Mystic Comics Primer
Series Primer
Mystic Comics was an anthology superhero/fantasy title that was published by Timely Comics in the 40s. Despite what the title suggests the feature also featured a lot of science fiction stories as well. The first issue featured the rubber robot called Flexo, the undead vigilante called the Blue Blaze, Flash Gordon rip-off Zephyr Jones, a detective team called the 3X’s, a Fu Manchu rip-off titled Deep Sea Demon, Dakor the Magician, and the android hero called the Dynamic Man. Zephyr Jones was a carry over from Daring Mystery Comics and was abandoned after the first issue. The 3X’s and Deep Sea Demon also didn’t make the cut. Dakor survived until the 3rd issue, while Flexo and the Dynamic Man both lasted an issue longer.
The second issue attempted to introduce more characters of varying success. The super intelligent detective Mastermind Excello, Zara the Jungle Girl, and the sci-fi based Space Rangers made it until issue #3. This issue had a lone one-hit wonders like the Taxi Taylor who was an inventor and a taxi driver. The most successful character in this issue was the Invisible Man, who last two more issues before getting cut himself. While issue #3 introduced a strong-man named Hercules (no, not that Hercules) who was canned one issue later. That very issue introduced the Golden Age Black Widow, the Thin Man, and Merzah the Magician Detective. Merzah and the Thin Man got the axe after their premieres. The Black Widow fared better, appearing in issues #5 & 7 before being bounced over to USA Comics (nothing says AMERICAN like being possessed by Satan, I guess?) then an issue of All-Select Comics before being retired out.
Mystic Comics #5 started a change where the series began focusing on more superhero centric stories as the genre became more popular during the war. That issue introduced the Black Marvel, the Terror, and the Blazing Skull. The Black Marvel lasted until issue 7, the Terror made it until issue #9, while the Blazing Skull made it to the end of the run. This issue wasn’t without it’s duds though. Someone thought it was a good idea to create a character called Super-Slave, who was basically a genie. The character was caucasian, but still, wow the balls on the guy who created that character. Other duds included the tyrannical Sub-Earth Man and the ridiculous Moon-Man whose sole contribution to heroism was foiling a tainted meat scam.
Issue #6 introduced the Destroyer the first superhero created by Stan Lee. The Destroyer appeared in the remaining issues of the run before being moved to USA Comics and All-Winners Comics and the odd story scattered among other Timely era books. The Challenger also started appearing in this title during the rest of its run, having been moved over from Daring Mystery Comics. The crime fighter called the Witness and the supernatural Davey and the Demon were also added to the title in issue #7. The Witness last appeared in issue #9, while Davey and the Demon ran until the end of the series. Issues #9 and 10 filled space with one-off stories about the Jekyll/Hyde rip off called Garry Gaunt, reporter Red Skeleton, and a fantasy tale called the World of Wonder. Issue #10 also featured a story featuring another Stan Lee creation, Father Time.
While the series ended after issue #10 it was one of the few titles of the Timely era to get a second volume which ran for 4 issues.
Series Legacy
Many of the characters in this series were eventually revived in more modern times.
The first were the Thin Man and the Destroyer who were both revived in the 1970s during when Roy Thomas was reviving a lot of wartime heroes. Thin Man made some appearances in the pages of Marvel Premiere, Invaders, and Marvel Two-In-One, as part of the Liberty Legion. He continues to appear in Marvel books from time to time, notably in the New Invaders series. Likewise, the Destroyer reappeared in the pages of the original Invaders series. However, they attempted to retcon the character Thomas introduced Brian Falsworth and stated that he was the one and only Destroyer and had him later pass on the title to Roger Aubrey. This has since been undone in a way that not only do Falsworth and Aubrey exist as the Destroyer, but Kevin Marlow has always been the hero as well. In the 80s, the Terror made a brief comeback in the pages of Sensational She-Hulk. The Blazing Skull resurfaced in Invaders (Vol. 2) and has been making recurring appearances in various other titles. While the Black Marvel was first revived in the first issue of Marvels and was one of the main characters in the Slingers series. While the Challenger was revived in She-Hulk #11.
Meanwhile, many of the other characters were revived after Marvel’s 70th anniversary. The Dynamic Man, Mastermind Excello, Black Widow, and the Witness became main characters in the Twelve limited series. While Taxi Taylor, Merzah, Moon-Man, the Invisible Man, Davey and the Demon became supporting characters in All-Winners Squad: Band of Heroes. Dakor the Magician briefly appeared in FF Vol 2, where it was revealed he was pulled forward in time. While Flexo became one of the main characters in Marvel Zombies Destroy!
Most recently, in Marvel Comics #1000, the 3 X’s were revealed to have wider reaching connections to the Marvel Universe, setting their first appearance back to Marvel Comics #1 as the Science Council that condemned Phineas Horton’s creation of the Human Torch. They would later evolve into the Enclave, who would later appear in the pages of Fantastic Four.
Index Scope
Just like with other 40s era titles, I have omitted text stories since they are of little value in terms of continuity.
