Tor

Both of the magicians, Merlin and Tor, were at one point written and drawn by Fred Guardineer (who had previously created the magician Zatara for DC’s groundbreaking Action Comics #1 in 1938). Guardineer stayed at DC only into 1940 (Action #29, Oct. 1940 was his last on Zatara). At Quality, he created Tor (Crack #1, Feb. 1941) and soon after took over “Merlin” as well, with National #12 (June 1941). According to Alter Ego #21, Dan Zolnerowich worked for the Iger shop at this time, but Guardineer did not. (Both signed the strip “Lance Blackwood.”) Guardineer also created a fourth magician that ran simultaneous to Zatara, Marvelo, in Columbia’s Big Shot Comics #1–10 (May 1940–Feb. 1941).

Guardineer’s artwork was spectacular, but he spent little effort in distinguishing the magicians from one another—or from his other works. Like Zatara, both Merlin and Tor sported moustaches, plus capes over their tuxedos (Merlin added a hood). But most significantly, under Guardineer both Quality magicians began speaking their spells backwards at the same time (but not at their inceptions). Merlin only began speaking reverse spells when Guardineer took over (National #12). And although Guardineer worked on Tor from its debut, that hero only began speaking in reverse around the same time (Crack #14, July 1941). Both series also ended at the same time, but Guardineer's work continued appear at Quality through 1944.

Tor was an everyman—press photographer Jimmy Slade. With but the addition of a fake mustache and cape, Slade fought crime as Tor the Magic Master. Tor’s powers were in line with the contemporary pop culture ideas of magic: mind control, illusions, telekinesis, transfiguration. Like other hero/photographer characters, Tor used his adventures as material for Slade’s photo assignments, and vice versa.

Slade’s colleague, reporter Lucy Stone, often found herself in jeopardy during Tor’s escapades. Of course, after the criminals were arrested, Jim had the best photos of the deal. (Crack #11)

While on assignment in Alaska, he came upon a ring of spies keen on stealing U.S. munitions. When they destroyed his car, his magical bag of tricks proved somewhat limited; he was forced to traveling into town on foot. Unlike Merlin, he didn’t seem to be able to “whip up” a fast solution. Though Tor could not fly, his magic let him walk on water to reach the spies’ submarine. There he snapped pics of them just before they ran into underwater American mines. (#13) 

Without explanation, Tor began speaking his spells backwards (a kind of magic practiced by his contemporaries, Merlin and Zatara). (#14) It seemed that Slade found greater power when his spells were spoken thus. He began traveling the world, transforming himself and others in all sorts of ways. In war-torn London, he rode a bomb in midair to personally destroy Nazi planes. (#21)

His only marginally “costumed” foe was the top-hatted Doc Moke. Tor stretched his arm like Plastic Man to catch him. (#23)

DC

Tor might have been a member of the wartime group called the All-Star Squadron. His only appearance in a DC comic was as part of the “Justice Society Returns” event. In February 1945, Tor threw in with a group of mystics against a villain called Stalker. He died that day. (All-Star Comics, v.2 #1)

Notes

Quality’s Tor has nothing to do with another popular hero of the same name, created by Joe Kubert. He was a Tarzan analog that debuted in St. John’s 3-D Comics in 1953 and was later published by DC.