Number 1544: Wham! Bam! Biff! with Commander Steel and his fists of iron

Commander Steel, “wanderer of the world” for the International Police Service, is wandering around in America when he comes upon an auction of war surplus goods. It’s all bought (for $25,000, a bargain) by a criminal fascist group re-arming for another run at taking over der vorld! What makes it simpler for them is that we Americans like to make a buck, even by selling tanks, arms and explosives to people we don’t know, even those who pay with checks drawn on South American banks. This was 1946, and escaped Nazis were hiding out in South America. But that doesn’t tip off anyone but Commander Steel, who wades into battle with those fascists armed only with his fists of Steel.

I love the scene where he comes upon a box marked “time bombs.” Gad, how convenient. Any terrorist worth his suicide vest would love to find that.

The story is from Grand Slam Three Aces #47 (1946), a Canadian comic book from Anglo-American Publishing, which did have some distribution in the U.S. after the war, when embargoes on importing U.S. comics and other non-essential goods were lifted. Alas, even Commander Steel couldn’t save the publisher against the onslaught of our homegrown U.S. comic book industry. By the end of 1946 this comic and Commander Steel were back north of the 49th parallel, and then gone for good.

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In 2010 I showed another Commander Steel story. Click on the thumbnail.

Number 957


Volcano Demons


I haven't seen too many original 1940's Golden Age Canadian comics, not of original material, anyway, but what I've seen I like. I showed a Commander Steel story from Grand Slam Three Aces #54 in Pappy's #844. I commented that the publisher, Anglo-American, was the Canadian publisher of Captain Marvel, and that the Commander Steel strip looked like it was drawn in a Fawcett Comics-Captain Marvel style. This strip, "The Crusaders," is also drawn in a Fawcett style, but in content reminds me of a Planet Comics-Flash Gordon mix.

There's a cliffhanger ending, but sorry...I don't have the next episode.

From Grand Slam Three Aces #48, 1945:

Number 844

Vampire Klan Killers!

I don't know a lot about Canadian comic books. This story, from Grand Slam Comics #52, 1946, is a postwar attempt to create a product with original characters to be distributed outside Canada. The publisher, Anglo-American, based in Toronto, had the rights to reprint Fawcett comics, Captain Marvel, et al. The ads are for American companies. An ad from Fawcett featuring their toy line says "No Canadian orders accepted" on the coupon!

Commander Steel is drawn in a Fawcett Comics style. I don't know who the artist was, but his art reminds me of Pete Costanza's artwork. Steel himself is a member of the "International Police Service", yet seems to be without backup in the two stories I've read. This story, with its postwar Nazis and lurid vampire Klansmen, looks just like something from an American publisher of the time. It's silly but enjoyable.

In appearance Commander Steel evokes Captain Marvel, but also reminds me of the much later Alan Moore character, Tom Strong.