Inside Jeff Overturf's Head

"Prince Violent!" - Wally Wood - Mad Monday!

2012-01-16T12:06:00.000-08:00

"Mad" (THE COMIC BOOK) issue #13 from 1953 came in with a "wow-bam-sockaroony!" from Harvey Kurtzman and Wally Wood, as they took on the great Hal Foster's incomparable comic strip classic "Prince Valiant with their own "Prince Violent!".

This is as good as it gets, kiddoes!

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon!

Sunday Funnies - 1-15-12 - Double Dose

2012-01-15T12:07:00.000-08:00

Sunday Funnies and another double dose of Al Capp's "Li'l Abner" (where he's more-than-ably assisted by a young Frank Frazetta) and Milton Caniff's "Terry & the Pirates".

True masters of humor, adventure and suspense, all.

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

"3-Dimensions!" - Mad Mondays - Wally Wood

2012-01-09T12:12:00.000-08:00

3D entertainment is nothing new. The View-Master, the stereopticon, and even in movies (where it hits us now) and comic books of the 1950's.

I'm guessing this is a pretty rare re-printing of this story, as so much of Mad's history has it's re-prints in black and white, but when Harvey Kurtzman and the fantastic Wally Wood took this on in 1954 for "Mad" (THE COMIC BOOK), re-prints were farthest for their minds.

Anyway, let's dig on in to "Mad Monday" and dig on "3-Dimensions!". Get yer glasses on, kiddoes!

Enjoy.

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies - Double Dose - 1-8-12

2012-01-08T12:12:00.000-08:00

Sunday Funnies time again, kiddoes!! That means it's time for another double dose of "Li'l Abner" by Al Capp and Frank Frazetta (dig them crazy chicks!) and "Terry & the Pirates" by Milton Caniff!!

Jeff (me) is still missing in action, but I'm making progress on the things that are holding me back from posting more on this blog...good progress.

I will be back. I will be back.

In the meantime, enjoy!

Where, oh where has my little Jeff gone? Oh, where oh where can he be?

Talk to you soon.

"Mark Trade" - Mad Mondays - Jack Davis!

2012-01-02T13:35:00.000-08:00

"Mad Mondays" continues (after about a months delay...where have I been, anyway?) with it's look at "Mad" (THE COMIC BOOK) #12 dated June 1954, and Harvey Kurtzman and Jack Davis' spin on Ed Dodd's comic strip "Mark Trail", entitled "Mark Trade".

Even my love and admiration for the classic American newspaper comic strip fails to see how anyone ever was devoted to Dodd's fact-based wild-life strip. It was a product of it's time, I suppose. Pure post-WWII homogenization of America. The 1950's were a strange combination of cutting-edge and middle-of-the-road milquetoast and a decade I would love to go visit in my time machine because of both.

At any rate, Messrs Kurtzman and Davis found the fun...and here it is.

Enjoy!

In the meantime...I'm going to go sick Mark Trail off on MY trail and see where the heck I've been.

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies - 1-1-12 - Double Dose!

2012-01-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

Where, oh where hath the old year gone???

It's been a sparse 2nd half of 2011 for Jeffy blog posts. I'm starting to think if I'm MIA or DOA.

Until I figure it out, here's a nice way to start the new year. A double dose of action, adventure, comedy and masterful draftsmanship, with a double dose of 4-color Sunday fun. with "Li'l Abner" and "Terry and the Pirates" from the able hands and minds of Al Capp (assisted by Frank Frazetta) and Milton Caniff, respectively.

Enjoy!

While you're all digging on that, I'm off to find out where I've been and where I'm at!

Talk to you soon.

"From Eternity Back to Here!" - Bernie Krigstein - Mad Mondays!

2011-11-28T07:12:00.000-08:00

Well, Mad Monday this week marks the departure of John Severin as one of the rotating cartoonists for Harvey Kurtzman's premier humor comic book. Seems Kurtzman would occasionally have issues with Severin's art (what???) and one day they got into a heated debate which ended with Kurtzman not wanting to work with John anymore (sigh!).

Harvey was the boss however, and his call was final.

Mad THE COMIC BOOK, issue 12 from 1954 saw the debut Mad contribution by Bernie Krigstein on Kurtzman's twist on the blockbuster film "From Here to Eternity", "From Eternity Back to Here!". Sometimes Mad titles are just too easy. :)

I am a huge appreciator of John Severin and feel his missing rpesence here, though Krigstein adds his own dynamism and helped stretch the look of Mad. Bernie Krigstein only did 1 other article for Mad, it seems he liked to take liberties and want to change parts of Kurtzman's stories. Bad move. Like I said, Kurtzman was king.

Whatever the behind the scenes drama might have been, we're left with the great stuff this team turned out, and this 5 pager is no exception!

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies - 11 27-11 - Double Dose!

2011-11-27T07:28:00.000-08:00

Happy post Thanksgiving Feast Day Sunday, everyone. I hope you all ate your fill and gave your fill of thanks. Now that you've made a good dent in the left-overs, here's some tasty four color fun to peruse over your turkey hash. Another double dose of comedy, intrigue and adventure courtesy of Al Capp, Milton Caniff and Frank Frazetta with every one's favorites, "Li'l Abner" and "Terry & the Pirates"!

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon!

"Starchie!" - Will Elder - Mad Mondays!

2011-11-21T07:24:00.000-08:00

Mad Monday and keeping in chronological order, we should be wrapping up 1954's Mad THE COMIC BOOK #11, the final story therein being Harvey Kurtzman and Bill Elder's take on Jack Webb's iconic OldTime Radio program "Dragnet". I've already posted that story however, back here. Check it out, it's pretty awesome.

After checking that out though, we forge headlong into issue 12 and apparently we're getting into "Seduction of the Innocent" time, as even the cover takes note of the general public's disdain for the low, low cultural significance of the low, low comic book...

Reading the first story there's even a blurb in the upper right mocking the newly formed "Comics Code Authority", the very institution that would bring William Gaines' to change "Mad" from a comic book to a magazine a little later. And what subject would messers Kurtzman and Elder take on to show the adultitude of their little humor rag? A deviant super-hero comic book? Or even horror or western or science fiction comic book odder? Did they take on an adult scewed movie or radio program? No, no Nanette, they took on the wholesomest of wholesome, Amercia's average teen-ager, Archie Andrews!

Archie had jumped in to MLJ comics as the super hero trend was fading and eventually nudged all of their super hero features out of their own books. A comic book take on radio's popular Henry Aldrich program, it was all just a sign of the coming homogenization of America. Archie had some great aspects to it too. The art of Bob Montana and a sense of a cohesive world of it's own, but most importantly...Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge helping millions of American boys through puberty while their Mom's thought they were still innocently reading comic books. Here's to you, girls!!!

But never id the feature feel so adult as when the boys who would one day bring us Goodman Beaver and Little Annie Fannie, first took on "Starchie!"

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon!

