Fawcett comics survives

[THeaven]

In February of 1979 Len Wein and Michael Kaluta were commissioned to work on Marvel comics title
Minute Man
the duo were picked based on Wein's work on team books and Kalutas work on adapting pulp area characters into modern comics might help revive the agent of SATURN made famous from it's TV series from the 60s.
Wein a Goldenage superhero fan discovered that Fawcett owned the rights to the Nedor comics lineup and other than having them adapted for a Japanese maket nobody was doing anything with them and so Len pitched his idea that was rejected by DC when he was writing Justice League of America. Len Weins Idea had Minute man going to another dimension where Captain Nazi killed the Marvel family of that world alloing the Nazi take over said dimensional jump would have him team up with the Nedor superheroes who are that worlds only resistance against the Empire.

(Top Left to right: )Pyroman, Fighting Yank, Captain Future (Shazams newest champion) Spectro the Psychic, Red Mask (formally Woman in Red changed after Miss Masque death) Black Terror 2(formally Tim the Kid Terror,
(Bottom Left to right Liberator, American Eagle 2 (formally Eaglett) Miss Masque (RIP) American Crusader
The Freedom Fighters would remain a cult favorite inspite of most of the team's demise in Crisis on infinite earth's with their meeting with their Japanese counterparts being a particular fun story

 

[THeaven]

With the formation of Marvel Enterprise C.C Beck suggested a return of the Lieutenant Marvels in a backup story for Marvel Family #2 the characters of Tall Marvel and Hillbilly Marvel had been slowly phasing out since Fat Marvel became the Human Flying saucer in the 60s and when CBS got ahold of the Fawcett properties stopped using these characters all together. To entice old fans and new a challenge was created to introduce a new Lieutenant Marvel.

With Black Sentinel being considered a relic of the Blacksploitaion days the new company decided to it would be prudent to introduce a new Black hero for the comics line and thus introduced Wille Boatson son of Steamboat of Earth Gold. Originally called the Black Marvel but changed as Atlas comics had a character with that name whom they could bring back young Wille would join the Marvel family as Skipper Marvel.

 

[THeaven]

I was informed that I should start a recapp on this Timeline to keep people from being confused I am also using this to put in some information that I forgot to post or found new information on and now need to reddit as well as get rid of changes that are not going anywhere.
1949: National periodical/DC lost it's case against Fawcett Publication over the similarity between Superman and Captain Marvel as the Judge deemed the flying brick argument was not enough to argue copyright infringement as comics have several flying brick heroes like Nedor comics American Crusader or Fox features Blue Beetle.
The battle between the two companies continues with dueling sequels to the Movie serials
Columbia pictures Superman vs AtomMan & Republic pictures Captain Marvel Return of the Scorpion
Superman would win this battle as Columbia had more money for effects and gave it's audience the first appearance of Lex Luthor. It was felt that the choice of changing Tom Tyler with future Academy award nominated actor George Reeves (From here to Eternity) hurt its sales.
Otto Binder never leaves Fawcett for DC
With the cancelation of Slam Bradley Seigel and Shuster Plan on demanding creative royalties for their creation or they will walk away and start over.
By the new Decade Superheroes were starting to become unpopular with many companies closing down by the end of the Decade. Many Superhero titles were switched to other genres like Horror, Westerns, Science Fiction and Teen Romance with only Superman, Superboy, Action comics, Batman, Detective comics,Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Marvel Family and Captain America remaining Superhero titles by 1953
1950: Timely comics tried to bring Superheroes into the 50s with Stellar boy created by Stan Lee but the comic was canceled after 5 issues
Superheroes may have been old hat in The United States but Canada and the UK still had fondness for costume crimefighter and Fawcett Publication had ties to the foriegn Dealerships companies

Anglo-American comics was on the verge of closing doors by 1950 but the Fawcett Merger alowwed Characters such as The Purple Rider join Golden Arrow, and Red Gaucho to appear in issues of Wow Western comics
and Canada Jack appear in Commando Yanks War tales. the Merger helped switch AA comics from Canadian Whites to Canadian colors

 

[THeaven]

1951- National periodical/DC decided not to pursue an appeal and work on on a radical venture into Television with The Adventures of Superman staring John Hart and Phyllis Coates

