Steve Canyon
The strip featured Steve Burton Canyon, former air force captain and owner of the small, rather shaky airline Horizons Unlimited. From South America to South Africa, from the Middle East to the Far East, Canyon traveled the world fighting crime and having high adventure.
The strip was always very in touch with the political and social climes of the day, hence, the outbreak of the Korean War saw Canyon going back to the air force. A few undercover missions later, he became colonel. It was around this time that Caniff decided to focus more on developing the secondary characters in the strip, mainly other military types, whose detailed personality traits brought them to life in a way that further injected the strip with a sense of humanity and wholeness. And of course, there were also plenty of girls around to add some color and excitement. Most of them were treacherous beauties out to get either Steve’s blood or his heart. It was the wife of his pal Leighton Olson, however, for whom Steve always carried a torch…and, after Leighton’s death, the two actually did marry.
As the years went on, Steve’s Texan cousin Poteet was introduced, and even she had a crush on the noble hero…familial relations, apparently, notwithstanding. Things went smoothly for Steve and his crew for a few more years, that is, until the Vietnam War. Steve re-enlisted in the air force again, which sparked the ire of many a protesting reader. To save his strip, Caniff decided to focus more on Steve and Summer than Steve and the air force, and the strip began to take on a family drama-ish air – an air it cultivated until it’s end in 1988.
Soon after Steve’s debut, comic books started to appear. A radio program was broadcast in 1948, and a decade later, a TV series aired. There was even a “Steve Canyon’s Airagers” Club that was highly popular. Today, Steve collectibles – from original art to comics to premiums from the programs and club – abound.
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Steve Canyon
The strip featured Steve Burton Canyon, former air force captain and owner of the small, rather shaky airline Horizons Unlimited. From South America to South Africa, from the Middle East to the Far East, Canyon traveled the world fighting crime and having high adventure.
The strip was always very in touch with the political and social climes of the day, hence, the outbreak of the Korean War saw Canyon going back to the air force. A few undercover missions later, he became colonel. It was around this time that Caniff decided to focus more on developing the secondary characters in the strip, mainly other military types, whose detailed personality traits brought them to life in a way that further injected the strip with a sense of humanity and wholeness. And of course, there were also plenty of girls around to add some color and excitement. Most of them were treacherous beauties out to get either Steve’s blood or his heart. It was the wife of his pal Leighton Olson, however, for whom Steve always carried a torch…and, after Leighton’s death, the two actually did marry.
As the years went on, Steve’s Texan cousin Poteet was introduced, and even she had a crush on the noble hero…familial relations, apparently, notwithstanding. Things went smoothly for Steve and his crew for a few more years, that is, until the Vietnam War. Steve re-enlisted in the air force again, which sparked the ire of many a protesting reader. To save his strip, Caniff decided to focus more on Steve and Summer than Steve and the air force, and the strip began to take on a family drama-ish air – an air it cultivated until it’s end in 1988.
Soon after Steve’s debut, comic books started to appear. A radio program was broadcast in 1948, and a decade later, a TV series aired. There was even a “Steve Canyon’s Airagers” Club that was highly popular. Today, Steve collectibles – from original art to comics to premiums from the programs and club – abound.
Popular Topics
Overstreet Access Quick Links
