Reading Room MANHUNTER 2070 "Planet of Death" Part 1

Yesterday we presented a teaser for this long-lost series...

...today we jump feet-first into the world a mere 55 years hence...

...or vice-versa, as we will see

TOMORROW!

Written and pencilled by Mike Sekowsky, inked by Vince Colletta, this never-reprinted tale from DC's Showcase V1#91 (1970) proves the adage that "space opera" is "horse opera" with blasters instead of six-shooters.

Trivia: The "Bridwell Space Drive" was named after longtime DC editorial staffer/writer E Nelson Bridwell, one of the earliest fan-turned-pros with an encyclopedic knowledge of comics and sci-fi, and a talent for plotting stories and tying them into existing continuity.

Bridwell also co-created the Inferior Five and Secret Six.

Reading Room MANHUNTER 2070 "Incident on Krobar 3"

A mere 55 years from now...

...deep space will look a lot like the Wild West!

This short appeared in the back of DC's Showcase V1 #90 (1970), leading into the final three issues of the series' original run, dedicated to one of Mike Sekowsky's more innovative projects...Manhunter 2070!

Sekowsky had quite a bit of latitude at DC as a writer/artist/editor during this period, revamping Wonder Woman, Metal Men and Supergirl (in Adventure Comics) while also presenting a couple of potential series in Showcase, Jason's Quest and Manhunter 2070.

Be here tomorrow as the never-reprinted saga of Starker begins!

Written and penciled by Mike Sekowsky, inked by Dick Giordano.

Design of the Week: BUNNY? DADDY?

Each week, we post a limited-edition design, to be sold for exactly 7 days, then replaced with another!

Since Easter is coming, we thought we'd present an absolutely adorable piece by the legendary Walt (Pogo) Kelly featuring a bunny with a surprised look on his faces a the egg in his basket hatches, producing yet another cute animal...a baby duck!

You just don't see stuff like this anymore!
So, why not order some kidswear, or even holiday greeting cards with this one-week-only graphic?
Everyone who sees it will go "Awwww."

Reading Room: ATOM-AGE COMBAT "Hungry Moss"

Here's a story from the 1950s that might've inspired the cult flick The Green Slime!

This tale from the fifth (and final) issue of the 1952-53 comic book Atom-Age Combat is one of only three stories in the entire series with actual sci-fi or alien elements!
Most of the tales were of the World War III / Atomic War type showing a long-feared "US vs the Russian and/or Chinese Commies" war using advanced technology and limited nuclear weaponry.

While the writer is unknown, the art is by longtime war comics artist Dick Ayers, best-known for Sgt Fury and His Howling Commandos. 

Reading Room: VIC TORRY AND HIS FLYING SAUCER "Catastrophe!"

When Last We Left Our Hero...

Ace test pilot Victor Torry and his aviation-enthusiast girlfriend Laura are bequeathed a flying saucer by a dying alien.

Operating on automatic pilot, the spacecraft returns to it's home on Mercury, where they discover a civil war under way against the tyrant Szzz, who has plans to conquer the entire solar system!

Vic and Laura manage to commandeer another ship, override the controls and leave.

But now, they are returning to Mercury...

Art by Golden Age great Bob Powell.

The tale has been reprinted twice, in Vic Torry & His Flying Saucer (2000) and
Mr Monster's Hi-Voltage Super-Science (1987)

Vic himself appears in a cameo in the SkyWolf back-up story "Bachelor Party" in AirBoy #36 (1986)

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