With out a continuing trial the Fawcett magazine publishers would not sell off their two successful non superhero magazines to Charlton. "This Magazine is Haunted" and "Fawcett's Funny Animals"

Like IOTL This Magazine is Haunted would be end after the creation of the Comic book code authority in 1953 but it's success would allow Max Gaines of EC comics to sell the rights to Moon girl( whose title at the time was transformed into a romance comic)where she teamed up with Mary Marvel
and in 1952 Jack Cole would be brought on to Funny animals (Now Hosted by Talking Tawny) and introduced the Marvel bunny Family With Hoppy , his sister Floppy , and their Friend Lucky the one legged Marvel Bunny

 

[THeaven]

With the ibtroduction of the Comics code authority of 1953 the Comics code authority caused a strain on the field as the Costume heroes were seamingly dying out with new heroes like Captain Flash and Stellar Boy were not successful in reviving the genre.
However with the Government paranoia of pro censorship in the 1950s the new genre of horror and Good girl adventures was at risk


[One of the last issues Nyoka before her failed update drowning in the sea of leopard bikini Heroines]
But in 1955 after the success of National periodical/DC's Captain Comet. Fawcett's writer/artist team of Otto Binder and Frank Frazetta revived Minute man from a Patriot clad Superhero to a Scifi Time Traveler and agent of SATURN

[Original lithograph featuring Minute man, Irene Wells, & Dr Krownose fighting Morlocks by Frank Frazetta ]
The Minute-man would help the flailing company and compete as the face with Captain Marvel

 

[THeaven]

Starting in 1957 the Superhero genre started it's revival by it's creation of successors to the All American & Quality comics characters the company acquired

(Famous issue that includes Jay Garrek's successor of the Flash title meeting Eel O'Brien's successor to Plastic man)National periodical/DC would have great success in these types of revivals like Hal Jordan as the Green lantern and Rodney Raymond as The Atom before the passing of The Copyright act of 1976 put these characters in the public domain.

(List of Quality comics superheroes successors introduced in our timeline)
Fawcett who had picked up other Characters themselves including the Nedor Superheroes, Moongirl from EC comics and was currently working on the purchase of Ace periodical & Magazine Enterprise's negotiation made the Collaboration of Writer/artist team of Otto Binder and Mick Angelo went in a different direction with using parallel Earths which helped formed a Legion of superheroes based on the Children/successors of the foreign heroes to team up with the Marvel Family and other heroes

(First appearance of Future girl the Niece of Nedor comics Captain Future witch would be later revealed to be Shazams champion of Earth-N)
With the success of New Superhero Teams with DCs Justice League of America and Fawcett's Legion of Superheroes the struggling Timely/Atlas comics would put their foot back in the game that was Different, original, dare I say Fantastic.

 

[THeaven]

(The Adventurous, Atlas Amazing Society card)
With the Success of DCs Justice League of America and Fawcett's Legion of Superheroes & The Marvel Family Atlas comics editor* Archie Goodwin recruits Stan Lee to come up with their own Superhero team
Stan Lee went all out with Jack Kirby, and Created the Fantastic Four, followed by The Incredible Hulk, Ironman, Thor, X-men along with Spider-man , and Dr. Strange with Steve Ditko making Atlas comics a credible competition for the Big 2.
This revival of Atlas many struggling comic companies decided to get back into the Superhero genre including Harvey, Dell, Gold key, Archie and Charlton.

Before closing it's doors Fox Features had Sold their Blue Beetle to Charlton comics, as the Fantastic four getting big Charlton negotiated for the Big 3 instead.
Charlton was working on a negotiation with Lev Gleason for the Rights of Daredevil and Lev would only interested in selling the rights as Blue Beetle had been transition faithfully causing initial transfer of the Blue Beetle title to Yellowjacket instead. Daredevil, Captain Atom and Yellowjacket would lead the Big 3 after the Heads of Charton decided to focus their stories away from Magic.

