#black terror

EXCITING COMICS (vol. 1) #9 (May, 1941). Cover by Elmer Wexler.

This issue contains the original and first appearance of the Black Terror (Bob Benton) and his sidekick, Tim (no, really, he used his first name as his superhero name).

The Black Terror quickly became Nedor's most popular superhero. He became the headliner in Exciting Comics, became a lead feature in America's Best Comics, and was soon awarded his own solo comic book.

Black Terror #2

by Beau Smith/Charles Dixon (W) Den Brereton (A) and Wayne Truman (L)

I had just wrapped up my second ZEGAS issue when I drew this. On top of self-publishing, I was pitching projects and submitting samples and exhausting every possible avenue for paying work. It was a time of desperate hunger amidst fierce competition. (When is it not?) I didn’t notice anyone doing anything with the Golden Age character Black Terror, so I came up with a proposal that allowed me to draw some blood and muscle. Nobody asked for it! Yet here it exists.

This drawing symbolizes the tension between subject matter and style. As an “indie” guy (ugh), superheroes weren’t *supposed* to be in my wheelhouse. I drew this anyway… and I had a ball doing so. Sure, it’s clunky, but the spirit is there.