Note: Once again we return to the dusty corners of the comics bin, finding those discarded characters that have fallen into the public domain and brought them back with new life, new vigor — and a new design! Project: Rooftop’s RetroFix returns with Mekano by Chris Arrant and Daniel Irizarri! – Chris Arrant

Who (or What) was Mekano?

“Mekano was a mechanical man invented by young scientist Bill Foster. Unfortunately, Nazis stole the robot, planning to use him as an unstoppable weapon. The Germans, however, were no match for Mekano, who defeated them before returning home to his creator.” – from the Public Domain Super Heroes Wikia

Why Mekano?

Chris: I’ve always had a love for older characters in the pantheon of super-heroes, especially those that have fallen by the wayside. Consider it an underdog complex played out by tracking down old issues and buying public domain twists like Alex Ross’ Project: Superpowers and Image’s Next Issue Project. Pouring over the archives, Mekano jumped out at me for the unique twist on the Frankenstein’s Monster trope with robots and Nazis. Mekano was created by Bob Oskner, a veteran comics hand who mostly worked in licensed comics but did create the version of Marvel Boy that’s appeared in Marvel’s Atlas minis. You can read Oskner’s full Mekano story over on this website. Mekano only appeared once — in Nedor’s Wonder Comics #1 (1945) — but in a way that lone appearance gave you all the set-up and no potential for waning glory. Instead of retooling that existing origin, I thought “what happened after the story ended?”

Note: Check out the RetroFix and final design after the jump! – D.T.

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Note: When the Project: Rooftop community finds a forgotten hero or villain in need of a rescue, it’s time for a RetroFix. This month: Spacehawk! Our guest artist is Sean Izaakse! – Vito Delsante

Who was the  Spacehawk?

“Spacehawk had but one mission in life — to protect the innocent throughout the Solar System and give out the occasional gruesome fate to vanquished evildoers such as aliens and space pirates like his childhood friend Galar. He lived in an unspecified future where space travel was commonplace. He was sometimes assisted in his war against evil by Captain Dakk, a police officer and friend of Spacehawk. (At some point in his run) Spacehawk arrived on Earth in the 1940s, centuries before his time. He also fought a few Hitler proxies until the United States entered World War II and he took on Hitler himself.”
- from http://pdsh.wikia.com/wiki/Spacehawk.

Why Spacehawk?

Vito: As creators, we’re used to seeing a blank piece of paper (or a canvas, or even a computer screen), and seeing a world of possibilities. Spacehawk, a character that appeared in 38 comics, is, from my point of view, a blank slate. Created by Basil Wolverton (a genius artist, in my opinion) in 1940, the character has a lot of potential. Cut to last November. I jumped into the 30 Character Challenge with a handful of characters, and figured I’d do some retrofixes at the same time. In the end, I made all of the characters open source, and entered all 35 of them into the creative commons. Spacehawk (or at least, my version of him) is no exception. So, the goal was to create a new version that took what came before with Basil Wolverton, but fill in the blanks for today.

Note: Read on for the RetroFix! – D.T.

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Note: RetroFix is a column here at P:R where writers and artists team up to redesign and re-imagine public domain heroes and villains from the Golden Age. In this edition, artist Dennis Culver and I take on the 1950s space adventurer Space Pirate – Chris Arrant

Who was the Star Pirate?

First Appearance: Planet Comics #12 (May 1954, Fiction House). Billed as “The Robin Hood of the Space Lanes,” Fiction House’s Star Pirate was created by a writer who went by the nom de plume of Leonardo Vinci, and originally illustrated by Al Gabriele. Set in a far-flung future, Star Pirate acted as a raygun-toting dissident against evil aliens, criminals, corrupt dictators and even the galaxy’s police force, the corrupt Space Patrol. Piloting a ship dubbed “Revenge,” Star Pirate had no powers per se, but was equipped with a variety of technological tools such as rocket boots and laser guns. He was joined by a rotating crew of sidekicks that ranged from a one-eyed alien, a Martian mistress, and a former rival named Blackbeard.

Why the Star Pirate?

Chris: Here’s my idea for Star Pirate — Adam Strange meeks Han Solo. The lonely pilot of a ship called “Revenge,” he’s living high off a big score but gets bored of the sheltered life and gets back into space. He’s bored with being rich, but also bored with people and has a quick succession of co-pilots. He’s in a future where space is explored pretty well, but he liked the “Wild West” unknown of it all back in his early years and is still trying to chase that down.

Dennis: Let’s do it. What’s the next step?

Chris: Next step is to talk about character design. What are you thinking for Star Pirate?

Note: Read on for the RetroFix and the final design! – Dean Trippe

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Note: When the Project: Rooftop community finds a forgotten hero or villain in need of a rescue, it’s time for a RetroFix! This month: The (Golden Age) Unknown Soldier! Our guest artist is my collaborator on my new book, STRAY, Edi Torres! – Vito Delsante

Who was the Unknown Soldier?

