Atomic Kommie Comics

Reading Room: ROBOTMEN OF THE LOST PLANET "Rise of the Humans"

2013-05-24T10:09:00.005-04:00

When Last We Left What Remained of Humanity...

...in the far future, robots have rebeled and conquered the human race.
Humanity's survivors have been forced from cities and towns and now live in caves on the outskirts.
But, after ten years, newly-armed humans are about to take back the planet...

This 1952 one-shot title from Avon Comics was scripted by Walter (The Shadow) Gibson and rendered by Gene Fawcette.
Avon did an amazing amount of one-time-only titles, probably more than any other publisher.
Some of them were adaptations of novels Avon's paperback division had published, like An Earthman on Venus (which we'll be running soon).
Others, like RobotMen, were original stories.

Reading Room: ROBOTMEN OF THE LOST PLANET "Robots Rule the Earth"

2013-05-23T08:45:00.001-04:00

When Last We Left the Human Race...

...just five years and we've lost all sense of fashion?

(And what weapons were we using to kill the large mammals that provided those big pelts?)

Tomorrow:

Rise of the Humans!

This 1952 one-shot title from Avon Comics was scripted by Walter (The Shadow) Gibson and rendered by Gene Fawcette.

Reading Room: ROBOTMEN OF THE LOST PLANET "Massacre of Mankind"

2013-05-22T12:41:00.001-04:00

Before Terminator!

Before Magnus: Robot Fighter!

Before BattleStar Galactica (reboot)!

...humans were subjugated by the least-threatening robots ever seen (with the possible exception of Buck Rogers' Twiki)!

Tomorrow:

Robots Rule the Earth!

The art for this 1952 one-shot title from Avon Comics is by Gene Fawcette, an Avon mainstay who did everything from horror to Westerns to romance.

Perhaps the most unusual aspect of this tale is the scripter...Walter Gibson, aka "Maxwell Grant", the primary writer of the legendary pulp character, The Shadow!

Gibson, a trained magician-turned writer did very little "hard" sci-fi during his long career...except in 1951-54, where he edited (and wrote under several pseudonoms) most of the contents of Charlton's short-lived (2 issues) Fantastic Science Fiction pulp magazine, editing Charlton's Space Adventures comic for it's first 11 issues, as well as scripting several other one-shots for Avon Comics.

For the record, Gibson also wrote two volumes of adaptations of Twilight Zone TV episodes (with a couple of original tales mixed in), but none of those were sci-fi.

Reading Room: "Cargo from Mars"

2013-05-21T17:51:00.002-04:00

A non-sensationalistic title hides a damned good story...

...that appeared in back of a famous one-shot comic book.

Illustrated by Gerald McCann, this well-written little tale was hidden in the back of this 1952 book...

...noted for it's rather silly-looking robots based on this toy, known as "Popping Martian", "Panic Pete", or "Bug-Out Bob"!

Be here tomorrow when we present part one of the cover-featured robot apocalypse along with a secret connection to a legendary pulp hero!

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Reading Room: WEIRD TALES OF THE FUTURE "Day of Doom"

2013-05-20T12:44:00.002-04:00

It's Monday, which many of us consider to be the...

...as we begin another long week of work or school.

But we usually don't mean the phrase quite as literally as this apocalyptic tale which...well, read for yourself...

Talk about "everything but the kitchen sink"!
Us vs Commies!
Commies vs Aliens!
Aliens vs Us!
Evacuation of the Earth!
Destruction of the Moon!
Finally, to top it all...Atlantis Rising!
And all that in only seven pages!

This story from Key's Weird Tales of the Future #4 (1952) could, with a little updating, make a helluva feature film or TV mini-series!
While the writer is unknown, the artist was Tony Mortellaro, who did hundreds of tales in various genres for Key and Atlas/Marvel, (where he became Associate Art Director under John Romita in the 1970s).

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THE SHADOW Cover Previews!

