The MLJ Companion: The Complete History of the Archie Super-Heroes

by Rik Offenberger, Paul Castiglia, Irv Novick (Artist)

THE MLJ COMPANION documents the complete history of Archie Comics' super-hero characters known as the -Mighty Crusaders---The Shield, Black Hood, Steel Sterling, Hangman, Mr. Justice, The Fly, and many others. It features in-depth examinations of each era of the characters' extensive history: The Golden Age (beginning with the Shield, the first patriotic super-hero, who pre-dated Captain America by a full year), the Silver Age (spotlighting those offbeat, campy Mighty Comics issues, and The Fly and Jaguar), the Bronze Age (with the Red Circle line, and the !mpact imprint published by DC Comics), up to the Modern Age, with its Dark Circle imprint (featuring such fan-favorites series as -The Fox- by Mark Waid and Dean Haspiel). Plus: Learn what -MLJ- stands for! Uncover such rarities as the Mighty Crusaders board game, and the Shadow's short-lived career as a spandex-clad superhero! Discover the ill-fated Spectrum line of comics, that was abruptly halted due to its violent content! See where the super-heroes crossed over into Archie, Betty, and Veronica's world! And read interviews with Irv Novick, Dick Ayers, Rich Buckler, Bill DuBay, Steve Englehart, Jim Valentino, Jimmy Palmiotti, Kelly Jones, Michael Uslan, and others who chronicled the Mighty Crusaders' exploits from the 1940s to today! By Rik Offenberger and Paul Castiglia, with a cover by Irv Novick and Joe Rubinstein. INCLUDES 64 FULL-COLOR PAGES OF KEY MLJ STORIES!

Genres: Comics

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 27, 2016

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource for those interested in the MLJ heroes. Despite a good stable of properties, they never really made the big time, and Archie ended up taking over everything, even the name of the company itself.

This company created the first patriotic hero, The Shield, and had some other fun heroes. They never stick around very long, but make comebacks from time to time.

Highly recommended.

[Jason Presley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent history of the sadly neglected Archie super heroes. The book is largely composed of articles compiles from a variety of comic industry publications and reformatted for this comprehensive volume. The color is outstanding! I didn't realize just how sloppy the history of these characters really was.

I encountered these characters from the early 1990s Impact run by DC, which I greatly enjoyed (and eventually collected the entire run). It wasn't until reading several issues, once the letters pages started, that I learned their history. I hunted for, but wasn't able to find all of the 1980s Red Circle line, so they were a little disjointed to read. I managed to snag a single copy of the 1960s Jaguar somewhere. And since then, every so often I would check the web to see if there was anything new, and was excited to find this book.

Since it is largely a compilation of previously written articles and essays, it can be a bit repetitive, but it is worth the effort for those with any interest in these characters. After starting the book, and learning about the more recent efforts from DC and Archie, I was able to snag several of the trade paperbacks at a local Ollie's Bargin Outlet, so I have those to look forward to, thanks to Mr. Offenberger and company.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like most comics companies, Archie Comics — originally known as MLJ — jumped into the superhero boom in the early Golden Age. Then it introduced a character named Archie Andrews and the superheros were forgotten ... until the late 1950s, when Archie tried again with the Fly and the Jaguar, then a bunch more infamously campy books in the 1960s, and a 1980s, 1990s and to date three 21st century revivals, plus a couple over the decades that didn't come off.
If you have any nostalgia or curiosity about the various incarnations, this is your book. Details on every era, which heroes they gave us, how they differed and why they failed, time after time (though the current Dark Circle seems to have lasted several years). While I'm not a huge fan of these characters, I'm interested enough to be curious, and the book satisfied my itch handily.

[Tim Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit that I've had very limited exposure to the MLJ heroes. I wasn't alive for their Golden Age runs or their Silver Age revivals. Unlike their DC, Marvel, Quality and Fawcett counter-parts there really weren't any reprints out there for me to read. My sole exposure was a single digest that had a few reprints along with some Archie as superhero (Capt. Purehear, etc.). I didn't buy any of the short-lived Rich Buckler lead revival of the early 80s at least in part because I don't think I ever saw them. Though upon further review I want those Toth/Wildey Black Hood books. I did read most of DC's Impact line, partly because I was buying a ton of comics at the time and partly because they were kind of fun. But mostly the MLJ/Archie heroes have always been a blank slate.

So why read a book about them? Well because I'm always interested in comics history and Twomorrows has built up a lot of good-will with a lot of good books. And I'm always happy to see if I can find some new books to read down the line (The Fox by TOTH!! for Pete's Sake). And the Twomorrows gang didn't let me down. This was overall a very interesting and informative look at a comics group that I knew peripherally but was largely a blank spot for me. I feel I have a better handle on the history of these characters and to a lesser extent MLJ and Archie as publishers. If I had any complaints it would probably be that I'd like more information on the woefully short-lived Gray Morrow led Red Circle books (there was some but I want more) and, frankly, I have very little interest in the various aborted 21st Century re-boots of the characters.

A well recommended book for anyone interested in a corner of comics history that we tend to ignore.

[David Goode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.Been waiting for years for a book about the MLJ/Archie comics.This book made the wait worth it.My only regret no info on Bobby Bell the premiere costumed martial artist of the Silver Age.