shield is joined by a kid partner, Dusty the Boy Detective, in Pep #11 (Jan 1941). Dusty's father had been killed by foreign agents, and he is adopted by Joe and given a costume. Both heroes wear their patriotic costumes beneath their street clothes and change for action whenever

1972-595: The Winking Buddha , by pulp novelist Manning Lee Stokes and illustrator Charles Raab . Shield (Archie Comics) The Shield is the name of several superheroes created by MLJ (now known as Archie Comics ). Appearing months before Captain America , the Shield has the distinction of being the first superhero with a costume based upon United States patriotic iconography. The character appeared in Pep Comics from issue #1 (Jan 1940) to #65 (Jan 1948). The name

2040-553: The Wonder Dog ", the tales of an intelligent dog in the Rin Tin Tin vein, written by Joe Blair and primarily drawn by Ed Smalle, was the only feature to appear in every issue. Another, "Corporal Collins, Infantryman", a war feature drawn by Charles Biro , about a U.S. soldier stranded in France when World War II breaks out was in every issue but the first. As all comic books did through

2108-412: The brothers Norman Maurer and Leonard Maurer, it sold an exceptional 1.2 million copies at 25 cents apiece at a time when comics cost a dime. St. John also published the second 3-D comic, the aptly named 3-D Comics , the single issue of which incongruously billed itself as "World's First!" Other St. John comic books included the first movie-comedian tie-in series, Abbott and Costello Comics ; one of

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2176-512: The cause as an apparent overdose of sleeping pills, and gave his age as 54. He had been residing at the New York Athletic Club at the time of his death. St. John's son Michael compared his father's death with that of Dorothy Kilgallen and said that in addition to alcohol, his father was addicted to amphetamines . The group of magazines published by St. John included crime fiction ( Manhunt , Mantrap , Menace , Murder , Verdict ),

2244-488: The change of direction, Blue Ribbon Comics ended with issue #22 (March 1942). The second series to carry the Blue Ribbon Comics name was initially published by the Archie Comics imprint Red Circle Comics. It ran for 14 issues cover-dated November 1983 to December 1984. After four issues, the imprint, initially directed at the "direct-sales market" of comic-book stores, repositioned to newsstand distribution and changed

2312-598: The character. With the American populace reacting to the beginnings of World War II and wartime patriotism stirring, the Shield debuted as the first patriotically themed hero. He was soon followed by three other patriotic comic characters: Minute-Man (Feb. 1941), Captain America (March 1941), and Captain Battle (May 1941). In 1959, a new Shield, Lancelot Strong, appeared under the Archie Adventure Series imprint in

2380-520: The chemicals to certain parts of his anatomy ( Sacrum , Heart, Innervation , Eyes, Lungs, Derma), and exposing himself to x-rays. This gives him super strength, the ability able to make great leaps, and invulnerability. Joe uses the initials S.H.I.E.L.D. as his secret identity. His white costume becomes the familiar colors under the process. He becomes an FBI agent (whose secret identity is known only to FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover ) after clearing his father's name, and fights foreign agents and other threats to

2448-505: The company continued to publish its magazine line into the next decade. Flying Eagle Publications was a magazine affiliate of St. John Publications. Comic book imprints included Approved Comics , Blue Ribbon , and Jubilee Publications . The younger brother of World War II correspondent and author Robert William St. John (1902–2003), Archer St. John was born either c. 1901 or on October 15, 1904 in Chicago , Illinois . Their mother Amy,

2516-492: The company — a December 1944 letter that he signed places St. John in the Lionel advertising department at that time — St. John left the model-train maker in early 1945. After acquiring a reported $ 400,000 in start-up financing, he began publishing two comic books, Comics Revue and Pageant of Comics , both reprinting comic strips. They appeared under his own name as publisher in 1947. Shortly afterward, his comic book company took on

