Sarge Steel - The Pearls Of Death!

One thing I discovered some years ago to my dismay while I was gathering materials for some posts on Judomaster  was that my Sarge Steel collection was incomplete. The series runs for eight issues as Sarge Steel then becomes Secret Agent for two more issues. I thought I had them all, but it's been years since I looked closely, and I found to my horror that I did not have a copy of Secret Agent #9 thus making my collection woefully incomplete. I jumped onto the internet and found a copy which I promptly ordered. It arrived promptly, so I can for the first time owned the entire Sarge Steel saga through. I begin that today with the first issue. 

But on with the report.

Sarge Steel #1 is dated December 1964 and begins as a quarterly comic. Oddly for Charlton this is Volume 1 #1, something common to other publishers but almost unheard of for the Derby outfit. But wait, the numbering and titling will get confusing later so don't fret. The credited creator of the series is Pat Masulli, also the executive editor of Charlton at this time. Joe Gill is listed as scripter and Dick Giordano is on the art. The story titled "The Case of the Pearls of Death" is File #101.

Chapter I is titled "Consignment Terror". It begins in the morning as Sarge returns to his office at 5:45 after a night of entertainment. His secretary Bessie Forbes meets him and after some flirting from Sarge she shows in his client. She is a lovely Vietnamese girl named Lin Ying. Sarge dismisses himself to shower and change clothes then he gets Ying's story. Her father is pearl merchant and has disappeared and a man named Ivan Chung might well be involved. As they walk along the street a thug of appears but Sarge puts him down fast. They have breakfast and Sarge learns that there is a secret deal with these pearls out of Saigon and Ivan Chung, a name Sarge already knows, is involved. Sarge and Lin get in his XK-150 sports car and head to Chung's presumed headquarters. Here Sarge uses his steel fist to break in the door. but they find nothing. Then another thug appears but he is dispatched, and the pair get onto a small boat looking for Chung's ship. But they are spotted, and Chung and his henchman try to shoot their boat, then run it over. Sarge is cast into the sea but is fished out by Chung's men and Sarge's last thoughts are of Saigon where he lost his hand.

"The O.S.S. in World War II" is a three-page feature about the efforts of the Office of Strategic Services and its role in arming partisans and other espionage work in the Big One. It seems to be by the Bill Fracchio and Tony Tallarico team.

"The Spark" is a two-page text piece about some important battles during World War I.

"The Road to Freedom" is a one-page piece about Marines in the 1st Division trying to maneuver after the battle of Chosin. The art seems to be by Sam Glanzman.

Chapter II of the Sarge Steel story is titled "Nightmare in Saigon" and is a clever flashback sequence featuring Sarge's memories of his days in Saigon while cutting back once in a while to the unconscious form of Sarge and Lin on Chung's ship. Captain Sarge Steel was apparently quite formidable and was responsible for breaking up the network of Ivan Chung in Saigon. But after capturinng Chung several attempts on Sarge's life are made which he survives. The last one happened at a dance and while Sarge was attempting to enjoy himself dancing with a young lady a grenade tumbles into the room. Sarge grabs it to throw it out the window, but it has had some sticky substance applied so all he can do is thrust his arm out the window. This of course doesn't kill him, but he loses his hand.

Chapter III is titled "Destination Death" and in it Sarge wakes from his Saigon nightmare to confront Ivan Chung. Lin is by Sarge's side in tears. Chung is trying to find the pearls Lin's father brought to him but has now hidden. Lin is distraught so at one point Sarge smacks her to bring her to her senses. Listening in using a bug, Chung overhears Sarge and Lin talk about the pearls being hidden in the lining of an attache case. Chung sends agents to find it. Meanwhile Bessie has contacted the CIA to tell them that Sarge has gone missing and inform them about the case he was on. The CIA intercept Chung's agent getting the pearls and then have him take them to Chung's hidden location. Back on the ship, Lin is reunited with her father and the three plan an escape. Chung goes to thwart the plan, but this time he's been tricked as Sarge is waiting for him and subdues him with his steel fist. After some small gunplay they radio for help and Lin is so relieved that she hopes aloud that her vacation won't be a complete waste. Sarge tells her if she sticks with him, it won't if she says "Yes Sarge" to everything he suggests.

