Shangri-La

History: Shangri-La was a legendary land of beauty, wealth, and peace where all dwelled in perfect contentment. Explorer Paul Drumm was convinced that Shangri-La really existed in a valley somewhere in Tibet. Drumm left for Tibet and was followed by his loutish stepbrother, Harry, who wanted to plunder the wealth of the land. At gunpoint, Harry forced Paul to lead him to the city. When they reached their destination of Shangri-La, Harry saw the city as ruins and the people as ugly savages, and he fled into the frozen wastes. Paul, who saw the paradise as it really was, learned that in Shangri-La, the person who discovered the city found only what he deserved to find.

Comment: The Golden Age Vision claimed to be “the first High Lama of Shangri-La”, so it is possible that this city was his original home.

Comment: Speculation - It is possible that “Shangri-La” was actually the mystical city of K'un-Lun, which was introduced in the Iron Fist series in Marvel Premiere # 15, and was also located in Tibet.

Comment: Speculation - …or perhaps “Shangri-La” was actually the lost city of Bayakura, discovered in the Himalayas by adventurer Duke O'Dowd. The inhabitants of Bayakura taught O'Dowd the power to become The Human Meteor in Champion Comics # 8 (Harvey Publications, 1940) NOTE: The Human Meteor became part of Marvel continuity in The Invaders (vol. 2) mini-series where he was introduced as a member of the Battle-Axis.

K'un-Lun has never, to my knowledge, been shown to have the properties of Shangri-La as outlined in this story: that each visitor sees the inhabitants of the city as a reflection of his/her own outlook on life. One could claim that that was a temporary spell cast by Master Khan, but while that explanation might work for an actual story, it seems too contrived to further an identification of Shangri-La with K'un-Lun.

The Human Meteor and The Thin Man each visited an exotic city and were given some gift transforming them into heroes.
Bob T.

Hi,
Perhaps you could reprint some of The 1940s Harvey stories
about The Human Meteor. Maybe you could reprint the
Timely Thin Man story as well.
It is my understanding that Thin Man made only one golden age appearence. If that one story could be reprinted that would be great. Even if the origin of The Human Meteor
were reprinted here that would be great.
To all of the Duke O' Dowd fans out there greetings.
“Duke…Duke…Duke O' Dowd”

is it true DUKE'O DOWD fought a gangster named ''nad neurod''?……if marvel had ever done a limited reprint series about non-marvel golden age heroes(AMERICAN ACE,DR. NEMESIS,SPIRIT OF'76,GHOST RIDER)who've popped up in the INVADERS or elsewhere,(actually american ace HASNT popped up,in fact marvel didnt even complete publishing his origin story in '39,too bad despite the crappy art,it could have gone somewhere,maybe timelys answer to DC/QUALITY,S ''BLACKHAWK'')than ''BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD'' would have torn the issue apart with their stupid cracks back when they had their own marvel series…''HEH-HEH,HEY BUTTHEAD,NAZI SYMPATHIZERS SUCK,EH,HEH HEH.'' P.S:one human meteor story WAS reprinted by AC comics in MEN OF MYSTERY,dont have it though,thankfully.

............. TURRRRRRD THE THING THAT DISLIKES BATTLE-AXIS A LOT. :: 13 November 2006

Dear Editor,
As a follow up to my above comment; 1) When Duke O'Dowd crash landed in the lost city of Bayakura he saved the people from a criminal element. He was rewarded for being a hero.
In his last Harvey Comics appearence he met with the French resistance. He was fighting for the allies. Marvel will have to retcon his repentance in somehow.
The Thin Man was always a good guy. There is no need to retcon an act of contrition.
It would be nice if both of them went to Bayakura to save the city together in a team up.
A monster attacks Bayakura and The Human Meteor is called on the ” Mentophone” to come back and bring The Thin Man with him.

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