2584-712: The early 1940s, St. John was editor of the 17-issue magazine Flying Cadet (Jan. 1943 – Oct. 1944). Like Model Builder , it mixed editorial prose with comics-style instructional featurettes. That changed with its final issue, a standard comic book that included fictional adventure ("Buzz Benson" by Maurice Whitman and George Kapitan ; Lt. Lela Lang , art by Kapitan, about a female bomber pilot) and humor ("Grease Pan Gus") features. The company — also called Flying Cadet — additionally published American Air Forces #1 (Oct. 1944), as well as some issues of Dynamic Comics and Punch Comics . Either editing in his off hours while continuing to work at Lionel, or having left and returned to

2652-445: The early 1960s, to satisfy U.S. Postal Service requirements for magazine rates, Blue Ribbon Comics also contained text stories, sometimes about characters from the comics features, such as the titular cowboy Buck Stacey. With the exception of a reprinted Little Nemo newspaper comic strip story by Winsor McCay in #1, all stories in the comic were new. Reader participation was encouraged; in issue #3 (Jan. 1940) MLJ offered $ 5 for

2720-477: The era's Cold War "nuclear jitters" and popular culture fascination with the breaking of the sound barrier . In 1950—more than 20 years before Gil Kane & Archie Goodwin 's Blackmark and almost 30 before Don McGregor & Paul Gulacy 's Sabre and Will Eisner 's A Contract with God —St. John helped pioneer the medium that would become known as the graphic novel . The digest-sized, adult-oriented "Picture Novel" It Rhymes with Lust

2788-403: The film City Lights . That character is an alcoholic who suffers from state-dependent memory . However, Kramer added that although "Very peculiar", St. John was "...a very, very decent guy." In 1952, Archer St. John's brother Robert saw Archer in person for the last time. Archer flew from New York to Geneva , and on Robert's description "looked dreadful: he was terribly disheveled. His face

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2856-492: The first issue of Fugitives from Justice (#1–5, 1953); and some issues of Authentic Police Cases (#1–38, 1948–1955). St. John's first romance comic was Teen-Age Romances #1 (Jan. 1949), followed by ten issues of romance comics over the next nine months. St. John's Hollywood Confessions #1 (Oct. 1949) metamorphosed two issues later into Hollywood Pictorial , and then shifted from comic book to movie magazine ( Hollywood Pictorial Western ) with issue #4 (March 1950). That

2924-456: The first proto- graphic novels , the 25-cent "picture novel" It Rhymes with Lust (1950); and a five-issue series (Sept. 1953 – Oct. 1954), appearing under three titles, that introduced the enduring Kubert prehistoric hero Tor . In 1953, St. John took over a number of Ziff Davis comics titles, including the romance comics Cinderella Love and Romantic Love , the Western comic Kid Cowboy , and

2992-540: The following morning. The by-then divorced St. John was found at the 170 East 79th Street Manhattan penthouse apartment of Frances Stratford, with whom he had been involved since at least September 1954, when they took a vacation together to the Bahamas. The day before his death he had also called his son Michael, who was at work in the St. John Publishing office to tell him that he was being blackmailed. But he would not reveal his whereabouts. The police, pending an autopsy, listed

3060-407: The imprint name to Archie Adventure Series , which Archie Comics had used for its superhero line in the 1960s. Concurrently, the printing format changed from glossy Baxter paper to standard comics print. Blue Ribbon Comics vol. 2 published a combination of new and reprinted work featuring a variety of Archie superheroes. Reprints including Joe Simon and Jack Kirby stories from Adventures of

3128-544: The joint Paramount Pictures - Famous Studios , which included the future Harvey Comics characters Casper the Friendly Ghost , Baby Huey (who premiered in that Casper the Friendly Ghost #1 before his March 3, 1950, screen debut, "Quack A Doodle Do"), and Little Audrey . Little Eva, Audrey's lesser-known replacement, was added to the publishing schedule in 1952 after the Audrey license passed on to Harvey. Continuing in

3196-472: The jungle adventure title Wild Boy of the Congo . St. John Publications utilized the first African-American comic-book artist in mainstream media, Matt Baker , who contributed to the ostensibly true-crime series Authentic Police Cases , the light humor comic Canteen Kate , the romance books Cinderella Love and Teen-Age Romances , and many others. St. John acquired the license to publish comics based on