This is a neat origin story. It's got plenty of action, answers the questions about the background of our hero but leaves lots of room for expansion. Sarge is clearly a blend of the noir-style tough guy detective and popular super-spy. The story is a tad wordy, but the use of first person point of view adds to the noir feel of the book and gives the story an interesting character. This point of view will be used throughout the series with a few exceptions. Sarge's Vietnam connection gives the book a specific and modern feel that other comics of the era lacked, since rarely was Vietnam mentioned in comic of the time other than a war book. This is something that Charlton did quite often in fact in their books. Sarge is definitely a cold warrior, and that will become a greater part of the series as it develops. The unofficial subtitle of the book is "Private Detective", but this focus will shift also as the series continues.

You can read the complete comic book at this link. 

More Sarge Steel to come.

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Ditko's Get Smart!

Get Smart was a spoof which had much fun at the expense of the super-spy fad of the 1960's which had been kicked off by the James Bond movies and television shows such as The Man from UNCLE and The Avengers. Agent 86 was Maxwell Smart, a clumsy secret agent portrayed by Don Adams. The show was a product of the minds of Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. As was their wont, Dell Comics attempted to adapt the successful series to comics. And during that brief run, two issues of the comic book were drawn by Steve Ditko. 
 

At the time Ditko was working with Sal Trapani who was arranging work for himself, Ditko and Dick  Giordano at various outlets, Dell being first and foremost among the publishers seeking talent. The trio had produced Nukla for Dell and now here was Ditko trying his hand at comedy as can be seen by the interior cover one-pager above. Get Smart was a very brief stop in Ditko's journey after he left behind his great Marvel work. I'm not aware that this material has ever been reprinted. I'd love to get hold of it at a reasonable price. 

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Hands Of Steel!

Here is a delightful drawing of Judomaster and Tiger (along with the Smiling Skull and Blue Beetle as well) by Frank McLaughlin, the creator of the "Scarlet Smasher". He produced this gem for the Charlton Neo folks. It was printed in The Charlton Arrow #2.

The image combines elements of two of McLauglin's finest covers for Judomaster, as well a dandy cover image from Steve Ditko. 

Here is a gem of an image from 1987. Frank McLaughlin's Judomaster seems contented in this scene alongside Dick Giordano's Sarge Steel. The duo is a small part of a panorama of DC superstars from many original sources as can be seen in the fantastic poster below.

I'm lucky to have a reprint of this mighty image in The DC Vault: A Museum-A-Book which came a few years back. There's a true who's who of industry giants (both fictional and real) in this delightful image.

This month is all about Judomaster and Sarge Steel, two characters who are closely linked in the heyday of the Charlton Action-Heroes. 

But don't worry Ditko fans, as he will be getting some attention as well, as we take a look at his brief but impactful tenure at DC in the late 60's. 

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Action-Hero Figures!

The success of the Peacemaker TV show did yield some positive results for me in the toy department. I'm not a big collector of dolls, but I never thought I'd see an action figure for Peacemaker. 

The Peacemaker figure came as part of trio which also featured the purely DC hero Vigilante and the Charlton version of Judomaster. 

The Charlton Comics "Action Heroes" were purchased by DC as a present of sorts for then editor Dick Giordano who had overseen their creation (for the most part) while at Charlton. 

(Note that neither Nightshade nor Judomaster are mentioned by name on this poster.)

DC was in the midst of the infamous "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and while dusting and ordering the DCU, they decided to add in Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, Nightshade, Peacemaker, Thunderbolt (for a time until they realized Pete Morisi actually owned the rights), and Judomaster. Well, Judomaster was the hardest to fit since his adventures had taken place in WWII alongside his partner Tiger. Possibly it's the costume, which is the Japanese Rising Sun, but for whatever reason Rip Jagger didn't get much play. 

(Nhut Le as Judomaster)

Then Peacemaker got a TV show and who should show up but Judomaster. He is named Rip Jagger but is not as far as I know a WWII veteran and that makes sense since the Peacemaker is a far cry from Pat Boyette's original as well. The "Judomaster" in the TV show was small in stature and wore green. Curious character and interesting enough save for the tag. 

