Reading Room STRANGE ADVENTURES "Science-Fiction Convention on Mars!"

You gotta ask: how can three of the best creatives of the Silver Age of Comics...

...make such an exciting concept so decidedly-deadly dull?

Writer Gardner Fox, penciler Gil Kane, and inker Joe Giella (together and separately) produced some of the koolest tales of the Silver Age!

Yet, this story from DC's Strange Adventures #73 (1956) almost put me to sleep!

The premise is great, the concepts are well-thought out, but the rendering of it is...well...drab!

Why aren't the Martians more visually-interesting?

They're just bald orange guys with slightly-elongated brain-cases!

Couldn't they be using disguises (either masks or holograms) while on Earth and then reveal themselves to be funky-looking Martians when the convention-goers arrive on Mars?

It's not like penciler Gil Kane has any problem with rendering kool-looking humanoid aliens, as shown HERE and HERE!

And, would it have killed them to give the creatives an extra page?

Jamming in all that exposition into the last page really limited Gil into what he could present.

(Remember, DC worked "full script", so Kane knew how much room the captions and dialogue balloons needed to take!)

Using two pages for that last sequence would've helped enormously!

And what about the weird rays that destroy any spaceships?

Natural?

Artificial?

We'll never know...

In comparison, this tale from Dell's Four Color #1288: Twilight Zone has a less-epic, but much more "fun" feel to it!

Special Gardner Fox Note: Fox's Crom, the first barbarian in comic books, returns tomorrow in Wednesday Worlds of Wonder!

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Showcase Presents

Strange Adventures

Volume 1

(which reprints this tale...but in black and white)

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Reading Room TWILIGHT ZONE "Joiner"

Submitted for your approval, we present a cover-featured comic story...

...that would've been too expensive to produce during the show's initial run, and featuring a protagonist all this blog's readers can identify with!

The first few issues of a Twilight Zone title were produced by Dell Comics, featuring ex-EC Comics artists!

(All the tales in this issue were illustrated by George Evans and Reed Crandall!)

Beneath a nicely-rendered George Wilson-painted cover lurks...

In Dell's Four Color #1288 (1962), writer Leo Dorfman and artists George Evans & Reed Crandall deliver a "revenge of the nerd" tale any sci-fi fan from the 1990s (or earlier) would appreciate.

Today, thankfully, nerds are the mainstream!

Fraternal organizations with funky garb like the "lodges" shown in this story were popular until the late 1980s-early 1990s.

To give you an idea of how they were portrayed in pop culture, go HERE.

Note: this was the second of four Twilight Zone issues produced by Dell Comics before they split into two companies, Dell and Gold Key, with almost all the ongoing movie-TV tie-in licenses moving to Gold Key.

There were 92 issues of the second Twilight Zone series from 1963 until 1982, with no stories adapted from the show itself...though some share similar plot elements!

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Atomic Kommie Comics

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Twilight Zone

by Walter (The Shadow) Gibson

Adapting episodes from the TV series along with several original tales!

San Diego "Tales from ComicCon" 5th Anniversary Shirts & Stuff!

On July 24th, 2010, at the San Diego ComicCon, reality became far more frightening than any horror comic book!
Thankfully, the victim survived, and  a suspect was quickly taken into custody.

Sadly, nerd-on-nerd crime is becoming a more common problem in our society than most people realize!
It is THE Threat to Our Way of Life that Dare Not Speak It's Name...mostly because people would roll on the floor laughing hysterically.

But this is NO laughing matter, citizens!
To draw attention to this growing menace to our way of life, we at Atomic Kommie Comics™ have produced this line of kool kollectibles for you to display at conventions so that this incident is not quickly forgotten by a jaded populace eager for the next cheap thrill!
We were warned!
We didn't listen!
We paid the price!
Remind everyone!
DR WERTHAM WAS RIGHT!

What I'm looking forward to at SDCC...

...with all the new merchandise from the 1960s Batman tv series...

...coming out, there's really only one thing left, an annoucement about a long-awaited DVD release, either as season boxes or a complete series set!

(And a simultaneous release of it's "brother" tv series...

...The Green Hornet, would be the icing on the cake!)

Sit on It, FanBoy/Girl! THE "Must-Have" Item for San Diego!

Remember San Diego on July 24th, 2010?

When reality became MORE frightening than a horror comic!

Holy Injury to the Eye Motif!

Commemorate one of the most infamous events in San Diego ComicCon history in comfort with this cozy convention blanket that'll keep your butt warm on the cold hotel or convention center floor while you're waiting in line for a panel, presentation, or autograph session.
A generous 50" x 60" (over 4 feet by 5 feet) with a totally machine-washable vintage four-color horror comic image, this conversation-starter is big enough to share with a cute cosplayer (or two)!
Order now for delivery in time for SDCC!
BTW, the art is also available on t-shirts, mugs, and other kool kollectibles!

DC Comics Comments about the Fans...

From Bleeding Cool...

Click on the art to enlarge

Part of DC's presentation to retailers at this year's San Diego ComicCon.
Well, at least they used classic Silver Age art! (But why did they screw up The Atom's costume colors?)

Check Out the

Comic Book Collectibles Shop!

And these fandom-related goodies from Amazon...

Captain America ComicCon Blanket

Soft fleece blanket perfect for those long periods when you're waiting on a cold, dirty movie theatre or convention center floor!
A generous 50" x 60", it might even be big enough to share (wink wink) with a fangirl (or guy).
Features the poster art from Captain America's FIRST movie appearance in 1944!
(Talk about retro-kool!) Full-color ink won't run, fade or distress on this machine-washable item!