2013-05-19T21:53:00.002-04:00

Who Knows What Evil...?

The amazing Francesco Francavilla does, as this alternate cover for #15 of Dynamite's Shadow comic book demonstrates!

If that doesn't convince you, maybe the alt cover for #16 will do the trick...

BTW, if you want more The Shadow stuff, have a look at...

The never-reprinted 1994 Alec Baldwin movie adaptation HERE!
(PLUS, a never-reprinted Gene Colan-illustrated spoof of The Shadow radio show called "The Shadower", and a comic adaptation of an actual radio show episode HERE!)

The Shadow's never-reprinted Bronze Age adventures with The Batman and The Avenger as well as never-reprinted Frank Robbins-illustrated stories (as well as the first part of the Shadow radio show adaptation) HERE!

Finally, The Shadow's never-reprinted, campy costumed Silver Age adventures HERE!

Return of the Ants, Man!

2013-05-18T23:55:00.004-04:00

The ants are back in the kitchen and living room...in force!

Makes you wonder if Henry Pym's a little perturbed he wasn't included in the Avengers movie, and is getting his six-legged friends to "lobby" for his big screen debut...

Reading Room: SPACE DETECTIVE "Mole-Woman of Jupiter"

2013-05-17T01:01:00.000-04:00

When Last We Left Avenger (aka Space Detective) and Teena...

Now, continue with the story...

Nobody's been able to identify the writer or artist(s) of this finale of a kool 3-part tale from Avon's Space Detective #3 (1952).
Personally, I see elements of Wally Wood, Joe Orlando, and Joe Kubert in the art, but nothing definitive.

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Reading Room: SPACE DETECTIVE "Sea Nymphs of Neptune"

2013-05-16T03:38:00.001-04:00

When Last We Left Avenger and Teena...

...called in to investigate a series of thefts involving rare space pearls, the Space Detective and his aide board the space liner Star Arrow to protect a shipment of pearls.
They encounter Chameleon, a criminal using a theatrical troupe as cover for his pearl smuggling ring.
Though Avenger and Teena smash the ring, Chameleon escapes with Teena's pearl necklace...

Tomorrow:

Avenger vs Chamelon!

Nobody's been able to identify the writer or artist(s) of this opener of a kool 3-part tale from Avon's Space Detective #3 (1952).
Personally, I see elements of Wally Wood, Joe Orlando, and Joe Kubert in the art, but nothing definitive.

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Reading Room: SPACE DETECTIVE "Pearl Ship of Death"

2013-05-15T14:35:00.000-04:00

Once more we battle crime in the far future with Avenger and Teena...

...in another tale of the man called "Space Detective" on the cover and captions, but never by anyone face-to-face!

The Avenger and Teena will catch up with the Chameleon...

Tomorrow!

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Cutting Up Comic Books!

2013-05-14T11:02:00.003-04:00

And people wonder why it's so hard to find older comics in VF or better condition!

Many Bronze Age Marvels have a similar problem due to kids cutting the Marvel Value Stamps out of the letters pages!

(I wonder how many of those slabbed Bronze Age Marvels are actually missing Value Stamps...)

Reading Room: SPACE PATROL "Cannibal Monster of the Pygmy Planet"

2013-05-13T09:12:00.000-04:00

Rockets on full for ACTION in the far future...

...on the maiden voyage of a new Space Patrol ship (after we saw their previous vessel get trashed HERE)!

The story really doesn't make much sense, but, hoo-boy, is it fast-paced FUN!
The multi-talented Basil Wolverton wrote, illustrated, lettered, and probably colored, this wild tale from Amazing Mystery Funnies #24 (1940).
I'd love to see someone animate these classics of surreal storytelling.

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DESIGN OF THE WEEK "Owl"

2013-05-12T21:39:00.002-04:00

Each week, we post a limited-edition design, to be sold for exactly 7 days, then replaced with another.

This week, it's the return of a Lost Hero of both the Golden and Silver Ages of Comics...the Owl!
We presented his background and several adventures at our "brother" blog Hero Histories™...

