TEX'S BACK-ISSUE QUEST EPISODE 2.0 15

Hello brothers!

    TEX is here on the wheels of steel!

    I'm sorry about the scarce updates as of late, but as the school year begins to reach its crescendo, ol' TEX has to be available wherever and whenever the students and the parents need him. But don't you fret, no siree. I'll do my dadgum best to get on here for you guys, and be your HOST WITH THE MOST!

    Today, let's talk about a comic based on the best and bravest that the U.S. Army has to offer:

    It's my copy of Tod Holton, Super Green Beret #1, the first appearance of Tod Holton, Super Green Beret. Also pictured is my issue #2, both from the now-defunct Lightning Comics, published in 1967!!

    Tod Holton is a boy of about ten years old, gifted a magical green beret by his uncle, Captain Roger Wilson, a heroic Green Beret serving in late 60s Vietnam. Wilson rescued a monk which repaid him by bestowing a special blessing upon his green beret, a blessing which only revealed itself when Wilson gave the beret to his young nephew, Tod Holton, upon a visit stateside. When Tod donned the beret he was instantly transformed into The Super Green Beret, a magical, super-powerful (though not invulnerable) adult combat hero with the power to read thoughts at great distances, instantly transport himself anywhere and to any time to put boot to butt for the side of right in any war in history or the present. Tod had several exciting adventures, appearing only in two issues before Lightning Comics went the way of the dinosaurs.

   FUN FACT: If a child in combat sounds horrible, it'll make more sense to you after you know whose brainchild Tod Holton was. The Super Green Beret was created by the great Otto Binder, co-creator of another magical superhero (one much cooler and infinitely more famous) whose alter-ego was a child: Captain Marvel. The first one.

  FUN FACT #2: This character was probably inspired by The Ballad of the Green Berets, a song written by Robin Moore, an author who was the only civilian to complete the Q Course (Special Forces Qualification Course), and SSG Barry Sadler, a Green Beret who was wounded in Vietnam. This song was a hit, which was surprising considering that the 1960s wasn't a time in which soldiers were held in the highest of esteem. Take a listen:

This song was later used on the soundtrack of one of TEX's favorite John Wayne films: The Green Berets

Here is a clip from the heartbreaking ending:

   I have to admit, these stories, penned by Binder, are a lot of hokey fun - and Carl Pfuefer's pencils only add to the over-the-top goodness of these mystical military tales. I'll leave you with an example of Pfeufer's work:

   Go get 'em, Tod.

Thanks for reading.