Fighting American: Animated Style!

 Every once in a while, a collector stumbles onto something that feels like striking gold. For me, that happened recently when I managed to snag not one, but two copies of the 1966 reprint of Fighting American!

For those unfamiliar, Fighting American was created in the 1950s by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby—the legendary duo who had originally brought Captain America to life. When Marvel revived Cap without Simon and Kirby’s involvement, the pair decided to create their own patriotic hero. The result was Fighting American, a series that only ran for seven issues (which, interestingly, is still longer than the Cap revival of the era, which fizzled after three).

Now, I would absolutely love to own the original ’50s run. But let’s be real—those issues are way out of my price range. Even battered, coverless copies can go for more than I can justify. The 1966 reprint, however, is much friendlier on the wallet, making it a perfect way to experience Simon & Kirby’s classic without breaking the bank.

My first brush with Fighting American was back in 1989, when I picked up a hardcover trade reprint. At the time, I didn’t know a thing about the character, but the Kirby art and Simon pedigree were enough to make me take the plunge. No regrets—it hooked me instantly.

Years later, another trade was published that stayed more faithful to the original comics, even restoring some lost pages from an aborted 1960s reboot. Of course, I had to add that one to the shelf as well.
What makes Fighting American so fascinating is the tonal shift the book takes. It starts as a fairly straightforward superhero story—a patriotic do-gooder fighting Cold War villains. But very quickly, Simon and Kirby pivot into full-blown satire. The series becomes a sharp, witty send-up of the genre itself, years before self-aware superhero stories became fashionable.

And the rogues’ gallery? Pure gold. Villains like Poison Ivan, Invisible Irving, and The Sneak wouldn’t feel out of place in a Dick Tracy strip. They’re absurd, colorful, and completely unforgettable.
For me, snagging these two ’66 reprints isn’t just about adding something rare to the collection—it’s about reconnecting with the moment I first discovered this oddball, underrated gem of comic book history. Fighting American may not have had the staying power of Captain America, but in some ways, it’s even more interesting. It’s Simon & Kirby at their most unrestrained: bold, satirical, and a little bit strange.

So, with Fighting American fresh in my mind, I started doodling him in my sketchbook along with his companion and several of his colorful villains—in a fun cartoon style. I scanned the sketches in and composited them together in Photoshop, and honestly? I’m having an absolute ball with this one!

Recreating the logos, icons, and design elements that go into my work has turned out to be just as fun as drawing the figures themselves. Maybe even more so! There’s something soothing about it—less stressful, almost meditative. Weird, right? But in the best way possible. I even decided to create his chest emblem in vector form so I could then paste and mold it to my drawing. Such a complicated design for Jack to employ to draw over and over again. 

At the last minute, I noticed the signatures of Joe and Jack on the front page of the reprint and loved it! I had to add that too. 

I hope you enjoyed this one. I certainly did!