Thunderbolt

Over a brief but memorable 10-issue run from 1966 to 1967, Charlton Comics' Thunderbolt blended superhero action with a touch of the bizarre. The series is best known for the work of artist-writer Pete Morisi, whose dynamic, shadow-drenched style defined the look of the title alongside fellow artists Sam Grainger and Pat Boyette. At its core, the book follows the transformation of mild-mannered Peter Cannon into the costumed Thunderbolt, a hero who battles a rogue’s gallery including the psychic Mentalia and the brute Crunch Wilson, aided by girlfriend Cindy Carson and the alien Helio. While short-lived, the series remains a cult favorite for its energetic, mid-1960s take on the classic secret-identity formula.