LAST UPDATE: 20 September 2002
APPENDIX 7: AMALGAMATED PRESS
APPENDIX 8: DC & MARVEL
PRESENT
APPENDIX 9: TIME-CRUNCHING
Top / Appendix 7 / Appendix 8 / Appendix 9 / Bottom
Was there ever a real
Amalgam Comics company? Of course
not! Don't be silly! But there WAS the
Amalgamated Press, which began publishing comics in the 1890s. They continued until 1960, when they became
Fleetway. During this time, the AP did
dabble a little in the superhero genre, but mostly dealt with school adventures
aimed at adolescent girls and boys.
There is no genuine connection between Amalgamated Press and Amalgam
Comics, save the obvious similarity in names.
It is because of this reason, and the lack of canonical material for the
Amalgam Universe, that certain characters and events published by Amalgamated
Press are considered for inclusion within this timeline.
Please note that after
Fleetway became IPC, a CRISIS-type story was published claiming several of the
superheroes mentioned here are residents of Earth-88. Casual analysis reveals that the versions shown in that story are
not consistent with the original 'AP' versions. It is the latter, not the former, that are referred to in this
appendix. If the AP characters are
considered acceptable entries within the Amalgam Universe, then Earth-88 would
be best thought of as a Hypertime of the AU.
A brief write-up on Earth-88 can be found on Mikel Midnight's Earth-238 timeline.
Though they are not
amalgams, these comparisons to characters published by DC and Marvel could
allow them to be considered for inclusion in the Amalgam Universe.
Ace Eagle [Blackhawk / Phantom Eagle]
The Falcon [Batman, Unknown Soldier /
Nighthawk (Defenders member)]
Fu Manchu [Fu Manchu / Fu Manchu] – Fu
Manchu has also appeared in comics by DC & Marvel.
Robot Archie [Bozo the Iron Robot / Human Torch]
Sherlock Holmes [Sherlock Holmes / Sherlock
Holmes] – Sherlock Holmes has also appeared in comics by Marvel & DC.
Thunderbolt
Jackson [Peter
Cannon: Thunderbolt / Thunderstrike]
The following timeline covers nothing but the tiniest fraction of the publishing history of Amalgamated Press, dealing only with the characters being considered for inclusion in the Amalgam Universe.
1886 - Consulting Detective Sherlock Holmes has his first recorded case in
London, England. [SUPER
DETECTIVE LIBRARY #65, 1955]
1913 - Dr. Fu Manchu is
established in the Limehouse district of London. [SUPER-DETECTIVE LIBRARY #9, c. 1950]
1937 - Ace Eagle, an aerial adventurer with a sidekick and "Wonder Plane" has first public adventure. [GOLDEN #1, 23 OCT 1937]
1940 - The Island of Fu Manchu. [SUPER-DETECTIVE LIBRARY #9, c. 1950]
1947 - The Falcon, the so-called "Robin Hood of Crime" and master of many disguises, has his first public adventure. [RADIO FUN, 25 MAR 1947]
1949 - Young Jack Jaxon straps on a belt of ancient and curious design, not suspecting it is Megingjardir, the magic belt of Thor. In a flash it transforms him into Thunderbolt Jaxon, a giant endowed with all the might and magic of Thor himself! [THE COMET #76, 13 AUG 1949]
1957 - The Falcon assumes the roll of a super-hero in a bat-winged flying suit. [RADIO FUN, 01 JUN 1957]
1959 - Robot Archie, the invention of Professor Ritchie, is the world's most powerful mechanical man. Placed in the care of the Professor's nephew Ted and his friend Ken Dale, the three set out to find the fabled treasure of Kaal, which lay beyond the Crouching Lion Hills in M'Lassa, Africa. [LION #1, 23 FEB 1959]
Top / Appendix 7 / Appendix
8 / Appendix 9 / Bottom
Several characters and materials
have been published by both Marvel and DC Comics. Other than Access and the Amalgam Comics, none of these have ever
been jointly owned. There are, however,
a number of licensed properties that have been handled by both companies. It is reasonable to assume that any licensed
characters that have shown up in comics by DC as well as Marvel would also have
shown up in comics published by Amalgam, were Amalgam Comics a real
company. However, unless a character or
event has appeared in-continuity by both companies (such as Frankenstein's
Monster), it would be reckless to postulate a presence in the Amalgam Universe.
