Call Him Chief

There has been a long-running dispute amongst comic fans over who is the better newspaper editor--Perry White or J. Jonah Jameson. (OK, there hasn't actually been debate--but it sounds better if I pretend there has been!)

We, the answer is--neither!! In case you zoned out during last week's Fawcett 1941 Week, I made the astonishing character find of 2011--Burton!!

Starring (yes, starring--no supporting character is Burton!!) in The Devil's Dagger strip in Master Comics #1-#20, Burton was the editor of the Carterville Daily Blade, and he made J. Jonah Jameson look like he was on Prozac.

He had two obsessions--uncovering the identity of Carterville's mysterious master villain, Mr. H, and uncovering the identity of Carterville's mysterious hero--the dashing Devil's Dagger.

I won't point out that BOTH of those people actually worked for him as reporters...that would be uncharitable.

Burton was never given a first name--such a titanic figure needs only one name, for who else could you be talking about when you say "Burton"?

He also apparently had some type of mutant powers, because every time you saw him, papers would start to fly about uncontrollably:

Burton was also a bit...demanding of his star reporter, Ken Wyman (who was also the Devil's Dagger--shhh!):

And did I mention that Burton was a tiny bit excitable?

J. Jonah Jameson wishes he could get that worked up...

Burton appeared in comics before Perry White (but one month after Perry had debuted on Superman's radio show), and obviously he was around 20 some years before Jameson stalked the landscape. So, yes, he's old school.

But since DC presumably owns him, why not bring Burton into the 21st century, and make him editor of The Daily Planet in the New New (New) DC Universe? He's used to being befuddled by having someone with a secret identity working for him...

...he's got a drive and energy to bring in the fans...

...and substitute "Kent" for "Wyman" in all those balloons, and your good to go!!

Burton--the editor we all need!!