Reading Room BLAST-OFF "Little Earth"

This is a classic example of an unheralded gem by two graphic-story masters...

...that has been reprinted only twice...in now OOP limited-run books, so most of you have never seen it!

Oddly, the GCD lists it as penciled by Reed Crandall and inked by Al Williamson, but Teddy I at pencilink.blogspot.com reverses the credits!
Personally, I think both artists, in typical Fleagle Gang-style worked at both tasks in various panels.

The writer is Larry Ivie, who scripted several dozen stories for Marvel, DC, Tower, King, and Warren in the 1960s, and also published Monsters and Heroes, a competitor to Famous Monsters of Filmland!

According to the Kirby Museum, this story was intended for Harvey's never-published Race for the Moon #5 in 1958, but remained unused until 1965, when it ran in the Harvey one-shot anthology Blast-Off!

Reading Room TWILIGHT ZONE "Calling..." & "Journeys into..."

Though the original Twilight Zone comic never adapted any of the TV episodes...

...it did use a stellar lineup of talent to craft some really good new stories as well as science featurettes like this George Evans-illustrated one from Dell's Four Color #1288 (1962)...

...and this Evans-penciled/Reed Crandall-inked piece from Dell's Four Color #1173 (1961).

Besides these talented guys, other artists on the early issues included Frank Frazetta, Mike Sekowsky, Frank Giacoia, Alex Toth, Frank Thorne, Don Heck, and Angelo Torres!

Though neither Dell nor Gold Key followed the Comics Code, they didn't allow the creatives to go back to the relatively-unrestrained horror material most of the artists (especially the EC alumni) had done previously!

Sadly, trademark and licensing constraints have prevented these stories from being reprinted, but you'll be seeing them re-pesented here and at our fellow RetroBlogs!

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics!

Visit Amazon and Order...

Boris Karloff's

Tales of Mystery Archives

Volume 1

(which is available in reprint, and features many of the same artists as the Twilight Zone comic)

Space Force Saturdays INTERPLANETARY POLICE "Mirror of Doom" Conclusion

When Last We Left Our Heroes...

Yes, I know we've used this art before, but it's the only time the InterPlanetary Police appeared on the cover!

Tanya, the Space Siren, constructed a giant mirror on the surface of a small planetoid.

With it, she focused the Sun's rays at the frozen planet Simia in order to melt it's icy coating and then mine the previously-unreachable platinum beneath it's surface.

However, without the solar radiation she diverted, Earth is now freezing!

Needless to say, the InterPlanetary Police tracked down the source of the solar energy drain and landed on the tiny planetoid...

It's 68 years later, and we're still looking (she was one hot babe)...

This final high-adventure story from Buster Brown Comic Book #32 (1953) was written by Hobart Donovan, penciled by Reed Crandall, and inked by Ray Wilner.
The book continued for another eleven issues, ending in late 1956.

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics!

Visit Amazon and Order...

Taylor Illustrated History

Science Fiction Comics 

Space Force Saturdays INTERPLANETARY POLICE "Mirror of Doom" Part 1

Strap on your rocketpacks, Space Cadets...

...as we present the final tale of the InterPlanetary Police and their ongoing battle with the Space Siren!

And, with that, we temporarily break contact with the brave spacemen of the InterPlanetary Police until next Saturday!

This high-adventure story from Buster Brown Comic Book #32 (1953) was written by Hobart Donovan, penciled by Reed Crandall, and inked by Ray Wilner.

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics!

Visit Amazon and Order...

Taylor Illustrated History

Science Fiction Comics 

Space Force Saturdays INTERPLANETARY POLICE "Space Magnet"

All of Reed Crandall's InterPlanetary Police tales begin with people just sitting around...

...but things never stay quiet or boring for long in one of his magnificently-illustrated stories!

This high-adventure story from Buster Brown Comic Book #31 (1953) was written by Hobart Donovan, penciled by Reed Crandall, and inked by Ray Wilner.

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics!

Visit Amazon and Order...

Taylor Illustrated History

Science Fiction Comics 

Space Force Saturdays INTERPLANETARY POLICE "Rumpus on Rex" Conclusion

When Last We Left Our Heroes...

The Space Siren plans to mine the valuable newly-discovered mineral Taganium, found only on asteroid Rex.

However, she lacks transport for the bulky metal.

So, she steals several freighters from a starbase on Venus.

However, Captain Bruce Warren of the InterPlanetary Police has tracked her to Rex, found the stolen ships, and radioed for backup.

Enraged, Tanya attacks Warren's ship and a space dogfight ensues...

Why is it good guys in comics are so hot for bad girls? (Batman/Catwoman)

But good girls tend to be attracted to really dull good boys? (Wonder Woman/Steve Trevor)

This high-adventure story from Buster Brown Comic Book #30 (1953) was written by Hobart Donovan, penciled by Reed Crandall, and inked by Ray Willner.

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics!

Visit Amazon and Order...

Taylor Illustrated History

Science Fiction Comics 

Space Force Saturdays INTERPLANETARY POLICE "Rumpus on Rex" Part 1

Defending Law and Order in the Far Future (as seen in the 1950s)...

...and now penciled by the legendary Reed Crandall!

 Be here next Saturday for the exciting conclusion!

Curiously, the previous adventure ended with The Space Siren evading capture (but clearly alive) and our heroes heading for Mars.

Yet, here they're returning from Venus and they believe Tanya is dead!

Is there an "unpublished adventure" floating around somewhere?

This high-adventure story from Buster Brown Comic Book #30 (1953) was written by Hobart Donovan, penciled by Reed Crandall, and inked by Ray Willner.

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics!

Visit Amazon and Order...

Taylor Illustrated History

Science Fiction Comics