Jack the Giant Killer

Golden Age Origin
Jack the Giant-Killer is a brave boy who lived during the reign of King Arthur. After a local giant named Cormoran raids his family's farm and steals their livestock, Jack decides to kill the creature, who lives in a distant castle. Jack sets out with nothing but farm tools as weapons, and an old horse named Dobbin. Although nobody takes him seriously, he manages to send the giant over a cliff, killing it. After gaining a reputation as a "giant-killer," Jack is captured by the vengeful Blunderbore. However, Jack manages to escape and slay Blunderbore and his brother, Rebecks.

At this point, Jack becomes the servant of King Arthur's son, and goes on to slay more giants, dragons and demons (including the two-headed giant Thunderdel and Galigantus), eventually becoming a knight of the round table. He marries the daughter of a duke he rescued from captivity, in the court of King Arthur.

This story is often conflated with the separate story of Jack and the Beanstalk. In that story, Jack trades the family cow for magical beans. His mother thinks him a fool, but he plants the beans and they grow into an enormous beanstalk that reaches all the way to the clouds. Jack climbs the giant beanstalk and finds a giant's castle among the clouds. He raids the castle, stealing a magical harp and a golden egg laying goose. The giant eventually discovers Jack and chases him down the beanstalk. However, Jack arrives on the ground fast enough to chop the beanstalk down, causing the giant to fall and die.

Public Domain Comic Appearances
Fairy Tale Parade #2: The original tale of Jack the Giant Killer. Fairy Tale Parade #8: The original tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. Jingle Jangle Comics #7: "Jack Beanstalk" is put in a dungeon by giants inent of eatinng the other inhabitants of Fairytale Land. Rescued by Bingo and Glum. Crack Comics #48: "Jack the Giant Killer" makes his beanstalk grow with the help of Thor, God of Thunder.

Other Comic Appearances of the Beanstalk
Marmaduke Mouse #26: Marmaduke Mouse climbs the magic beanstalk. Prize Comics vol. 5 #4 (52): Frankenstein climbs the magic beanstalk. Tick Tock Tales #17: Judy and the Magic Chalk climbs the magic beanstalk.