Sunday Funnies - Double Dose! - 11-20-11

2011-11-20T07:34:00.001-08:00

Did ya think yer ol' Unca Jeffy forgot ya? NEVER!

I SHALL get to blogging again, very soon...and until then, thanks for sticking around and here's your double dose of Al Capp's "Li'l abner" (assisted by Frank Frazetta) and Milt Caniff's "Terry & the Pirates" to sate your soul and get your Thanksgiving week started right!

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon!

Sunday Funnies - 10-23-11 - Double Dose!

2011-10-23T04:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday, kiddoes! The adventure keeps a churning in "Terry & the Pirates" by Milton Caniff and the comedy and drama keep building in "Li'l Abner" by Al Capp (more than ably assisted by Frank Frazetta)!

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon!

"Murder the Husband! Murder the Story!" - Jack Davis - Mad Mondays!

2011-10-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

Mad Monday and a real EC comics treat from the 11th issue of Mad THE COMIC BOOK from 1954!

It's a comic behind the scenes look at Mad parodying as Harvey Kurtzman and Jack Davis take a previously published horror/suspense tale and "Mad" it up!

Enjoy, "Murder the Husband! Murder the Story!"!

Talk to you soon!

Sunday Funnies - 10-16-11 - Double Dose!

2011-10-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday everyone! Start your day with a double shot of classic, glorious, 4-Color fun with Milton Caniff, Al Capp and Frank Frazetta fun and adventure with "Li'l Abner" and "Terry and the Pirates"!

It's the RIGHT way to start your Sunday!

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon!

"Flesh Garden!" - Wally Wood - Mad Mondays!

2011-10-10T07:08:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, yes, I know...in my current arrid blog state, I neglected to bring you "Mad Mondays" last week.

This week returns with the start of 1954's Mad THE COMIC BOOK, #11 and a sweet little treat!

Harvey Kurtzman and Wally Wood's take on Alex Raymond's great comic strip "Flash Gordon"..."Flesh Garden!".

This was another tale from those hallowed days when Mad was a comic book and not a magazine, that was reprinted time and time again through my childhood in black and white and poured over by me each and every time.

Here it is in glorious 4 colro goodness, the way old Bill Gaines intended it to be.

Enjoy!

And in case ya think I don't love ya after last weeks void, here's the second story from this issue to make up for lost time...Basil Wolverton's first full-blown contribution to Mad that I posted right h'yar!

Now, tell me who don't love who!!!

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies - 10-9-11 - Double Dose!

2011-10-09T09:34:00.000-07:00

Time for another Sunday Funnies treat with "Li'l Abner" and "Terry & the Pirates" from Al Capp, Frank Frazetta and Milton Caniff!!

Enjoy yer Sunday, kiddoes and start yer week off right with real 4 color fun!

Talk to you soon!

Sunday Funnies Double Dose - 10-02-11

2011-10-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

Enjoy some Sunday Funnies 4 color fun, kiddoes!

Make's the rest of the week make a little more sense!

Talk to you soon!

"Woman Wonder!" - Bill Elder - "Mad Mondays"!

2011-09-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

"Mad" the COMIC BOOK #10 from 1954 comes to a close today, not by winding down, but by banging us over the head with another comic book parody which soon became a classic, Bill Elder and Harvey Kurtman's take on Wonder Woman "Woman Wonder!"!

This one's chock full of Elder's "chicken fat", chock full of Kurtzman's take on the medium itself (which keep in mind, was only 16 years old at the time) and even has Batman as the villain and a cameo by SuperDuperMan!!

It's a good'n...dig in...enjoy!

Talk to you soon!

Sunday Funnies! - 9-25-11 - Double Dose!

2011-09-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

Still getting up to gear on gettin' this blog goin'...but until then, let's keep this double dose Sunday Funnies happenin' with more classic "Li'l Abner" and "Terry & the Pirates" strips from the pens of Al Capp, Frank Frazetta and Milton Caniff!!

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon!

"The Face Upon the Floor!" - Jack Davis & Basil Wolverton - Mad Mondays!

2011-09-19T07:27:00.000-07:00

"Mad" THE COMIC BOOK #10 from 1954 continues to unravel with this uber-classic "The Face Upon the Floor". Reading this over and over as a kid was maybe my first exposure to the great Jack Davis and I poured over every panel (in it's black and white reprint glory) and memorized whole passages of the H. Antoine D'Arcy poem.

I wasn't yet hip to the idea of a "cartoonist jam", so that last panel was always assumed to be by Davis as well. Little did I know that that was my first exposure to Basil Wolverton as well.

Also his first work for Harvey Kurtzman and Bill Gaines in the annals of Mad.

Great stuff! Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies - 9-18-11 - Double Dose!

2011-09-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

Up and at 'em, kiddoes! Sunday morning and time for another double dose of Al Capp (assisted by Frank Frazetta) and Milton Caniff with their iconic strips "Li'l Abner" and "Terry and the Pirates"!

Dig into your Cocoa Krispies and dig into high comedy and high adventure (and really great character writing) and begin your week the RIGHT way!

Talk to you soon.

"Sane!" - John Severin - Mad Mondays!

2011-09-12T06:20:00.001-07:00

Mmmmmm, "Mad Monday" back on Monday. Feels good!

And for it's valiant return, Mad THE COMIC BOOK #10 from 1954 hits you with a dose of John Severin flexing his western comic muscles in Harvey Kurtzman's parody of the Alan Ladd classic film "Shane" with a story called "Sane!".

It's gooooooooooood stuff...enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies - 9-11-11 - Double Dose!

2011-09-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

Yowtch! I'm not thinking the new blogger interface is for me!?!

Anyways...here's a double dose of "Li'l Abner" by Al Capp (assisted by the great Frank Frazetta) and Milton Caniff's "Terry & The Pirates" to tide you over till I dope it out.

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

"G.I.Shmoes!" - Wally Wood - Mad Mondays! (on Tuesday...sigh!)

2011-08-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

Well, Mad Mondays falls a day late again as my August sabatical contues to lay waste my energy. That may sound bad, but I think it's a good thing in the long run.

This week we begin delving in to the 1954 issue 10 of "Mad" the COMIC BOOK and another nifty cover by Harvy Kurtzman!

Before we dig in, I want to give props to fellow blogger (and proudly a follower of this humble blog) BrittReid, who just recently in his blog "Western Comics Adventures" posted a story called "Low Noon" from Black Cat Mysteries, and then gave a shout out to last weeks Mad Mondays here called "Hah! Noon!". Great minds do indeed thin alike, Britt. Check out his blog and give him a holla!

Back to our story of the week. As I've said before and will say again, "Wood's women is HOT!" and in this story "G.I. Shmoes!" a spoof of all the war comics on the stands at the time, we got Wood's voluptuous 1950's women on 7 out of 8 pages. Yummmmm!

Oh yeah, the stories pretty funny too. So after ya oggle the pics, ya might wanna give "readin' them words" a try.

