Brok Windsor: Canada’s Hunkiest Superhero
Brok Windsor was a character who first appeared in Better Comics April 1944, published by Maple Leaf Comics out of Vancouver, BC. Like most Canadian comics published from 1941-1946, Brok Windsor was primarily printed in black and white, and the artist Jon Stables really had a unique style that wasn’t seen in many comic books north or south of the border. Brok was named after a friend of Jon Stables that died during battle, to honour his memory Stables put him into one of his comic books.
Jon Stables, creator of Brok Windsor
In his first adventure, Brok Windsor, who like most manly men, is also a fully trained medical doctor, is canoeing to Lake of the Woods when he discovers “The Islands Beyond the Mists”, a magical land located somewhere in Canada where peril is high, and the opportunities to show off his glistening muscles is frequent.
The first page of Brok Windsor’s adventures
Soon he finds himself lost, and on the island of Chaqua, which is a land inhabited by giants with advanced scientific machinery. Interestingly, the giants are also aboriginal, making this story a unique blend of sci-fi and western. Somehow half of Brok’s clothes fall off along the way, meaning he essentially is trudging along in his speedo. I don’t think anyone’s complaining.
Brok discovers an advanced civilization in the middle of the Canadian wilderness
In the next few adventures, Brok faces evil ghosts, human-eating rats, and lions. With the help of his best friend Torgon and his girlfriend Starra (also giants) he uses the power of being a strong Canadian to overcome any conflict.
His costume? Why, nothing better than a reasonable halter top, of course!
Brok Windsor ran for 14 issues of Better Comics, and sadly has never been seen since. All of that is set to change, as I intend to reprint the thrilling adventures of Brok Windsor and restore his place in history as the manliest of all Canadian superheroes (no offense intended, Wolverine). You can follow along with my progress on twitter, or at brokwindsor.com
Happy Canada Day!