SIGURD /
SIEGFRIED (THE VÖLSUNGA SAGA / THE NIBELUNGENLIED)
First Appearances
·
The
Völsunga Saga,
author unknown (circa 400)
·
THE RING OF THE NEBELUNG #1 (DC, 1989)
·
MIGHTY THOR #300 (MARVEL) – In-continuity with MU
BEOWULF
First Appearances
·
Beowulf, author unknown (circa 700)
·
BEOWULF #1 (DC, 1975)
·
CAPTAIN MARVEL (vol III) #20 (MARVEL, 2001) –
In-continuity
ROBIN
HOOD
First Appearances
·
ROBIN HOOD TALES #1 (QUALITY, 1956)
·
ROBIN HOOD TALES #7 (DC, 1957)
·
YOUNG ALLIES #7 (TIMELY, 1943)
FRANKENSTEIN'S
MONSTER
First Appearances
·
FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley (1818)
·
PHANTOM STRANGER #23 (DC, 1969) – In-continuity
with DCU
·
BLONDE PHANTOM #14 (TIMELY, 1947)
·
SILVER SURFER (volume I) #7 (MARVEL, 1969) –
In-continuity with MU
CAPTAIN
NEMO
First Appearances
·
TWENTY
THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA by Jules Verne (1870)
·
MARVEL CLASSIC COMICS #4 (MARVEL, 1973)
·
YOUNG ALL-STARS #16 (DC, 1988) – In-continuity with
DCU
SHERLOCK
HOLMES
First Appearances
·
A
Study In Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, BEETON'S CHRISTMAS ANNUAL (1887)
·
SUPER DETECTIVE LIBRARY #65 (AMALGAMATED PRESS,
1955)
·
SHERLOCK HOLMES #1 (DC, 1975)
·
MARVEL PREVIEW #5 (MARVEL, 1976)
DRACULA
First Appearances
·
DRACULA by Bram Stoker (1897)
·
TOMB OF DRACULA #1 (MARVEL, 1972) – In-continuity
with MU
·
SUPERMAN #344 (DC) – In-continuity with DCU
WAR OF
THE WORLDS
First Appearances
·
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS by H.
G. Wells (1898)
·
AMAZING ADVENTURES #18 (MARVEL, 1973) –
In-continuity with KILLRAVEN
·
SUPERMAN: WAR OF THE WORLDS (DC, 1998) – Elseworld
THE
WIZARD OF OZ
First Appearance
·
THE
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ by L. Frank Baum (1900)
·
MGM'S THE MARVELOUS WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ (MARVEL
& DC, 1973)
·
THE MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ (MARVEL, 1973)
·
THE OZ-WONDERLAND WARS (DC, 1986) – In-continuity
with Earth-C
MASTER
OF THE WORLD
First Appearances
·
MASTER
OF THE WORLD
by Jules Verne (1904)
·
MARVEL CLASSICS COMCIS SERIES #21 (MARVEL, 1977)
·
BATMAN: MASTER OF THE WORLD (DC, 1991) – Elseworld
JOHN
CARTER: WARLORD OF MARS
First Appearances
·
"Under
the Moons of Mars" by Edgar Rice Burroughs, THE ALL-STORY (1912)
·
TARZAN OF THE APES #207 (DC, 1972)
·
JOHN CARTER, WARLORD OF MARS #1 (MARVEL, 1977)
FU
MANCHU
First Appearances
·
The
Mystery of Dr. Fu-ManchU by Sax Rohmer (1913)
·
DETECTIVE COMICS #18 (DC, 1938)
·
SUPER DETECTIVE LIBRARY #9 (AMALGAMATED PRESS, 1950)
·
SPECIAL MARVEL EDITION #15 (MARVEL, 1973)
TARZAN
First Appearances
·
TARZAN
OF THE APES
by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1914)
·
TARZAN OF THE APES #207 (DC, 1972)
·
MARVEL COMICS SUPER SPECIAL #29 (MARVEL, 1977)
HUGO
DANNER
First Appearances
·
GLADIATOR by Philip Wylie (1929)
·
MARVEL PREVIEW #9 (MARVEL, 1976)
·
YOUNG ALL-STARS #10 (DC, 1988) – In-continuity with
DCU
THE
SHADOW
First Appearances
·
The
Shadow
radio program (1930)
·
THE SHADOW #1 (DC, 1987)
·
BATMAN #253 (DC, 1987) – In-continuity with DCU
·
THE SHADOW: HITLER'S ASTROLOGER (MARVEL, 1988)
DOC
SAVAGE
First Appearances
FLASH
GORDON
First Appearances
·
FLASH
GORDON by Alex Raymond (KING FEATURES SYNDICATE, 1934)
·
DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH #1 (MARVEL/STAR, 1987)
·
FLASH GORDON #1 (DC, 1988)
THE
PHANTOM
First Appearances
·
THE
PHANTOM by Lee Falk (KING FEATURES SYNDICATE, 1936)
·
DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH #1 (MARVEL/STAR, 1987)
·
THE
PHANTOM #1 (DC, 1988)
JAMES
BOND
First Appearances
·
CASINO
ROYALE by
Ian Fleming (1953)
·
"DR. NO",
SHOWCASE #43 (DC, 1962)
·
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY #1 (MARVEL, 1981)
SPACE
GHOST
First Appearances
·
SPACE
GHOST AND DINO BOY on CBS (1966)
·
FUNTASTIC WORLD OF HANNA-BARBERA #3 (MARVEL, 1977)
·
CARTOON NETWORK PRESENTS #2 (DC, 1997)
STAR
TREK
First Appearances
·
STAR
TREK on
NBC (1966)
·
STAR
TREK #1 (MARVEL, 1980)
·
STAR TREK #1 (DC, 1984)
·
STAR TREK / X-MEN #1 (MARVEL, 1996) – In-continuity
with MU
SCOOBY-DOO
First Appearances
·
SCOOBY
DOO on ABC
(1969)
·