“When the cause of freedom and democracy is threatened, then, from out of the blue sky, shall come the Unknown Soldier – dauntless American champion of all who fight under the Stars and Stripes – from the smallest child to the bravest doughboy. Who is he? Nobody knows! Where does he come from? Nobody knows! He is just…the Unknown Soldier.” His abilities include superhuman strength,invulnerability, flight, and the power to spin in the air fast enough to generate a tornado. He carries a “nitro gun” which fires explosive bullets.” – from http://pdsh.wikia.com/wiki/Unknown_Soldier

Why the Unknown Soldier?

Vito: I like this version of the Unknown Soldier, but, pardon the pun, I know very little about him. My affinity is based purely on what I see. A soldier in a mask is quite possibly the purest of comic characters. Captain America came out first (March of 1941 as opposed to Unknown in August 1941), so we know the Solider is an imitator (one of many patriotic heroes that surely followed in Cap’s wake), but his name is so strong, that when DC created their own version, they had a strong enough concept to really give Cap a run for his money (let’s call it down the middle…DC War comics in the 60′s were absolutely brilliant!). Seriously, this dude is money, the way his hat and mask are one piece…that’s a win! Those shorts are such a Golden Age trope, though, and I have no idea who started it. In most cases, this is an OK, kitschy costume, but for our purposes, we need to change it up.

Note: Read on after the jump for Vito and Edi’s discussion, as well as the initial sketches and final RetroFix redesign! – Dean Trippe

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Note: RetroFix is a recently added column here at P:R where a writer and an artist team up to redesign and re-imagine public domain heroes and villains from the past. In this edition, artist Jason Reeves and I take on the 1940s Centaur character Zardi the Eternal Man. – Chris Arrant

Who was Zardi the Eternal Man?

FIRST APPEARANCE: Amazing Man Comics #11 (April 1940, Centaur)

Thousands of years ago, Zardi was the prince and ruler of the city of Zandipore. He left the city for a time to learn, practice and eventually master “the intellectual and magical arts,” and when he returned to his homeland he discovered it was no more. In the time since, Zardi has criss-crossed the globe using his abilities fighting evil and slowly his aging process to a crawl. His normal appearance is that of a wizened old man in a tuxedo and top hat, but he also has a mystic cape which gives him the appearance of youth. He carries with him several magical accoutrements such as the aforementioned cape, a medallion, and a magical cane that can become any weapon he desires.

Why Zardi the Eternal Man?

Chris: Looking through the immense list of public domain super-heroes accumulated by some research from Vito, what drew me first to this character was the name: Zardi, The Eternal Man. It sounded like a stage magician purported to be from the mystic east, looking just like David Carradine.

Jason: His initial look is kinda dorky, right?

Chris: Right. But when I began reading his backstory and the few available comics of his that were online, I saw a more modern interpretation coming that was inspired by the pulp comics of his time.

Jason: Yeah. He’s 12,000 yrs. old, he can perform different kinds of magic from different cultures, the items he uses and wears on his person all have magical prowess of their own, and he has a servant/follower, Nogi, that potentially has his own abilities. I just saw in this character a wealth of possibility, the layers you could add to him, to create an interesting, globetrotting, action/adventure style comic. Imagining the things he and Nogi could get into was really enticing to me.

Chris: So after having some brief conversations, I worked up a rough one-sheet about the character as we would develop him.

[Read on after the jump for Chris and Jason's discussion, as well as the initial sketch and final RetroFix redesign! - Dean Trippe]

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Note: RetroFix is a new column here at P:R, where we team up writers and artists to redesign and reimagine public domain heroes and villains. In this first post, Vito Delsante and I take on 1942 Holyoke Publishing hero, The Red Cross. – Dean Trippe

Who Was The Red Cross?

Dr. Peter Hall was an army captain and doctor who fought the Axis powers in occupied France, and later in the Pacific, as the heroic Red Cross. Red Cross had no powers, but ably used his firearms and fists. His costume was usually red and blue with an “Rx” symbol on his chest.

Why The Red Cross?

Vito: The Red Cross (not to be confused with Captain Red Cross) is pretty typical, when it comes to the super heroes in the Golden Age: A non-powered, masked doctor who fought Nazis and…that’s it! When you look at Golden Age heroes, especially the ones in the public domain, you find a lot of characters–doctors, lawyers, cops, or average Joes–that had had it up to there with Hitler and decided to put on colorful tights and do something about it. Dr. Hall, here, had an edge. As a medic, he was more than likely already in the European Theater when the war was in full swing. For me, his appeal lies in the doctor half of him, not the Army half. He’s a man in the middle of a brutal war, torn between his duties as a soldier and a physician.

Dean: Yeah, I already like this guy a lot. The double duties of doctoring and soldiering should make him pretty interesting.

[Read on below for our costume and character discussion, as well as my initial sketch and final redesign! - D.T.]
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