3264-528: The movie cartoons of producer Paul Terry . The Terrytoons properties, originally adapted to comic books by Timely Comics , the 1940s predecessor of Marvel Comics , included such characters as Mighty Mouse , Heckle and Jeckle , Dinky Duck , Gandy Goose , and Little Roquefort. The first such St. John comic was Mighty Mouse #5 (Aug. 1947), its numbering taken over from the Timely run. The company expanded into licensed characters from another animation company,

3332-514: The name St. John Publications. It had offices at 545 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, New York City, and in 1950 took on additional space at 235-243 Pulaski Street in the neighboring borough of Brooklyn . Artist Joe Kubert who worked for St. John described him as "one of the most aristocratic upper-crust types that you'd ever come across. But he was as much unlike that underneath that veneer as anybody I can think of. When you sat down to talk to him he

3400-426: The need would arise. Dusty also partners with The Wizard 's kid partner, Roy, as the "Boy Buddies". In Pep #20, Joe is called "The One and Only Shield" at the start of the story and "The Original Shield" at the end of the story because of the success of Captain America, another 1940s-era patriotic superhero. In his first appearance, Captain America had a shield similar to the main part of The Shield's costume, but it

3468-403: The new Shield. Barnes would continue as the lead character until the series' 1992 cancellation and also appeared as the Shield in the six-issue miniseries The Crucible . In 2015, Archie Comics rebranded their Red Circle Comics line under the new Dark Circle Comics banner. The new Shield debuted in her own new series titled The Shield in October. Victoria Adams is the first female to take up

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3536-517: The next. In the Red Circle Mighty Crusaders #1 the story established that Bill joined the Army and left his life as a superhero. In 2000, Archie Comics started using Joe Higgins Jr. as the Shield in Archie's Weird Mysteries, establishing that Bill and Joe Jr. were separate characters. When Legend of the Shield was revamped, Lt. Michael Barnes, a married father with a young daughter, became

3604-497: The popular vein of reprinted comic strips, St. John published comic books of such gag strips as Moon Mullins and Nancy , and of the NEA syndicate's private detective adventure strip Vic Flint . This hardboiled fiction by the pseudonymous Michael O'Malley (writer Ernest Lynn and others) and artists Ralph Lane, Dean Miller, Art Sansom and John Lane, was reprinted in the comic books Vic Flint (#1–5?, Aug. 1948 – April 1949); all but

3672-626: The prize letter of the month and $ 1 for 10 runners-up, and issue #4 (June 1940) introduced the Rang-a-Tang Club , boasting its own registered veterinarian to answer questions on dog health and training. Future Plastic Man creator Jack Cole , then working for the Harry "A" Chesler studio, wrote and drew a number of one off-humor strips in the first issue: "Hold That Line", "Ima Slooth", "Foxy Grandpa" and "King Kole's Kourt." Issue #2 (Dec. 1940) had his "Knight Off". He additionally provided two "Crime on

3740-540: The rest of the Archie Adventure Comics" line. St. John Publications produced six issues of an umbrella series, Blue Ribbon comics, that featured highly disparate contents each issue. It was published from late 1948 to mid-1949, with only issue #4–5 given cover dates (June & Aug. 1949) but postal indicia given as February to August 1949. The series starred the movie studio Terry Toons ' talking animal characters Heckle and Jeckle in issues #1 & 3;

3808-579: The sole survivor of the Brain Emperor's attack on his fellow Crusaders. He gathers their teenage children to form a team dubbed "the New Crusaders". The Red Circle Comics characters, aptly named "The Red Circle", were again licensed by DC and rebooted. During the Dilation crisis a version of the Shield character was seen helping Green Arrow and Black Canary , performing crowd control . First appearing as

3876-520: The title would now mix superhero and adventure stories with real-life tales: 'Just as many thrills, just as much red-blooded reading pleasure' . The last two issues had features on the life of Galileo , Leonardo da Vinci , and Beethoven , and a tale about malaria in Cuba . Incongruously, MLJ also introduced a short horror story feature, "Tales from the Witches Cauldron" (#20–22) at this time. Despite