List of Comic Superhero Team titles1958-1965​

Fawcett Publication	Marvel Family, T.H.U.N.D.E.R Agents, Legion of superheroes
National periodical/DC	Justice League of America, Teen Titans, Challengers of the Unknown, Doom Patrol**
Atlas comics	Fantastic Four, Avengers ***, X-men
Charlton Comics	Big Three

Archie comics

Mighty Crusaders

*To keep from obtaining the Wrath of Fawcett's lawyers Atlas comics never reverts to the Marvel comics title
** Challengers of the Unknown & Doom Patrol will still merge in 1969 causing X-mens cancelation in 1970
*** Avengers are keeping their name from OTL as yes Fawcett will buy Magazine Enterprise but the heads will decide that Mr. Scarlet and The Avenger look to similar and can only have one

 

[THeaven]

With Atlas comics coming back into the Superhero game and continuing to build itself a roster of heroes that was Challenging the big two DC comics was finding itself drifting to the third spot. The heads of the National periodical/DC called Bill Finger into the office, With the two major rivals having a family based superhero team it was decided that the Floundering Batman titles would bring that dynamic into DC comics

Finger agreed if he could get co-creator credit on the the Characters. DC agreed and Bill began writing adventures of Batman going on some adventures with Robin, Batwoman, (whom would fulfill his prominent love intrest) and her niece * Bat-girl sometimes taking them outside of Gotham city or having team ups with Mystery man** or Fellow Detective comics star Martian Manhunter if the adventures were Scifi related. This revival of Batman caught the eye of Howe Warriz who when the TV series was in production pitched Batwoman to be on the show despite Fox's misgivings and as a compromise merged Batwoman with Dick Grayson's Aunt Harriet Cooper casting Lee Meriwether in the role Lee would leave in season 2 and a different Batgirl played by Yvoone Craig in season 3 ***

Lee Meriwether would return in the 20th century fox/Toho Film Batman vs Godzilla in 1969as Batwoman which would inspire Denny O'Neill to give her her own series of globe trotting adventures.
*With The TV show turning Kathy Kane into Robin's Aunt Kathy Kooper Betty Kane was dropped from comics and all her previous stories were staged to be Arrowite whom Robin was dating in the Teen Titans comics or Junior detective Wendy Harris from Superfriends.
The renewed interest in Batman would convince Fawcett to revive Mr. Scarlet to a new generation in 1964.
** Several characters had taken up the title of Mystery man including Commissioner Gordon, Alfred Penniworth, Moonman,an Amnesiac Riddler, and Two-Face (which was adapted in second season episodes "Mystery of Mystery man" & "Two-Face Double Cross " with guest star villain Clint Eastwood
*** Yvoone Craig was supposed to reprise her role as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl but when her schedule prevented her from going to Japan, Lee was brought back for the Cult classic.

 

[THeaven]

In the late seventies Ghost Rider had been in a rut during CBS'S ownership Ghost Rider had been canceled to keep the company "family friendly "
With the company loosing CBS'S backing andand going independent Ghost Rider comics were brought back however after awhile Matthew Dunsinane* was used to reintroduce classic heroes of Fawcett's Golden age who were trapped in Limbo but in 1978 Ghost Rider #12 inspired by the appearance of The Master's reappearance in the Doctor Who episode Deadly Assassin Artist George Perez helped Michael Flieisher bring back the obscure Captain Marvel Villain** Black Adam in the Story After Teth Adam turne to dust in his initial appearance his soul was sent to hell where he made a deal with the Ghost Rider villain Brimstone who gave him the new look for a new era terrorizing The Marvel Family

* Gary Friedrich and Gene Colan created Ghost Rider as Johnny Blaze but Mathew Dubinsane was created by Michael Fleisher and Mike Ploog as Johnny went to Heaven after the end of his original run.
** as far as I can tell Black Adam was used as CMs adversary IOTL when DC got the rights was because Niatpac Levram was too similar to Bizzaro. With Bizarro butterflied away Teth Adam was an obscure one shot villain brought back with a demonic makeover

 

[THeaven]

In 1978 The Charles Fawcett Family made a surprise visit to Marvel Enterprise. The company previously owned by CBS had attempted to bounce back to it's height in the Comic book field but was was barely scrapping third place. The Fawcetts had been starting the Distribution of Archie Comics and set up a proposal Everyone agreed

Archie Comics Banner would handle the child friendly comics

• Tippy Teen would join Riverdale,
• Dennis the Menace
• Funnyman,
• Hoppy the Marvel bunny family,
• as well as any media heroes from Filmmation

Fawcett Enterprise Banner* would get the chance to use the Mighty Crusaders*as well as any Golden age MLJ hero or villain
With C.C Beck & Marylin Binder Still on the board this was an opportunity not to sign on to this collaboration.

