Reading Room BLACK BUCCANEER "The Story Begins..."

In the Golden Age of Comics, pirates with their own strips were a fairly common sight...

...though few were the lead tale in the books they appeared in!

Appearing in every issue of the short-lived Blazing Comics, the Black Buccaneer was typical of the "heroic pirate" strips that most companies gave a test run.

Apparently, unlike mad scientists (who headlined a number of strips), publishers felt pirates who were actually villains wouldn't sell.

So they created pirates who were undercover agents for their governments, or framed for crimes they didn't do, or just misunderstood.

The writer for this intro tale from the first issue of the anthology title Blazing Comics from short-lived publisher Rural Home is unknown.

And, though it's not definitive, the general consusus is that Gil Kane and/or Leonard Starr illustrated it.

Be here tomorrow when we'll have some more pirate-themed stuff during our celebration of the new pirate/adventure series Black Sails!

Reading Room TREASURY OF PIRATE LORE "Origin of the Buccaneer"

Ever wonder where the term "buccaneer" came from?

This interesting bit of historical trivia appeared in, of all places, Charlton's Soldier & Marine Comics #14 (1955).

However, that was not the first time it saw print!

Previously, it was the inside front cover of Fox's Variety Comics 1950 one-shot which took several unsold comics and bound them together under a new cover!

Note: Inside covers were two-color, instead of the usual four-color used for covers and actual comic pages.

In this case, the second color was Magenta, one of the four colors used in standard printing.

BTW, note the changes in the first and second captions between the Comics Code-approved top version and the earlier non-Code-approved version at bottom!

Boy, were they squeamish in those days!

Be here tomorrow when we'll have some more pirate-themed stuff during our celebration of the new pirate/adventure series Black Sails!

Reading Room STAR PIRATE "Meet the Star Pirate"

In space, no one can hear you say "Arrr, matey..."

...as this example of the little-known "pirates in space" sub-genre proves!

Like most pirates (who are romantics at heart), Star Pirate is a sucker for a pretty face.
The Star Pirate became a fixture in Planet Comics, running from 1941 until just before the book's cancellation in 1953.

The name "Leonardo Vinci" on this intro tale from #12 (1941) is a pen-name assigned to this particular strip.

The general consensus is that the artist is Al Gabrielle, but the writer is unknown.
With the new Starz TV series Black Sails reawakening interest in the almost-dead "pirate high-adventure" genre, we're going to take a look at a number of different comics incarnations of buccaneers!
Be here tomorrow as we explore more pirate-themed comics!

TRUE LOVE COMICS; the Perfect Gift for Your Pop Art-Loving Sweetie on Valentine's Day!

Comics aren't just about spandex-clad heroes and heroines in battles of cosmic import!
They also tell intimate tales of heartbreak and true love, betrayal and redemption, and misery and sheer joy!

With than in mind, Valentine's Day is coming, and what says "True Love" better than a gift from True Love Comics Tales™? (Plus, it's both longer-lasting AND cheaper than a dozen roses!)
Choose from dozens of designs on greeting cards, teddy bears, calendars, shirts/tops/intimate wear, diaries, and many other kool kollectibles!

A public service announcement for all lovers from your friends at Atomic Kommie Comics™

Frankenstein Reading Room MARVEL TALES "Return of the Monster"

One attempt at updating the Monster in the 1950s involved terrorists...

...who wanted Frankenstein's secrets to create an invincible army!

Illustrated by Gene Colan and Vince Alascia (with a splash panel taken from the never-reprinted cover by Syd Shores), this tale from Atlas' Marvel Tales #96 (1950), this tale was one of several produced by Atlas Comics.

Note, the author is unknown.

Art by Larry Lieber and Vince Colletta

When the story was reprinted in 1974, the Monster's look was modified on the new cover art to look more like Marvel's new version who had his own series!

Support Atomic Kommie Comics
Visit Amazon and Buy...

Essential Monster of Frankenstein
Volume 1
Paid Link

I, Frankenstein Opens Today

Based on an unpublished graphic novel written by Kevin Grevioux...

...the movie starring Aaron Eckhart as the Monster opens today!

BTW, there is a FREE prequel comic available on Comixology HERE!

And you can read a "motion comic" version of the prequel comic HERE!

Reading Room MENACE "Your Name is Frankenstein"

Besides the new movie I, Frankenstein, there have been numerous updatings of the tale...

...in fact, even the co-creator of the Marvel Universe, Stan Lee, took a shot at the character!

With a script by Lee and moody art by Joe Maneely, this tale from Atlas' Menace #7 (1953) isn't as graphically-grotesque as most of the horror comics of the era, but it was not reprinted until 2005, when the Comics Code Authority was in its' death throes.

Reading Room FRANKENSTEIN "Meets Boris Karload: Master of Horror"

For decades, he was the actor you thought of when you heard "Frankenstein"...

...so it seems obvious that this was a team-up waiting to happen!

Of course, they had to use a variation of his name, but we know who he is...

Now, on with the show...

Believe it or not, the writer/artist of this version of Frankie (call him "Mark 2") is the same guy who did the later, horrific, version ("Mark 3") you saw HERE!
This tale, from Prize's Frankenstein #11 (1948), shows not only the now-friendly Monster, but members of his supporting cast.

Makes you wonder if the creators of The Munsters didn't read this book when they were kids...

Next Week: More Horrifying Humor!

Support Atomic Kommie Comics!

Visit Amazon and Buy...

Frankenstein
The Mad Science of Dick Briefer

Reading Room FRANKENSTEIN "Rebirth of the Monster"

The new movie, I, Frankenstein, is not the first updating of the Monster's story...

...in fact, this is the second reboot of an updated Frankenstein series by the same publisher!

Written and illustrated by Dick Briefer, who did all three versions of the Monster of Frankenstein for publisher Prize Comics, this story in Frankenstein #18 (1952) was the lead tale in the series' revival since the book's cancellation three years earlier!
As you might have guessed by the date, the book was revived to capitalize on the popularity (or notoriety) of horror comics during this period, resulting in the darkest, scariest, version of the Monster up to that point!
It sold well, but the national panic produced by psychiatrist Fredric Wertham (who claimed comics caused juvenile delinquency) forced comics publishers to drop the horror genre entirely!
Note: Issues 1-17 were based on the first rebooted version carried over from the publisher's flagship anthology Prize Comics.
That version was a humorous take on the character, similar to The Munsters, complete with a supporting cast of various monsters and ghosts.
Be here tomorrow for the best-known story from that run, involving the monster meeting Boris...you-know-who!
Then, on Thursday, we'll show you a tale from the very first version, which was an action/sci-fi strip set during World War II!