Gil Kane (1926–2000)

From this reprint of a short-lived comic book series from the late 1960s that was based on a toy line, it's easy to see why it was canceled so quickly. Bad scripts and mediocre art make it chore to read. The original letter columns are included, and it is amusing to see that some of the early reactions were pretty negative and that a couple of the letters were by eventual comic book professionals Martin Pasko and Klaus Janson.

Captain Action is archaeologist Clive Arno. He discovers some magic coins that were left on Earth by some aliens who came to our planet and were the basis of the gods of ancient mythology. As long as he holds some of the coins somewhere on his person, he can switch between the grab bag of powers they grant (super strength, super senses, weather manipulation, super speed, combat skills, etc. -- alas, there was no "I know kung fu" coin). He immediately creates an undercover headquarters outfitted with a fancy car and laboratory and becomes a superhero. He gives one coin to his son so he can be his sidekick, Action Boy. He fights evil villains while yelling, "Let justice be done!"

So let's see, we've got some Batman, Superman, Hawkman, Shazam/Captain Marvel, Dial-H-for-Hero, and Ultra Boy all lumped together with a sticky gruel of pure dumbness.

A perfect example of the sort of superhero dreck we used to accept as normal back in the day.

FOR REFERENCE:

Originally published in magazine form as Captain Action (1968) #1-5.

Contents:
• Introduction by Mark Waid
• Captain Action #1 cover / Art by Irv Novick
• Captain Action #1: "Origin of Captain Action" / Script by Jim Shooter, art by Wally Wood
• Captain Action vintage advertisement
• Captain Action #2 cover / Art by Gil Kane
• Captain Action #2: "The Battle Begins" / Script by Jim Shooter, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Wally Wood
• Captain Action #3 cover / Pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Dick Giordano
• Captain Action #3: " . . . And Evil This Way Comes!" / Script and pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Wally Wood
• Captain Action #3 letters page / Letters written by Gordon Flagg, Jr. (Atlanta, Ga.) and Paul Wikander (Berkeley, Cal.)
• Captain Action #4 cover / Art by Gil Kane
• Captain Action #4: "Evil at Dead World's End!" / Script and art by Gil Kane
• Captain Action #4 letters page / Letters written by Carl Gafford (New Milford, Conn.), Harvey Sobel (Commack, N.Y.), Dave Truesdale (Bemidji, Minn.)
• Captain Action #5 cover / Art by Gil Kane
• Captain Action #5: "A Mind Divided" / Script and pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Wally Wood
• Captain Action #5 letters page / Letters written by Gordon Flagg, Jr. (Atlanta, Ga.), Martin Pasko (Clifton, N.J.), Klaus Janson (Bridgeport, Conn.), George Gambino (Levittown, N.Y.), Craig Battmer (Minneapolis, Minn.), Lee McMichael (Valdosta, Ga.), Preston Quade (Norfolk, Va.), Steven Sinatra (Brockton, Mass.), Mark Anderson (Highmore, S.D.), Rich Mrozek (Elmwood Pk., Ill.), Pat Moade (Mt. Carmel, Ill.), Warren Somers (Los Angeles, Cal.)
• Captain Action Gallery / Art by Kurt Schaffenberger, Chic Stone, Gil Kane, and Wally Wood… (meer)