Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Reading Room: SPACE ACE "Nothing Weapon"

Buckle up for EXCITEMENT in the far-flung reaches of space, gang...
...the second Space Ace is back, and he's looking good!
Al Williamson assumes the penciling duties, showing off his superb design and anatomy skills.
The inking is by Williamson plus the legendary Fleagle Gang (Frank Frazetta, Angelo Torres, Roy Krenkel, George Woodbridge).
If that weren't enough, the script is by Gardner Fox, taking the concepts of "Space Ace 2.0" and making them a superb example of classic space opera.
It's hard to believe this story from Jet #3 (1951) hasn't been reprinted in one of the numerous compilations of Golden Age material that have popped up in the past few years.

BONUS: the original art for page one...
Is that magnificent, or what? ;-)
Thursday, the (choke) final Space Ace tale.

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Monday, April 23, 2012

Reading Room: SPACE ACE "Invisible Death"

The second sci-fi character to use the name Space Ace returns...
...in a tale of greed and avarice on both sides of the conflict!
"..a full pardon for any...er..crimes I may have committed here and there!"
Helluva hero, that Space Ace!
The extremely-Wayne Boring-style art in this tale from Jet #2 (1951) is by little-known artist Lawrence Woromay, whose comics career spanned the 1950s and 1960s and various genres including sci-fi, war and horror.
Tomorrow, Space Ace 2.5!
New writer!
New artist! (actually, artists, and wait until you see who!)
New attitude!
But, same character!

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Sunday, April 22, 2012

Design of the Week--Captain Future Logo

Each week, we post a limited-edition design, to be sold for exactly 7 days, then replaced with another!
This week...It's the logo of the hero of Big Bang Theory's Sheldon and Leonard, hanging in a place or honor by the front door of their apartment!
He's the Wizard of Science!
He's been the subject of pulp magazines, comic books, even an anime series!
He's Captain Future, and now you can wear him on shirts, bags, cellphone & e-reader cases, and other kool stuff!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Our Newest Blog...HEROINES!

The female entries at Hero (& Heroine) Histories™ have proven so popular, we've decided to spin-off the women into their own weekly blog.
The first entry features the relatively-unknown character Aurora of Jupiter...
...who only appeared once, in the HTF Captain Rocket #1 (1951)!
Note: We're continuing the ongoing Phantom Lady and Jet Dream strips in Hero (& Heroine) Histories™, but any other femme-oriented material is now slated for Heroines™!

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Friday, April 20, 2012

Reading Room: SPACE ACE "Desert Devils"

We jump forward three years in real time and centuries in fictional time...
..to bring you the totally-different, all-new (at the time) Space Ace!
Compare this with the previous version of Space Ace, and you'll really see the differences!
And people bitch about Marvel and DC's now-constant rebooting of their characters!
It's been going on since comics began, just not on such a large scale!
After the last Space Ace strip in Manhunt #7 (1947), the name was revived for a new strip appearing in a new sci-fi themed title...Jet #1 (1950), with few elements (like the Mars colony setting) retained, but moved several centuries further into the future, and with a new, freelance crimefighter instead of a policeman with sidekick.
And, you'll note the almost-medieval clothing and armor most of the colonists now wear and buildings that look like stone castles, as opposed to the high-tech garb and structures in the previous tale!
They also decided to  play up the fact that humans would be almost super-human under Mars' lower gravity, resulting in some very Superman-esqe panels!
Speaking of Superman, the extremely-Wayne Boring-style art is by little-known artist Lawrence Woromay, whose comics career spanned the 1950s and 1960s and various genres including sci-fi, war and horror.
But this version of Space Ace wouldn't even last as long as his predecessor!
His next (and last) appearance will be presented Monday.

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