Chapter 3 November 1946Planet Comics #45

The Futura story in Planet Comics #45

(November 1946) begins with the lead character

in a pose and setting that is reminiscent of

previous work seen on the covers of several

Fiction House titles. Hiding up in a tree is a poor

idea tactically since there is no where to flee if

discovered. It is likely the reason so the setting

was drawn that way is to get all the principles in

one panel with the added benefit of being able

to show a nice shot of the heroines' derriere.

In this chapter Futura is on the run both the

Brain-Men and the locals who took up the

occupation of being rebels after "failing" to pass

the tests of the Masters of Pan-Cosmos and

suffering abandonment on a world of monsters.

Moments away from freedom, Futura saves the

life of the leader of the renegades, leading to

being captured once again.

Planet Comics #45 (November 1946)

Planet Comics #45 (November 1946)

In this issue the artistic format of the story

telling is becoming less creative and begins to

resemble the standard layout for a more

economic style of comic book. If I have a

critique of the Futura series it is the seeming

"hiccup" in story telling at this point. After only a

few issues the kidnapped secretary from Earth

is abruptly promoted from lab-animal to the

warrior-queen leader of the rebellion. A bit

sudden for an unknown quantity who's only

previously demonstrable skills were the

operation of a typewriter.

Later, after what I call the "Magic Sword of

Destiny" arc concludes the story of Futura

reboots after a fashion and takes on a more

logical progression of her journey through

hostile space. It was as if the creators had a

long story planned but were under the

impression they had to wrap it up quickly, then

got the news they would be hanging around for

a while like the other Planet Comics serials.

Planet Comics

was a science fiction comic-book title

produced by Fiction House and issued

from Jan. 1940 (issue 1) to Winter 1953

(issue 73). Like many of Fiction House's

early comics titles, Planet Comics was a

spinoff of a pulp magazine, in this case

Planet Stories, which featured space

operatic tales of muscular, heroic space

adventurers who were quick with their 'ray

pistols' and always running into gorgeous

females who needed rescue from bug-

eyed space aliens or fiendish interstellar

bad guys.

Planet Comics #1 (January 1940)

Planet Comics was considered by noted fan Raymond Miller to be "perhaps the best of the

Fiction House group," as well as "most collected and most valued." In Miller's opinion, it

"wasn't really featuring good art or stories... in the first dozen or so issues," not gaining most

of "its better known characters" until "about the 10th issue." "Only 3 of its long running strips

started with the first issue... Flint Baker, Auro - Lord of Jupiter, and the Red Comet."