Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Wednesday Worlds of Wonder LOST WORLD "CounterAttack by Cinema!"

When Last We Left the Only Remaining Freedom Fighters on Earth...

...wow, that's colorful prose indeed!
I have nothing to add, so let's go...
The VoltaMen aren't gone...not by a long shot!
BTW, in 1952, after this tale from Fiction House's Planet Comics #26 (1943) was published, but centuries earlier than the strip's time period, the highly-flammable nitrate and cellulose film stock used by movie studios that are a vital plot point was replaced by acetate stock, aka "safety film".
This far more durable material was first used in currently-filming projects, then when new prints of older films were struck for TV and second-run theatrical distribution.
Of course, writer "Thornecliffe Herrick" and artist Graham Ingels had no way of knowing that at the time...
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(which reprints this tale)

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Reading Room / Halloween Horror MONSTER OF FRANKENSTEIN COMICS "Premonition of Death!"

Some things just can't be explained by current science...
...but that doesn't make them any less real!
Is this a lost "Kirby Klassic" from the 1950s?
When Prize Comics' Monster of Frankenstein title was revived during the horror comic boom of the early 1950s, besides a wonderfully-gruesome version of Dick Briefer's previously-humorous Monster, it featured a number of two to four page "fillers".
Most of these tales appear to be, at the very least, laid-out by Jack Kirby.
This never-reprinted story from V3N3 (1954) is a prime example.
The Grand Comics Database lists the story's illustrator as Marvin Stein, who worked primarily for the Simon & Kirby studio, so this most likely was an S&K "inventory" story laid-out by Kirby and meant for insertion wherever editorial page count came up short.
Sadly, the writer of the story is, as in so many cases, unknown...
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Monday, October 12, 2020

Monday Madness / Halloween Horror THE SPECTRE "Shadow Show"

Once More We Delve into the Spectre's Journal of Judgement...

...to see a spooky tale about just desserts not seen (in color) since 1969!!
Though, as shown HERE, The Spectre was supposed to act as a judge, he was not to act as an executioner, he apparently does so in this tale from DC's The Spectre #9 (1969), written by DC's librarian, historian, and unofficial "continuity cop", Mark Hanerfeld, and illustrated by Jack Sparling!
You'd think a continuity expert would've known that...

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The Spectre
(which reprints this tale...but in black-and-white!)

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Halloween-Themed PPE Face Masks

  Want to be safe and look scarily seasonally-appropriate?

Go for one of our 13 terrifying PPE masks!
Each double-layer mask is reusable, washable, and built for comfort.
The one-size-fits-all mask features a pocket for optional filter use...
Plus: Each order includes a free 2-pack of carbon filter inserts.

Note: these are exclusive designs, not available anywhere else!
To See Them All!
Order now, so you'll have a treat, not a trick for All Hallows Day!

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Space Force Saturdays SPACE SQUADRON & SPEED CARTER: SPACEMAN "Future History Chronicles" Part 1

Much as Star Trek fills in the gaps between the "past" (our present) and their future-set series..
...Atlas' two 1950s 21st Century series also did so with different strips that carried the same title, as seen, first, in this never-reprinted tale from Space Squadron #1 (1951) about the first manned space flight in 1953 (yes, 1953)!
The Famous Explorers of Space feature ran in all five issues of Space Squadron and the single issue of Space Worlds that used up material left homeless when Space Squadron was cancelled.
Sol Brodsky penciled and Chris Rule inked this premiere chapter, whose writer is lost to the mists of time!
When Speed Carter: SpaceMan came along a couple of years later, writer Hank Chapman ignored everything done in Space Squadron, producing stories that often contradicted "history" established in the earlier series.
(Having one of the first space pioneers in Space Squadron named "Carter" could've provided a perfect "hook" to link the two, but Chapman made the wise choice to not do so!)
Speaking of Chapman and his version of "Future History"...
...here's his version, set in the "distant past" of 2004!
The concept of Venusians all being beautiful women was a cliche even then.
The art on this story from Speed Carter: SpaceMan #1 (1953) is by a young up-and-comer named John Romita, who had a real knack for drawing gorgeous females.
I wonder whatever became of him?
One interesting note: the astronauts in this story, which takes place three generations in the "past" of Speed Carter: SpaceMan, have different uniforms and lower-end technology than what's shown in the "present-day" Speed Carter tales.
BTW, Space Squadron actually ran two "Future History" strips in each issue, one about Famous Explorers of Space, plus a series about the adventures of young Blast Revere, who in the Jet Dixon strip was the elderly commander of the Space Squadron!
...1960 (which was still "the future" in 1951)!
While the writer for Blast's never-reprinted debut (also in Space Squadron #1) is unknown, the artist should be familiar to Speed Carter: SpaceMan fans...Joe ManeelySpeed's designer/co-creator and primary illustrator for the first half of his run!
Blast Revere ran in all six issues of Space Squadron. and it's one-issue "sequel", Space Worlds.
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