Ominously Lurks...The Owl!

The Owl's Premiere Adventure!

His second appearance...and his first superhero costume!

The Owl's big comeback in the Silver Age!

Now, Dynamite Entertainment, who presented a revived Owl as a minor character in their Project: SuperPowers series, are giving him a new lease on life with his own title!

So, let's celebrate his return with t-shirts, mugs, and other kool collectibles featuring one of the coolest covers of his Golden Age run!

Reading Room: BRANT CRAIG "Red Devils of Mars"

2013-05-11T23:46:00.003-04:00

In the 1950s "Red" usually meant Communists...

...or a Communist-like threat, even in stories set in the future!

Add how the "Red" Martians set up an impenetrable "ionic curtain" (instead of Iron Curtain), and the parallels are obvious to anyone.

This never-reprinted tale from Youthful's Captain Science #6 (1951) was probably illustrated by Bill Molno and Rocco Mastroserio.

The writer is unknown.

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Ray Harryhausen Comic Books!

2013-05-10T23:55:00.000-04:00

Many of Ray Harryhausen's films have been adapted into comic books.
Among them...

Valley of Gwangi
(1969)

One Million Years BC
(1966)

and

Jason and the Argonauts
(1963)

Surprisingly, there was never an adaptation of the most comic book-like of all his films, Earth vs the Flying Saucers. during the film's initial release.

Reading Room STRANGE WORLDS "Space-Gods of Planetoid 50"

2013-05-09T10:47:00.002-04:00

What if Chariots of the Gods? took place on another planet?

And Earthmen were the aliens thought to be "gods"?

Quite a different take on the same theme from Man-Gods from Beyond the Stars, eh?

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

This look at the future from Avon's Strange Worlds #7 (1952) was illustrated by artistic mainstay Gene Fawcette, but the writer is unknown.

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Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013)

2013-05-08T11:23:00.000-04:00

Though he didn't appear in front of the camera, Ray Harryhausen was far more influental on the moviegoing public than most actors.

The way some people would automatically run to see a John Wayne flick or a Bette Davis film, I would be front and center on opening day for any Ray Harryhausen movie, ready for a couple of hours of sheer fun!

Ray's creations appeared in almost every genre, sci-fi, horror, fantasy, historical...even a Western (Valley of Gwangi).

To mark his passing, out "brother" blog, Secret Sanctum of Captain Video™, is presenting the never-reprinted comic adaptation of my favorite of all Ray's films, Jason and the Argonauts.

You can see other Harryhausen movies in comics form...

One Million Years BC

Valley of Gwangi

Reading Room: CAPTAIN SCIENCE "Time Door of Throm"

2013-05-07T11:45:00.001-04:00

Captain Science leads us through time and space into high adventure...

...this time at the edge of the Solar System (as it was defined then)!

Wait...wha?
That last line makes no sense, but I suppose it's good for a laugh if you don't really think about it...
On another note, I hated when Pluto was downgraded to a "dwarf planet".
The idea of a dark planet on the edge of the solar system was incredibly kool,, and one of my favorite 1950s sci-fi juveniles, Secret of the 9th Planet by Donald A Wollheim, used the idea that Plutonians set up "relay stations" on the inner planets to transmit solar energy to warm their icy world.
(Of course, due to slightly-silly science, the power the Plutonians were transmitting wasn't reaching those other planets, resulting in those worlds slowly freezing and forcing Earth to send an expedition to destroy the alien technology.)
Wally Wood and Joe Orlando did the art for this lead tale from Youthful's Captain Science #5 (1951), and you can tell these guys were having the time of their lives, as they cut loose with some of the wildest stuff ever to grace sci-fi comic books.

Unlike the earlier Captain Science stories, which have never been reprinted, these Orlando/Wood stories have been re-published all over the place, but they're still well-worth seeing again!

