Before Batman, before Captain America and even before Superman himself, came the Clock, written and drawn by George E Brenner. The Clock was the first masked crimefighter in comic books, debuting in 1936, while the much more popular Batman didn’t come along until 1939. I’m not pointing that out to diss Batman, but to point out what a shame it is that the Clock seems to have been forgotten by most of the world. The figure is pretty much the middle character between Pulp heroes like the Shadow and the Moon Man and comic book superheroes. The Clock’s influence on Will Eisner’s iconic character the Spirit is obvious.
THE CLOCK
Secret Identity: Brian O’Brien
First Appearance: Funny Pages Vol 1 #6 (November 1936) His final Golden Age appearance came in 1944.
Origin: Brian O’Brien was born into the wealthy O’Brien family of New York City. The adventurous youth loved flying in early biplanes and served in World War One as a fighter pilot. After the war he went to college where he became an All-American Fullback, then moved on to Law School. Following graduation he was a fixture on the High Society polo scene while eventually becoming a District Attorney.
O’Brien gained a reputation as a crusading anti-crime figure but ultimately the extensive corruption in New York City politics and law enforcement frustrated any true attempts at reform. He retired from his D.A. career and, while seemingly returning to his carefree socialite life, secretly adopted the masked identity of the Clock to fight crime through bypassing the city’s systemic corruption. At first only his father knew about his dual identity.
Powers: The Clock was the prototype for the countless non-powered costumed crimefighters to come. He was in peak physical condition and was a master of unarmed combat. He possessed the agility of an Olympic gymnast and was a marksman with the handgun he carried into action with him. In addition he was a master detective and investigator whose knowledge of the law helped him compile evidence against his foes.
This hero’s mask had white eyeholes which allowed him to see in the dark and its fabric would filter out the effects of the knockout gas and teargas his tie-pin could shoot at opponents. The Clock’s cane was a durable weapon in combat plus it featured a few gadgets, like being able to fire its round top at opponents with the force of a bullet. His hat sported a metal lining to help minimize damage from blows to the head and he sometimes wore body armor under his suit and tie. Clock time-bombs which filled entire rooms with knockout gas or tear gas were on occasion employed by this figure.
O’Brien called himself the Clock just to fit his Pulp-style calling cards which said “The CLOCK has struck” and similar phrases. In later years he would have sidekicks like Pug, an ex-boxer and Butch, a tomboyish teenage girl.
1. FUNNY PAGES Vol 1 #6 (November 1936) – #9 (March 1937)
Title: The Clock Strikes
Villains: The Slick Martin Gang
Synopsis: The Clock handles his first case, tracking down a gang of three bank robbers, outfighting and capturing them all and leaving his calling card identifying himself as the Clock. He also phones Police Captain Kane and tells him where to find the bound and unconscious Slick Martin and Butch.
In the edgy ending, our hero turns Killer Katz, the gang member who shot a man dead during the gang’s most recent robbery, over to a vengeful mob led by the brother of the slain man. They beat him to death and the newspapers are all speculating on who the Clock may be. We get our first glimpse of our hero’s fairly plush secret office as he writes down the details of this case. Continue reading
For obvious reasons given recent events, overseas readers have been asking me how America has fallen victim to so much Corporate Fascism. As always, I’m humbled by the way some of them point to my contempt for both our major political parties as the reason why they put stock in my opinions on such issues. (And remember, I never maintain that my view is the only one, just that mine is not based on party politics since I despise the career politicians from both parties.) 
Back to athletics, Corporate Sports don’t just publicize the issues the Democrats want publicized they even advocate for or condemn particular political candidates AND SPECIFIC PIECES OF LEGISLATION now. Democrats who get elected with the aid of such support are not likely to pass legislation hurting their corporate fascist allies in the major sports franchises. And the Corporate Sports Leagues know that political favors will keep coming as long as they mouth Democrat talking points. The clueless buffoons who run the Republican Party are irrelevant because of their mindless reverence for “the Free Market” (LMAO). 
THE RATINGS GAME (1984) – Danny DeVito directed and starred in this telefilm – now being re-released under the vague-to-the-point-of-meaningless title The Mogul, which was produced by Showtime back when they and HBO Films were emerging as a genuine creative force in original content. 
The Ratings Game – written by Jim Mulholland and Michael Barrie – was a perfectly respectable satire on the network television ratings system but it has become unjustly forgotten. The change of title for its latest release seems like a desperate attempt to change the telefilm’s fortunes. 
LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS 
NORTHWEST (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS 
KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS 
ARE THE PLANETS INHABITED? (1913) – Written by Edward Walter Maunder, this book began with ridicule of the outdated belief that the sun and moon might be inhabited, but it doesn’t exactly embody scientific accuracy itself. Therefore I’m classifying it as science fiction even though in 1913 it was considered to be a series of observations adhering to rigid scientific principles. 
Yes, the misleadingly named Antifa (really KLANtifa) continues to riot. Saturday night roughly one hundred members of the fascist hate group set fire to a federal building in Portland with employees still inside. (link below) In March, Antifa set fire AGAIN to the Federal Courthouse in Portland. 
Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats continue to pretend “Antifa is just an idea” – which is typical of their non-response to problems they are unable or unwilling to come to grips with. So America is now even more like a Third World country, complete with masked groups of violent predators striking at their targets on a regular basis. 
TUSSLE IN THE TOP ELEVEN – The number 10 team in the nation – the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS – traveled to take on the 11th ranked UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. Though the Cougars led 3-0 to end the 1st Quarter, by Halftime the Knights were on top 20-3. That became a 27-11 advantage going into the 4th Quarter, in which Marian U had to survive a furious Saint Francis rally, holding on for a 41-34 victory. 
WHEN RANKED TEAMS CLASH – The 6th ranked COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES found themselves on the road against the number 20 EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS. By the midpoint of this game between these two familiar Frontier Conference opponents the Mountaineers were leading the Coyotes 28-21. The 3rd Quarter ended with EOU clinging to a 31-28 edge before the College of Idaho came from behind to win it 49-38 in the 4th. 
DOUBLING UP ON THE COMPETITION – The (24) SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS took it on the road against the OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (KS) BRAVES yesterday. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie remained unchanged by the Half. After the break, the Moundbuilders had an explosive 3rd Quarter, going on top by a score of 28-14. The defenses shut out both teams in the 4th Quarter, so 28-14 was the final tally as well. 
THE RAY 
LADY LUCK 
Wontkins sounded like Oscar the Grouch crossed with either Statler or Waldorf and came complete with a Bert-style nose and perpetual frown (and no wonder). Wilkins, on the other hand, looked like a phallic object with arms and a face. 
What started as a team of spokes-puppets for Wilkins Coffee morphed into greater things as surely as Barry Manilow’s old commercial jingles paved the way for his singing career! 
Balladeer's Blog 