Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jun 3, 2023 | 3 comments

A birthday tribute to a Golden Age stalwart, who was born (about) 110 years ago…

By PETER BOSCH

There hasn’t been a birthday tribute to artist Syd Shores here at 13th Dimension because there’s very little reliable information on when he was born, except that it was in 1913. Or 1916. But we do know that he died June 3, 1973, 50 years ago, so we decided this would be a good time to pay tribute to the Golden Age stalwart. Shores was best known as a great inker at Marvel, but he was also a terrific penciller on his own. One of my favorite characters, which he co-created with Stan Lee, was the Blonde Phantom, who first appeared in All Select Comics #11 (Fall 1946). (With the next issue the title was converted to Blonde Phantom Comics.)

What was remarkable about the Blonde Phantom was that while there were a few comic-book heroes who put on a tux to fight crime, she is the only one I can think of that got into an evening gown to do so. She was secretly plain-looking Louise Grant, secretary to O.S.S. agent Mark Mason (later a private eye), but she slipped way when he was in danger to become the devastatingly gorgeous Blonde Phantom.

Enjoy these 13 Blonde Phantom images by Syd Shores (both pencils and inks by Shores, unless noted):

All Select Comics #11 (Fall 1946)

Blonde Phantom Comics #12 (Winter 1946)

Blonde Phantom Comics #13 (Spring 1947). Unknown inker.

Blonde Phantom Comics #14 (Summer 1947). Unknown inker.

Blonde Phantom Comics #15 (Fall 1947). Unknown inker.

Blonde Phantom Comics #16 (Winter 1947-8). Unknown inker.

Blonde Phantom Comics #20 (Nov. 1948). Inks by Vince Alascia

Marvel Mystery Comics #84 (Oct. 1947). Unknown inker

Blonde Phantom Comics #13 (Spring 1947) splash page. Unknown inker.

Blonde Phantom Comics #14 (Summer 1947) – splash page. Inks by Vince Alascia

Blonde Phantom Comics #14 (Summer 1947) – splash page. Unknown inker.

Blonde Phantom Comics #16 (Winter 1947-48) splash page. Unknown inker.

Blonde Phantom Comics #16 (Winter 1947-48) splash page. Inks by Vince Alascia

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MORE

— THE DARLING OF COMICS: A BLACK CAT Birthday Salute to LEE ELIAS. Click here.

— 13 COVERS: An ALEX SCHOMBURG Birthday Celebration. Click here.

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13th Dimension contributor-at-large PETER BOSCH’s first book, American TV Comic Books: 1940s-1980s – From the Small Screen to the Printed Page, has just been published by TwoMorrows. He has written articles and conducted celebrity interviews for various magazines and newspapers. Peter lives in Hollywood.