Black Cat Mystery, no. 57

Black Cat Mystery, no. 57

Black Cat went through a number of title changes from its launch in 1946 to its eventual end in 1963. Initially a title named after the "Black Cat," a stunt woman and actress named Linda Turner who dons a costume to fight crime, the series would change formats to a Western, horror, and mystery title. Perhaps in response to the 1954 Comics Code, this issue boasts a "NEW DESIGN in mystery." It moves away from the scantily-clad heroine of the series, singled out in Fredric Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent as one of the negative influences on the youth of America because of Black Cat's penchant for hand-to-hand combat. This revised Black Cat title features suspense and science fiction stories. The cover references "20th Century Man," a story in this issue that is "told in the format of a television show. The story panels become your TV screen and the suspense of its awful problems comes to life before your eyes." Notably, the cover to this issue is pencilled and inked by famed comics artist Jack Kirby, co-creator of the Avengers, Captain America, the X-Men, and much more. (Reference: Harry Mendryk, "Harvey Horror and Science Fiction: Black Cat Mystery #57," Jack Kirby Museum, 12 April 2012. http://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/simonandkirby/archives/4373 )

Editor: Harvey, Leon H. (Leon Harvey), 1901-

Penciler & Inker: Kirby, Jack

Letterer: Rosen, Joe

English

Still image

blackcatmystery_057_cover.jpg