Baker Reading Room TALES TO ASTONISH "I Fell to the Center of the Earth!"

Here's a 1950s sci-fi story penciled by Black artist Matt Baker, whose speciality was "good girl" art!

Yet, there's not a single beautiful woman (not even a cavewoman), in this story, one of his few assignments for Atlas (later Marvel) Comics!

When this story appeared in Atlas' Tales to Astonish #2 (1959), Baker was near the end of his career, working through Vince Colletta's studio, doing only penciling to increase his productivity.

Vince Colletta inked the pages, and it's possible that, seeing how much detail Colletta tended to leave out during inking, Baker did less-detailed pencils than normal.

The writer is unknown, but it's believed to be the book's editor Stan Lee.
Penciler Matt Baker was one of the few Black comic book artists of the Golden and Silver Ages, and was easily the most prolific of them!
Though known for his "good girl" art, including the famous (and infamous) Phantom Girl stories, he handled every genre with ease, including horror, war, sci-fi, and romance!
Sadly, though, few of his stories featured Black characters...who were rare in comics until the mid-1960s!
You can read a short, but complete bio HERE!
He'll be our featured artist this month in the Baker Reading Room at Atomic Kommie Comics, spotlighting his amazing cross-genre versatility!

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics

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Matt Baker

Art of Glamour

Wednesday Worlds of Wonder HARSH REALM "Case" Conclusion

When Last We Left Our Private-Eye Protaganist...

In the near-future, private investigator Dexter Green is hired by the Crawfords, whose teenage son, Dan, has disappeared into a virtual-reality world called "Harsh Realm."

It's called that because if your avatar dies in the Realm, your body dies as well!

Since communication with those in the world and the real world isn't possible, Dexter decides to enter the game and use his sleuthing skills to find Dan!

The private eye is "plugged in" to the virtual reality plane and...

Will Dex head for the distant city?
What other weird creatures will he encounter?
Will he find Dan?
For the Answers to these and other Questions...
Be Here the First Wednesday in March!

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Harsh Realm

Trade Paperback

Baker Reading Room "Behind the Scenes of 'Half Man-Half What' "

Here's Saturday's tale...

...but from the original Matt Baker/Al Williamson art!

Take particular note of the areas "whited out", probably at the request of the Comics Code Authority!

BTW, note that in the story, Dr Talbot's right side is altered, but on the cover, his left side is affected!

Let's look closely at that final panel...

Dr Talbot's right side has been totally-whited out.

Was it still metallic?

And his face originally wasn't happy!

Did the original ending show him at the beginning of the process, wondering if it would succeed, and leaving the door open for a sequel if it didn't?

Was the Comics Code Authority responsible for the odd changes?

We'll never know...
Penciler Matt Baker was one of the few Black comic book artists of the Golden and Silver Ages, and was easily the most prolific of them!
Though known for his "good girl" art, including the famous (and infamous) Phantom Girl stories, he handled every genre with ease, including horror, war, sci-fi, and romance!
Sadly, though, few of his stories featured Black characters...who were rare in comics until the mid-1960s!
You can read a short, but complete bio HERE!
He'll be our featured artist this month in the Baker Reading Room at Atomic Kommie Comics, spotlighting his amazing cross-genre versatility!

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics

Visit Amazon and Order...

Matt Baker

Art of Glamour

Monday Madness ALL-NEGRO COMICS "Lil' Eggie"

Some things are universal...

...including vaudeville-level humor about husband-wife relations, as this never-reprinted cartoon from All-Negro Comics #1 (1947) proves!

Illustrated by John Terrell, it reads much like the then-current Maggie & Jiggs comic strip about a married couple who were constantly-throwing crockery at each other during their arguments!

Terrell himself was the artist for more material in the book (including house ads and both covers) than anyone else, handling crime (Ace Harlem) and humor (Lil' Eggie) with equal aplomb!

All that's known about Terrell is that he was from Philadelphia.

There's literally no other info extant about him, and All-Negro Comics was his only credited work.

It's possible the "Terrell" name was a pseudonym.

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Invisible Men

Black Artists of the Golden Age of Comics

San Francisco 49er by Jack Kirby!

As we settle in to enjoy the spectacle that is the Super Bowl...

...we wanted to show you a suggested uniform design for the San Francisco 49ers  penciled, inked, and colored by the late, great Jack (King) Kirby from the October 21, 1973 issue of the NFL's PRO Magazine, which was sold (with a customized game-day insert) only at NFL stadiums!

Though the Kansas City Chiefs were not among the teams represented, other designs included the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and Green Bay Packers!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have chili, sliders, wings, and desserts to prepare for this evening...