Saturday, March 25, 2023

Space Hero Saturdays DAN HASTINGS "and the Demons of Mexady"

One of the earliest comic book characters "inspired" by Flash Gordon...
...also had one of the most convoluted publication histories!
For one thing, the title character didn't even appear in the first two installments in Centaur's Star Comics (#1 above and #2 below) until the very end!
Instead, this pair of two-page chapters concentrate on Mexady's Ming the Merciless-type dictator and his reluctant chief scientist!
As of Centaur's Star Comics #3, our stalwart hero, his scientist friend, Dr Carter, the scientist's son (and Dan's sidekick) Bob...
...and the scientist's hot daughter, Gloria (whom the alien dictator immediately lusts for), finally get some attention!
Within four pages, we've gone from a World War (placed on hold) to a War of the Worlds!
And that was just the beginning!
The strip was created/written/illustrated by Fred Guardineer, one of the busier creatives of the Golden Age!
Though he's best known for his numerous magician characters including DC's Zatara, and Quality's Tor the Magic Master and Merlin the Magician, Fred worked in every genre, including Western, romance, high adventure, sci-fi, and even costumed super-heroes!
After his initial serial in Centaur's Star Comics 1-9, Dan Hastings popped up in titles published by MLJ/Archie, St John, and publisher Harry Chesler's various imprints!

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Friday, March 24, 2023

Friday Fun AROUND THE BLOCK WITH DUNC AND LOO "Loo in 'TV or Not TV' "

Those under 40, used to today's high-tech communications won't relate to this situation...
...which was all-too common in the pre-internet/wi-fi/cable/satellite dish days!
You'll note two major differences from most teen humor tales we present here...
1) the art doesn't mimic the Archie Comics "house" art style, which became synonymous with "teen humor" in the late 1950s!
2) the series is set in a big city with apartment houses and other urban elements.
(Most "teen humor" series are set in suburbs/small towns!)
This never-reprinted story from Dell's Around the Block with Dunc and Loo #1 (1961) was written by John Stanley and illustrated by Bill Williams (the series' co-creators).
It was one of three "teen humor" series created for Dell by Stanley, including Kookie and Thirteen (Going on Eighteen) for Dell.
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Thursday, March 23, 2023

Reading Room WORLD OF FANTASY "When Will They Come?"

At one time or another, we all think we don't fit in and don't belong where we are...
...perhaps we're more like this tale's nameless protagonist than we think!
This never-reprinted tale from Atlas' World of Fantasy #1 (1956) certainly offers an original excuse for breaking up with someone!
"I discovered I was an alien left behind on Earth, but now my people have come back for me so I can't see you any more."
While the writer is unknown, the artist is Robert "Bob" Bean, who's had an interesting career.
After illustrating stories and covers in almost every genre for numerous publishers including Atlas, Avon, St John, Charlton, Toby, and Lev Gleason, he left comics in the late 1950s and helped found Wylde Films, an industrial movie studio and is currently has also producing and directing cartooning correspondence course videos for Joe Kubert's World of Cartooning.

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Wednesday Worlds of Wonder MERCHANTS OF VENUS Part 1

What's it like to be a working stiff (albeit a charming and roguish one) in the far future?
You're about to find out in this graphic novel based on a novella by a multi-award-winning sci-fi writer!
To Be Continued...
Next Wednesday!
Adapted by the wife-husband team of Victoria Peterson and Neal McPheeters, this never-reprinted 1986 graphic novel could've been the first of a series since Pohl did several follow-up novels about the Heechee, but DC ended the graphic novel line shortly after this!
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Gold at the Starbow's End
(Anthology of Frederick Pohl's work featuring the novella "Merchants of Venus"!)

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Reading Room WORLD OF SUSPENSE "Very Old Man"

Despite Marvel Entertainment's extensive reprinting program...
...there's an incredible amount of Timely/Atlas material that hasn't seen the light of day since the 1940s-50s!
This is one such tale...
Edited (and likely plotted) by Stan Lee, and penciled by Sol Brodsky, this never-reprinted story from Atlas' World of Suspense #8 (1957) is a typical morality tale from the Comics Code-controlled era.
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Monday, March 20, 2023

Monday Madness HOME RUN "Daffy Dodgers"

This year is the 65th Anniversary of baseball's Dodgers deserting my beloved Brooklyn (sob) for Los Angeles...
...so let's look at a few of the most infamous moments of the "Da Bums" during their long stay in the illustrious County of Kings!
Rendered by Bob Powell in his rarely-seen humorous style, this piece appeared in Magazine Enterprises' Home Run #3 (1953)...which was the only issue of that title!
Note: Almost everybody attempted one or more sports-themed titles to show comics were still wholesome, all-ages appropriate entertainment during this period as "comics cause juvenile delinquency" mania swept America!
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Sunday, March 19, 2023

Toddler and Kiddie EasterWear Egg-citment!

Choose from Ducky's 1st Easter...
Bibs, creepers, toddlers' and kids' t-shirts, sweatshirts, and adult goodies like maternitywear!
Order now, so you'll have it in time for Easter!