Reading Room: WEIRD TALES OF THE FUTURE "Plaything"

Ever feel like you're totally-insignificant?

Well, there might be a very good reason, as shown in Key's Weird Tales of the Future #6 (1953)!

"As flies to wanton boys are we to th' gods. They kill us for their sport."

–Shakespeare "King Lear"

While the writer is unknown, the artist was Tony Mortellaro, who did hundreds of tales in various genres for Key and Atlas/Marvel, (where he became Associate Art Director under John Romita in the 1970s).

 Support Atomic Kommie Comics

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Sci-Fi Art: a Graphic History
Paid Link

Wednesday Worlds of Wonder THE ODYSSEY "Part 3"

When Last We Left Odysseus & His Men...

...they were about to be drowned in a whirlpool!

To Be Concluded, Next Wednesday!

Based on the classic story by Homer, this adaptation, scripted by Bill Mantlo and penciled/inked by Jess Jodloman appeared in Marvel Classic Comics #18 (1977).

Support Atomic Kommie Comics

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Homer's The Odyssey

Newly-Translated/Annotated/Illustrated

Paid Link

Reading Room FLASH GORDON COMICS "Stories Behind the Stars"

This was an ongoing feature about the mythological origins of the constellations...

...which has never been reprinted since its' appearance in Harvey's Flash Gordon #2, #3, and #4 (1950).

Ever wonder what the actual legend behind Clash of the Titans was?

You'll note the "monster" is not the movie's Kraken, which was a mythological Norse creature based on sailors' sightings of huge octopi.

Ray Harryhausen let his imagination run wild, producing a far more interesting creature than the usual fire-breathing lizard.

Last, but hardly least, here's a popular mythological creature who's been "retconned" in movies and tv...

...but this never-reprinted one-pager from Harvey's Flash Gordon #4 (1950) gives you the original version of the story!
Note, again, Ray Harryhausen presents the (for many of us) definitive cinematic version of the creature, but substituting Jason (the leader of the Argonauts) for Hercules...

All illustrated (and likely written) by by Bob Powell!

Monday Mecha Madness SPIRIT OF FRANKENSTEIN "A Monster is Born"

There have been several ongoing series that combined horror and sci-fi...

...such as the strip which premiered with this tale from ACG's Adventures into the Unknown! #5 (1949)!

The "monster" here is not Frankenstein's Monster, nor are any of the scientists members of the Frankenstein clan.
Though it's defined as a "robot" it appears to be more of an android!
But, if the strip's creators say it's a robot, that's good enough for me!

Writer Richard Hughes and artist Charles Sultan invoked the "spirit" of the Frankenstein Monster Monster concept with a creation run amok and ran amuck with it for several issues from #5 to #16.

Rest assured it'll be back...

Support Atomic Kommie Comics
Visit Amazon and Buy...

Adventures Into the Unknown!
Volume 1
Paid Link

Happy Father's Day...

Art by Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon

..or else!