SCOOBY-DOO #1 (MARVEL, 1977)
·
SCOOBY-DOO #1 (DC, 1997)
HE-MAN
& THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE
First Appearances
·
"He-Man
& the Masters of the Universe" line of toys by Mattel (1982)
·
DC COMICS PRESENTS #47 (DC, 1982) – In-continuity
with DCU
·
HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #1
(MARVEL/STAR)
ELVIRA:
MISTRESS OF THE DARK
First Appearances
·
ELVIRA'S
MOVIE MACABRE on KJH-TV in Los Angeles (1981)
·
ELVIRA'S HOUSE OF MYSTERY #1 (DC, 1986)
·
ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK #1 (MARVEL, 1988)
Top / Appendix 7 / Appendix
8 / Appendix 9 / Bottom
A BRIEF
HISTORY OF TIME-CRUNCHING by Ron Schablotski
The
timelines presented here follow the time-honored and fan-aggravating method of
time crunching the 'modern age' into an approximately 10-year period. Both
Marvel Comics and DC Comics utilize time-crunches to justify their
continuities. Comics published in 1960 at the dawn of the Silver Age are now
considered to depict events that occurred in the 1990s. Some professionals
assume a 13-year stretch for their current continuity, while others believe a
time frame of only 7 years is more appropriate for the difference in age the
characters can be expected to show. My
own approximation works on an 11-year formula.
Amalgam
Comics present an interesting situation, in that they have no true Silver Age
to crunch. The only real Amalgam Comics so far were published in the late
1990s. This should have eliminated the need for time-crunching, but, alas, the
amalgamated reality of Amalgam Comics includes a fictitious history dating back
1938, complete with a Silver Age that has Spider-Boy, Doctor Strange, and the
Judgment League: Avengers making their debuts in the 1960s. Super Soldier's
personal history is further convoluted by the events of the Secret Crisis of the
Infinity Hour, which rebooted his modern appearances, but did not seem to
affect anyone else (much like DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths undid the
Silver Age Wonder Woman's earlier continuity).
I have
made every effort to preserve the feel of the Amalgam Universe as a fully
realized comic-book continuum. To that end, I have utilized time crunching,
remaining consistent with both DC and Marvel comics. Some characters do not
crunch well, such as Dark Claw, who "first appeared" in 1939. I have
attempted to reconcile as many discrepancies as possible without taking too
many liberties with continuity. The specific cases of Super Soldier and Dark
Claw are dealt with in Appendix 3.
What
follows is a very simplified table for converting forty years worth of
continuity into a manageable length of time. Although this is my own formula, I
deviated from it frequently in favor of common sense.
TIME-TABLE
Real Time Publication |
Comic Book Time Crunch |
1956 - 1962 |
11 Years Ago |
1963 - 1967 |
10 Years Ago |
1968 - 1972 |
9 Years Ago |
1973 - 1976 |
8 Years Ago |
1977 - 1980 |
7 Years Ago |
1981 - 1984 |
6 Years Ago |
1985 - 1987 |
5 Years Ago |
1988 - 1990 |
4 Years Ago |
1991 - 1993 |
3 Years Ago |
1994 - 1996 |
2 Years Ago |
1997 - 1998 |
1 Year Ago |
1999 - 2000 |
6 Months Ago |
2001 - 2002 |
Currently |
Top
/ Appendix 7 / Appendix
8 / Appendix 9 / Bottom
AMALGAM CHRONOLOGY
CENTER
|
||
TIMELINE |
APPENDIX |
WHO'S
WHO HANDBOOK
|
PAGE I: PreHistory
- 1900 Big Bang New Asgard & Apokolips Malformed West |
PAGE IV: Appendices
1 – 3 1: Future 2: Hypertime 3: Super-Soldier & Dark Claw |
All 24 Amalgam Comics, plus ALL ACCESS #4 and
UNLIMITED ACCESS #4 Created by Jon Woodward |
PAGE II: 1900
- 1975 Golden Age Atomic Age Silver Age |
PAGE V: Appendices
4 – 6 4: Other Realities 5: Same Continuum 6: Comic / Fiction Amalgams |
… TO THE AMALGAM
UNIVERSE ADDENDUM Amalgam Trading Card information not found in the
original Who's Who Handbook Created by Mikel Midnight |
PAGE III: 25
Years Ago - Now Recent Past Modern Age Currently |
PAGE VI: Appendices
7 – 9 7: Amalgamated Press 8: DC & Marvel Present 9: Time-Crunching |
… TO THE ALMOST AMALGAM UNIVERSE Comics by Marvel and/or DC that may take
place in the Amalgam Universe Created by Crazy Ivan |
These
pages are Ó 1996-2002
by Crazy
Ivan.