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Reading Room: CRAZY "Tess Orbit: Lace Cadet"

2013-05-06T11:28:00.002-04:00

MAD wasn't the only satire anthology comic in the pre-Code days...

..though it was both the best-known and best written/drawn of an entire herd of titles!

Atlas (later Marvel) Comics published four humor anthology titles simultaneously, and, as you might guess, with the talent pool spread pretty thin, the quality ran the gamut from occasionally-inspired to gouge-your-eyeballs-out BAD!

This never-reprinted tale, spoofing the TV/radio series Tom Corbett: Space Cadet, was probably the best story in Crazy #1 (1953), and actually feels more like one of the risque PussyCat shorts the Marvel Bullpen did for Martin Goodman's laddie mags in the 1960s than a kids' comic.

(Goodman owned both Marvel and a magazine publishing company until he sold Marvel in 1972.)
The strip is illustrated by Al Hartley, who did a lot of romance work (along with some sci-fi and horror) and eventually became a mainstay of Archie Comics in the late 1960s through the '70s.
(For the record, Hartley also co-created and illustrated Atlas' Leopard Girl I for her entire run)
But the writer is unknown.

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DESIGN OF THE WEEK "Fun in the Sun"

2013-05-05T15:25:00.003-04:00

Each week, we post a limited-edition design, to be sold for exactly 7 days, then replaced with another.

This week, it's "fun in the sun" with a kool retro romance comic design featuring a couple on the beach doing what couples on the beach have done for decades!

Available for e-readers, t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, beach blankets, and other goodies.

Free Comc Book Day 2013!

2013-05-04T09:27:00.000-04:00

Find the shop nearest you by clicking

HERE!

IRON MAN 3

2013-05-03T09:36:00.005-04:00

With Free Comic Book Day tomorrow, it's a great weekend to be a comics fan!

See it in 3-D if you can.

YouTube: Iron Man & the Mandarin: the Early Years!

2013-05-02T11:26:00.006-04:00

Art by Jack Kirby and Sol Brodsky

It took almost 50 years, but Iron Man finally gets a crack on the big screen against The Mandarin.

But, the Golden Avenger battled his arch-enemy several times in his first screen appearances on the 1960s Marvel SuperHeroes Show, based on scripts by Stan Lee and art by Don Heck and Gene Colan (with a few inserts of Jack Kirby's art)

Art by Don Heck

(Yes, the subtitles are non-removable, but they're the cleanest copies I could find.)

Reading Room: TIME TRAVELERS "Merlin and the Motorcycle Knights"

2013-05-01T12:39:00.001-04:00

The previous Time Travelers tale left "serious" sci fi behind...

...and this one tramples it into the ground.

If Tom Refield looks too young to have been an officer in World War II, remember this story was published in 1950, only five years after the end of WWII, so the idea of Tom serving in an Allied unit less than a decade earlier isn't unreasonable!

Written by Richard Hughes and illustrated by Ken Bald, this story from Operation: Peril #3 (1950) enters straight fantasy with the introduction of Merlin (non-magical and surprisingly traitorous) and King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table.
Next issue introduces alien menaces and an ongoing emphasis on space opera.

Despite this, the series' title will remain "Time Travelers" for the entire run.

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Reading Room: SPACE SQUADRON "Terror from the Deep"

2013-04-30T10:56:00.001-04:00

Let's blast-off for excitement (if not scientific accuracy) in the year 2000...

...as the Space Squadron journeys to the "water world" of Neptune!

Until the Voyager 2 flight in 1989, little was known about Neptune except for it's size and color, so sci-fi went all over the place speculating about what lay under the bright blue atomosphere.
Because of the name, derived from the Roman god of the sea, most tales (like this one) portrayed the planet as an aquatic world with a breathable atmosphere and amphibian, reptilian, or fish-like inhabitants.
The writer and artist for this tale from Atlas/Marvel's Space Squadron #3 (1951) are unknown to me, though in the scripter's case, it might be best to remain anonymous.

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