"Tales from ComicCon" Redux

On July 24th, 2010; reality became far more frightening than fantasy when fanboys clashed and blood drawn at the San Diego ComicCon! Invoking the "injury to the eye" motif, crazed fans proved Dr Wertham right...comics DO cause Juvenile Delinquency!
Sadly, nerd-on-nerd crime is becoming a more common problem in our society than most people realize!
It is THE Threat to Our Way of Life that Dare Not Speak It's Name...mostly because people would roll on the floor laughing hysterically.

But this is NO laughing matter, citizens!
To draw attention to this growing menace to our way of life, we at Atomic Kommie Comics™ have added larger image (up to 11" x 17") shirts to this line of kool kollectibles for you to display so that this incident is not quickly forgotten by a jaded populace eager for the next cheap thrill!
We were warned!
We didn't listen!
We paid the price!
Remind everyone!
DR WERTHAM WAS RIGHT!

NEW! Dark T-Shirts and collectibles (including a "cutting board" [kitchen use ONLY, please]!)

NEW! Light T-shirts

The Green Hornettes!

Now, this is one of the reasons I'm sorry I missed SDCC!

These green-clad beauties were promoting the upcoming Green Hornet film starring Seth Rogan and Jay Chou.

You'll note the new poster promoting the 3-D version...

Uhhh...guys...the poster...

And here's another group of them handling out Green Hornet swag, which will probably be on eBay for a ridiculous amount by the weekend!

No "headlights" jokes, people, This ain't Seduction of the Innocent!

San Diego Comic Convention Official Book Special Offer!

Remember when comics conventions were all about...COMICS???

(Above: poster for the 1973 SDCC)

Relive those days!
The Official SDCC 
40th Anniversary 
(1970-2010) book
Available from SDCC for $40.00!
Available thru us for as little as $5.24!

The ONLY Reason I Regret NOT Going to SDCC...

...is not getting this cool shirt!
Bloom County T-Shirt $25, Limited to 150
One of a kind t-shirt by the one and only Berkeley Breathed! Created specially for San Diego Comic Con to celebrate his Special Guest appearance, this instant-classic shirt will be available only at the IDW booth.

Concerts & Comics Conventions Collectibles

We're expanding our line of kool kollectibles to include a line of shirts with even BIGGER image areas on the front (and where applicable) the back.
This new line of shirts has an image area of up to 11" wide by 17" high, plus they're made by ethically-conscious American Apparel and Anvil KnitWear!

This particular assortment is based on various pop-culture occurrences like comic conventions, theatrical productions, protest marches, and musical concerts!

Choose from...

A MARVEL-ous Evening with Stan Lee!

WARP! the Broadway Play!

Marvel ComicCon 1975

Woodstock Aquarian Exposition

Legalize Pot Protest

Buy 'Em! Trade 'Em! Collect Them ALL!

Design of the Week--FunnyMan!

Each week, we post a limited-edition design, to be sold for exactly 7 days, then replaced with another!
This week..
The return of FunnyMan, the ONLY character co-created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster AFTER they created Superman!

With comics convention season underway, it'll be a standout among the Wolverine and Batman shirts that dominate con-garb!
Sartorial splendor and fanboy cred at one shot!

Note: This cover is only available for one week, and is the only cover offered on organic shirts!
Missing out on it won't be funny!

MiddleMan...the FINAL Episode!

One of the highlights of the San Diego Comic Con was a "table reading" by the cast (including Natalie Morales) & crew of the script for the unproduced final episode of the TV series MiddleMan.
The ep, "The Doomsday Armageddon Apocalypse" was adapted into a graphic novel (on sale now), but the reading was from the tv show's script, which was slightly different.
(and, while seeing an illustrated Wendy Watson in a Slave Princess Leia costume was cool (see above). the fact we'll never see Natalie in that costume is a bit of a bummer)

BTW, the DVD of the 12 produced episodes goes on sale today! Rush out and buy it...NOW! PLUS...Check out The MiddleBlog by the creator of the comic and the tv series.

Return of the Green Hornet

Well, with Seth Rogan's appearance (with the new Black Beauty) at the San Diego Comic Con, it looks like The Green Hornet movie is finally moving ahead with a projected release next summer!
Rumors abounded that Nick Cage was negotiating to play the main villain and that Cameron Diaz has signed to play Lenore Case, Britt Reid's personal assistant / love interest who knows his dual identity.
Curiously, no word as to who will play Kato, the man who brings new meaning to "sidekick"! (Steven Chow was negotiating to do the role, but talks broke down.)

We're also moving ahead, preparing our line of retro-design Classic Green Hornet collectibles (including t-shirts, mugs, messenger bags, blank sketchbooks and a 12-month calendar) using the 1940s comic book cover and movie serial poster art scanned directly from the originals and digitally-restored and remastered!
(Above is the cover to The Green Hornet Comics #1 before digital restoration!)
Look for a blast from us around Labor Day, just in time for back-to-school!

San Diego Comic Con News: Green Hornet

In the 1966 Green Hornet tv series, the Black Beauty was a converted 1965 Chrysler Imperial towncar with high-explosive rockets under the front and rear directionals, knockout gas sprayer in the front grille, and "infra-green" lights, which combined with flipdown translucent sunvisors, enabled driver and passenger to see in the dark.
As shown this weekend by the 2010 Green Hornet movie's star Seth Rogan at the SDCC, the NEW Black Beauty is strikingly-similar, but with the addition of high-powered machine guns in the same positions as on the Batmobile in the 1989 Batman movie!