Monday, December 17, 2012

A Christmas Carol Comic Classic is Coming!

There have been numerous comic adaptations of Charles Dickens' Christmas ghost story...
...but this never-reprinted one from (believe it or not) Marvel Comics, has the distinction of being illustrated by more artists than any other version!
Credited to "Diverse Hands", the art styles I recognize include Bob Hall, Frank Giacoia, Frank Springer, Dave Cockrum, Marie Severin, Carmine Infantino, Steve Leialoha, John Romita Sr, Al Milgrom, Mike Esposito, and probably anybody who wandered into the Bullpen while this book was in production!
Trivia: 
This was the final title in the Marvel Classics Comics line which had started out as color reprints of the early '70s b/w Pendulum Press "comic adaptations of classic stories" series. After a dozen issues, Marvel began doing their own adaptations, continuing for another two dozen issues.
Scripter Doug Moench was no newcomer to adapting prose to comics having worked on comics versions of literary properties including Doc Savage, The Shadow, James Bond, and Fu Manchu!
Colorist Francoise Mouly later became the art editor of The New Yorker, co-creator of the legendary comic anthology Raw, and is currently the publisher/editorial director of Toon Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press. She is the creative partner (and spouse) of Art Spiegelman.
We'll be running this HTF story for the rest of the week, so be here tomorrow for Stave One!
Support Small Business this Christmas!

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Holiday Reading Room: "Santa's Red, Red Nose"

What happens if Kris Kringle gets sick on Christmas Eve?
This tale from St John's Chistmas Carnival (1952) 100-page one-shot gives you the answer!
It was all a dream!
Thank Heavens!
The thought of a Christmas without Santa is just too much to bear! ;-)

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Out doing Christmas Shopping...

...so here's a feature from Dell's Four Color Comics #867 (1942)...
...which was part of the Santa Claus Funnies series that ran every year for over a decade!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Dinosaurs Under the Christmas Tree!


What kid doesn't love dinosaurs?
The idea of being a huge, unstoppable creature rampaging, devouring, and stepping on everything and everybody in your path has an undeniable appeal to little ones, who usually feel helpless in a world too big for them! (Why do you think Godzilla is still going strong after 50 years? And what about the success of the Jurassic Park trilogy?)
We at Atomic Kommie Comics™ are no different! (A look at the various plastic "giant" reptiles adorning our office will confirm that!)
And since we're just big kids ourselves, we created a whole Dinosaurs section in our sci-fi section The Future WAS Fantastic!™ with vintage images from classic comics AND movies!
What kid wouldn't want a dinosaur under the tree or in his/her stocking on Christmas morning?
Don't disappoint them! Give 'em something to ROAR about!
Dinosaurs!
Once they ruled the planet!
Now they'll dominate your wardrobe!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Reading Room: KENTON OF THE STAR PATROL "Sirens of Space"

Kenton goes hand-to-hand with space pirates...

...and to think he gets paid to do this sort of stuff!
Where do I sign up for the Star Patrol?
This Kenton story from Avon's Strange Worlds #5 (1951) demonstrates Joe Orlando and Wally Wood's talent for rendering both exotic machinery and beautiful women.
It's also their final Kenton story, but not their final work on the character.
He did the cover for the next issue, which features the final tale in the Kenton series, but illustrated by another artist!