Reading Room SPACE WAR "Comeback"

What's cooler than re-presenting an over six decade-old never-reprinted Steve Ditko story?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

I love what I do!

And, as they say, if you love what you do, it ain't work!

Written by Joe Gill and illustrated by Steve Ditko, this story from Charlton's Space War #10 (1961) has some weird "echoes" of the origin of Captain Atom II in Charlton's Space Adventures #33 (1960)...by the same creatives!

(We showed it HERE!)

Could this story have been created before "Introducing Captain Atom" and held in inventory until a slot opened up?
We'll never know...

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Unexplored Worlds

Steve Ditko Archives, Vol 2

Reading Room OUT OF THIS WORLD "Conquered Earth"

Ever wonder if Steve Ditko could do Jack Kirby-style epic star-spanning storytelling?

Well, wonder no more, True Believer!

Illustrated by Ditko, written, most likely, by Joe Gill, this tale was tucked in the back of Charlton's Out of This World #4 (1957), which featured three Ditko-rendered stories out of four tales!

Ah, those were the days...

When the story was reprinted in Charlton's Space War #31 (1978), it was finally cover-featured, with the cover for a different (and still never-reprinted) Ditko-illustrated tale...

...which we re-presented a couple of days ago, as shown HERE!

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Unexplored Worlds

Steve Ditko Archives, Vol 2

Wednesday Worlds of Wonder SPACE MAN "Out Into Space" Conclusion

When Last We Left Our Space-Age Heroes...

Returing to Earth after successfully breaching the Anti-Force that kept humans from leaving Earth orbit, Ian and Johnny must keep from the public that they are now part of a secret interplanetary defense force operated by a (dare I say) federation of planets to protect the galaxy.

The series would run another seven issues that got even weirder and wilder than this premiere from Dell's Four Color #1253.

We'll be presenting those tales in the future.

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Science Fiction Comics

Taylor History of Comics

Vol 3

Wednesday Worlds of Wonder SPACE MAN "Out Into Space" Part 3

We Have Already Seen...

Hey, we're in the middle of a war here!

Check out Part 1 and Part 2, when you have a chance.

In the meantime, dive in...

Think this is the end of the story?

Heck, it's not even the end of the issue!

Be here next Wednesday...

...when our heroes face the world, and lie through their teeth to almost everyone!

Illustrated by Jack Sparling, and probably written by Joe Gill, this story from Dell's Four Color #1253 (1962) was the kickoff to a series that would continue for seven more issues in the early 1960s, then disappear from view...until now!

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Science Fiction Comics

Taylor History of Comics

Vol 3

Wednesday Worlds of Wonder SPACE MAN "Out Into Space" Part 2

When Last We Left Our Space Heroes...

In the near-future (as seen from 1962), the experimental X-1825 attempts to break through the "Anti-Force" surrounding Earth that keeps spacecraft from going any further into outer space than orbiting our world.

Veteran spaceman Ian Stannard and rookie Johnny Mack manage to steer the ship through the barrier and land on the Moon's surface where they are surrounded by silent humanoids in spacesuits who bring them to an underground city...

Battle is joined, and the mayhem continues..

Next Wednesday!

This book-length tale from Dell's Four Color Comics #1253 (1962) was written by Ken Fitch and  illustrated by Jack Sparling.
Was this originally-intended as a proposal for an animated or live-action TV series, which the writer then adapted into a comic series?
It certainly feels like it!

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Science Fiction Comics

Taylor History of Comics

Vol 3

Reading Room: SPACE ADVENTURES "Lunar Rendezvous"

A 1950s-style script with art that tries to offer a 1960s "psychedelic" feel...

...in this never-reprinted tale from Charlton's Space Adventures V2#6 (1969)

Sam Glanzman was an amazingly-versatile artist, whose work in every genre from sci-fi to war to romance to Westerns was usually exemplary.

Whether this was a rush job...or he was experimenting with a new inking style...or he simply had an off-week, it's just not up to his usual high standards.

BTW, you may notice the indicia says "Vol 1 Number 6", but the book is actually from Vol 2 Number 6!

Charlton's first Space Adventures title ran from 1952-56 (1-21), then 1958-64 (23-59) for a total of 58 issues.
(There wasn't a #22 in either part of the run).

This tale was from a 1968-69 revival of the title that lasted only 7 issues.

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Voyage to the Deep

TPB reprinting the complete four-issue 1960s series illustrated by Sam Glanzman, plus some kool features!

Reading Room UNUSUAL TALES "Man Who Could Paint on Air"

With an intriguing cover like this...

...how could I resist running this rarely-seen tale by writer Joe Gill and artist Steve Ditko!

This story of artistic alien assassins and poisonous pigments appeared in Charlton's Unusual Tales #7 (1957) during one of Steve Ditko's most prolific periods as he freelanced for several companies including Atlas (later Marvel), Charlton, and St John doing a little in every genre...even romance!

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Creativity of Ditko