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies! 8-28-11 - Another Double Dose!

2011-08-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

Another double-dose of classic "Li'l Abner" and "Terry & The Pirates" for your Sunday Morning 4 color reading pleasure as I continue my August sabatical outside my head.

I'll be back soon, but until then...

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

"Hah! Noon!" - Jack Davis- Mad Mondays - a day late (sigh)!

2011-08-23T04:37:00.000-07:00

Mad Monday traipsin' in h'yar a day late...but better than never!

"Mad" the COMIC BOOK #9 from 1954 closes with another movie spoof classic from Harvey Kurtman and awesome western cartooning by the always appealing Jack Davis, as they take on "High Noon" in "Hah! Noon!".

Gary Cooper would be proud!

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies - Double Threat!!!!

2011-08-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

G'Morning, Kiddoes! Sunday Funnies time again, and this week a double dose of Capp and Caniff, for all you'se "Li'l Abner" and "Terry & the Pirate" afficianados out there!

Partly cause I know you like 'em, and mainly cause I'm behind on my "Polly & Her Pals" and "Krazy Kat" scanning...

I suppose you've noticed how lax I've been in blog posting of late, and it's not because I've lost interest. In fact, I've got a million things I want to do here. I guess after 2 years of daily posting I just have gotten a little burnt out. I think I may just lay low until after Labor Day as a nice respite.

I'll still be posting "Sunday Funnies" and "Mad Mondays" so you all don't forget about me, but the rest of the week I'll be re-charging the batteries. I look forard to seeing y'all back here.

To all the blogs I follow, I will be catching up (or as Lysdexicuss puts it, "playing ketchup") over the next weeks. Lys, KW, Karswell, Mykal, Ivan...be prepared for a deluge of comments when I do.

Oh...and I'll be back this week for another day to acknowledge a nice little blog award I was granted by Br'er Ivan as well...I'm always honored when something like that happens, and I shant let it go by without a full post to mention.

And Bubba? I haven't forgotten your trade request either...I've let my drawing board get dusty and I promise I'll git going on what we talked about.

Now. Snuggle back under those blankets and enjoy some Sunday fun from back when all Sunday's were fun.

Talk to you soon.

"Bop Jokes!" - John Severin - Mad Mondays!

2011-08-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

Mad Monday is here again, kiddoes!

"Mad" THE COMIC BOOK from 1954 continues onward with Harvey Kurtzman and the underrated John Severin's take on slang of the day with "Bop Jokes!".

As with all humor that's this linked with it's time, a lot of the jokes are dated, but that shouldn't keep you from enjoying Severin's great characters, layouts and timing.

Enjoy!

This little gem from 1954 couldn't help but remind me of a similar take on modern language from animation legend Tex Avery and a little theatrical short he did for MGM in 1951. I'm not saying Kurtzman lifted the idea, I think it's just the post-war folks becoming more self aware and humor taking a more self-effacing turn.

You can decide.

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies! 8-14-11!

2011-08-14T08:29:00.001-07:00

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies! 8-7-11

2011-08-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

Talk to you soon.

"The Raven!" - Bill Elder - Mad Mondays!

2011-08-01T06:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Mad Mondays, kiddoes. Issue #9 from 1954 of "Mad" the COMIC BOOK continues on with Bill Elder and Harvey Kurtzman's adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven".

Something seems to be up with Blogger so I hope you're able to see this. Yesterday's Sunday Funnies seems to be trapped in a limbo of sorts.

Until I get that all straightened out...Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies! 7-31-11!

2011-07-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

Here y'are, kiddoes! Another heapin', helpin' of 4 color Sunday funnies from across the decades to make your day and week start off on the right foot.

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

The REd Tornado - She Was IN The Jusice Society...kind of!

2011-07-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday and more from "A 'Slight' History of Golden Age Comic Book Super Heroes" as I present the last "Red Tornado" story in my library. This one's from "All American Comics #47!

Check out this bit of Sheldon Mayer fun and hang on tight for another treat at the end!

As I've stated before, as a young reader of the early 1970's Ma Hunkel's Red Tornado was only hinted at. A curious counterpart to DC's Earth One Red Tornado who was is an android and much different than Ma Hunkel in every way. There were a few pin-ups of the Justice Society and the always seemed to include Hunkel, but in the great sea of mish-mashed reprints in the backs of the comics available to me, NEVER a Hunkel reprint...including in reprints of stroies of the JSA! Where the heck WAS she???

Well, it turns out she DID make an appearance in the annals of the JSA, in fact in their very first adventure. "All Star Comics" #3 which would be the very first appearance of the very first super hero team ever, even telling the story of their first gathering, featured a cameo by the great Ma Hunkel.

H'yar is that cameo...

So see? If not for a little modesty on the lady's part, Ma Hunkel could very well have been that leader of the Justice Society.

Instead of that pompous Hawkman!

Talk to you soon

I Bow Out of the Vic & Sade Bid-ness!

2011-07-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Y'all know I loves me some OTR and in particular Paul Rhymer's classic "Vic & Sade". I dig posting them here, too and hopefully hipping some folks to a show they may have never heard before, and have been doing so almost every Friday for a few months now.

However, there's not much I can add to what's already out there on the web and sometimes I feel I'm just recycling what a lot of hard-working folks haefv already done.

However!

There is a blog of force out there with a blogger with even more passion than I have, doing a better job than I of analyzing these shows and even doing some audio editing to highlight the brilliance of Paul Rhymer's glorious work...one of the funniest shows ever done for any medium.

So I'm bowing out of the regular "Vic & Sade" business and gladly as I redirect you Rhymer fans to "The Crazy World of Vic & Sade", just half way up on the next block. Give it a glance and let ol' Jimbo know what you think. I think it's pretty awesome.

As my bow out I'm givin' you a listen to the last 2 undated shows I have from 1940 and the last of my textual observations of the show. A look at the show from "Comedy" from 1980.

Enjoy!

I hope I grabbed a few new ears for this classic bit of comedy. I'm glad to see all the folks celebrating what worthwhile out there on the innerwebs!

There's plenty more worthwhile that I can write about, so...

I'll talk to you soon.

The GOLDEN AGE Red Tornado, That's Who! - All American Comics!

2011-07-28T06:28:00.000-07:00

Beating a dead horse? NO, just revelling in some pure Sheldon Mayer fun that we've been denied for 70 years or so with Ma Hunkel, the ORIGINAL Red Tornado, is all!

Here's "All American Comics" numbers 48 and 59.

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

That's Ma Hunkel to YOU - All American Comics - The Red Tornado!

2011-07-27T06:29:00.000-07:00

OK, see how out of practice I am? The Red Tornado stories I posted yesterday are completely out of order. The stories yesterday are from "All American Comics" issues #49 and #52.

Now to prove the old driving on ice, steer into the skid...I reckon I'll keep throwing them at ya this way. Here's RT from #38 and #46...THAT oughta flip ya!

