Friday, November 30, 2012

Reading Room: "COMICS" McCORMICK "Inspector Conrad Cosmic"

Each issue our hero encounters characters from a different comic strip/book genre!
This time, he aids a space-going adventurer not unlike Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers.
This story from Holyoke's Terrific Comics #6 (1944) is written and illustrated by Ed Wheelan, who did over 300 stories during his career from 1938-1949, almost all of them as both writer and artist.
Despite the blurb, this was Comics McCormick's final appearance in Terrific Comics, due to the book's cancellation.
His next appearance was a single story in Cat-Man Comics #28, then he joined Ed Wheelan's other strips in Fat & Slat, an EC Comics anthology title dedicated to Whelan's work that lasted only four issues.
(BTW, the story with the robot was published in Fat & Slat #3.)

While Flash and Buck were primarily newspaper comic strip characters, both had comic books that reprinted their newspaper appearances.
In addition, there were numerous space-hero characters created specifically for comics including SpaceHawkRex Dexter, and Rocket Kelly.

The main difference between "Comics" McCormick and it's rival series, SuperSnipe, is that "Comics" daydreams about interacting with comic characters, but SuperSnipe actually tries to do heroic deeds like capturing spies or rescuing kittens, but invariably screws up and ends up being grounded (or worse).
This story from Holyoke's Terrific Comics #6 (1944) is written and illustrated by Ed Wheelan, who did over 300 stories during his career from 1938-1949, almost all of them as both writer and artist.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Space: the Final Frontier (for Christmas Gifts)...


Since the 1890s, and the heyday of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, science fiction-themed presents have found a place under the Christmas tree and in Xmas stockings for the young (and young at heart)!
Continuing that entertaining tradition, Atomic Kommie Comics™ is proud to offer our line of retro-design sci-fi/fantasy collectibles, The Future WAS Fantastic!™, for both kids AND adults!
We're talking 12-month calendars, mousepads, mugs, magnets, t-shirts, sweatshirts and other goodies featuring some of the niftiest illustrations from the comic books, pulp magazines, and movie posters of the 1930s-1960s, all digitally-restored and remastered!
Spaceships with wings and big fins!
Ray Guns that can zap an entire army in a flash!
Slimy Aliens!
Killer Robots!
Heroes in bubble-helmeted tight spacesuits!
Heroines in even tighter space suits!
Never did the future look so...stylish!
If you're looking for something in the vein of Star Wars or Star Trek (You did know that George Lucas wanted to remake Flash Gordon, but King Features didn't want to trust a young director whose biggest credit at that point was American Graffiti, didn't you?), here's the stuff that provided the visual inspiration for today's hi-tech flights of fantasy!
Enjoy, and may your rocket tubes never overheat...

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Reading Room CAPTAIN SCIENCE COMICS "Spawn of Saturn"

Welcome to the cover feature of Captain Science #1 (1950)...
...except it's not about Captain Science!
In fact, the story's title isn't mentioned on the cover at all!
(You can find the actual Captain Science tales from #1 HERE and HERE and another solo story HERE.)
It's interesting to see a sci-fi tale where a handsome starship captain doesn't go on a landing party to a potentially-dangerous locale!
The writer is unknown, but the art is by Walter Johnson, who not only penciled and inked his own work, but ran a studio that supplied material to a number of comics companies, so some of his "signed" jobs (like this one) show elements of several artists' styles.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Reading Room: LOST WORLDS "Men and Fire"

In 1952, outer space was the "final frontier"...
...and humans were going to tame it, no matter what the consequences!
This never-reprinted tale from Standard's Lost Worlds #6 (1952) was penciled by Ross Andru and inked by Andru and Mike Esposito.
The writer is unknown.

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Monday, November 26, 2012

The Hardly Abominable SnowMan!

Along with Santa Claus and Scrooge, our frosty friend is one of the most recognizable symbols of Winter and the joyous Christmas Season!
The songwriting team of Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson took the folk-tale of a snowman coming to life and playing with children, only to melt at the end of winter, and adapted it into a song they sold to Gene Autry. who was looking for a follow-up to his previous hit; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Like Rudolph, Frosty the Snow Man turned out to be a major hit single and was adapted to other media, including several cartoon versions, the first of which was a short "music video" version of the song itself...

