Monday, June 23, 2025

DIVINE ROUND-UP 002

Oh so spiritual, we are.

Koli Tow

Hal Hazard and his brother Hoagy are adventuring in the South Seas when they get shipwrecked, which is not really an excuse for just wandering into a local temple to eat the food offerings but I guess when you're hungry a little sacrilege is easy to justify. Even so, the local worshippers of Koli Tow aren't particularly understanding about it, and given the nature of the comic there's a human sacrifice in the offing until Hal and Hoagy escape to take their brand of cultural sensitivity to another island. 

God Style: idol (Circus, the Comic Riot 001, 1938)

the Canal God

An adventure on Mars brings the Space Rovers to the temple of the Canal God, who basically just looks like a dude because this is a Mars populated by basic-ass humanoids. Just what persentage of Martian gods are going to turn out to be canal-related, anyway? 

God style: idol (Exciting Comics 004, 1940)

Death




There are a few ways that the anthropomorphic personification of death is commonly written -compassionate, dispassionate, cruel, goofy - but this particular one crops up in genre fiction a fair amount: personally offended by people attempting to extend their lifespan. This particular version of Death is both pissy about the scientist Kromo's attempt to live forever via soul transfer and willing to take a hand in preventing him from doing so. He also seems to really enjoy freaking people out, as seen in his car ride with heroic scientist Dr Hayward. 

God style: real, anthropomorphic personification. (Jumbo Comics 002-004, 1938) 

Deli-Deli


As is often the case I am torn between finding Malaysian idol-god Deli-Deli charmingly goofy looking and knowing that the goofiness is part of the sneering "these primitive people will worship anything at the heart of many this kind of jungle adventure.

God-style: idol (Big Shot Comics 013, 1941) 

No comments:

Post a Comment

MINOR SUPER-VILLAIN 812: PALYACHI, THE KILLER CLOWN

(The Spirit, "Palyachi the Killer Clown", 28 July, 1940) Ah, the crime clown. Always glad to see another one, and one with such an...