Sheldon Mayer's li'l 4 pagers are fun no matter what!

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

All American Comics - "The Red Tornado"!

2011-07-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to get back to my drawing board, but I just can't get up the gumption of late. I don't want that to hold up my "A 'Slight' History of Golden Age Comic Book Super Heroes" attempt here, and what's more...I feel guilty when my blog goes dark for a day.

So forging ahead and trying to get the creative juices flowing, let's continue with the heroes in "All American Comics" and see what sparks in the old man's mind.

I've always had an affinity for the oddball characters. Not the ones blazing across the covers of books, but of the hard working stiffs wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy in the back pages. As a kid in the 1970's reading "The Justice League of America", whenever they would have crossovers with The Justice Society of America here would be references to forgotten heroes that I longed to see in action. Colorfully costumed and colorfully storied in their legends, some were only hinted at in "pinups" or in one panel flashbacks.

One of these was a character who popped up as a side character in a humor strip by Sheldon Mayer called "Scribbly", and with the popularity of super heroes in general, shortly took over the strip himself...er...HERself...

Ma Hunkel..."The Red Tornado"!

With the digital age of information upon us, I finally (after 40-some years) got to read a small batch of this feature.

I was NOT disapointed. I think I'll post them all here over the next few days.

I hope you dig Shelly's work as much as I do.

Talk to you soon...hopefully with my pen in hand, but 'til then these feel pretty good.

"Little Orphan Melvin" - Wally Wood - Mad Mondays!

2011-07-25T06:06:00.000-07:00

1954's Mad THE COMIC BOOK swooped in with a story that almost makes my head explode for all of my favorite things it contains. Wally Wood doing some fine dense comical work parodying one of my all time favorite comic strip, Harold Grey's "Little Orphan Annie"!

And he manages to squeeze one of his comically hot femmes in it by the end...what's NOT to like.

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies!

2011-07-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

Fetch the coffee and pastries, crawl back into bed, toss that New York Times Crossword Puzzle on the floor for the dog to do...and open up that splendiferous 4 color tabloid called the Sunday Funnies and start your day right!

Talk to you soon!

Captain America: The First Avenger!

2011-07-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

I just got back from seeing the new Captain America movie...

...it was pretty dang cool! "Inside Jeffy's Head Approved"!

The Avengers teaser trailer at the end is well worth the wait. too.

Talk to you soon.

Captain America and the Riddle of The Red Skull! - 1940!!!

2011-07-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

The day is upon us, kiddoes! "Captain America - the First Avenger" opens in multiplexes all across the country today! Here's hoping that they have made a fun picture that can dazzle the eye and tickle the mind, updating things where the passage of time has made necccessary, but not crapping all over the original work by artists and writers who have made the character what he is and what made him something that would inspire a film in the first place!

I will be there to see for myself tomorrow morning, but until then, from Timely Comics' "Captain America" issue #1 from 1940 - here's the first appearance of that rascally "Red Skull" as Joe Simon and Jack Kirby envisioned it all, 71 years ago!!

Enjoy!

I'll be back tomorrow for a mid-afternoon posting to let you know either, just how awesome the film is, or just how securely you can put your money back in your pocketbooks.

There are creative folks out there making these movies nowadays. We've come a long way from old guys in suits, without a clue and with tight wallets making the dung heap, media cross-overs in the 1970's and 1980's! But there are still business and marketing school graduates who hold influence over the final product.

I have hope creative folks will out.

Talk to you soon.

Captain America Meets the Nazis Head On!

2011-07-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

An epic story today, kiddoes! Captain America takes on supernatural Nazis and a magical chessboard in this whopping 16 pager from Timely Comics "Captain America" issue 1 from late 1940!!

Joe Simon and Jack Kirby jumped on this character like nobody's business and didn't hold back on nothin'!

I am just itchin' to check out the new movie that opens tomorrow. Word has it that there will be a special advance screening for attendees of this years San Diego Comi-Con today, but I won't be seeing it until Saturday. Until then...

Enjoy!

Come back tomorrow as the tension keep building...and the first appearance of THE RED SKULL!

Talk to you soon.

Captain America & Bucky Against All Eneimies of Liberty!

2011-07-20T06:26:00.001-07:00

Continuing the full posting of ALL 4 stories in the first issue of "Captain America", Bucky and Cap fight agaisnt all enemies of liberty!!!!

Cover dated March 1941, Timely's first issue of Captain America would have hit the stands at the end of 1940. The war in Europe taking most of the countries attention, even though we hadn't officially entered the war yet, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby knew where our hearts were.

And Timely Comics obviously understood as well. As I said yesterday it was HIGHLY unusual for any character to star in his own book in the golden age until he had proven his mettel (i.e. Superman, Batman, Green Lantern...) but I guess Cap came with some pretty good credentials.

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon!

"Meet Captain America" - issue 1 - 1940

2011-07-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

No, no...I'm not dead or in jail...just taking a brief respite from every day blogging...but I'm back!

Before I get back into my "A 'Slight' History of Golden Age Comic Book Super Heroes" though, I thought I'd add to the buildup to the "Captain America" movie being released this Friday. I have high hopes for this one. They did a great job with "Thor" and "Green Lantern" was kind of hit or miss, but I hope they do this golden age great right.

Unlike the bulk of Golden Age comics, Captain America didn't debut in an anthology book, but rather came full-born from the head of Zeus in his own book. From the genius of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, "Captain America" #1 hit the stands in late 1940 at Timely Comics...and the old boy's still doing well.

Here's the story that started it all.

Enjoy!

See ya tomorrow with more "Cap" from his debut issue!

"Bat Boy and Rubin!" - Wally Wood - Mad Mondays!

2011-07-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

In the annals of "Classic Mad Tales", here's one that stands out as a classic amongst classics. "Mad" the COMIC BOOK issue #8 from late 1953 contains none other than Wally Wood and Harvey Kurtzman's take on that iconc giant (even in 1953 I would think), Batman and Robin in...

..."Bat Boy and Rubin!"

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies!

2011-07-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, the Sunday Funnies. That perfect 4-color respite to sate your mind in a black and white world.

Enjoy!

From January 10, 1954, Al Capp's (assisted by Frank Frazetta) "Li'l Abner" and all the men of Dogpatch fall prey to The Wrecker. Mammy is confoosed, but all the men understand...

From February 28, 1926, Paw tries to enjoy the night life, but the cat's out to get him. Beautiful art deco stylings by Cliff Sterrett in "Polly and her Pals"...

From July 28, 1935...another wistful moonlit night in Kokonino Kounty...Krazy pines away.

From February 3, 1935. The Dragon Lady and other pirates keep Pat and Terry as jumping in Milton Caniff's "Terry and the Pirates"...and an American ship will lie in the balance...

Feels good to lounge with out newsprint friends on a lazy morning.

Now GET OUT THERE AND MOW THAT LAWN!

