Formed in 1932 the SSC was created and chaired by Professor Radium a rather (obviously) eccentric scientist. The youthful Master of Mesmerism Freddie Fluence and Ronnie Roy the India Rubber Boy joined at the same time as Merry Marge The Invisibility Girl. The group's strongman was none other than the so called Bob the Pet Navvy who had taken part in Professor Flynnt's various scientific experiments. The group was then joined by Abra and Cadabra the Persian Masters of Pipe Magic. The team, although rather eccentric to say the least, were quite successful in bringing down crime in England.
They were "at a loose end" in 1937 when Prof. Radium suggested that they ought to use a Cavor machine to journey to the Moon and see whether Prof. Cavor had died there. Firmly holding on to their British passports the team took off and soon landed on the Moon. However, the team was unaware that Cavor had wiped out a Selenite "commonwealth" with Earth germs. This had led to the plan to devastate Earth with a space cannon. The team were captured and suspended in a chamber "for all time".
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From The Cross Earths Caper (2013) (c)Black Tower Comics & Books
The heroes from Earth 664 find themselves in the year 1954 on a parallel Earth and a wounded Ace Rogers warns them of the threat to Earth. Once Rogers recovers the team are told of the Northern Selenite Commonwealth and its space cannon which they intend to fire at Earth (the SSC had apparently damaged the cannot in 1937 and it had been rebuilt and was more powerful. The heroes set off to the Moon and having infiltrated the Selenite caverns found the suspended SSC members. Tech-man released the team and everything was explained and the SSC updated.
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An attack by Selenites and the revelation that a Selenite ship was heading to Earth to devastate it led to Rogers taking the 664 heroes to his rocket ship and they took off to intercept the Selenite craft. The SSC attacked the Selenites and carried out their plan to destroy the cannon -the explosion on the lunar surface seen from Rogers' rocket seemed to indicate that the SSC had succeeded but at the cost of their lives.
After the 664 heroes moved on Rogers contacted other adventurers and the SSC continued the battle on crime and evil.
There are plans for the SSC but whether they will include the original team, supposedly killed in 1954, is uncertain.
Abra and Cadabra -Puck 1926-1935
Bob The Pet Navvy -Jester and Wonder 1903-1906
Freddie Fluence -Favourite 1912
Ronnie Roy -Funny Wonder 1940-1950
Professor Radium -Puck 1904-1916 (the image at the top is all I have and is VERY low res)
Merry Margie -Knockout 1939-1940
That's it.
Now.......
Up-date: it took a week but Merry Margie can now be ticked off the list but I've no objection to further sample strips!
The SSC, what a cool bunch of ( misfit ) heroes ! But such a sad - though heroic - ending on the moon. I'm not able yet, but someday soon, I'll have a crack at a one off strip. Might be fun ! What other heroes might fit into misfit classic team ? Hmm...
ReplyDeleteAh, the Platinum and Golden Ages had so many characters just forgotten which is a pity. Also having to think in the mentality of an Englishman. What was Peter Cushing's line in The Land That Time Forgot..."You cannot hypnotise me -I am British!" One day! Take care
ReplyDelete"Dammit, Sir! How dare you try to hypnotize me! Bloody mesmerists. Can't get away from the wretched fellows these days. Ought to be a damn law against 'em. Down with mesmerists! . . . . . Dammit. I'm going to read the paper! Got to find somethin' to soothe me nerves!"
DeleteTalking of Peter Cushing, I've been watching his few Sherlock Holmes stories - including the classic Hammer Hound of the Baskervilles film with oh whatshisname Dracula as Sir Henry. Andre Morel of Quatermass fame played Watson. All double plus good ! Have a good day ( night for me ! ) Seeya.
ReplyDeleteI should imagine that would be Cushing's ol' mate Christopher Lee. Did you ever see the episode of The Avengers with Lee as a man who kept coming back to life? 'Never, Never Say Die'. I think they were robot duplicates in the end. it's so far back, I can only remember him lumbering about.
DeleteThat's right ! I remember that episode ( as a rerun ) Mr Lee also appeared in a brain washing ( well, tricking ) episode as a British Colonel or Major, assisting the Chinese in info gathering from special agents. Old Christopher got around a bit !
ReplyDeleteI have episodes lurking about in a storage crate. They're on tape and nothing to play them with. I suspect they're available somewhere. "Mrs Peel! We're needed!"
ReplyDelete