Frazetta Memorial Week--Shining Knight
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scans_dailyIn honor of the late great Frank Frazetta, here's a couple of pages (2 of 6) of one of his "Shining Knight" stories. This was a reprint in "Adventure Comics" #417 (March 1972) but originally appeared in Adventure Comics #161 (February 1951).
The actual plot kicks in on the next page. "Deadpan" Dixon, a conman who earned his nickname from a) being able to lie with a straight face, and b) having a nasty sense of humor, is selling fake Winged Victories. He explains to a sucker that the Shining Knight has decided a special jet plane would be more efficient for crimefighting, and has engaged Mr. Dixon to sell his old model horse. Dixon even takes his winged horse for a quick flight to demonstrate it's the real thing.
After the sucker pays $100,000 for the horse and a "complimentary" parachute, it's revealed that after each demonstration, Dixon swaps the horse that demonstrates flying for one that just has fake wings. Dixon was only able to outfit one horse with jet-powered wings that allow it three minutes of low-level gliding. Which doesn't sound too impressive until you realize these jets have to operate without any give-away noise or contrail!
The next sucker, a polo player, pays in $150,000; but then Deadpan gives the third sucker, Mr. Barr, a bargain price of $60,000, which is the man's entire life savings. It seems that Mr. Barr's son Jackie has Soap Opera Disease, and will surely die unless a miracle occurs. And a winged horse might just do the trick. Deadpan pretends to be deeply moved by this tearjerking tale.
But of course he's actually laughing all the way back to the hideout with his ill-gotten gains. And the three suckers discover that they've been swindled. Maybe Mr. Barr should have invested in actual medical treatment for his son instead?
At the museum where he works, Justin learns of the swindle, and determines to do something about it. He dons his armor, mounts Winged Victory, and heads over to the Barr home.
Yes, that's right, the Shining Knight and Winged Victory are indeed so awesome that a glimpse of them together is sufficient to heal the sick and make the lame to walk. And actual contact with Winged Victory cures incurable diseases! Huzzah! You can tell in that last panel that WV is a little disappointed that Justin won't let him kill anyone today.
Shortly thereafter, Dixon and his gang arrive to attempt stealing Winged Victory. Their guns are no match for Justin's bulletproof armor and mighty sword, so they jump on the horse to make a getaway. At first the ride goes smoothly, but then Winged Victory starts in with the aerobatics. After making the crooks good and airsick, the horse bucks them into a nearby tree and returns to his master. The Shining Knight uses his lance as a carry pole to escort the swindlers to jail, then returns the swindled money to the victims.
The moral of this story? "I've learned that no amount of money could repay society for its loss if you and Winged Victory were ever separated, Shining Knight!" And Sir Justin flies off into the sunset to seek out new adventure. What a horse! What a man!
I seem to recall that DC put out a collected volume of Frazetta's Shining Knight stories some time back--I don't know if it's still in print, or how much it would set you back.
Your thoughts and comments?
suggested tags
char: shining knight/justin
creator: Frank Frazetta
publisher: DC Comics
theme: animals
title: Adventure Comics
The actual plot kicks in on the next page. "Deadpan" Dixon, a conman who earned his nickname from a) being able to lie with a straight face, and b) having a nasty sense of humor, is selling fake Winged Victories. He explains to a sucker that the Shining Knight has decided a special jet plane would be more efficient for crimefighting, and has engaged Mr. Dixon to sell his old model horse. Dixon even takes his winged horse for a quick flight to demonstrate it's the real thing.
After the sucker pays $100,000 for the horse and a "complimentary" parachute, it's revealed that after each demonstration, Dixon swaps the horse that demonstrates flying for one that just has fake wings. Dixon was only able to outfit one horse with jet-powered wings that allow it three minutes of low-level gliding. Which doesn't sound too impressive until you realize these jets have to operate without any give-away noise or contrail!
