Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine was retired on December 31, 2019. I fully intended for it to be permanent. It’s now been six months, filled with a whole lot of distractions and things going on, and me, Pappy, twiddling my thumbs while the world we all knew has come crashing in on us. Since this is a worldwide problem I am doing what I have done all my life during troubled times, hide out and hope things get better before getting much worse. To keep myself distracted I went through files of comics I never posted on this blog during its original run. My plan, such as it is, will be to post once a week on Sundays during the summer of 2020, giving you, also, a brief distraction from worldly woes.
First up is a comic book I added to my collection in 1980, Vic Torry and His Flying Saucer, a 1950 one-shot from Fawcett Publications. It is drawn by Bob Powell and his studio, who did their usual excellent job. It was written by Fawcett editor Roy Ald. I am usually not a fan of photographs on comic book covers, but I admit the composite cover is eye-catching.
As always, I have a few gripes, and one is how did Vic get his girlfriend in on his test flight of a new jet aircraft.
Ultimately, the handsome American and his beautiful blonde girlfriend triumph. Oops, was that a spoiler? Sorry.
As a lifelong comic book, novels and movie fan, it feels to me that what we are all experiencing now is science fiction, but it’s real science, no fiction. My wish is that you and your loved ones are well. My hope is that we all survive the pandemic and come out on the other side to rebuild our lives, and the whole planet, if possible. Be smart, and above all, be safe.
Hello, Pappy!
ReplyDeleteI welcome your return, and hope that it will be a happy one for you!
I think that this story is best treated as essentially a fairy tale. The hero and a companion are taken, like Dorothy and Toto, to a strange land. There, they confront and overcome a wicked and powerful person, relieving the people of the strange land. Then the hero and companion return home.
Given various of their actions, Vic and Laura were not the brightest folk that Earth had to offer, but the Mercurian mentality also left a lot to be desired, as when Umlac reasoned that the Earthlings must be telling the truth because Shavv would not have entrusted a message to his enemies.
I notice that you posted 36 images, which would come to exactly 9 sheets, with no advertisements amongst them. I also note that there isn't an ordinary magazine indicia on any of these images.
Wellcome back, sir. You were sincerely missed. I've found countless comics I'd never read thanks to your efforts here. Hope that when the leaves start to fall from the trees, and Halloween comes closer, you'll consider keeping around until October has rolled by, and then just a bit more until Christmas and.... well, you get my meaning.
ReplyDeleteNice to see your posts again, with whatever frequency.
ReplyDeleteI dig Vic - always great to see him getting some love.
ReplyDeleteAnd a fine way to see you return, too!
Daniel, Sherman, Gene and -3-, thank you for the notes. It makes the backaches from sitting at my desktop worthwhile. When I think I used to spend hours a day at this endeavor. If nowadays I can get in an hour at a sitting I feel fortunate. That's why I decided I could not go back to the 3-a-week schedule I maintained for years (and before 4-a-week.) All my best, Pappy
ReplyDeleteDaniel, the indicia is on the first page, just a one-liner. That's all, which is unlike Fawcett, a company which usually published a full indicia. I assume in those days of the comic book business they could afford to publish a one-shot, with no ads, because the sales were probably high enough. Fawcett, which also published mainstream magazines, had excellent distribution, no doubt.
I had not thought of comparing it to the Wizard of Oz, but it is an apt analogy.
I kept Pappy's bookmarked and check it every once and awhile, hoping against hope ... and BAM.
ReplyDeleteGreat Powell work, nice sci-fi art, jets, and your regular square jawed action hero who leaves many, many explosions in his wake.
Glad you're back, Pappy. I discovered the blog a short while back and have slowly been making my way through the archives. Please know there must be many more like me who enjoy what you've done without having the courtesy to occasionally comment.
ReplyDeleteYehhhhhhh!!!! Thank you Pappy!
ReplyDeleteSo happy you are posting again! Yours is an important site, so thank you for your efforts!
ReplyDeleteBrian, Arben, RickH, Saxophone, thank you for your support. It means a lot to me. I'm not sorry I took the long break, because I needed it. But it is nice to be back.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see you are back!!
ReplyDeleteReally missed you and your' wit and wisdom as well!
This Fawcett comic was one of a bunch I picked up at a used bookstore in the 60's for a nickle apiece....I loved it then and I love it now!
Post when you're comfortable with it ...but just realize lots of us out here in cyberland really appreciate you!
Flash, you said "Post when you're comfortable with it..." which I will definitely do. So far I am able to maintain a weekly posting, but right now what I have prepared is just through the end of August. Ain't gettin' any younger! I limit my time looking at a screen. It helps that Mrs Pappy and I have been housebound during the pandemic, and now she has gone back to volunteer work, so I have a lot of time on my hands. Thanks for your note and well wishes.
ReplyDeleteVic Torry for a nickel? Yow. I would consider that a definite score.