It is that version, and the subsequent books and comic books of the 1950s that we draw our kool retro-style imagery for our line of holiday goodies including greeting cards, collectibles, infant/toddler/kidswear and adult clothing (sweatshirts and hoodies)!
So come play with the SnowMan! We promise he won't melt!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Reading Room: LARS OF MARS "Secret Origin"

What if 1950s sci-fi shows like Captain Video or Space Patrol were real?
 Or if the aliens shown on the screen were real aliens?
And what if the alien was the Space Hero???
As you've just read, that was the premise of the short-lived (two issues) Ziff-Davis series Lars of Mars!
Created by Jerry (Superman) Siegel and Murphy (Buck Rogers) Anderson, this premiere story from the first issue of his own title (which, oddly enough,  was #10!) established the somewhat-silly premise.
During his run, Lars battled Commies, crooks, and other interplanetary aliens while protecting his "secret identity" from his nosy producer (who bore a disturbing resemblance to Lois Lane).
You'll be seeing all of Lars' stories here (including his final tale from the 1980s (in 3-D, no less) in the future.
Watch for them!
Trivia:
The cover paintings for both issues of Lars of Mars were painted by Allen Anderson...who was not related to interior artist Murphy Anderson!
Here's a "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"-style factoid (done in only four degrees)...
  • 1) Ziff-Davis also published a short-lived adaptation of an actual 1950s sci-fi tv series, Space Patrol, illustrated by Bernie Krigstein.
  • 2) Krigstein illustrated the first issue of another Ziff-Davis sci-fi series: Space Busters!
  • 3) Bernie was replaced on interior art for the second (and final) issue of Space Busters by...Murphy Anderson!
  • 4) Allen Anderson did the painted cover for the Space Busters issue (#2) illustrated by Murphy! (Norm Saunders had painted #1's cover!)

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Great Treasury of Christmas Comic Book Stories

There's a kool coffee-table book available now called Great Treasury of Christmas Comic Book Stories, featuring tales from 1940s and 50s comic books about Christmas.
It's a cool, kid-friendly throwback to the days when publishers did oversized holiday annuals.
Of course, most tales feature Santa Claus, but other characters pop up including Atomic Mouse, Lil' TomBoy, Ebenezer Scrooge, and even the Easter Bunny! Plus there's a tastefully-done Nativity tale.
Art is by some of the best artists of the era including Walt Kelly (Pogo), John Stanley (Little Lulu/Nancy), and Richard Scarry.
Like I said, it's "kid friendly", but Baby Boomers will probably remember reading one or more of these tales when they were young and should enable their kids or grandkids to experience the same fun they had!
And, if you're gonna give a loved one this terrrific tome, why not combine it with one of our comics-based Christmas collectibles including clothing, mugs, shopping bags, magnets, and many other items with stylish retro graphics derived from comic book covers (some of which appear in the book) for a nifty gift set?
12 different 1960s Kris Kringle designs (for the 12 days of Christmas!) that will bring back nostalgic memories of your Baby Boomer childhood!
Along with St. Nick, our frosty friend is one of the most recognizable symbols of Winter and the Christmas Season! 5 different Frosty designs!
A Christmas Carol brought alive with images from the very FIRST edition EVER, the famous Arthur Rackham-illustrated edition, and the 1951 movie starring Alastair Sim! Bah, Humbug!
Designs featuring famous comic characters celebrating Christmas!
Green Lama!
Edison Bell: Boy Inventor!
Two different SuperSnipe designs!
Santa's Elves on Strike!
Western Rider Rusty!
3-D Comic Christmas!
and MORE!

Happy Holiday Shopping from Atomic Kommie Comics™

Friday, November 23, 2012

ATTENTION! Retro Pop Culture Shoppers...

Atomic Kommie Comics'
Black Friday 
through
Cyber Monday
Deals!
Incredible prices!
AT LEAST 25% OFF
(Or better!)
on Pop Culture
Kool Kollectibles!
Sherlock Holmes!
Mystery!
Romance!
Horror!
Sci-Fi/Fantasy!
Westerns!
Martial Arts!
Military/War!
SuperHeroes!
SuperHeroines!
Schlock/Camp!
and, of course...
Christmas (Santa Claus, Scrooge, SnowMan & MORE!)

Take a deep breath and dive in...


ALL 2013 12-Month Calendars

 normally $19.99...NOW $14.99!
or browse thru the store 
ALL Messenger Bags
normally $24.99...NOW $19.99!

or browse thru the store
 

ALL Tote Bags 
normally $19.99...NOW $14.99!
or browse thru the store
 
ALL Wall Clocks
 normally $19.99...NOW $14.99!
or browse thru the store
ALL Blank SketchBooks/Journals 
normally $14.99...NOW $9.99!
or browse thru the store
 Prices in effect 12:01am Friday, November 23 to 11:59pm PST Monday, November 26th, 2013

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Reading Room: WEIRD TALES OF THE FUTURE "Purple Mists"

The perils of exploring the universe are many and varied...
...as seen in this never-reprinted story from Key Publications' Weird Tales of the Future #6 (1953)!
Though it's implied that one of the guys Rex and Tom shot was Rex's brother, that point is more-or-less ignored!
The writer is unknown, but artist Hy Fleishman signed his work in the first panel.
Fleishman worked for numerous publishers during the 1950s including Atlas (later Marvel), Story, Key, and Lev Gleason in various genres including horror, war, sci-fi, western, romance, and even humor.