3944-428: The underwater adventures of "Agents of Atantis" in #9 (June 1984). On the letters page of issue #10 (July 1984), Buckler signaled another editorial change, to "more lighthearted stories", with more Simon/Kirby reprints from the early 1960s Adventures of the Fly , followed by a reprint in issue #11 (August 1984) of a Black Hood story from Archie Superhero Special Digest Magazine #2 (Aug. 1979), originally written for

4012-589: The unpublished Black Hood #1. The story had already been reprinted in JC Comics #1 (1981). John Carbonaro appears to have bought the work from Archie to publish in JC, then paid Archie to reprint the tale in Archie/Red Circle Comics. Characters from other publishing companies were featured in the following issues: First came Tower Comics ' T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents in #12 (Sept. 1984), with art by Steve Ditko on

4080-405: Was Lancelot Strong, who appeared in a new title, The Double Life of Private Strong . Joe Simon put together a team of artists including Jack Kirby to work for him on The Double Life of Private Strong . Lancelot's scientist father developed a method to create a superhuman by expanding the mind, which he used on his infant son. After his father was killed by foreign agents, Lancelot was adopted by

4148-407: Was a film noir -influenced slice of steeltown life starring a scheming, manipulative redhead named Rust. Touted as "an original full-length novel" on its cover, the book by pseudonymous writer "Drake Waller" ( Arnold Drake and Leslie Waller ), penciler Matt Baker and inker Ray Osrin , was sold at newsstands . It proved successful enough to lead to an unrelated second picture novel, The Case of

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4216-466: Was badly cut up; his hand was cut; there was blood all over his shirt." St. John had been drinking heavily on the plane. He bought a Swiss watch intended, he said, for a woman with whom he was living in New York City, then immediately flew back. On August 22, 1955, St. John spoke on the phone for the last time with Robert, who described him as "very despondent". St. John died either that night or early

4284-526: Was changed to a round shield for the second issue over accusations of plagiarism. The Shield and Dusty were featured in the first crossover storyline in American comic books. The storyline had them team up with the Wizard (the headlining character from Top-Notch Comics) to stop the invasion plot orchestrated by Mosconia (a fictional country made up of elements from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union). The Shield

4352-464: Was edited by Harry Shorten . The first title published by MLJ, Blue Ribbon Comics initially ran a mixture of content, in the manner of most early comic books. These included the science-fiction feature "Dan Hastings" (#1–2), crime , short humor fillers, and adventure tales such as, from issue #1, "Burk of the Briny" in #1 and Cliff Thorndyke's African adventure "Village of Missing Men". " Rang-a-Tang

4420-521: Was one of MLJ's most popular characters, even spawning a club, the "Shield G-Man Club". He starred in Pep , and several other MLJ titles: Shield-Wizard , Top-Notch Comics . But then a new character arrived who would overshadow him: Archie Andrews . He would take the Shield's cover spot on Pep , take his fan club, and cause the end of the MLJ superheroes. An older Joe Higgins appears in New Crusaders as

4488-510: Was really a regular guy." Nadine King, office manager for the company, socialized with St. John often, described him as "exceptional bright" and said that "...he did make a lot of money and lost a lot of money." Marion McDermott was an editor for St. John Publications. Fellow editor Nadine King said in an interview published in 2012 that St. John had an affair with McDermott. They traveled together to Bermuda in 1950 and 1951. Artist Lily Renée also recounted that St. John chased her once around

4556-420: Was the first title in what eventually became the St. John magazine group. The company introduced several other, mostly short-lived original series from 1948 through 1953, including a rare, for the company, superhero series, Zip-Jet , starring a yellow-clad "supersonic enemy of evil" reprinted from Punch Comics ' "Rocketman" feature. That and the two St. John series titled Atom-Age Combat directly reflected

4624-552: Was used by MLJ/Archie for four characters. DC Comics ' Impact line, which licensed the Archie properties, also used the name for several characters. In 2010, DC announced plans to integrate the Shield and other MLJ characters into the DC Universe , but the rights to the characters reverted to Archie Comics in 2011. A fourth Shield was introduced in October 2015. The Shield debuted in MLJ's Pep Comics #1 ( cover-dated Jan. 1940). Writer Harry Shorten and artist Irv Novick created

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