Gone & Forgotten

Here, in Quino’s gated community… Solarman Created by Frank S.Thomas Appears in Wham Comics #2 (December 1940) ‘Scuse me, coming through … Close to the center of the “Great Solar System,” the “moon-ringed” planet of Saturn is practically a utopia. “People live in peace, and crime is unknown” claims the introductory caption, which might explain why the natives of Saturn look on the Earth with such pity. Quino -- an avuncular, yoda-like figure who is also Saturn’s most accomplished scientist -- states the case to his assistant, Solarman. “There are many unhappy earthlings,” he posits correctly, vaguely addressing his many scientific wonders and adding “We must help them, you and I.” It’s at this point that Quino’s kindly affect takes a sudden and dire turn: “The planet Earth contains much crime -- much evil,” Quino claims in the shadow of a massive gun, before drifting into a solem reverie. “At times I have been tempted to burn Earth to a crisp with one blast from our Dyno-Ray Gun,” he c...