Saturday, December 11, 2021

Space Force Saturdays SPACE PATROL "Pirates of Mercury"

Now here's a series I'd love to see a live-action version of...
...using state-of-the-art CGI for the SFX and aliens!
The multi-talented Basil Wolverton wrote, illustrated, lettered, and probably colored, this tale from Amazing Mystery Funnies #19 (1940).
It's one of the first of the "law enforcement in space" sci-fi sub-genre that prospered in pulp and comic sci-fi in the 1930s and 40s, and carried over to TV in the 1950s.
Note: the 1950s TV/radio series Space Patrol was not based on Wolverton's strip.
(Could you imagine them trying to do Wolverton's aliens using 1950s-level makeup techniques?)

Friday, December 10, 2021

Friday Holiday Fun CHRISTMAS AT GROUND ZERO


At this time of year, Christmas carols are already in continuous rotation on radio stations and in the Atomic Kommie Comics™ office.
(Remember when this didn't happen until after Thanksgiving?
Now it's before Halloween!)
One of our favorites is Christmas at Ground Zero by "Weird" Al Yankovic.
(You were expecting maybe Adeste Fidelis?)

Which brings us to, perhaps, the most unusual theme for potential Christmas presents (and, you gotta admit, we've had some real weirdies!)...atomic Armageddon!

BTW, our apologies...the link directly from YouTube does a weird re-routing, so you have to click on the video embed to go directly to YouTube instead of being able to watch it on the blog!
But do it...it's well worth the effort!
Within our sci-fi-oriented The Future WAS Fantastic!™ section is the Atomic War line of kool collectibles with classic comic book covers from the fear-filled '50s, featuring the nuclear destruction of New York City (see above), Washington DC, and Moscow on black hoodies, sweats, and tees, as well as mugs and other tchochkies!

So for all you survivalists out there, while you duck n' cover under the Christmas tree, prepare for the irradiated end stylishly with our radiation-proof (not really!) garb and goodies!

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Holiday Reading Room COMICO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL "Stiflemix Diaries"

Think stores begin their Christmas push  (as early as Labor Day) too early?
Some people thought so...three decades ago, as this never-reprinted tale from Comico's Christmas Special #1 (1988) demonstrates!
Note that, in 2094, we'll have both surveillance cameras (too true) and video tape (which, for consumer use, has all but disappeared as of 2015)!
Scripted by Doug (Swamp Thing) Wheeler, and illustrated by Tim (Batman: the Long Halloween) Sale, this story is an example of the kool off-the wall material by up-and-coming creators the sadly-defunct Comico was eager to run!
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Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Wednesday Worlds of Wonder SPACE CLUSTERS Part 2

...don't you love it when the book does the synopsizing for you?
Now, back to the action...
To be continued...
Next Week!
Written by sci-fi novelist Arthur Byron Cover and illustrated by Alex Nino, this never-reprinted tome from 1986 was the seventh and final magazine-size graphic novel DC published before abandoning the concept due to low sales.
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Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Holiday Reading Room SANTA CLAUS FUNNIES "Night Before Christmas"

There have been numerous graphic adaptations of this classic tale by Clement Clarke Moore.
...this is the third comics version (and one of the best), from Dell's Four Color Comics: Santa Calus Funnies #61 (1944)
Story taken verbatim from the original, art by Arthur E. Jameson.
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Cool Christmas Store!

Monday, December 6, 2021

Monday Mars Madness SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS

He's the Jolly Old Elf in a red suit!
They are BIG Green Men from Mars with an even BIGGER robot!
Before Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, they were the ingredients for the weirdest Christmas movie ever!
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians was filmed in 1964 in that bastion of cinema, Long Island New York (in an unused airplane hanger!

Starring a host of tv and b-movie actors including handsome-but-wooden Leonard Hicks as the benevolent Martian leader Kimar, 60s villain/voiceover artist Vincent Beck (who did lots of work for Irwin Allen's sci-fi shows) as the film's mustache-twirling Martian villain, Voldar, and John Call as a pretty damn convincing Santa Claus, the flick is touted these days as the debut of future talentless chantuse Pia Zadora as Kimar's daughter Girmar.
(Thankfully, she has rather limited screen time.)

The plot's pretty simple.
The children of Mars are in a funk.
The adult Martians deduce it's due to the children's strict and sterile upbringing, and that to "normalize" them, the kids must have fun!
And what could be more fun than celebrating Christmas?
But, to do a proper Christmas, you need a Santa Claus!
Thus, the Martians journey to Earth to kidnap Santa Claus and force him to create a Christmas celebration on Mars!
Then, as they used to say in TV Guide's plot listings, hilarity ensues! (well, sorta)

As an example of low-budget filmmaking, it's amazingly-effective.
Every penny (what few of them they had) is up on the screen.
The costuming and Santa's Workshop and Mars sets are as good as those of tv shows of the period.
(The Martian robot is probably the weakest element from a design and execution standpoint, but, hey, nobody's perfect!)
There's extensive use of military stock footage (from Dr. Strangelove, no less).
And, the idea to utilize the Wham-O Air Blaster toy guns as Martian weapons was either a stroke of marketing genius or clever use of limited funds.
Either way, sales of the guns shot thru the roof after the film hit the kiddie matinee circuit!

If you're between 3-9 years old, the flick's a lot of fun.
If you're between 10 and whatever the local drinking age is, it'll drive you nuts, especially the theme song!
If you're over the local drinking age, do so before watching! It's available on a host of public domain DVDs and BluRays as well as one of the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 snarkfests.

And you just knew we at Atomic Kommie Comics™ were going to include Santa Claus Conquers the Martians in our Cool Christmas collection on stuff including kid and adult sweatshirts, hoodies, mugs and coasters, tree ornaments, throw blankets and snugglies, and greeting cards!
BTW: The image is from the comic book tie-in. There was also a 45rpm single of the theme, a spoken-word LP album of the movie's dialogue, and a novelization, all of which are HTF...and expensive when you do find them!
Be Here Next Monday,
Now I can't get that damn theme out of my head..."Hoo-ray for Santy Claus..."
AARRRGGGHHH!

Sunday, December 5, 2021

Christmas Collectible Cornucopia (Say that Five Times Fast!)

Ho, Ho, Ho!
Need a stocking stuffer with style?
PPE FaceMasks, Christmas Cards, Mugs, Magnets, Shopping Bags and other unique items are here
Over a dozen designs in categories that will bring back nostalgic memories of your childhood!
Along with St. Nick, our frosty friend is one of the most recognizable symbols of Winter and the Christmas Season!
The classic tale of Scrooge's redemption brought alive with 9 digitally-remastered and restored images from the very FIRST edition EVER, plus the 1951 movie!
How do comic characters celebrate Christmas?
Check it out! 
He's the jolly ol' elf in a red suit.
They are big green men from Mars with an even bigger robot!
Who will win?
Before "The Nightmare Before Christmas" this was the funky Christmas flick!
Order from
Cool Christmas
now, or take the chance they won't arrive in time to go under the tree or in a stocking!