Number 660


Origin of Ibis


Ibis the Invincible ran as a backup in Whiz Comics from issue #2 in 1940 to #155, the last issue in 1953. He had his own book which appeared intermittently for a total of six issues from 1943 to 1948.

This is the origin of Ibis (Prince Amentep) from Ibis #1. The Grand Comics Database says Otto Binder was the writer but they have a question mark behind Pete Costanza's name as artist. It looks like it could be very early Costanza. Pete was an assistant to Captain Marvel's main artist C. C. Beck. Costanza's distinctive style became more prominent as time went on.

There's magic afoot in ancient Egypt. Princess Taia is struck by an arrow and appears to die, until Ibis is reassured his girlfriend was only "put to sleep for 4,000 years." Uh, is that 4,000 years exactly we're looking at, or is there sort of a span in there, a few decades to play with? Guess not. Ibis puts himself to sleep and after 4,000 years wakes up. Then all he has to do is wave his magic Ibistick and revive the sleeping princess.

Speaking of which, Ibis has been revived as a comic book character in the past few years.