#spark comics

Green Lama #5 (May, 1945).  Cover by Mac Raboy.

The Green Lama was a character that originally appeared in the pulp magazine Double Detective in 1940.  He made 14 appearances in that magazine, while concurrently appearing in Prize Comics.  In 1943 he gained his own self-titled comic book, along with more superhero-type abilities and costume.  The book lasted for 8 issues, published by his creator and writer, Kendall Foster Crossen.

Despite some misinformation on the Interwebs, the Green Lama is NOT in the public domain.  Crossen kept the copyright to the character, which is maintained by his family.

By the way, I speak from personal experience when I say there’s no way that G.I. on the Green Lama’s back could possibly hold and fire a .50 cal machine gun as depicted.  Not unless he was superhuman as well (he’s NOT the Lieutenant Hercules listed on the cover).

First of all, holding the barrel while firing is a great way to lose your hand.  I’m not talking burn, I’m talking incineration.  Those barrels get hot real quick!  So much so that gunners are trained to only fire the weapon in 3 shot-bursts, lest the barrel overheat and melt.  I saw my share of barrels turn cherry red due to overzealous gunners.  Once that happens the barrel begins to warp and melt, which could lead to it blowing up in your face if you continue to fire.  That’s why gunners are assigned a spare barrel, which you’re supposed to switch out every so often so you don’t overheat/damage either barrel.

Second, those weapons are HEAVY.  The fully-assembled weapon, including the tripod, weighs over 120 pounds!  Add to that the massive kick you get from every banana-sized round fired, and you’d have to be Superman (or at least Housman) to hold it like the guy on the cover.