The next sucker, a polo player, pays in $150,000; but then Deadpan gives the third sucker, Mr. Barr, a bargain price of $60,000, which is the man's entire life savings. It seems that Mr. Barr's son Jackie has Soap Opera Disease, and will surely die unless a miracle occurs. And a winged horse might just do the trick. Deadpan pretends to be deeply moved by this tearjerking tale.
But of course he's actually laughing all the way back to the hideout with his ill-gotten gains. And the three suckers discover that they've been swindled. Maybe Mr. Barr should have invested in actual medical treatment for his son instead?
At the museum where he works, Justin learns of the swindle, and determines to do something about it. He dons his armor, mounts Winged Victory, and heads over to the Barr home.
Yes, that's right, the Shining Knight and Winged Victory are indeed so awesome that a glimpse of them together is sufficient to heal the sick and make the lame to walk. And actual contact with Winged Victory cures incurable diseases! Huzzah! You can tell in that last panel that WV is a little disappointed that Justin won't let him kill anyone today.
Shortly thereafter, Dixon and his gang arrive to attempt stealing Winged Victory. Their guns are no match for Justin's bulletproof armor and mighty sword, so they jump on the horse to make a getaway. At first the ride goes smoothly, but then Winged Victory starts in with the aerobatics. After making the crooks good and airsick, the horse bucks them into a nearby tree and returns to his master. The Shining Knight uses his lance as a carry pole to escort the swindlers to jail, then returns the swindled money to the victims.
The moral of this story? "I've learned that no amount of money could repay society for its loss if you and Winged Victory were ever separated, Shining Knight!" And Sir Justin flies off into the sunset to seek out new adventure. What a horse! What a man!
I seem to recall that DC put out a collected volume of Frazetta's Shining Knight stories some time back--I don't know if it's still in print, or how much it would set you back.
Your thoughts and comments?
suggested tags
char: shining knight/justin
creator: Frank Frazetta
publisher: DC Comics
theme: animals
title: Adventure Comics
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 02:59 am (UTC)The kid is totally Charlie Brown.
I have to ask, do they really fly off into the sunset? I'm not ruling anything out in a story where a flying horse cures all ills.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 03:35 am (UTC)Not actually the sunset, no. Flying off to find more adventures, yes.
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Date: 2010-05-12 06:29 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2010-05-12 10:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 01:51 am (UTC)I'd also have it that while Merlin's enchantments on his armor have slowed Justin's aging, he's still getting up there in years, but Winged Victory is immortal. Thus Justin being willing to train Ystina as his potential successor.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 04:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 06:23 am (UTC)Another interesting route would be to have Ystina (only, I would call her 'Justina' or 'Justine', 'Ystina' being kind of a weird spelling for a modern girl) grow up surrounded by the Seven Soldiers (the traditional ones) as 'uncles', similar to the relationship that the current Black Canary had with the JSA when she was younger. Dinah has made references in the past to how COOL it was to grow up surrounded by people who could take you stargazing by flying you to the moon, and such - if Justine had a similar relationship with the Soldiers, that could be potential for all kinds of interesting stories. Sure, Sir Justin might be her mentor in particular, but the others could help out as well - she could go for Wild West-style adventures with the Vigilante, fly in a flying car with the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, stalk the city streets alongside the Crimson Avenger, learn archery from the Green Arrow (I know, I know, he's been retconned out of the group, but if this is outside regular continuity anyway...). And, of course, she would spend her spare time flying around on a flying horse (here's an idea - what if Winged Victory sired a winged foal who's just now old enough to be ridden?). It could make for all kinds of intriguing shenanigans.
Man, now I'm all into this. You're right, this IS a good idea.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-12 11:05 am (UTC)-although DCAU kind of has made Vigilante so inseparable in my mind with the Shining Knight (and I would read a Vig & SK adventures book SO HARD), that part of my brain is going "the winged horse is here, but what about the cowboy?"
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Date: 2010-05-12 11:21 am (UTC)no subject
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