Alan is a huge Edgar Rice Burroughs/John Carter fan. Killraven was Alan’s attempt to use that style of storytelling—the pacing, the action—in the comic book format. I think he did a pretty good job of it.
In regards to this cover, in Alan’s original thumbnail sketch there was a dialogue balloon with Killraven saying, “Retreat or die!”
Today’s comic from The Stack is Flippity and Flop #5 (Aug.–Sept. 1952). The cover is by Jim Davis (or perhaps someone from his animation studio). No, not the Garfield Jim Davis, but Jim Davis the animator. Davis didn’t have a particularly distinguished career, but he directed a couple of Bugs Bunny TV specials, and was an animator on both Fritz the Cat movies among other things. Davis is also credited with all the story pages in the issue, though as I said, it could easily have been done in his style by someone in his studio. Davis’ studio handled not only the Flippity and Flop stories, but most of the “The Fox and the Crow” stories for DC.
Flippity and Flop was based on a cartoon series called “Dog, Cat, & Canary” by Charles Mintz’s Studio Gems Studio, so it makes a certain amount of sense that animation artists drew the comic book stories. The “Flippity and Flop” stories are similar to “Sylvester and Tweety” stories, especially the ones with Spike the dog, but Sam the dog plays a larger role than Spike ever did. The “Dog, Cat, & Canary” cartoons actually predate the “Sylvester & Tweety” cartoons. I've never actually seen the cartoons, but the stories in this issue feel a bit rehashed and tired. The artwork is very nice, but the writing doesn’t have much in the way of snap. There’s even a second feature called “Twiddle and Twaddle” that’s basically a rip-off of the Warner Bros. “Hubie and Bertie” cartoons. Overall, I’d say give this one a pass.
Hey everyone! Just caught up on the thread and thought I'd post up a few from my desktop the last couple weeks.
Sorry to do so many at once, but not sure when I can post due to my work schedule lately. Anyway...
I love coming across Marvel reprint titles that had new covers on them. This one's pretty action-packed! I must have missed it on the spinner rack (spotty distribution in those days) or I wouldn't have been able to resist it!
Pencils by Gil Kane with inks by Frank Giacoia
Pencils & inks by John Romita, Sr.
Pencils by Curt Swan with inks by Sheldon Moldoff
Pencils and inks by Nick Cardy
I was a HUGE Spider-Man fan during this era, especially during the long-running Jackal storyline.
Pencils by John Romita, Sr. with inks by Mike Esposito & Tony Mortellaro
This one I was really confused by when I first glanced at it -- then I saw it was listed on GCD as pencils by Don Heck and inks by John Romita, Sr. I have to say, that looks like more than "inks". Ramrod looks like Don Heck, but Black Widow looks like pure Romita. Seems like a little more than "art corrections," too, but I suppose a little bit may go a long way.
Here's a fun one for the winter season that I'd never seen before!
Pencils and inks by Nick Cardy
And now that I'm on a winter kick, here's a few of my holiday favorites from childhood:
Man, I LOVED Treasury editions (still have a couple), and I loved this one in particular...but don't still have it.
It's listed on GCD as John Buscema; John Romita Sr. (alterations)
I had this one, too, by John Romita Sr....
And I'll finish with a Nick Cardy cover I still have -- always loved this cover (and all the giant-size ones).
@nweathington I can't *wait* to open my Nick Cardy book on Christmas! :)
Cover by Frank Harry. Harry did all his comic book work for DC through the ’40s, primarily as the artist for “The Ghost Patrol” in Flash Comics, and “Little Boy Blue” and “Willy Nilly” in Sensation Comics. It appears he left comics in 1950 or so, probably to go into advertising.
Cover by Walt Kelly.
And for our Brit contributors, a little Robot Archie: Cover by Ted Kearon, one of the main artists for Lion through the ’50s and the co-creator (along with George Cowan) of Robot Archie.
Merry Christmas, everyone! And for our Brit contributors, a little Robot Archie: Cover by Ted Kearon, one of the main artists for Lion through the ’50s and the co-creator (along with George Cowan) of Robot Archie.
Since we're doing holiday themed covers, I thought I'd go straight to the Big Man himself:
He appears in a lot of guest appearance roles in various comics over the decades, but only seldom in his own title. This one from Dell, circa 1945. No artist credited.
In 1990, Innovation collected a number of Santa stories drawn by Walt Kelly:
I'm pretty sure there might have been other Santa Claus comics, but these were the only ones I found on short notice.
On the other hand, one of Santa's reindeers did much better than the old fat man did: he got his own series!
Rudolph appeared regularly, once a year, every Christmas, throughout the 50's, without fail, lasting into the very early 60's.
His run ended in 1962 with a large size 'annual' which reprinted material from the series. (Rather odd calling it an annual, since the series itself was an annual.)
Rudolph made one last appearance a decade later in one of DC's tabloid-sized reprint books.
Writers and artists were pretty much anonymous at the time, but the Comic Book Database lists the artists as Rube Grossman and Martin Naydel, further noting this as being unconfirmed.
The artwork is decent,but the coloring makes this one of the worst covers I have seen. I know part of the reason is they wanted it to work with the Valiant Vision glasses. But wow it is ugly.
The artwork is decent,but the coloring makes this one of the worst covers I have seen. I know part of the reason is they wanted it to work with the Valiant Vision glasses. But wow it is ugly.
