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This week we’ve seen two postings that are deliberately funny, and now this one, which is funny, but in that particular ACG kinda way. Editor Richard E. Hughes, whom I believe wrote this story, was known for being able to concoct some off-the-wall strories, and did so for his entire career. I haven’t gotten around to reading all seven issues of Commander Battle and the Atomic Sub, but this one caught my eye with the H-bomb from the moon theme.
Yes, Virginia, there was a move to put nuclear weapons on the moon! The U.S. wanted to do it by 1965,* but cooler heads prevailed and the moon was declared off-limits for military action. While all kinds of military stuff is orbiting our planet in the form of satellites, luckily no one has used the moon for staging a first strike capability.
In the two-part “Journey to the Moon!” from Commander Battle #3 (1954), off-the-wall is a misnomer...it is more spaced-out. Howlers pile up when Hughes introduces outrageously wrong information (a sub can be converted to a rocket ship — in a couple of panels, yet — the moon has an atmosphere, etc.) Hughes probably knew these things were impossible, but when he wrote a story anything that advanced the plot, no matter how goofy, could be thrown in.
As we have done several times in this blog, for information on a particular feature we go to the late Don Markstein, and his blog, Toonopedia,** to read about the feature. Don didn’t get into how improbable the stories could be.
Artwork is by Sheldon Moldoff. Shelly did a nice portrait of President Dwight Eisenhower...he looks just like he did in the “I Like Ike” campaign pictures when he ran for office.
*Read about Project Horizon.
**Go here for the Toonopedia entry on Commander Battle.
Posted in: Pappy Comics
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