Blue Beetle’s Sparkling Stars

Sparkling Stars #30 December 1947

Bear with me, we’re about to take a wild ride through comic book history.

1. Let’s start this tale with Holyoke, initially a printer in the hands of Sherman Bowles. But hold on tight, because this ordinary printer turned into a comic book publisher quicker than Clark Kent into his Superman costume. How, you ask? By snagging Cat-Man Comics and Captain Aero Comics, once under the wing of Frank Z. Temerson’s Helnit Publishing Co. The transfer included Helnit’s A-team, led by maestro Charles Quinlan himself.
2. Ready for the next twist? Holyoke expanded its grasp by swooping in on Blue Beetle, which had been languishing under Fox Publications’ financial troubles. This creative collision birthed a fresh blend of ideas, with a new crew of artists and editors adding their seasoning to the mix.
3. Cue the wind of change! Holyoke’s comic saga takes a U-turn. The Helnit treasures slipped through their fingers like sand, right after the curtain call of January 1943. But, lo and behold, they boomeranged back to the awaiting arms of Temerson a mere few months later.
4. 

   Fangs the Wolf Boy, Sparkling Stars #33 March-1948

   Fortune played its game, tossing Blue Beetle out of Holyoke’s comic realm in 1944, as Victor Fox regained control through some legal wizardry. But here comes the “sparkling” silver lining – just a couple of months after the Beetle’s departure, a fresh constellation of stories twinkled to life: Sparkling Stars. This cosmic crew was led by none other than Blue Beetle’s backup characters. We’re talking about unsung heroes like the almost-Archie duo “Saxie and Peaches,” and the Tarzan-esque, jungle-dwelling lad, “Fangs the Wolf Boy.”

Saxie and Peaches, Sparkling Stars #33 March-1948

Fangs, you ask? Well, he’s a chap who bafflingly spoke fluent English after being raised by wolves in the Brazilian wilds of Matto Grasso. Locals bestowed upon him the nickname “El Lobo.” Imagine the chatter around that campfire!  Soon scientist Rand Reed sauntered into this wild narrative, representing the US government on a mission and after stumbling upon Fangs found means to utilize his unique hunting and fighting skills.  Fangs also falls in love with Rand’s daughter Lana – which creates quite the complication because Maata the Leopard Girl loves Fangs and Rajo loves Maata.

And, oh, let’s not forget the teenage escapades of Saxie and Peaches. Their antics are shrouded in mystery, known only to those intrepid souls who crack open the time-trapped pages of Sparking Stars.

Who said comic book history wasn’t a rollercoaster?