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Saturday, September 30, 2023

Space Hero Saturdays MANHUNTER 2070 "Incident on Krobar 3"

A mere 47 years from now...
...the 21st Century's Deep Space will look a lot like the 19th Century's Wild West!
This short appeared in the back of DC's Showcase V1 #90 (1970), leading into the final three issues of the series' original run, dedicated to one of Mike Sekowsky's more innovative projects...
Sekowsky had quite a bit of latitude at DC as a writer/artist/editor during this period, revamping Wonder WomanMetal Men and Supergirl (in Adventure Comics) while also presenting a couple of potential series in ShowcaseJason's Quest and Manhunter 2070.
This prequel was written and penciled by Mike Sekowsky, inked by Dick Giordano.
We re-presented the entire never-reprinted saga...

"Planet of Death" Part 1
"Planet of Death" Part 2
"Planet of Death" Conclusion
"D.O.A." Part 1
"D.O.A." Conclusion
"Next Issue"
"Never Trust a Red-Haired Greenie!" Part 1
"Never Trust a Red-Haired Greenie!" Part 2
"Never Trust a Red-Haired Greenie!" Conclusion
The story ended on a cliffhanger, and the apparent death of Starker.
For twenty years, except for a cameo in the revived Showcase's 100th issue, during a multiverse and time-spanning tale featuring almost every character who headlined a strip in Showcase...except James Bond from #43's adaptation of the movie Dr No...Starker had disappeared from the DC Multiverse.
HA!
Fooled Ya!
In 1990, Howard Chaykin and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez created Twilight, a mini-series combining and "updating" an assortment of DC Comics' 21st Century-based characters including (from left-to-right) Star Hawkins & IldaTommy TomorrowKarel Sorenson (and the rest of the not-pictured Star Rovers), and Manhunter 2070 (who apparently survived the ambush), along with the Space CabbieKnights of the GalaxySpace Ranger, and even the Space Museum!
It was also revealed that interplanetary private eye Star Hawkins was actually Axel Starker, brother to Manhunter 2070, whose full name was Jon Starker...contradicting the only-child storyline from the Showcase series.
Note: Star Hawkins was co-created by artist Mike Sekowsky (who, as a writer/artist/editor created Manhunter 2070) and writer John Broome, so the two characters were "brothers" sharing a "father", as it were.
Chaykin had already radically re-envisioned several other characters, including Blackhawk and The Shadow, and while his controversial Shadow updating (continued by Andy Helfer, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Kyle Baker) wasn't considered "official", the changes he introduced into Blackhawk became part of post-Crisis on Infinite Earths canon.
As to where Twilight stands in terms of continuity...well, we're not sure.
The events in the story have never been referenced in any other DC titles, nor has it ever been reprinted.
Which may be just as well, since Jon Starker dies during the tale.
But, Manhunter 2070 still had one more life left!
DC's continuity being what it is (or isn't) these days, it seems you can't keep an interplanetary bounty hunter dead for long.
In 2012, comics legend Walt Simonson wrote and illustrated a one-shot graphic novel, Judas Coin...
The coin falls into the hands of various people throughout recorded history (including a number of both notable and almost-forgotten DC characters)...
...the final chapter takes the reader to a near-future we have more than a passing familiarity with...
Yep, Starker survived!
Have a look at Manhunter 2070, a worthy addition to our collection of Space Heroes!
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Friday, September 29, 2023

Friday Fun BIG APPLE COMIX "Hi There! I'm Paranoia!"

As NYC's subways are shut down due to once in a quarter-century flooding (at least 7 inches of rain)...
...I fondly remember Big Apple Comix's back cover by Ralph Reese, personifying the response we New Yorkers tend to have to even the most outrageous occurrences!
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Thursday, September 28, 2023

Reading Room (JOURNEY INTO) UNKNOWN WORLDS "Prisoner of TIme!"

