Monday Madness THE THING "Cinderella"

You've seen "dark" versions of fairy tales on TV and movies...

...but comics handled similar material going back to the 1950s, the heyday of horror comics!

(Illustrated by Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko, no less!)

This tale from Charlton's The Thing! #12 (1954) sure ain't like the Disney version, eh?
The Thing was the snarky, but unseen, host of the comic series in the vein (as it were) of EC's Crypt Keeper.

He was no relation to either the movie character The Thing from Another World (whose film came out in 1951, just before this comic debuted), or the Fantastic Four's super-strong team member.

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Tomorrow is Memorial Day

...but we have a kool Monday Madness post I didn't want to wait on!

So pay tribute to our defenders (active and retired) today and tomorrow!

BTW, this is a World War II-era flag!

That's why it has only 48 stars!
Alaska and Hawaii didn't become states until 1959!

Space Hero Saturdays SPACEHAWK "My Friend, My Foe"

He's the mysterious "Superhuman Enemy of Crime" in space...

...but he has friends he's known for years...and the only way they refer to him is as "SpaceHawk"?

This action-packed tale from Novelty's Target Comics #11 (1940) was written, illustrated, and lettered by the one-and-only Basil Wolverton.

The sheer unfettered imagination of the man was astounding, creating vistas and aliens far beyond anything the technology of moviemaking at the time (except for animation) could match.

With the current fascination for high adventure and fantasy and the incredible level of realism CGI can provide, SpaceHawk would be an ideal project for either theatrical or direct-to-home video, and I'm surprised no one is doing it!

Friday Fun SPEED RACER COMICS "Ralph Snart Meets the Terminator Cockroach"

Last week's Friday Fun entry was among the most popular ever!
So, if you want roaches, I'll give you roaches!

This never-reprinted featurette from NOW Comics' Speed Racer #18 (1989) by creator/writer/artist Marc Hansen was a promo for a new Ralph Snart Adventures series (after a previous series from the same publisher ended).
You can read about this rather...unique...character (whose adventures are still being published) by visiting Marc Hansen's website HERE!
BTW: The "Terminator" reference (even though the roach isn't a robot from the future) is appropriate, since NOW was publishing The Terminator movie tie-in comics!

Reading Room STRANGE WORLDS "Abduction of the Earth"

Behind this kool Wally Wood inside cover vignette...

...lurks a never-reprinted tale from Avon's Strange Worlds #5 (1951) by an unknown artist or artists!

A typical "hard" sci-fi tale from the 1950s, not a classic, but an entertaining way to spend a few minutes letting your mind wander.

It could have made a decent B-movie back then...or a $100 million 3-D flick today!

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Sci-Fi Art: a Graphic History