* Yes I was using Crusaders as Fawcett's JL equivalent but since Discovery of Fawcett on some Archie comics from The 70s this was too good to ignore so I'm referring that team to the Squadron from now on

 

[THeaven]

In 1968 Joe Gill would leave Charlton over desputes with management over stopping stories revolving around Magic. Heading to DC with Artist Dave Cockram, Gardner Fox intrest in Gills work on Son of Vulcan decided he would be a good fit for Wonder Woman paired with artist Mike Serkowsky Diana would find herself as the new Queen of the Amazons forcing her away from Steve Trevor and the Justice League (Black Canary, Hawkwoman, & Batwoman would alternate the female role of the team) this period would be known as the White Queen saga based on her new outfit

(@nick_crenshaw82 please make a micro hero based on this look)
The Series would be well received with the book introducing New heroes like Peacekeeper and And the New judomaster Mr. Terrific but the new look alienated the normies whom were mainly familiar with her classic look from the Brady kids cartoon & Superfriends, not helped by the fact that the expanded media comic for Superfriends stated that Marvin was the Child of the Real Diana Prince who WW used her identity while she went to find her Husband across enemy lines, a decision that would have Dave Cochram put Martin in the Teen Titans as Wonder boy further causing problems I 1976 ABC had Wonder Woman TV show produced pitched as a combination of Batman and Charlies Angels the show would put her back into her patriotic garb to celebrate the Bicentennial (the idea that if successful would change to her White outfit later on) giving DC the excuse to put Diana at Status quo

The Series would introduce many of Wonder Woman's rogues to the Small Screen however Wonder boy would not appear instead the first season would introduce a Teenage Amazon Drusilla played Debra Winger aka Wonder Girl . Wonder girl would not appear in comics until 1980 when DC and Warner brothers decided to capitalize on Wingers success in the award winning film An Officer and a Gentleman where Drusilla would make her comics debut in Tales of the Teen Titans #1

 

[THeaven]

In the 1970s Inferior 5 creator E. Nelson Bridwell jumped ship to Fawcett to work on The Mighty Isis ,Space Sentinels and other TV based comics. however he found his Strive in the Marvel Bunny universe . Credited with such characters as Bulletmouse, Spy-Rammer, Hisster Scarlet, & The Quailtion amung others these characters would cause C.C Beck to ask him to help bring back some of the their Golden age heroes before they fall into public domain thanks to the Copyright act of 1976

Bridwell used this opportunity to create an international superhero team he had been working on called sThe Global Guardians. some would join the Sentinel Squadron international
From left to right

• Dr. Voodoo. Haiti
• Hunchback * France
• Red Gaucho. Mexico
• Owl Woman. USA (Native Reservation)
• Jack O Lantern. Ireland
• Green Flame** Brazil
• Ice maiden. Norway
• Mermaid. Denmark
• Red Rover. Canada
• Bushmaster. Australia
• Super Samurai *** Japan
• Godiva. UK
• Impala Kenya
• Sephrah. Israel

* Yes we talked about Hunchback being Fawcett's first Black Superhero but I think it would make better since that they would emulate Hunchback of Notre dame now that doesn't mean Victors succor in the 80s-90s couldn't be African American
** Green Flame was supposed to be the Golden age Wildfire but with Dave Cochram creating his Wildfire in the Teen Titans a new name was given
*** Super Samurai is taken from the Toho senti series Fighting Samurai Ken (Which was taken from The Fighting Yank)

 

[THeaven]

Dazzler and the coming of the Atlas Civil War
In 1978 Stan Lee and Jim Shooter met with Casablanca records to collaborate on a Disco themed Superhero with the possibility of producing an animated special if not a feature film.
Jim Shooter put together an all star team in the industry to work on the Character with the idea that the character going From Disco Queen to Dazzler as Suggested by John Rometta would be a young musician Alice Blair empowered with light and sound by muses.

