Monday, June 6, 2016

Reading Room: WOLFF "Path of the Dead"

Wecome to one of the best "barbarian in a post-apocalyptic future Earth" strips...
...as we present the saga of Wolff the Barbarian.
Written by Luis Gasca (under the pen-name "Sadko") & Esteban Maroto, illustrated by Maroto.
Published in England in Dracula (1971), a 12-issue partworks magazine* by New English Library, the first 6 tales made their American debut in Warren Publishing's HTF Dracula TPB in 1972 which reprinted #1-#6 of the British Dracula's run.
The remaining tales from #7-#12 have never been published in the US.
This week, we'll be catching up with chapters 1-5.
We will be presenting the remainder of the complete Wolff strip (including the never-seen in US tales) over the summer on our brother RetroBlog Hero Histories!
Watch for it!
*Partworks magazines are a limited series issued from weekly, fortnightly, or monthly.
They usually run 12-24 issues for each volume.
When the final issue in a volume is published, the publishers offer a wraparound cover to make the complete set into a hardbound book. 
The buyer is offered the option to bind the magazines themselves or send the set to the publisher who professionally-binds the mags and sends the bound volume back to the customer.
This concept is extremely popular in Europe, but has never caught on in America, despite numerous attempts.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

The Barbarian Cometh!

The "barbarian in a post-apocalyptic future Earth" concept is a popular one...
...from Teenage Caveman to BlackMark to ClawFang to Kamandi to Killraven: Warrior of the Worlds to Planet of the Apes (Yes, PotA qualifies) to Thundarr to Yor: Hunter from the Future, scantly-clad heroes using primitive weapons against super-science and/or sorcery in a devastated world has proven to be a popular trope in various media.
Join us tomorrow as we present one of the best, though least-known...
Wolff the Barbarian
by
Esteban Maroto
and
Sadko

Saturday, June 4, 2016

YOU can be the Fighting Yank on Flag Day (or at least wear his uniforn shirt)!

With Flag Day approaching, why not adopt the vintage look of one of the most patriotic superheroes of World War II, the Fighting Yank (now appearing in Project SuperPowers), by wearing his uniform shirt emblazoned with a 1940s period-accurate 48-star flag unfurling proudly on the chest (Remember, Hawaii and Alaska didn't become states until the late 1950s!) and a tiny official Lost Heroes logo on the back collar area (where it won't be seen under your cape!).
Available as a sweatshirt or long-sleeve t-shirt, depending on how much padding you feel you need to achieve the "heroic" look you want.
Tricorn hat and knickers not included.
But a sport jacket or denim jacket might go better with it...

And, we offer the usual assortment of other kool kollectibles like Mugs, Messenger Bags, Magnets, etc. with the unfurled Old Glory fluttering proudly...

Friday, June 3, 2016

Reading Room CLIFF HANGER "Chapter Three: Voice of Doom"

...ok, that covers it!
Let's continue...
Is Cliff Doomed?
What Will Become of Jill?
Does the Madman Have a Fate Worse than Death in Store For Her?
Written by Bruce Jones and illustrated by Al Williamson, this backup strip from Pacific Comics' Somerset Holmes #3 (1983) perfectly conveys the fun and excitement of 1930s-40s movie serials!

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Reading Room BUCCANEERS "Black Roger and the FireDrake"

...as he once more faces them along the Barbary Coast!
Sadly, the writer and artist for this kool tale from Quality's Buccaneers #23 (1950) are unknown, but their imagination in using anachronistic elements like the "FireDrake" certainly livens up the story with fantastic, but not totally-implausable elements.