Or don't...

Talk to you soon.

"Hey Look!" - Harvey Kurtzman - Mad Mondays!

2011-07-11T06:10:00.000-07:00

Harvey Kurtzman leaves space for his own muscles to flex as another batch of "Hey Look!" strips graced the pages of late 1953's "Mad" the COMIC BOOK issue #8!

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies!

2011-07-10T05:59:00.000-07:00

Summer Sunday's...waiting for the "thunk!" of the Sunday paper hitting the screen door, running outdoors and unraveling the massive log of the news of the world! Unfolding the 4 color wrapper and tucking it under your arm as you deliver the boring ads, editorials and sports pages to the rest of the family and you race back to the front porch to splay the true treasures of the delivery out and plop onto your belly to get lost in it all!

A time before most of us remember...but all of us have fond feelings for. Re-live them NOW!

From January 3, 1954, Al Capp's world of Dogpatch continues to be plagued by the mysterious powers of "The Wrecker"! No one knows how her strange power over men works, but I think being drawn by Frank Frazetta has something to do with it!

February 21, 1926 Cliff Sterrett's art deco "Polly and Her Pals" finds Pa in a winter wonderland and a "topper" featuring "Damon and Pythias!

July 21, 1935, George Herriman's "Krazy Kat" get's Joe Stork in trouble...and if I'm not mistaken, that may be Herriman in the first panel instigating the whole thing!

January 27, 1935 and in Milton Caniff's "Terry and the Pirates", Terry Lee and Pat Ryan find themselves jumping from the frying pan into the fire as they're captured from the pirate junk by...you guessed it...pirates!

Talk to you soon.

"The Lone Stranger Rides Again!" - Jack Davis - Mad Mondays!

2011-07-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

1953 and "Mad" the COMIC BOOK #8 brought us Jack Davis and Harvey Kurtzman's follow up to their Lone Ranger parody from issue 3. "The Lone Stranger Rides Again"!

Nuff said...

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies!

2011-07-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

Sunday Morning Funnies without the newsprint getting all over yer fingers!

Al Capp's (with a little assist from Frank Frazetta) "Li'l Abner" from December 27, 1953! "The Wrecker" is in the eye of the beholder...

Cliff Sterrett's "Polly and her Pals" from February 14, 1924. Pa and Ma disagree about a few ashes...

George Herriman's "Krazy Kat" from July 14, 1935! Ignatz gives Offisa Pup the "high hat"!

Milton Caniff's "Terry and the Pirates" from January 20, 1935! Poisoned tea, cannon blasts, fire and sinking ships!! Terry and Pat really had somem adventures!

Talk to you soon.

"Frank N. Stein" - Will Elder - Mad Mondays!

2011-06-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Harvey Kurtzman & Co.'s "Mad" the COMIC BOOK was showing no sign of slowing down as issue #8 hit the newstands in late 1953!

Kurtzman's first story of the issue with able assist by the king of "chicken fat" hisself, Will Elder, was their take on the sci-fi/horror classic "Frankenstein". This has no shortage of the afformentioned "chicken fat" so grab a spoon and dig in!

Only the fershlugginers at Mad could do a story of a Hitler-headed, bird-brained monster back from the dead in 1953.

What? Too soon?

I didn't think so.

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies!

2011-06-26T06:12:00.000-07:00

Start your day the 4-color way!

Al Capp's "Li'l Abner" (with a little help from Frank Frazetta, yet!) from December 20, 1953. The Wrecker is jest a innercent li'l lamb...Mammy thinks!

Cliff Sterrett's "Polly and her Pals" from February 7, 1924! High finance real estate investment in the jazz age...

George Herriman's "Krazy Kat" from July 7, 1935! Mrs. Marihuana Pelona introduces Krazy to the Mexican pancake...

Milton Caniff's "Terry and the Pirates" from January 13, 1935! The "Lucretia Borgia" of the south seas!

Talk to you soon.

"Hank Gutstop Gets a Job" and "Ice Cream & Salted Peanuts"

2011-06-24T06:11:00.000-07:00

OTR Friday at last! And a couple of undated episodes from 1940 of Paul Rhymer's "Vic & Sade" to make it feel like the weekend's here!

First up, there's big commotion in the house as Sade's greatest bane, Hank Gutstop hits Vic up for $200 for anew wardrobe for his new job...choir member at the Ellsworth Street Church. Rush would gladly leave the conversation if only he had 9 cents.

Enjoy!

Next up, a gaggle of Rush's friends gather 'round the house close to midnight waiting for the Husher's party to end, with the promise of being offered any ice cream and salted peanuts that are left over. A cast of thousands and but 2 speaking parts. Rhymer's genius at work.

Enjoy!

And finally, here's that part 2 of the Vic & Sade chapter from the 1979 book, Radio Comedy that I promised you 2 weeks ago. It's a page turner!

Talk to you soon.

Intermission

2011-06-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

Honest, I'm NOT dead!

"A 'Slight' History of the Golden Age of Comic Book Super Heroes" WILL resume as soon as I get back into the groove after my brief vacation to Montana, to celebrate my sister's retirement.

The vacation didn't mess me up, it's getting back into the work deal.

Something about me just refuses to get used to working.

I'd better get over it.

Sister's soooooooooooooooo lucky.

Talk to you soon.

"Smilin' Melvn!" - Wally Wood - Mad Mondays!

2011-06-20T05:54:00.000-07:00

You know...I may do some more digging and see what all I can find. If I hadn't already started this "Mad Monday's thingie, I would do a "Wood Wednesday". There's NOTHING I don't like about this guys stuff!

Not to worry though, our last story from "Mad" the COMIC BOOK #7 from 1953 is a dandy Wally Wood and Harvey Kurtzman collaboration. They take on classic comic strip (and by this time movie serial hero) "Smilin' Jack" with their own "Smilin' Melvin!".

Dig in!

Up next week: You guessed it, Mad #8!

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies!

2011-06-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday 4 Color Sunday, kiddoes!

Dig into the fun!

Al Capp's "Li'l Abner" from December 13, 1953..."The Wrecker" rears her pretty head...

Cliff Serrett's "Polly & her Pals" from January 31, 1924, Pa's attack cat...

George Herriman's "Krazy Kat" from June 29, 1935, Bennie Banana has missed his way...

Milton Caniff's "Terry & the Pirates" from January 6, 1935, Pat and Terry enjoy captivity?

Talk to you soon.

In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night...!

2011-06-17T06:13:00.000-07:00

No evil shall escape my sight,
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power...Green Lantern's light!

That's right, Kiddoes! It's super-hero movie time again!

Tomorrow the big screen adaptation of DC Comics' silver age version of "The Green Lantern" drops all over the place...and yes, I'll be there!

The silver age of comics began at DC. Julius Schwartz had begun reviving the then-dormant super hero genre in 1956 when he reimagined one of DC's heroes of the golden age "The Flash" in the pages of a comic called "Showcase". It was such a success, Schwartz decided to make lightning strike twice, by borrowing another retired hero "The Green Lantern" and bringing him into the Eisenhauer era.