(Original sketch of Dazzler before Casablanca records announced sent the memo that Bo Derek was interested)
As the negotiations were going back and forth Atlas comics found their contract with with Casablanca records and their company Filmworks to Columbia pictures who were eager to come up with a rival to 1980's comic book movie boom thanks to the upcoming Superman 2, Flash Gordon and Popeye were willing to negotiate with Jon Dereks who would have Nancy Walker to co direct as John Derek had never done musicals (and to keep it PG) and agree to the script by Jim Shooter & Alan Carr.*
Jim Shooter wanted Dazzler to be introduced in the upcoming Defenders storyline Dark Phoenix saga** but Columbia ordered a cease and desist order as Hulk and Dr Strange were adapted by Universal studios and strongly suggested that Dazzler should appear with Spider-man.

The message was clear until the movie leaves theaters (1980-1981) Dazzler and Spiderman would not interact with the Defenders or The Human Torch ***
* if a movie says written by & instead of "and" it means someone came in to take over the script not a collaboration
** X-men have not had their own title since 72 and IOTL Clea has the Phoenix force. It will be my next post.
*** Universal is trying to figure out how to make a Human Torch series along with other projects which caused Scott & Jean to join the Fantastic four in the first place IOTL They might succeed

 

[THeaven]

TV guide promoting CBS's Dr. Strange TV series (1979-1981) based on the Atlas comics of the same name the show would be described in it's day as Quincy ME meets Night Gallery.
With the Incredible Hulk (Bill Bixby & Lou Ferrigno guest started in the first season) and Strange both becoming house household names The Defenders would shoot up in popularity rivaling Fantastic four as the premiere Superhero team for Atlas comics

Though the Show was short lived mainly due to the satanic panic of the 80s (TV evangelist would use the Doctor as a target well after its cancelation)
The show would cause both DC and Fawcett to dust off their own Wizard heroes and give Doctor Fate and Ibis the invincible there own titles again

 

[THeaven]

As part of the collaboration between the Fawcett and Archie 1979 pitched a crossover by Dan DeCarlo and C. C Beck showed the teens of Riverdale and the Marvel family as Mr. Mind took control of the Riverdale residence Resulting in a teamup of Captain Marvel and Pureheart the Powerful. The result of said crossover would change Betty Coopers identity from Super-teen to Marvel-girl

 

[THeaven]

With DC and Atlas doing well with their Superhero Teams in the 60's
{DC- Justice League of America, Teen Titans,Doom Challengers & MetalMen} {Atlas- Fantastic four, Avengers, & unsuccessfully X-men}
Fawcett comics having premiered the Legion of Superheroes & THUNDER agents in the early 60s had no reason to bring back the Crime Crusaders club as MinuteMan was in Time Traveling adventures and Captain Marvel jr. Was working with the ever growing Marvel family. However with the company being dropped by CBS and new alliance with Archie comics it was time to bring in a new collective group of American heroes Fawcett brought in Larry Hama (W) and David Michelle (A) Dubbed The Squadron of Champions.
The team Premiered in Whiz comics Presents # 3 with
Ibis the invincible,
Bulletman 2 (Rich Ryder)
BulletWoman (Helen Taylor)
Commando Yank 2 ( Hank Henshaw)
Golden Arrow 2 (Mark Eaglewing)
Scarlet Avenger (Matt Murdock)*
The Question (Vic Sage)**
Ms Avenger (Claire Darrow)
With more members coming soon
*When Fawcett merged with Magazine Enterprise in 1960s they had the problem that Mr. Scarlet and the Avenger were too similar in appearance and when CBS bought the company to make CBS comics they were told one had to go. When CBS dropped Fawcett it was suggested that the new Mister Scarlet use the Avenger's Technology and basically merged the names.
** The Question is slumming it in the team books as Fawcett Publication doesn't know how to work him in the 70s however by the end of the Decade a hungry writer/Artist named Frank Miller will be put on the dying title.
[Edited thanks to @nick_crenshaw82 ]

 

[THeaven]