It does work better with the glasses. I still have mine, and it's only ugly when viewed without the glasses. This was an interesting gimmick that Valiant tried with a few of their titles, mostly The Destroyer and The Psi-Lords -- but it wasn't a strong enough gimmick to hold the reader's long-term interests. Maybe if they'd waited for iPads and digital downloads?
The artwork is decent,but the coloring makes this one of the worst covers I have seen. I know part of the reason is they wanted it to work with the Valiant Vision glasses. But wow it is ugly.
It does work better with the glasses. I still have mine, and it's only ugly when viewed without the glasses. This was an interesting gimmick that Valiant tried with a few of their titles, mostly The Destroyer and The Psi-Lords -- but it wasn't a strong enough gimmick to hold the reader's long-term interests. Maybe if they'd waited for iPads and digital downloads?
Yeah it does work better with the glasses. I have tried reading Psi Lords with the glasses on and after an issue or two I end up with a headache.
Comments
Flippity and Flop was based on a cartoon series called “Dog, Cat, & Canary” by Charles Mintz’s Studio Gems Studio, so it makes a certain amount of sense that animation artists drew the comic book stories. The “Flippity and Flop” stories are similar to “Sylvester and Tweety” stories, especially the ones with Spike the dog, but Sam the dog plays a larger role than Spike ever did. The “Dog, Cat, & Canary” cartoons actually predate the “Sylvester & Tweety” cartoons. I've never actually seen the cartoons, but the stories in this issue feel a bit rehashed and tired. The artwork is very nice, but the writing doesn’t have much in the way of snap. There’s even a second feature called “Twiddle and Twaddle” that’s basically a rip-off of the Warner Bros. “Hubie and Bertie” cartoons. Overall, I’d say give this one a pass.
Sorry to do so many at once, but not sure when I can post due to my work schedule lately. Anyway...
I love coming across Marvel reprint titles that had new covers on them. This one's pretty action-packed! I must have missed it on the spinner rack (spotty distribution in those days) or I wouldn't have been able to resist it!
Pencils by Gil Kane with inks by Frank Giacoia
Pencils & inks by John Romita, Sr.
Pencils by Curt Swan with inks by Sheldon Moldoff
Pencils and inks by Nick Cardy
I was a HUGE Spider-Man fan during this era, especially during the long-running Jackal storyline.
Pencils by John Romita, Sr. with inks by Mike Esposito & Tony Mortellaro
This one I was really confused by when I first glanced at it -- then I saw it was listed on GCD as pencils by Don Heck and inks by John Romita, Sr. I have to say, that looks like more than "inks". Ramrod looks like Don Heck, but Black Widow looks like pure Romita. Seems like a little more than "art corrections," too, but I suppose a little bit may go a long way.
Here's a fun one for the winter season that I'd never seen before!
Pencils and inks by Nick Cardy
And now that I'm on a winter kick, here's a few of my holiday favorites from childhood:
Man, I LOVED Treasury editions (still have a couple), and I loved this one in particular...but don't still have it.
It's listed on GCD as John Buscema; John Romita Sr. (alterations)
I had this one, too, by John Romita Sr....
And I'll finish with a Nick Cardy cover I still have -- always loved this cover (and all the giant-size ones).
@nweathington I can't *wait* to open my Nick Cardy book on Christmas! :)
Happy Holidays, everyone! :)
Mark Harrison
Cover by Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye.
Cover by Frank Harry. Harry did all his comic book work for DC through the ’40s, primarily as the artist for “The Ghost Patrol” in Flash Comics, and “Little Boy Blue” and “Willy Nilly” in Sensation Comics. It appears he left comics in 1950 or so, probably to go into advertising.
Cover by Walt Kelly.
And for our Brit contributors, a little Robot Archie:
Cover by Ted Kearon, one of the main artists for Lion through the ’50s and the co-creator (along with George Cowan) of Robot Archie.
Don't know the cover artist, but I like it.
Cover by Gil Kane and Bob Wiacek.
Cover probably by George Wilson.
Cover by Gil Kane and Dan Adkins.
Cover by Gil Kane and Al Milgrom
Maelo Cintron
Vincente Segrelles
Skywald always had great covers.
He appears in a lot of guest appearance roles in various comics over the decades, but only seldom in his own title. This one from Dell, circa 1945. No artist credited.
In 1990, Innovation collected a number of Santa stories drawn by Walt Kelly:
I'm pretty sure there might have been other Santa Claus comics, but these were the only ones I found on short notice.
Rudolph appeared regularly, once a year, every Christmas, throughout the 50's, without fail, lasting into the very early 60's.
His run ended in 1962 with a large size 'annual' which reprinted material from the series. (Rather odd calling it an annual, since the series itself was an annual.)
Rudolph made one last appearance a decade later in one of DC's tabloid-sized reprint books.
Writers and artists were pretty much anonymous at the time, but the Comic Book Database lists the artists as Rube Grossman and Martin Naydel, further noting this as being unconfirmed.
Tim Burgard
Neal Adams
The artwork is decent,but the coloring makes this one of the worst covers I have seen. I know part of the reason is they wanted it to work with the Valiant Vision glasses. But wow it is ugly.
That's pretty cool
Never seen that cover before, I like how you can make out it is Batman without being 100 percent sure that it is him and what he is doing.