Reading Room: SPACE ADVENTURES "Lunar Rendezvous"

A 1950s-style script with art that tries to offer a 1960s "psychedelic" feel...

...in this never-reprinted tale from Charlton's Space Adventures V2#6 (1969)

Sam Glanzman was an amazingly-versatile artist, whose work in every genre was usually exemplary.

Whether this was a rush job, or he simply had an off-week, or he was experimenting with a new inking style, it's just not up to his usual high standards.

BTW, you may notice the indicia says "Vol 1 Number 6", but the book is actually from Vol 2 Number 6!

Charlton's first Space Adventure title ran from 1952-56, then 1958-64 for a total of 58 issues.

This tale was from a 1968-69 revival of the title that lasted only 7 issues.

Reading Room CAPTAIN JOHNER AND THE ALIENS "Fear of the Unknown"

Continuing the saga of the first Aliens on Earth...

...we discover Earthmen are as frightened of the Aliens as they were when Earthmen landed on their world!

First, let me apologize for not posting a Captain Johner & the Aliens tale last week.

Monday was the 4th of July, so we were going to post CJatA on Tuesday, but the passing of actress Noel Neill preempted it, and, at that point, with an-already scheduled Flash Gordon for Wednesday, we thought it best just to bump the strip a week.

Today's tale from Gold Key's Magnus, Robot Fighter #10 (1965) continues the established pattern of xenophobia that both species apparently share.

It was also the final story to be reprinted in Gold Key's 1960s one-shot reprint anthology of the Aliens tales, leaving the audience for that book with a semi-cliffhanger.

Unlike them, we'll continue next week...

Design of the Week: REPUBLICANS DECLARE WAR!

Each week, we post a limited-edition design, to be sold for exactly 7 days, then replaced with another.
This week we jump into the political world with a design we introduced in 2012, but is equally-timely today!
Besides the usual t-shirts, mugs, magnets, and other goodies, we're also offering this one as a poster for your office, dorm, bedroom, or (mounted on a stick) a protest march!

NEW! July 2016-June 2017 Pop Culture Calendars!

Because it's become the most popular sale we've ever run, we're bringing back the  
Atomic Kommie Comics™
2016-17 12-Month Calendars 
at a 25% discount!
Perfect for office, dorm, or bedroom!
The IDEAL gift for the hard-to-please pop culture fan in your life (or yourself)!
Plus: they show July 2016-June 2017!
A FULL YEAR OF GRAPHIC FUN!
Or you can set them up to begin anytime from July 2016 to January 2017, and present 12 months of comic and pulp covers and/or movie posters!

Sherlock Holmes: the Greatest Sleuth of All!™

Basil Rathbone IS Sherlock Holmes!™

WereWolves and Vampires™

Vampires of Pulps and Comics™

Werewolves of the Comics and Pulps™

Zombies of Comics and Pulps™

Plus MANY MORE!

Classic comic book and pulp magazine covers and movie posters, scanned from the originals and digitally-remastered and restored!
NOT available in stores, only on-line!
And, until July 31, 2016, they're FIVE BUCKS CHEAPER!
Normally $19.99, they're only $14.99!
Order now...before time runs out!

POLICE TRAP and the Human Side of Law Enforcement

After the senseless killing of five police officers in Dallas...

...it's important to realize that police officers/cops/the Five-0 or whatever you call them, are people like you and me, doing their jobs.

Yeah, there are a few scuzzballs, but every line of work has them.

Same with the police.

In that vein, have a look at our "brother" RetroBlog, Crime and Punishment.

In particular, the stories from a short-lived 1950s title called Police Trap, which gave us a look at cops as people, in the same vein as TV's Naked City, also from the 1950s, or the later Hill Street Blues.

And, if you see a cop on the street, smile and say "Hi!"

Let them know you appreciate them.