Golden Age Classics Softee: Black Condor and the Ray TPB (2024 PS Artbooks) comic books 2026

Volume 3 - 1st printing. "March 1942–October 1943 and February 1942–February 1943!" Collects stories from Crack Comics (1940-1949) #22-31 and Smash Comics (1939-1949 Quality) #31-40. Art by Lou Fine, Charles Sultan, Phil Bard, Reed Crandall, and Bob Fujitani. Lou Fine was one of the most impressive and influential artists to ever work in comics. His fluid figures were admired and copied by such greats as Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. In the early 40's, the heyday of the Golden Age, he worked for Everett M. "Busy" Arnold at Quality Comics along with such greats as Reed Crandall, Jack Cole and Will Eisner and in addition to his impressive covers, he worked on such comics as the Black Condor; aka Richard Grey Jr. having lost his parents was raised by giant black condors and after studying his condor foster parents, he learned to fly. He befriended a hermit monk named Father Pierre who convinced him that he should use his unique attributes to do good and so was born the Black Condor. Lou Fine also created The Ray, a reporter named Hubert 'Happy' Terrill who was covering the story of a high-flying "strato-balloon" exploring the upper atmosphere. An electrical storm struck and while closing the outer airlock door, "Happy" got the full brunt of the storm's energy and the unfiltered sunlight giving him his super powers to absorb energy from his surroundings and emit it from his body in any form he chose, also using it to propel himself through the air. Softcover, 184 pages, full color. All Ages Cover price $32.99.