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History

Martin Goodman was the publisher in charge of Timely Comics in the 1940s, which at the time was popular for its books based on real life super-heroes the Human Torch, Sub-Mariner and Captain America.

After America's entry into World War II in late 1941, Timely comics began publishing stories of other wartime heroes who had been drafted into the Crazy S.U.E.S. unit. These stories had been commissioned by the United States Army as a means of propaganda in order to increase support for the war effort at home. In May of 1941, Goodman was visited by Colonel Nevins who wanted him to hold back on publishing a comic on the character Captain Flame, citing reasons of national security. While Goodman was surprised, he agreed not to release the comic until it fit into the strategy of the military.[1] Ultimately, all but two issues of Captain Flame's comic were destroyed.

In the summer of 1942, writer Carl Burgos came to Martin with an idea he was given by the Human Torch that openly mocked Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Goodman liked the idea and gave his consent liking how the Human Torch was going to see that copies of the book ended up being air dropped into Nazi Germany. This would have repercussions when Hitler ordered the assassination of Burgos, but this attempt was thwarted by the Torch, Toro, and Bill Everett, another Timely Comics employee.[2]

Goodman continued to run Timely Comics and its successors Atlas Comics and Marvel Comics through until 1968. He died in 1992.

Notes

Martin Goodman is based, obviously, on the real life Martin Goodman who was publisher of Timely/Atlas/Marvel Comics until 1968.

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