The 'Blue Beetle' as a Comic Book?

from The Mail Bag

March, 2006

Editor's Note: I recently received the following email regarding the Blue Beetle as a comic book subject and thought I would share it with you. Since I have no other information than what appears on the site, I invited Powell Black and Bill Bradfield to shed light where they could and they graciously responded. Their comments follow the email:

Chris Irving writes:

"Dear Katie,

My name is Chris Irving, and I am a comic book historian in Richmond, VA. I am currently writing a book on a comic book character named The Blue Beetle, who has been around for 60+ years.

In my research, I have come across a scan of a 'summons' or some sort of invitation to the USS Blue Beetle, circa 1942. It was in Donald Kieley's name, who I see on the Muster Roll off your website.

I'm wondering if the Euryale was ever used by a publisher named Victor Fox to promote his comic book, The Blue Beetle, back in the early '40's? I realize it's a long shot, but also feel that the USS Blue Beetle is more than worth a mention in my book.

I hope to hear back from you soon! Thanks much!"

Powell's response:

"Chris, in response to your email earlier today, the ship had NO connection whatsoever with or to the cartoon you mentioned. The ship was painted blue, as I recall, and the nickname Blue Beetle, just appeared. No one knows exactly when, and I doubt anyone could tell you who first came up with it. When we sailed we were accompanied by some of our submarines for our protection and, thus, was not camouflaged (?) that I recall. (I'm copying a fellow shipmate and maybe he can amplify the subject...... Bill?

The name of the ship derived from Greek methodology as one of the three Gorgons (You can look that up on the Internet.) The Navy had, and still has so far as I know, its own system for picking names for its ships. The designation AS22 indicated it was an Auxiliary ship, submarines, and the 22 was simply the next number in chronological order for submarine tenders.

As for your "summons" for someone to go to the USS BLUE BEETLE in 1942, no way could it have been our ship. It was not commissioned until 2 December 1943. Prior to that, it had been a cargo ship before the Navy took it over. Please include the "summons" in your next email so I can see for myself what it looked like and for what purpose it would have been used. Just curious.

By regular mail I'm sending you a photo I took of the ship along with some related information that will expand what I have written above It will be in the mail tomorrow and you should have it by the first of the week. (Thanks for the address and phone number.) The information also will include a couple of articles I had published in OUR NAVY, the unofficial monthly magazine to which we looked forward whenever we could get mail while overseas and other related data and, as requested, some photos of the crew.

As for interview, that's fine if you feel I can be of any further help. If so, my phone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Fax -- same number. You have my email I can be reached most any time but have an answering machine if not home when you call. Leave a number and I'll call you back.

Incidentally, I'm familiar with Richmond. The Baptists in Richmond were instrumental in my surviving the depression in the thirties. I was reared in the Baptist Orphanage in Salem from the time I was 2½ until I graduated from high school in Salem in 1939. For an orphanage kid (as we were called) to leave there with a suit of clothes and no money to accomplish what I have accomplished is a story in itself.....professional city manager of six different cities..... at age 84½ still consulting with cities and towns in this state.......after obtaining a direct commission as a Lieutenant in 1957 from the Navy and working my way up to Captain (one rank short of Admiral) before being reaching the termination age of sixty (in 1981) sorta speaks for itself. Needless to say, I'm proud of it.

Well, that's enough for tonight. Look forward to hearing from you again. Want to do all I can to help what you are doing."

Bill's response:

Chris: My recollection is that another subtender was nicknamed the Green Hornet - for reasons related to the paint job it wore - which really was NOT green, but it somehow picked up the name. (There WAS a cartoon and radio serial character in the 30's named THE GREEN HORNET.) If that ship could be the GREEN HORNET, WE could be the BLUE BEETLE - at least, "SO THE STORY GOES." It may be that a fan of Fox's cartoon character had that on his mind when he gave us the tag. Don't really know.

I hope that you have by now scanned the ship's web site with the detailed ship's history - we did good work! The site is Sheri Lytle's labor of love .. and we love her for it.

Luck with your book.

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