This "Green Lantern" was scientific in nature as opposed to the original more mystic and magic origins, this "Green Lantern" was a cosmic policeman who patroled the galaxy righting wrongs and fighting evil. Ace test pilot Hal Jordan was a man without fear and was chosen as an agent of the "Gaudians of the Universe" on the planet Oa and charged with patroling "space sector 2814".
You'll learn all of this when you see the movie unless you had a proper education and you know it already. I'm looking forward to the movie. The trailers I've seen have won me over, despite my original aprehension at the thought of Ryan "Possibly the Worlds Loudest Douche-Bag" Reynolds, being cast in a role where douche-baggery isn't an option.

For now, here's the very first appearance of Green Lantern in the September-October issue #22 of "Showcase". Written by John Broome and drawn by the mighty Gil Kane!

Enjoy!

Kicks right off with the origin story!

Comics of the 50's and 60's and somewhat into the 70's had neat little educational features like this. I miss them...

Not wasting any time, Hal crashes into another adventure!

More stuff to make us smart between super-hero stories. Good stuff!

And then Hal kicks butt again!

I'm off to buy candy to smuggle into the movies.

Talk to you soon.

"Hey Look!" - Harvey Kurtzman - Mad Mondays!

2011-06-13T06:46:00.000-07:00

Mad THE COMIC BOOK #7 from 1953 has an omission which would be glaring, if not for what took it's place. It's got the usual four stories all written by Harvey Kurtzman and drawn by Bill Elder, John Severin and Wally Wood...but no Jack Davis! That doesn't stop the multi talented Kurtzman from filling the comic.

If you've been digging his covers, just check out Kurtzman's "Hey, Look!". One page comic vignettes by a true master.

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

"Letter from Aunt Bess" and "Howard Gets a New Harness"!

2011-06-10T06:18:00.000-07:00

OTR Friday's BACK with a couple of Sade-centric shows from Paul Rhymer's Vic & Sade!

Up first a show from December 23, 1940 which shows Sade at her understated funniest when she discovers a letter from her sister Bess, unopened in a suit pocket of Vic's. Unopened since August 9, 1937...3 1/2 years. Sade is heartbroken and tells her family of her shame as she reads the letter from Carbury, Illinois aloud. Though it's 3 1/2 years old, Vic and Rush are nearly able to recite along as Bess' message gives all the news every dang one of her letters give, including that "Uncle Walter's kneecap has lightened up considerable on the twinges" and Eucie's progress on the piano. It sounds depressing when it's described, kind of like real life, but it'll make you laugh out loud when you hear it first hand. Kind of like real life.

Enjoy!

Next, from DEcember 31, 1940, Sade is worried that the new harness given to Howard, Mr. Gumpox the trash man's horse, may have been given anonymously by her Uncle Fletcher.

Really? That should be MORE than enough f=to get you to want to listen...it does me.

Enjoy!

Here's a chapter of the 1979 book "Radio Comedy" which takes a long hearty look at our favorite family. This is a full-fledged book chapter and not just an article, so here's part one, I'll post part two next week. It's a good read.

Talk to you soon.

All American Comics - "The Mighty Atom"!

2011-06-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

"A 'Slight' History of Golden Age Comic Book Super Heroes" look at the heroes of All American (DC) 's "All American Comics" continues, as I present "The Mighty Atom"!

"The Atom" of the golden age was 19 year old Calvin College student Al Pratt, runty little guy (5' 1") who was put upon by everyone. Rather than get all pissy about it or develope a Napoleon complex, he devoted some time to honing his mind and his body to be the best he could be. Not to seek revenge of bullies, but to help defend all the other underdogs out there who needed someone to stand up for them.

He had no super powers, except that he was a good upstanding fella who wanted to make good. Not a bad person to exemplify if you ask me, and when you clicked on this h'yar blog you kind of did.

Premiering in "All-American Comics" #19 in 1940, The Atom lasted as a feature until the end of the run and in "All Star Comics" (we'll get to it, be patient dear reader) he was a charter member of The Justice Society of America and lasted with the team until their last appearance in 1951, the end of the golden age. In fact, other than Hawkman (we're GETTING there! Calm down!) appeared in more of the JSA's adventures than any other member.

The Atom has since been retconned into having some super powers, but I'll get more into my tirade about fan-boy comic book "writers" trashing whatever came before them to their own ends another time, for now it's time to check out The Atom in his very first appeareance by Bill Flinton and Bill O'Conner.

Enjoy!

Meantime...it seems our little hero has heard there's free beer at "Ye Olde Drink Hole" for anyone who wants to earn it, so he's horning in on Doiby (Green Lantern's pal( Dickles' stage space...

Talk to you soon.

All American Comics - "Dr. Mid-Nite"!

2011-06-08T06:29:00.000-07:00

Today's featured hero in my "A 'Slight' History of Golden Age Comic Book Super Heroes" is All American (DC) 's "Dr. Mid-Nite"!

Making his first appearance in "All American Comics" #25 in 1941, and created by Charles Reizenstein and Stanley Joseph Aschmeier (how much crap did that guy get from his school-mates for THAT name?), Dr. Midnight ran right up until the end of tha comics run and as a member of the Justice Society of America in "All Star Comics" until 1952, the end of the Golden Age.

Dr.Charles McNider, skilled surgeon and general practicioner, is striken blind in...ah what the heck, here's that very origin story of how Dr. Mid-Nite began writing prescriptions against crime in a reprint from "All American" #25. Back in the early 1970's DC was big on publishing the comics as big 80 and 100 page spectaculars with the anchor story being a new feature, but the remainder being reprints from it's vast catalogue. It served as a great introduction to green horns like me to forgotten heroes. Doc Mid-Nite's reprints in giant sized "Detective Comics" was always one of my favorites and I dug his costume the most!

Dig in!

Meanwhile...Doiby (Green Lantern's pal) Dickles is still shakin' his money maker for free beers at "Ye Olde Drink Hole". Of all the "witnesses", Dr. Mid-Nite has a distinct advantage...

Talk to you soon.

All American Comics - "The Green Lantern"!

2011-06-07T05:28:00.000-07:00

Adrift in the sea of my "A 'Slight' History of Golden Age Comic Book Super Heroes", we sail past "Action Comics" and "Adventure Comics" both from National (DC) Periodicals, and onto All American's flagship title "All American Comics"!

This part's a little confusing, you see All American and National Periodical were sister companies, sharing some of the same owners and...well...even sharing the same characters. By 1945 (still in the thick of the Golden Age) they officially merged, so for the duration of my "slight history" I will be referring to them as one and the same. Only some lawyers pen separaes them anyway.

All-American Comics hit the stands in April 1939. Another great anthology book of the periiod, sporting lots of different types of features, it's first anchor strip was "Gary Concord, the Ultra Man"!