Here's a weird tale, even by the loose standards of 1950s comic book sci-fi...
...and, to top it off, thr tale is told by persons unknown!
Neither the writer nor artist(s) for this never-reprinted story from Atlas' Journey Into Unknown Worlds #36 (1950) have been conclusively identified, though some think longtime Atlas/Marvel production pro Sol Brodsky penciled it.
BTW, though it was numbered #36, it was actually #1 in the Journey into Unknown Worlds series!
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Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Wednesday Worlds of Wonder O.C.T. OCCULT CRIMES TASKFORCE "Soul Ripper" Conclusion

We Have Already Seen...

NYPD Officer (and recent Occult Crimes TaskForce recruit) Sophia Ortiz is assigned to a unit tracking a murderous creature known (for obvious reasons) as the "Soul Ripper"...

Be Back Next Wednesday for More Enchanted Excitement!
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Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Reading Room WORLD OF SUSPENSE "Men in Glass"

This tale is about a recent immigrant to our shores...
...and how his actions have consequences for both the United States...and the entire Earth!
The Star Spangled Banner has always been a difficult tune to sing, but who knew it could be used as a weapon?
Illustrated by Don Heck, this never-reprinted tale from Atlas' World of Suspense #5 (1956) takes the "high note can shatter glass" trope to a whole new level.
OTOH, if the aliens' helmets had been made of plastic or "transparent aluminium" or some such instead of glass, we'd all be chanting "Hail Zarki!"
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Monday, September 25, 2023

Monday Madness Redux: When Life May End Up Imitating Art...

...as shown in the 2013 movie The Congress!
You'll note the production title was Robin Wright at The Congress.
There's a good reason for that!
In the film, actress Robin Wright (played by...surprise...actress Robin Wright) sells the right to digitize her face and body to a movie studio, which then can exclusively use it in any movie or TV show as they see fit, even ones she wouldn't, herself, have agreed to perform in!
They do pay her a considerable sum of cash for the digital rights, with the understanding that she will retire from performing and not make any public appearances in her capacity as "actress Robin Wright" for 20 years, at which point the contract may be re-negotiated.
Sounds like one of the sticking points in the SAG-AFTRA strike against movie and TV studios...except the studios want to pay performers a one time "day rate" now for doing the same thing!
No additional payment for any future use!
Based on the Stanislaw Lem novel Futurological Congress, the movie came and went quickly, creating more of a stir overseas than in America!
Rather than rehash the points, I'd direct you to an excellent post HERE going into more detail about both the film and the book that inspired it!
And, though the movie is available on several streaming services, I'd recommend getting the DVD or Blu-Ray for the director's audio commentary and special features.
BTW, some may remember we posted this several months ago when the post on another blog first appeared.
But, as the WGA strike against the movie/TV studios appears to be about to end (and hopefuly, the SAG-AFTRA strike will follow), the fact this little-seen flick actually predicted this exact situation involving creatives (writers and performers) vs Artificial Intelligence is something we believe bears repeating.

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(The extras make it well worth it!)

Sunday, September 24, 2023

G, PG, and PG-13-Rated Halloween "Horrors"

The leaves are turning orange and brown, and our somewhat-warped thoughts naturally turn to...
HALLOWEEN
...the koolest holiday of all!
We at Atomic Kommie Comics™ have told you about our Horror Comics of the 1950s™ and Seduction of the Innocent™ sections, PLUS the Martians, Martians, Martians™ category of The Future WAS Fantastic™, all of which have kool retro horror-oriented goodies year-round for the older kids-at-heart.
But what about something for the younger crowd, the tweens and pre-teens, the toddlers and babies?
Well, never let it be said we ignored a target demographic!
We have a kreepy-kool Haunted Halloween™ section with a subsection specifically-for those little ones who want a slightly-scary take on the spectral and spooky, as well as one for the 7-13 category who want a bit more meat on the bone (as it were).
Note to the older crowd, sorry, but the shirts 'n stuff are kid-sized only.
Have a look and order now, to avoid being tricked so you get your treats!