Marvel family 1977-1985
Captain Marvel/Billy Batson
Mary Marvel/Mary Bromfield
Commander Paragon/ Freddy Freeman (formerly Captain Marvel jr.)
Tawky Tawny
Uncle Wendell Dudley
Lieutenant Marvels:
Miss Marvel/ Mary Dudley (formerly Freckles Marvel)
Black Tempest/Billy S. Boat
Fat-Man the Human Flying Saucer/Big Bill Batson (formerly Fat Marvel)
Sheriff Thunder / Billy Joe Batson (formerly Hillbilly Marvel)
Skylight/William Batson (formerly Tall Marvel)
Teth-2 (Black Adam's heir from the Legion of superheroes)
Marvel girl/Betty Cooper (from the Captain Marvel meets Archie special)
[Not Pictured] Shazam the Wizard, Marvel-bot(an Android from with the power of flying & detachable body parts), Rocky the Marvel dog, Streaky the Marvel cat, Professor Marvel (Earth Golds Billy), Titano the Marvel ape, Skipper S. Boat (Black Tempest Dad),Comet the Marvel Horse & the Marvel Bunny family (Hoppy, Flopsy and Lucky)

 

[THeaven]

In 1974 the discussion between C.C Beck and Marian Binder about Captain Marvel jr. Though having a loyal following he was still felt trapped in the early 50s young artist/ Billl Black was appointed from the Marvel family comics to bring Freddy Freeman into the 70s.
Bill first allowed Freddy to change by saying SHAZAM (with initials standing in for different deities to Billy, Mary, and Black Adam) he then brushed off his sketch from 1972 to give him a new design for Captain Marvel.
For months in the pages of various Fawcett comics ads were posted asking WHO IS COMMANDER PARAGON? and in December of 1975 Commander Paragon #1 hit the newsstand as Freddy Freeman revealed his new look and took on a team up of Captain Nazi and Comrade Nuclear.

 

[THeaven]

With the success of the Spy genre thanks to the likes of James Bond C.C Beck approached Wally Wood to revive Spy Smasher in the way Jim Sterango revived Sgt Fury.
Wood introduced Alan Armstrong Jr. To The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserve or THUNDER teaming up with the mysterious Nomad, the psychic Menthor, the Speedster Lightning, & Twilight an espy of Captain Midnight. Together they fought the the terrorist organization of SPYDER. By the time of the seventies the Spy genre was wearing thin and with Vietnam & Watergate causing mistrust in authoritie figures Spy-Smaher &co found themselves fighting Aliens instead of political adversaries.

in 1974 Wally Wood Wood returned to the title introducing new members to the roster

The beautiful android Mystria
The Monstorous muscle Glomb
And the shape changing alien Shag.
Wood kept the scifi element as the genre was popular thanks to the success of Star Trek: New Voyages, * Alien, & Star Wars.
While in the UK Miller comics ** ( a subsidiary of Fawcett Productions) was having success releasing reprints of the American stories as well as issuing original content which lead to difficulties with Ion Productions. The end of The Spy who Loved me Stated that Bond's follow up would be For your eyes only but thanks to the Scifi boom Moonraker was pitched instead for the 1979 release. However early into the production Cubbie Brocklii discovered on the the newsstand Spy-Smasher & the Agents of THUNDER was using the exact same story beats (as the British original stories kept the Spy elements)
Ion Productions decided to go back and bring For Your Eyes only to theaters however sets had been designed, and costumes were made and in 1979 United Artists called up Fawcett with intrest for a Spy-Smaher movie.

 

[THeaven]

In 1975 National Lampoon would get the rights to publish the French magazine Metal Harmont in the United States & Canada as Heavy Metal to great success allowing the company to consider expanding to mainstream comics. Warren Publications was also seeing success thanks to Hammers Vamprella, and with their involvement produced Panthra, Hammer Horror Monthly, and G-fan.
the Need for Adultish stories reverberated across the industry, the Atlas comics would be the first to start getting into the magazine market bay launching Magazines featuring the stars of their Heroes from Prime time TV along with their Conan the Barbarian magazine

• Rampaging Hulk
• Spider-Man News stories
• Dr. Stranges Mystic Mysteries

Fawcett would decide to revive their their classic Horror comic This Magazine is Haunted in 1978 as a Horror magazine that would showcase unrated stories based on their more Monstorous Heroes as well as original short stories by writers such as Steven King, George R.R. Martin & Robert Blach

The Anti-Heroes that appeared in this magazine would be known as the Haunted Heroes

a team up would be inevitable