This is the classic Judomaster as McLaughlin envisioned him. I'm not aware that this likeness has been done as a toy before. I had to snap the trio up and they rest now on my wall safely ensconced in their original packaging. (Of course.) Why they made this change (likely lack of communication) but the Dojo approves. Though the irony that it happens in a line dubbed "Super Powers" since the classic Judomaster famously has none. More on Judomaster next month. 

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Peacemaker On TV!

Part of me finds it very difficult to believe that Peacemaker has become a high profile and successful TV show. Following directly on the continuity of the second The Suicide Squad movie, Christopher Smith finds himself part of ARGUS and is sent on a mission to uncover an alien invasion by insect-like critters dubbed "Butterflies". He is assisted in this endeavor by a widely divergent team featuring a deadly femme fatale, the conflicted daughter of the cold-hearted Amanda Waller, an often-flummoxed computer tech of a certain age, a leader with more than a few secrets, and Christopher Smith's best friend, the socially awkward psychopath Vigilante. Again, this is a James Gunn production and gets over on the strength of the characterizations. In this version of events, Smith's father is a Klan leader and not a vintage Nazi, but the effect on his character is similar. 

The second series puts together the surviving members of the same team, more or less, but this time the threat is from both within ARGUS and without in the shape of alternate realities. One of these other dimensions offers Christopher Smith his ideal life, or at least he thinks that for some time until a blind spot for both Peacemaker and the audience is revealed. 

All in all, these Peacemaker TV shows are pretty darn entertaining and Peacemaker, though still ultra-violent at least begins to have an emotional range beyond levels of self-loathing and rage. I'm eager to see more. 

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Peacemaker At The Movies!

For sure The Peacemaker made his breakout from relative obscurity in the second The Suicide Squad movie helmed by James Gunn. Given that he had to compete for screen time with Harley Quinn, it's remarkable how memorable John Cena's turn as Christopher Smith was. Doubtless Cena's relative fame helped elevate the character some, but his role in the movie is controversial from my perspective. He's once again a ruthless killing machine, not unlike the character's debut in the pages of Vigilante. He's a weapon, which the government chooses to point and shoot at those with whom they'd rather not deal. Unlike his fellow Suicide Squad members, he's not at the time a convict. This movie is a guilty pleasure of mine, as I'm ashamed by its banal treatment of savage and barbaric behavior, but at the same time I am drawn in by the relatively strong character arcs. The final battle is a dream come to the screen as the original JLA baddie comes to the big screen at long last. 

The first Suicide Squad movie was a passable entertainment, but lacked focus and was so dark, both literally and thematically that it became difficult to fathom at all times. The second outing for the team was remarkable at just how brightly it lit the screen, quite literally. 

I don't know if Peacemaker's TV show was a done deal before the movie even happened, but the movie sure set the stage for Peacemaker's breakout as a more complex creation on the small screen. More on that tomorrow. 

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Peacemaker The Mini-Series

Peacemaker only ever got one mini-series in the 80's and that was a four-issue extended story which pitted him against a "Yellow Peril" villain named Tzin who commanded an army of super soldiers. In this series by Paul Kupperberg and artists Tod Smith and Pablo Marcos Christopher Smith is given a more solid footing as an anti-hero, and not just a psycho. 

We are treated to some elaborate text items in each issue which reveal Peacemaker's origins which differ from the Charlton version. He's the son of a Nazi officer and as such had quite the troubled upbringing. He was part of a prison experiment along with others and was only one of two people to survive. This treatment gave him enhanced physical skills but also a madness which presented as the ghost of his demanding and quite evil father. 

As Peacemaker makes use of his vast military arsenal to combat a small but deadly army of villains, he's given a more charitable presentation and even something of a potential love interest. His chateau doubles as his base of operations and is filled with support staff including a grumpy blind mechanic of impressive talent. 

 All in all this was a much better take on the character. He's still presented as unhinged, but still heroic. He's a man who is forced to battle demons both from without and from within. Something we can all identify with. 

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