Merlin + Tor
Merlin created by By Dan Zolnerowich
Tor created by Fred Guardineer
+ History
Both of these magicians, Merlin and Tor, were created by Fred Guardineer, who had previously created the magician Zatara for DC Comics in the legendary issue, Action Comics #1 (1938). Guardineer stayed at DC (then National) only into 1940 (Action #29, October 1940 was his last Zatara). At Quality Comics, Merlin debuted in July 1940, and Tor soon after (Februrary 1941). In the "Merlin" strip, Guardineer used the pseudonym "Lance Blackwood," but for Tor, he signed his real name. The two strips ran concurrently until ...
Guardineer seems to have spent little effort in distinguishing the characters. Like Zatara, both Merlin and Tor sported moustaches, plus capes over their tuxedos (Merlin added the hood). Unlike Zatara, however, they didn't speak their spells backwards. Well, at first anyway. Maybe Guardineer presumed that he was "in the clear," because soon both Merlin and Tor began speaking their spells in reverse—in National #12 (June 1941) and Crack #14 (July 1941), respectively.
?? Guardineer for National #12 and Crack #10
Both series ended at the same time, but Guardineer continued to work for Quality, on Quicksilver and the Marksman.
Merlin
Merlin
weaves a spell.
From National #13 (July 1941).
Art by Fred Guardineer.
When English playboy Jock Kellogg learned that his uncle was dying, he couldn't wait to inherit the fortune. Instead, he received a different kind of inheritance. His uncle's money was gone, but he told Jock that he was descended from Merlin, the ancient wizard of Camelot. Jock received Merlin's cloak, which was imbued with considerable magical powers. Kellogg was incredulous, but he soon found value in its powers, and went to work, helping to fight the war. As Merlin, his first super-adversary was Mars, god of war. Mars had chained the goddess of peace. Merlin defeated Mars' minions, Hunger and Poverty then wrestled the war-god himself. Upon Merlin's victory, peace was declared on the ground as well. (#1) He continued his travels to the river Styx, where he saved a wayward damsel from a dead prince. (#2)
His first super-powered nemesis was the hideous Dr. Morbidd, who brought the dead back to life. From him, Merlin rescued a woman named Elaine. (#5)
Once at a museum, Merlin summoned the spirit of the Greek Oracle of Delphi. She empowered him to return to his era and send Axis tyrants (Ribbo, Gasolini and Molo) back to ancient Greece. After forcing them to call off their troops, the dictators were left as prey for ancient monsters. Her returns to the 20th century and witnesses a return to peace. (#8)
Jock's identity became inseparable from Merlin; his absence was noticed by the Kellogg family gardner named Angus, who assumed that Jock was dead. Angus' master was Jock's Scottish relative, Jepson Kellogg, who was staying in Tahiti. Angus took over Jepson's mansion and helped a gang of men kidnap a girl named Daphne. Merlin caught wind of this and brought his family portraits to life—his ancestors helped him purge the mansion of the racketeers (Ronnie Kellogg, a pugilist from 1890, and three swordsmen). (#10)
To battle the gods of war—Ares and Wotan no less—Merlin inexplicably went back to the time of the Druids and saved a young man and woman from being sacrificed to their gods. Instead, he brought theym back o the 20th century where they served as a convoluted example for peace. (#11)
Without explanation, Merlin began speaking his spells backwards (a kind of magic practiced by his contemporary, Zatara). (#13)
Merlin in Himalayas in hopes of claiming a legendary diamond—to bolster Britain’s war relief funds. The priests of the temple foolishly tried to stop him, he came up against its defender, the great spider god, Agor. He reached the diamond and after turning its defenders into bats, he killed the high priestess, Nang Tu, impaling her with a spear. Not satisfied with killing nearly everyone in the temple, Merlin destroyed it completely before returning to the U.K. where he presented the gem to the Prime Minister himself. (#13)
Commissioned to fly General Sir Reginald Foxx over the Southeastern Asia. They go down in New Guinea. There the were brought down by Killer Ernst, an Australian Fifth Columnist. Merlin's mastery over the inanimate trained a gun on the spy, and made quick work of him (with cannon, then crocodile). (#14)
Helped the Chinese (who appeared to have no military) fight the Japanese. Resurrected ancient dead Chinese soldiers. (#15)
While scouting in Greenland, he aided the native people against Nazi thieves. He drove them off by commanding a giant walrus and signalling to a U.S. destroyer to mop them up. (#16)
In Greece, he again invoked its ancient gods, calling on Zeus himself to drive off the Nazis and save a girl named Helena. Zeus gave Merlin the use of the winged horse Pegasus and they left for the safety of Egypt, where Helena was entrusted to the British. (#17)
Germans attack a British warship in India. (#18)
His next adventure was an odd herald of times to come. In Iraq, European nations vying to control its oil fields. There he met the ancient beheaded figure of Goliath , who was the natural choice to help Merlin against the Nazis. The magician also conjured up Noah's ark and the Tower of Babel. (#19)
An acquaintence, the mad scientist Professor Mordecai Twitch, turned up dead on one venture. Twitch's assistant, Fang, turned out to be a Japanese spy, and used the Prof's formula to create giant killer spiders. Merlin called upon Twitch for help, finding him dead. Fang was quick work after Merlin transformed himself into Emperoro Hirohito. (#25)
In his last recorded adventure, he finally made his way to the United States where, naturally, Nazis were poised to strike. (#26)
Merlin might have been a member of the wartime group called the All-Star Squadron. In February 1945, Merlin aided several All-Stars in a campaign against villain called Stalker. He died that day. (All-Star Comics, v.2 #1)
Merlin
seemed unable to make up his mind whether to help or squash the natives where
he traveled. His motives seemed to arbitrarily fluctuate between downright
disdain and genuine empathy.
Merlin's feature in National Comics was replaced by G-2. His last artist, Fred Guardineer, moved onto the Quicksilver strip afterwards.
Tor
Tor.
From
Jimmy Slade was a press photographer who would don a fake mustache and fight crime as Tor the Magic Master. Slade's powers were more in line with contemporary ideas of magic: mind control, telekinesis,
. Slade's colleague, reporter Lucy Stone, often found herself in jeopardy during Tor's escapades. Of course, after the criminals were arrested, Jim had the best photos of the deal. (#11)
While on assignment in Alaska, he came upon a ring of spies keen on stealing U.S. munitions. When they destroyed his car, his magical bag of tricks proved somewhat limited; he was forced to traveling into town on foot, and unlike Merlin, didn't seem to be able to "whip up" a fast solution. Though Tor could not fly, he used the ability to walk on water in order to reach the spies' submarine. There he snapped pics of them just before they ran into underwater American mines. (#13)
Without explanation, Tor began speaking his spells backwards (a kind of magic practiced by his contemporary, Zatara). (#14)
Tor might have been a member of the wartime group called the All-Star Squadron. In February 1945, Tor aided several All-Stars in a campaign against villain called Stalker. He died that day. (All-Star Comics, v.2 #1)
Notes
There was another Tor published by St. John's 3-D Comics in 1953.
+ Powers
Merlin could perform any variety of feats like levitation, astral projection, self-transformation, transmutation, animation, time travel, and intangibility. With the mastery of reverse-magic, he added a dizzying array of godlike abilities as well. No matter the situation, a few "backwords" were all it took!
Tor was more modestly powered. He seemed to be limited to
Appearances + References
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