Atomic Kommie Comics: 2022-05-01

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Space Hero Saturdays CAPTAIN ROCKET "Monstroids of the Underworld"

The final (in more ways than one) Captain Rocket comic tale...

...is not an outer space adventure, but an inner space one!

We had an atomic war in 1962...and nobody told us?

And Cap's adventures take place eons (or many millions of years) from now?

Writer/artist Harry Harrison handled the creative chores of the never-reprinted final story from PL's Captain Rocket #1 (1951), as he did every other story in this book.

Captain Rocket didn't have a second issue, and the character never reappeared, though his name has been appropriated for video games and halloween costumes for a totally-different character!

Little is known about PL Publishing, one of the least successful comic publishers in history, lasting less than a year and producing only eight titles, none of which ran more than three issues!
BTW, there was a third Captain Rocket story in that issue...but it was a text feature based on the cover!
We ran it last year, and you can read it HERE!

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Taylor Illustrated History

Science Fiction Comics

Friday, May 6, 2022

Friday Fun CRAZY "Spencer the Censor"

With all the recent discussions regarding on-line censorship...

...we have to ask; what sort of person actually does the censoring?

Sadly under-appreciated comics creator Howie Post illustrated (and likely scripted) this never-reprinted feature from Atlas' Crazy V1N5 (1955)

(Note: The "V1" is because this was the first of Atlas/Marvel's attempts to use the title "Crazy" to match EC's MAD, either in color comic or b/w magazine form!

They tried again in the early 1973 with another short-lived color comic which reprinted material from Not Brand Ecch, but finally succeed with a b/w magazine which ran for 94 issues from late 1973 to late 1983.

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Sincerest Form of Parody

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Reading Room CONQUEROR COMICS "Conquerors"

Easily one of the weirdest strips ever...

...from the only issue of the only comic this publisher ever produced!

What did the creators of this series have in mind?

It takes place on another world where long-dead people from Earth's past are now apparently immortal and can manipulate time itself!

In addition, it seems that every ethnic group has set itself up on their own planet...which begs the question as to how they would get there, since none of these groups had the technology for space travel!

Is it Heaven?

Unlikely, since Adolf Hitler is there!

Plus, the locals say the astronauts can't remove their helmets and breathe the air or they'll be unable to return to Earth!

Illustrated by Warren King, and scripted by an unknown writer, this lead story from the one and only issue of Conqueror Comics (1945) never had a sequel.

In fact, the publisher, Albrecht Publishing, never produced another comic!

In most cases like this, unused material would be sold off to another publisher who would use it as "filler", somewhere in their comics...but not Albrecht!

So we'll never know what would've happened to Bill and John Cotter as they explored this weird part of space/time!

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Science Fiction Comics

Taylor History of Comics

Vol 3

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Wednesday Worlds of Wonder ADVENTURERS' CLUB "Voodoo Lizards!"

Last Wednesday, we introduced you to Nelson Strong and the Adventurers Club...

This cover scene by Luis Dominguez does not appear in the comic!

...where the requirement for entry was a tale about an "exciting or unusual adventure".

Note: though Carter states he's getting "great action pictures" for his publisher (indicating a print magazine or book), he's using a movie camera, not a standard "still-photo" camera!
This never-reprinted story from DC's Adventure Comics #427 (1973) could be considered either science fiction or fantasy with a horror twist.

Either way, writer John Albano and artist Jim Aparo did a great job evoking mood and telling a cohesive story in only 8 pages, eh?

Trivia: Luis Dominguez, who illustrated the cover above (the only cover the Adventurers' Club was ever featured on) took over the art for the next (and last) tale featuring the group.

You'll see it next Wednesday.

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

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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Taylor Illustrated History

Science Fiction Comics

Monday, May 2, 2022

Monday Madness WARP: Neal Adams on Broadway!

In 1973, Chicago's Organic Theatre...

...presented their most daring bit of theatre to date..

...a science fiction trilogy!

(You thought George Lucas was the first one to do it?)

After successful runs of all three parts in Chicago, the crew, led by Organic co-founder Stuart (ReAnimator) Gordon, headed for NYC to present the first chapter, "My Body, My Battlefield!"...with some significant upgrades by DC/Marvel artist Neal Adams (1941-2022)!

Besides doing the above poster, plus insert art and the cover for Playbill, Neal did...well, I'll let the Monster Times explain...

Sadly, the Broadway version ran for only eight performances (after a couple of weeks of previews).

It was later revived (using Adams' designs and tech improvements) for another successful run of all three chapters in Chicago!
Plus, WARP became one of the lynchpin series for Chicago-based publisher First Comics when they launched in 1983, with a nine-issue adaption of the entire trilogy featuring art by Frank (Doctor Strange) Brunner and utilizing Neal's designs!

The series then told new stories for the remaining ten issues (plus three Specials).
If there was ever a theatrical project that was ahead of its' time, this was it!
Could the Organic Theatre (which still exists) re-mount it now, utilizing the advanced tech now available for live theatre?
We could only hope...

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