Locomotive to the Past, George Schultz [snow like ashes series txt] 📗

Comics had been a direct descendent—of Captain Billy’s Whiz-Bang. The latter had been a pretty-raucous magazine—especially, for the times—around the turn, of the 20th century

A vital ingredient—vis-a-vis the “Big Red Cheese” strip: When young BB-BB had found himself, in any difficulty, (usually potentially-mortal danger)—which was, of course, extremely often—he’d always said (well, actually, he’d always shouted) “SHAZAM!”.

That was the name, of an aged wizard! The one—who had granted Billy the power, to become Captain Marvel, in the first place. Ergo, when the constantly-besieged, slight-of-build, young man uttered (well, it was more like he bellowed) the old wizard’s name, a lightning bolt—inevitably (and immediately)—came crashing down! And, where it struck, a substantial change took place! In the Boy Broadcaster’s place—stood (ta-DAH!) mighty Captain Marvel! “The World’s Mightiest Mortal”.

In the fifties, the strip had been, forcefully, phased out! To Grandpa Piepczyk’s great, utter—and permanent—disappointment! Fawcett Publications—who’d originated the dynamic character—had wound up, losing a monumental legal battle, with DC Comics! The latter claimed that the “Captain’s” storylines were too similar—to those of DC’s Superman!

The latter syndicate sued Fawcett—for plagiarism. The result caused the loser, of the legal battle, to suspend publication—of all their magazines, comic and otherwise! Including top-selling True Confessions.

In the late-fifties, Marvel Comics—yet another rival syndicate—had picked up the name. Their Captain Marvel, however, was an entirely different person/hero/strip. Grandpa Piepczyk did not like (read hated) the new one. “A totally different breed of cat”, he’d always groused. “There could never be another Captain Marvel!”

Eventually, (ironically) DC Comics—who’d won the long-before suit—had begun to publish the original Captain Marvel! In the seventies! Their resurrection of the character was particularly ironic—due to the fact that, after DC had won their suit, Fawcett Publications had, as indicated, stopped publishing all comic books! Of any description!

A whole bunch of really great Fawcett superheroes had, sadly, been phased out! Memorable—and top-selling—ones! Including such comic notables—as Captain Marvel Jr., Mary Marvel, and the whole Marvel family—which had included a phony superhero (Uncle Marvel), and the four Lieutenant Marvels.

The latter quartette—were all named Billy Batson, in their “civilian lives”. All came from different backgrounds. Grandpa could never remember—exactly how they’d all come together. The old man’s only memory—of their history—was that the Billy Batson, who’d lived in the countryside, was called “Hillbilly”!

In addition, such dynamic crime-fighting figures as Bulletman (and, eventually, Bulletgirl), Mr. Scarlet (and Pinky—Fawcett’s answer to Robin, The Boy Wonder), and even Spy Smasher, all bit the dust, in the shambles of the lost-lawsuit.

When, years later, DC had begun to republish the “Big Red Cheese” strip—they’d had to call him, by another name. They chose Shazam. This was the name of the wizard! (This had grossly upset Grandpa!)

Apparently Marvel Publications still held the rights—to the Captain Marvel name. As mentioned, this was another source of upset, for Jason’s grandfather. The whole situation had seen the old man remain—continually—upset! Even decades later! That had always figured, Our Boy had always thought.

In addition, Grandpa had always wondered: Since the “Boy Broadcaster” was always endangered (from the very beginning, of the strip)—why didn’t Billy Batson just simply remain Captain Marvel? All the time? 24/7? “The Big Red Cheese”, after all, was impervious to bullets, knives, etc. etc. etc. (Probably even howitzer projectiles. Maybe even the atomic bomb! Who knew?) Would it not have been in the kid’s best interests—to simply remain, in his superhero mode?

The 1942-Jason sat on the rear stool, at the confectionary’s counter—nipping at his ginger ale, and munching his chips—totally engrossed in “The Big Red Cheese’s” comic book. To the point that he (as was to be expected) did an “encore performance”—with the Vernor’s, and, of course, the treasured Krun-Chee’s. Then, a third order of the same.

By then, he’d been pouring through a copy, of Master Comics—which had starred Bulletman. This was before his girlfriend would become Bulletgirl. It would be a few years before Captain Marvel Jr. would be born—and take over the comic magazine. (In his civilian” life, “Junior” was Freddie Freeman—a crippled newsboy.)

Despite all this brand new pleasure, the time was, regrettably, dragging by! Maybe this young woman really was not going to show! Well, there was a copy of Detective Comics—which had starred Batman—that would be of more than passing interest, should Our Hero be “forced” to spend the afternoon—by himself!

TWELVE

It was fully an-hour-and-a-half after Jason’s arrival, at the confectionary—when a young lady, sedately, seated herself, on the stool next to the by-then-semi-distraught (despite being immersed, in Detective Comics) young man. This was a most-attractive young woman! She was wearing a starched, high-necked, white blouse—and a modest, pleated, dark-blue, skirt, which extended well down below her knees.

How tasteful the people . . . in nineteen-forty-two! How classy they all dress! How utterly tasteful! Everybody . . . back here . . . seems to just reek with class!

“Are you Jason?” asked the young woman. “Are you the one who was interested… in the Piepczyk family?”

“YES! Yes, I am. Do you… have you… are you… ?”

“Well, they used to live down the street from me… on Whitcomb Street, y’know. That’s the next street over. But, oh, this was a couple… or maybe three… years ago. They’ve moved. Moved, to somewhere… somewhere up, near the Great Lakes. The movie theater, y’know. They live over on… I think… it’s either Robson. Or, maybe, it’s on Terry Street. Over on the other side of Schoolcraft. Don’t know exactly where. But, I think it’s before you get to Grand River.”

“Would that be in this school district? This same one? Would the kids still be going to Cadillac?”

“Oh, yes. Sure.”

“Do you remember a kid… in that family? A kid… named Richard Piepczyk?”

“Oh, sure.” She smiled. “He was a bit of a pain in the fanny, actually. I used to take care of him, sometimes. Every now and then. When his mother, and father… when they’d go out. Usually, on Friday nights, it was. He was… originally, anyway… a bit of a brat. But, he seemed to be doing better, when he was getting to be… I dunno… maybe seven or eight. That was