Monday Madness WORLD OF FANTASY "Cry for Help!"

Over the centuries, men have come up with many excuses for deserting their families...

...but I've never heard of "for the advancement of science" as a reason!

Illustrated by Kurt (Lois Lane) Schaffenberger, and likely plotted (if not also scripted) by editor Stan Lee, this never-reprinted tale from Atlas' World of Fantasy #2 (1956) points out how the family is truly our most important social construct, and how it should not be neglected!

And, you never know when it'll save your life!

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Taylor Illustrated History

Science Fiction Comics 

Reading Room WORLD OF FANTASY "One Night"

Spaceship crewmen on shore leave at a distant port...

...sounds like a recipe for trouble and proof that some things never change!

Like many Baby Boomers (who, ironically, were this story's target audience of 6-13 year old children in 1956), Pete Cooper didn't plan for his retirement!

As a result, he made a gaffe that assured his fate would be exactly what he feared!

Illustrated by penciler Bob Forgione and inker Jack Abel, this never-reprinted morality play appeared in Atlas' World of Fantasy #2 (1956)!

The writer is unknown.

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Sci-Fi Art: a Graphic History

Reading Room WORLD OF FANTASY "Clock Strikes NEVER!"

Here's a fascinating Silver Age tale about time travel...

...from the period when Atlas Comics was transitioning into Marvel Comics!

Penciled and inked by Steve Ditko, this story from Atlas' World of Fantasy #18 (1959) has some intriguing concepts, including the idea that nothing can travel back before its' creation date, which would rule out time travel into the distant past (before the temporal travel device was created)!
But my big question is...who is "Fate"?
He pops up at the beginning of Page 4 and remains lurking in the background for the rest of the story, becoming a second narrator!
Besides looking visually-kool, what's his purpose?
He doesn't interfere...or even warn/advise the protaganist!
Since the story's narrator refers to Fate in the third person, we know the blue guy is not the one hosting the tale!
Like the identity of the story's writer, it's a mystery that'll never be solved...

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Marvel Masters of Suspense

Steve Ditko

Volume 1

Reading Room WORLD OF FANTASY "Frightened Ones!"

Ever hear the phrase "It's all a matter of perspective"?
This never-reprinted tale from Atlas' World of Fantasy #4 (1956) validates it!

Penciled (and possibly inked) by Mike Sekowsky, this short proves "there's always someone bigger than you"!

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Science Fiction Comics

Taylor History of Comics

Vol 3

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.

Reading Room WORLD OF FANTASY "Brain Picker!"

Nuclear accidents mutating everyday people were common in pre-Marvel tales...

...plotted or written by Stan Lee for Atlas Comics...except they didn't result in costumed superheroes...or costumed supervillains!

If this never-reprinted story by plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, penciler Matt Baker and inker Vince Colletta, from Atlas' World of Fantasy #17 (1959) had appeared after the intro of the Fantastic Four in 1961, I don't doubt Frederic Kane would've become an ongoing super-villain and scientist brother Phillip would've become his nemesis, probably working with S.H.I.E.L.D. and/or Professor X to stop him!

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Matt Baker

Art of Glamour

Robot Reading Room WORLD OF FANTASY "Iron Hulk!"

Last week, we presented a tale about a child and her robot...

...who was so emotionally-attached to her, it sacrificed itself to save her!
But, that wasn't the first time that plot was used...

This never-reprinted tale from Atlas' World of Fantasy #19 (1959), scripted by either Stan Lee or Larry Lieber, is extremely similar to the previously-presented 1963 story, minus the "Christmas present" element and making the robot look like a life size toy soldier.

Note the lovely art by Joe Sinnott.

While most of you know Sinnott as one of the best inkers in the business, he was also a competent penciler as well.

Ironically, Joe didn't ink most of his own pencil work, since it was subcontracted by Vince Colletta's prolific studio for use by Charlton, Gold Key, and Dell and inked by Colletta himself!
You'll see another story with the same theme on Thursday.

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Brush Strokes with Greatness

Life and Art of Joe Sinnott

Monday Madness WORLD OF FANTASY "Gargoyle From the 5th Galaxy!"

Is this a kool cover, or what?

But, this sandals-wearing Jack Kirby-Christopher Rule scarlet alien isn't inside the comic!

Instead, we get a more humanoid, less "traditional" gargoyle-looking green alien!

To be fair, he does breathe fire, like the guy on the cover...

Plotted by Stan Lee, scripted by Larry Lieber and superbly-rendered by Don Heck, this tale from Atlas' World of Fantasy #19 (1959) was actually a re-do of an earlier story (illustrated by Jack Kirby, no less), which we'll present tomorrow!

BTW, though the story was reprinted in the 1970s, the cover has never seen the light of day since its' original publication!

Pity...

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Atlas-Era Marvel Masterworks
Tales of Suspense
Volume 4

Monday Madness WORLD OF FANTASY "Useless Ones!"

As more and more Baby Boomers leave the workforce, will that vast number of retirees still be considered...

Or will they finally get the respect they deserve, and perhaps even envy from stressed-out remaining workers?

This never-reprinted tale from Atlas' World of Fantasy #1 (1956) takes a rather patronizing attitude towards the older characters.

And, if written today, the scientist might be shown as envying the retired couple, who are able to enjoy their now-free time!

Ilustrated by Tony DiPreta, the story's plotter/scripter is unknown.

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Taylor Illustrated History

Science Fiction Comics 

Reading Room WORLD OF FANTASY "It Stands in the Snow"

We've presented abominable snowman stories before...

...but none that ends like this one!

We guarantee it!

OK, did you follow the surprise ending?

Admittedly, it's a little difficult due to the final panel being drawn sideways.

Let's run the final panel the way it should be shown...

Now that works!

Was this never-reprinted tale from Atlas' World of Fantasy #2 (1956) a four-pager that was re-worked into three pages?

Only artist (and Atlas/Marvel production whiz) Sol Brodsky and the unknown writer knew...

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Taylor Illustrated History

Science Fiction Comics