Don't let the title fool you, Gary Concord was just another Buck Rodgers knock-off, and the "Ultra Man" subtitles was a little ploy to capture the new Superman crowd. The first real and lasting star of the book was "The Green Lantern"!

NOT the Green Lantern that is soon to be hitting movie screens, that's the silver age Green Lantern, I'm talkiing about the original power ring wearer, Alan Scott!

Created in 1940 by Bill Finger and Martin Nordell, he would wear the ring all throughout the golden age (and even a little beyond).

I've hit on this Green Lantern once before and even posted his origina story from All American #16 here. This Green Lantern's power ring, was just like his better known successor, powered by the wearers will power. Alan Scott's ring was more magical in nature than the sci-fi version of years to come. With it Scott could walk through walls, read people's' minds and all sorts of stuff.

He was ably assisted for a good chunk of his carreer, not by a kid costumed side-kick like so many of his contemporaries, but by a street-tough Gotham City cab driver named "Doiby" Dickles. Why he had a Brooklyn accent in Gotham I can only guess.

"Doiby" was dumb as a stump but loyal and true as all get out.

And here's a little Green Lantern story highlighting our forgotten helper of the golden age of comics, from "All American Comics" #46.

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

"Treasure Island" - John Severin - Mad Mondays!

2011-06-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

It seems the first half of "Mad" the comic book #7 from 1953 had a distinct literary flavor. First up was Harvey Kurtzman and Bill Elder's take on Sherlock Holmes and next up comes Kurtzman and John Severin's take on that grand adventure tale "Treasure Island". The wonderful thing about parody, their Mad-ist title for this little story is..."Treasure Island".

Love that cameo by their jungle hero "Melvin" on the splash page.

Enjoy!

Oh, by the by. Today is my second anniversary doing this blog and emptying the contents of my head. I still don't know what I'm doing here, but I sure am having fun. A big thank you to all the regular readers and to those who just stop by now and then. Especially to all the commentors, that really makes it fun for me.

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies - From Across the Decades to Make Your Day Brighter!

2011-06-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

If the humor don't get you, the adventure, continuity, characterization, skilled cartooning and writing will. All in brilliant 4 color eye-candy!

Read ON!

Al Capp's "Li'l Abner" from December 6, 1953. The fear of "The Wrecker's" coming is spreading!! No husband kin be trusted!!

Cliff Sterrett's "Polly and Her Pals" from January 24, 1926. And you thought it was tough getting rid of your E-waste! They had their own disposal problems in the Jazz age.

George Herriman's "Krazy Kat" from June 22, 1935. We're always hurt by the one's we love. I'm sure that Jose Cuervo ad on that building is in no way to blame.

Milton Caniff's "Terry and the Pirates" from Dcember 30, 1934. Pat and Terry's escape is foiled!

Feels like Sunday to me!

Talk to you soon.

X-Men - the FIRST First Class!

2011-06-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

This summer is a windfall for comic book geeks everywhere at the movies. Thor, The X-Men, Green Lantern and Captain America are all up on the silver screen before the summer is even half-way through.

In that interest I'm taking a break from this week's "OTR Friday" with Vic & Sade, but be sure to check in next week for more of some of the finest comedy ever produced. I'm also taking a break from "A 'Slight' History of Golden Age Comic Book Super Heroes" to jump up to the Silver Age, because today "X-Men: the First Class" is hitting the big screen today!

This is probably the one comic book movie I'll wait to see when the Bue Ray/DVD release comes and won't venture to the cinemaplex. The X-Men movies are fun and all, but the characters in this glimpse back to the beginnings of the X-Men will feature a ret-conning of the original graduates from Professor Xavier's school for mutants and besides, I can only take so much scowling from twenty-something models/actors? and prefer to save my $12 bucks for other things.

The X-Men (the proper comic book version) debuted in the 1963 first issue of their own title from Marvel comics. Even though that was the year I was being born, I'd have loved to be at graduation. If only because that would be my only chance to ever meet Jean "Marvel Girl" Grey.

Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, it was another blast beginning the Marvel Age of comics. It's worth taking a look back at the original, even as the fan-boy movie makers do their revamp.

Dig in!

There you hav it, from 1963, the original band of misfits and outcasts led by a pretty smart guy in a wheelchair teaching them how to be heroes. I can see it now, a dark small apartment in 1963 Manhattan. Stan Lee says, "Let's do something with the letter 'X' in it!", then Jack Kirby flushes it out to a full-fledged idea and draws the bejeesus out of it turning it into a work of art, then Stan says, "I sure comes up with some great stuff!" and slaps his name on it. Ah the romantic days.

But you know, there's a little connundrum in the old comic book history books. Right across town at DC, they released a new team of heroes that very same month in 1963. A band of super powered misfits and outcasts led by a pretty smart guy in a wheelchair. Hmmmm?

Maybe someday I'll get a Doom Patrol movie. sigh.

Talk to you soon.

Adventure Comics - Final!

2011-06-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

More of "A 'Slight' History of Golden Age Comic Book Super Heroes" and the end of my Adventure Comics look.

It wasn't really the end of Adventure Comics in the golden age. By 1945 or so, paper shortages and changes in comic reader's tastes away from super heroes caused a change at National (DC) Periodicals. Over at "More Fun Comics" the format was changing to a humor format, so the heroes that now inhabited those pages made a mass exodus over to Adventure and teh Adventure Heroes were laid to rest (or at least in Sandman and Starman's cases to their adventures with the Justice Society of America over in All Star Comics.

I'll reserve my look at these later additions to Adventure Comics, when I get to More Fun Comics since that's where they originated...I have to have SOME semblance of order, no matter how loose.

So for now, here are the heroes that made Adventure Comics great.

That's a mess of star power. Those old anthology books with this many heroes (and more fun features) cramming 64 pages of 4 color goodness each and every month for one thin dime must have been pretty awesome!

Meanwhile, back at "Ye Olde Drink Hole"...

Talk to you soon.

Adventure Comics - "Manhunter"!

2011-05-31T06:27:00.000-07:00

Next up in my "A 'Slight' History of Golden Age Comic Books" look at the heroes of National (DC) Periodical's "Adventure Comics" is a lesser known character in the DC universe, but oddly enough, one that's been used more than you might think, "The Manhunter"!

The feature "Paul Kirk, Manhunter" began in Adventure #58 (1940), but he wasn't a costumed adventurer as we're spotlighting here, but rather an investigator who helped the police with tough cases. Running around in a suit and a tie stopping the bad-guys like so many in the early golden age.

In issue #72 however, he got a make-over courtesy of the great Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and a snazzy red and blue outfit with a very unusual full face mask, and became "The Manhunter"! Um...kind of... The character's name was now Rick Nelson and NOT Paul Kirk...until 2 issues later in #74 when they changed his name back, but kept the costume and new feats of heroic derring-do!

