Hump Day Heroics, err, Villainy with Hostess Cakes

"The Cuckoo Cuckoos"
    Starring the Penguin

Screw the coco-puffs, go cuckoo for Fruit Pies!

Read for the Art - Human Fly #2 Carmine Infantino

I always enjoy finding a character or comic series I'm unfamiliar with. Add art by comic book legend Carmine Infantino - sold.

The Human Fly series ran for just nineteen issues from September 1977 to March 1979. Wikipedia says the character was supposedly based on a real stuntman - Rick Rojatt. I just thought it was because Evel Knievel was popular during the '70s.

My 1999 Overstreet Price Guide lists The Human Fly #2 being "worth" $4 in near mint condition. As you can see by the cover, this copy is not near mint. Someone wrote their name on it.

Speaking of the cover, Ghost Rider may be on it, but luckily he plays a small part in the actual comic itself. The $4 listing in the price guide is because of his appearance too. I just don't get that. I never have been a Ghost Rider fan so maybe someone else can explain his appeal.

Since I know very little about the Human Fly I'm glad he has the super-hero union required female reporter following him.

The lovely Harmony Whyte provides a nice recap of his mysterious origin and first appearance.

Having only this one issue, I don't know if she becomes an unfortunate story trope or cliche by repeatedly putting her life in danger and trying to discover Human Fly's true identity.

Guess this answers my question-

She has compiled a list of five men whom she believes could be the Human Fly. 

She may be on the right path, but Alex Marks is not the Human Fly. That will have to remain a mystery.

This is supposedly a book about a daredevil stuntman. Where are the stunts?

Lets go back and check out the Human Fly's spectacular opening act, or as Harmony put it, him senselessly risking his life.

WOW! Amazing! He did it! But what's the secret behind the stunt? How did he manage to survive? 

So he has a team of three helping him pull off the stunts. They must not be that important, we don't even learn their names. 

Now how about that "Race to Destruction" promised on the cover?

And I thought driving in Baltimore was dangerous.

The moment we've all been waiting for - Enter Ghost Rider.

Again, I don't get his appeal.

He just shows up and helps Human Fly survive the race. 

The race, I almost forget, was the real story.

It was called the Doomsday Race for a reason. No one was supposed to survive to win it.

Any good reporter or detective knows to follow the money. Also stumbling onto the answer is helpful too.

The book wraps up nicely enough with the bad guy defeated.

The story itself might not have been much - not to disparage Bill Mantlo, I've read a lot of his work - but Carmine Infantino was the saving grace on this comic. There's a flow to his art. Almost like a cartoon.

Mr. Infantino is most known, I think, for helping introduce the Silver Age and Earth-2 in the pages of the Flash. He also worked on a couple of my favorite books, Spider-Woman and Supergirl.

I have a feeling his art could be showing up again.

The Human Fly #2, October 1977
Writer: Bill Mantlo
Art: Carmine Infantino / Dan Green 

Hump Day Heroics with Hostess Cakes

"Hungry Battleaxe!"
    Starring Iron Man

9 out of 10 battleaxes surveyed prefer the "real fruit" fillings of Hostess Fruit Pies over the other leading brands.