Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Reading Room CAPTAIN SCIENCE COMICS "Spawn of Saturn"

Welcome to the cover feature of Captain Science #1 (1950)...
...except it's not about Captain Science!
In fact, the story's title isn't mentioned on the cover at all!
(You can find the actual Captain Science tales from #1 HERE and HERE and another solo story HERE.)
It's interesting to see a sci-fi tale where a handsome starship captain doesn't go on a landing party to a potentially-dangerous locale!
The writer is unknown, but the art is by Walter Johnson, who not only penciled and inked his own work, but ran a studio that supplied material to a number of comics companies, so some of his "signed" jobs (like this one) show elements of several artists' styles.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Reading Room: LOST WORLDS "Men and Fire"

In 1952, outer space was the "final frontier"...
...and humans were going to tame it, no matter what the consequences!
This never-reprinted tale from Standard's Lost Worlds #6 (1952) was penciled by Ross Andru and inked by Andru and Mike Esposito.
The writer is unknown.

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Monday, November 26, 2012

The Hardly Abominable SnowMan!

Along with Santa Claus and Scrooge, our frosty friend is one of the most recognizable symbols of Winter and the joyous Christmas Season!
The songwriting team of Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson took the folk-tale of a snowman coming to life and playing with children, only to melt at the end of winter, and adapted it into a song they sold to Gene Autry. who was looking for a follow-up to his previous hit; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Like Rudolph, Frosty the Snow Man turned out to be a major hit single and was adapted to other media, including several cartoon versions, the first of which was a short "music video" version of the song itself...

It is that version, and the subsequent books and comic books of the 1950s that we draw our kool retro-style imagery for our line of holiday goodies including greeting cards, collectibles, infant/toddler/kidswear and adult clothing (sweatshirts and hoodies)!
So come play with the SnowMan! We promise he won't melt!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Reading Room: LARS OF MARS "Secret Origin"

What if 1950s sci-fi shows like Captain Video or Space Patrol were real?
Or if the aliens shown on the screen were real aliens?
As you've just read, that was the premise of the short-lived (two issues) Ziff-Davis series Lars of Mars!
Created by Jerry (Superman) Siegel and Murphy (Buck Rogers) Anderson, this premiere story from the first issue of his own title (which was #10!) established the somewhat-silly premise.
During his run, Lars battled Commies, crooks, and other aliens while protecting his "secret identity" from his nosy producer.
You'll be seeing all of Lars' stories here over the next few months.
Watch for them!
Trivia:
The cover paintings for both issues of Lars of Mars were painted by Allen Anderson, who was not related to interior artist Murphy Anderson!
Here's a "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"-style fact (done in four degrees)...
1) Ziff-Davis also published a short-lived adaptation of an actual sci-fi tv series, Space Patrol, illustrated by Bernie Krigstein.
2) Krigstein illustrated the first issue of another Ziff-Davis sci-fi series: Space Busters!
3) Bernie was replaced on interior art for the second (and final) issue of Space Busters by...Murphy Anderson!
4) Allen Anderson did the painted cover for the Space Busters issue illustrated by Murphy! (Norm Saunders had painted the first issue's cover!)
featuring the covers of both issues of Lars of Mars!

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Great Treasury of Christmas Comic Book Stories

There's a kool coffee-table book available now called Great Treasury of Christmas Comic Book Stories, featuring tales from 1940s and 50s comic books about Christmas.
It's a cool, kid-friendly throwback to the days when publishers did oversized holiday annuals.
Of course, most tales feature Santa Claus, but other characters pop up including Atomic Mouse, Lil' TomBoy, Ebenezer Scrooge, and even the Easter Bunny! Plus there's a tastefully-done Nativity tale.
Art is by some of the best artists of the era including Walt Kelly (Pogo), John Stanley (Little Lulu/Nancy), and Richard Scarry.
Like I said, it's "kid friendly", but Baby Boomers will probably remember reading one or more of these tales when they were young and should enable their kids or grandkids to experience the same fun they had!
And, if you're gonna give a loved one this terrrific tome, why not combine it with one of our comics-based Christmas collectibles including clothing, mugs, shopping bags, magnets, and many other items with stylish retro graphics derived from comic book covers (some of which appear in the book) for a nifty gift set?
12 different 1960s Kris Kringle designs (for the 12 days of Christmas!) that will bring back nostalgic memories of your Baby Boomer childhood!
Along with St. Nick, our frosty friend is one of the most recognizable symbols of Winter and the Christmas Season! 5 different Frosty designs!
A Christmas Carol brought alive with images from the very FIRST edition EVER, the famous Arthur Rackham-illustrated edition, and the 1951 movie starring Alastair Sim! Bah, Humbug!
Designs featuring famous comic characters celebrating Christmas!
Green Lama!
Edison Bell: Boy Inventor!
Two different SuperSnipe designs!
Santa's Elves on Strike!
Western Rider Rusty!
3-D Comic Christmas!
and MORE!

Happy Holiday Shopping from Atomic Kommie Comics™