Simon and Kirby only stayed with the character until #80 and the character fell to other staffers. I don't have any of the Kirby stories from this era, but here's a couple of cool Kirby Adventure Comics covers I did latch on to!

And even one without the funky mask!

The feature only lasted until #92, when wartime paper shortages cut back the magazine from 64 pages to 52 and the character wasn't seen again until he was ret-conned by Kirby himself in the early 70's during the bronze Age of comics, and that's not what we're talking about here, now is it.

Here's the only golden age Manhunter story I have, done by an unknown artist and writer. Still good stuff though, and a rare glimpse into this little used character with a cool mask.

Enjoy!

Meanwhile in the back room at "Ye Olde Drink Hole"...

Talk to you soon.

"Shermlock Shomes" - Bill Elder - Mad Mondays!

2011-05-30T06:23:00.000-07:00

"Mad COMIC BOOK Mondays" rolls right along and issue #7 hit the stands in 1953 with this sexy and funny cover by Harvey Kurtzman...

Opening the issue was a spoof of Sherlock Holmes by Kurtzman and the fantabulous Bill/Will "Chicken Fat" Elder, hisself. Remember, anyone who reads an Elder story just once is cheating himself...the nooks and crannies are filled with all sorts of comic genius. Read on and enjoy!

Sheer brilliance.

Talk to you soon.

Sunday Funnies

2011-05-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Get back under them covers with a cup o' hot joe! It's time for 4 color Sunday Funnies!

Al Capp's "Li'l Abner" from November 29, 1953. The gals o' Dogpatch vs. "The Wrecker"! No husband kin be trusted!!

Cliff Sterrett's "Polly and Her Pals" from January 17, 1926. Pa and hard cider, Pa and hard cider.

George Herriman's "Krazy Kat" from June 15, 1935. Offica Pup's "cents of yuma" is put to the test.

Milton Caniff's "Terry and the Pirates" from December 23, 1934. Pat Ryan and Terry take a dive!

And this is what it was like when the comics pages were filled by people who could write and draw. Jim Davis will smoke a turd in Hell for every installment of "Garfield" he inflicted upon us.

Talk to you soon.

Moe Yoe Sirocco Comic Strip Figurines - Unca Jeffy's Toy Box

2011-05-28T09:41:00.001-07:00

Happy Saturday and time for another dive into Unca Jeffy's Toy Box -

Here's some more of those nifty sirocco statuettes celebrating classic comic strip characters, sculpted by Craig Yoe Stodios, hand painted and numbered and distributed by Dark Horse Comics.

Here's Uncle Walt Wallet and orphaned Skeezix from Frank King's "Gasoline Alley"...

Chester Gould's iconic hard boiled detective, "Dick Tracy"...

Chic Young's "Blondie"...sigh...how'd Dagwood get so lucky?...

Lee Falk's "Mandrake the Magician", one of the forerunners of comic book super heroes (and as we'll see in the comig weeks and months in "A 'Slight' History of Golden Age Comic Book Super Heroes", direct inspiration for at least a score of said heroes)...

And Billy DeBeck's original little ne'er-do-well, "Barney Google"...

More of these to come. I really think they're 9 kinds of cool!

Talk to you soon.

"H.K. Fleeber's 48 Teeth" and "Lifetime Pass to the Bijou Talkin' Picture Show"!

2011-05-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

Happy OTR Friday and another visit to the small house half-way up on the next block with Paul Rhymer's Vic & Sade".

First up, from an unknown day in December 1940, Vic suffers writer's block as he's asked to write an article for "Kitchen-ware Dealer's Quarterly". Rhymer's signaure names come a-plenty in this episode and sucks you into his world, a world I'd love to live in...and I think I did as a child in Montana.

The subject of Vic's article is to be H.K Fleeber from Grovelman, South Carolina who works at Plant #18, and his personal accomplishment of having an artificial tooth in his head from every state in the union (that's 48 teeth and quite a mouthful). Editor's T.J. Giggs and G. Tillman Feeb asked Vic to write this article and the patriarch of our favorite family dreams of doing a good job in the hopes that he'll be asked to become a regular contributor like J. Richard Sickbrain who write poetry for the magazine. Eventually Sade and Rush decide to leave Vic alone in his frustration and go see the picture at The Bijou. Gloria Golden and Four-Fisted Frank Fuddleman starring in "I Shall Love Thee Evermore, Lieutenant Corporal Glush!".

Dang this is good stuff! Enjoy!

Next up is December 17, 1940. Sade's perplexed as to the whys and wherefors of the Miller Park Zoo squandering their money on a new baboon named Leser, while Rush has a scheme to draw $50 (1940 dollars, mind you) from his savings account to buy a lifetime pass to "The Bijou Talking Picture Theatre".

Full of Sadisms that make my mother's voice ring in my brain, she tells Rush he's "as transparent as a horse" in his intentions, that he's "full of axel grease and peach butter" in his pitching of the idea and that he'd squander his hard earned money as fast as "send his undershirt to Detroit, Michigan parcel post".

Ah, the flavors and smells you can get from words when a real writer is at work. Enjoy!

Our visual treat this week is more text than anything and a little lengthy, but very worthwhile for any fan of this series. From 1979 and "The Journal of Popular Culture" (something tells me I want every dang issue of this thing) Volume 12, part 2 - Fred Schroeder's very in-depth look back at the series.

Seriously...where do I find the entire library of this thing?

Enjoy!

Talk to you soon.

Adventure Comics - "The Shining Knight"!

2011-05-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

Next up in my "A 'Slight' History of Golden Age Comic Book Super Heroes" look at the heroes of National (DC) Peridocals "Adventure Comics, is "The Shining Knight".

The Shining Knight made his debut in the September 1941 issue #66 of Adventure and was created by Crieg Flessel. A knight in King Arthur's court of Camelot and member of the legendary Knights of the Round Table, Sir Justin was battling an ice ogre, when he fell into a crevass and was frozen solid, only to be preserved until scientists in 1941 found him and thawed him out. In one little nap, he went from battling dragons and ogres in merry old England, to fighting the dreaded Hun and evil Niponese scurge of World War II!

Oh, I forgot to mention. During his tenure at Camelot, he was rewarded for his bravery and steadfastness by Merlin the Magician and endowed with magic bullet-proof chain mail, an enchanted sword which could cut through any material and his horse Victory was given wings.

Hitler never had a chance.

Here's Sir Justin in a 1945 exploit from Adventure Comics #101. It has a little flash back to his origin, and shows some nice insight into Sir Justin's private life, working as a shlub in a museum to hide his gallant true self, and being taught the ways of the 20th century by a kindly old curator.

It really is a fun little story. Enjoy!

Meanwhile, in case you were concerned, Jeffy's Angels have lent the back-room of "Ye Olde Drink Hole out to a little Super-Hero-Elixir-aholic support group. Let's wish Roger Ramjet, Underdog, Hourman and Super Chicken all the best.

Talk to you soon.