The Cisco Kid & Pancho for Cinco de Mayo

The Cisco Kid was the first Hispanic multi-media superstar, featured in books, movies, radio, comic books, newspaper strips, and eventually, television, predating Zorro in each media (except Zorro never had a radio show)!

As created by legendary writer O Henry, in the short story "The Caballero's Way" in 1907. the Kid was neither Hispanic nor a hero!
A 1914 silent movie of "The Caballero's Way" altered the character to the version that's became famous...a wandering hero, called "The Robin Hood of the Old West", who, with his sidekick, righted wrongs without killing (but with lots and LOTS of shooting) just like the Lone Ranger!
Over two dozen more films followed, as well as a long-running radio series, a newspaper strip, several comic book series, and a 156-episode tv show famous for being the FIRST American tv series filmed in color!
Some of the films and tv series episodes are on dvd.
Note that not all dvds have color tv episodes, some have have b/w versions!
(All the movies were b/w!)
In the 1990s, Jimmy Smits and Cheech Marin starred in a very well-done tv-movie pilot for a new series that, unfortunately, wasn't picked up (and isn't available on dvd).
But, there's talk of a new big-budget film version of the character sometime in the next couple of years!

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, we at Atomic Kommie Comics™ are proud to reintroduce the classic Western character to a new audience in our Western Comic Adventures™ line.
Just go to The Cisco Kid & Pancho for a look at 6 different designs, including his 1st comic appearance on t-shirts, mugs, messenger bags and other goodies including a kool 2010 12-month calendar!
They'll have you going "Oh, Cisco!" "Oh, Pancho!" just like Duncan Renaldo & Leo Carrillo did in the classic tv series!

And, to make a really kool Cinco de Mayo gift set, why not add one of the NEW Cisco Kid graphic novels from Moonstone Books?

For our faithful fans...a FREE early Cinco de Mayo present...over 200 episodes of the radio show!

The FINAL adventure of the Golden Age Black Cat

Back in the 1940s, one of the hottest superheroines in comics was The Black Cat.
Actress / stuntwoman Linda Turner fought crime in a skimpy costume from 1940 to 1951, then in reprints from the late '50s to early '60s and from 1989-1995, when an updated version of the character was produced.
What was hoped to be the first issue of an ongoing series turned out to be a one-shot due to poor distribution.
It's a shame, the talent involved included writer Mark Evanier, legendary artist Murphy Anderson, the late Mike Wieringo, and the Brothers Hildebrandt (Tim & Greg), and the series was both a loving tribute to the Golden Age material, and a chance to continue in a PG /  PG-13 cheesecake style matching the classic comics without being "too adult-oriented"!
The publishers have graciously posted online both the story from the sole published issue and the art from the unpublished second issue here.
Enjoy! (I did!)

And not one plug for Atomic Kommie Comics™ merchandise! I must be slipping!

Easter Greetings!

Happy Easter!

Kato: Origins #3 Cover Sneak Peek

From cover artist Francesco Francavilla's blog.

Design of the Week--All-True Detective Cases

Each week, we post a limited-edition design, to be sold for exactly 7 days, then replaced with another!
This week, we get as far away from the cute Easter designs of the past few weeks as we can with a retro-kool graphically-bloody vintage comic cover from one of the best series of the 1950s, All-True Detective Cases!
Just the thing for your Spring-time wardrobe, eh? ;-)