Number 2405: Flash, Dale and Dr Zarkov after the war

We are given a timeline in the splash panel for this Flash Gordon story. The first line of the caption tells us it is just after World War II. Flash, Dale and Dr Zarkov have returned to Earth from the planet Mongo to find our species has developed powerful weapons that can destroy the planet. It is a reminder to us that it has been almost 3/4 of a century since nuclear bombs were used in war, and hopefully it will never happen again. We have been living under that threat ever since.

That aside, the comic book today’s story comes from, Flash Gordon #1, was published in 1966 by King Features Syndicate, which had published the character in its newspaper comics lineup since the 1930s. It had affected the life of young artist, Al Williamson, while growing up, and helped inspire him to a career both in newspaper comics and newsstand comic books. The late Williamson usually worked with other people on his comics, and in this story of an undersea kingdom Roy G. Krenkel helped by drawing the architecture of the underground city of “Krenkelium.” Despite what I read as something of a worn science fiction concept, people living underground, I believe the artwork saves it.

Number 2328: The Maid of Mars is so hot sssshe ssssizzles!

A few weeks ago I showed a story drawn by Al Williamson I believe was intended for Buster Crabbe (the comic book), and sold instead to another publisher, where Buster was re-named Captain Comet. (Go to Pappy’s Number 2314 for that post.) Today I am featuring a genuine Buster Crabbe story, “Maid of Mars,” with art by Al Williamson and Roy Krenkel, as identified by the Grand Comics Database.

Martians apparently look just like human beings, but as the Maid tells Buster, they have no phonetic language. Instead, their vocals sound like sssssnakesss hissssssing. Despite the fact that the Maid speaks English to Buster and his old pal, Whiskers, which she learned from Earth’s radio, a sentence from her to one of her fellow Martians on page 8 is “SSS SS SS SS SSSSS!!”

Because she is a woman, and Buster is a man of considerable charms, she falls for him. She helps Buster and Whiskers, and the whole human race, avoid the fate intended by the Martians. The story is from Buster Crabbe #5 (1952), published by Famous Funnies, and given some extra prominence with its ssssnazzy cover by Frank Frazssssetta.

Number 1861: Otherworldly Tales: “I, Rocket”

We are ending February and beginning the month of March with three stories in a theme week I call Otherworldly Tales. These are science fiction tales set in space or in the case of Friday’s offering, on Mars.

First up is an EC adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s classic 1944 short story, “I, Rocket,” which first appeared in the May, 1944 issue of Amazing Stories, told from the point of view of the rocket ship. Al Williamson signed the artwork, which also shows contributions (sans signatures) from Frank Frazetta and Roy Krenkel. Editor Al Feldstein did the adaptation. It was published in Weird Fantasy #20 (1953).

I am showing it in the form of the scans made by those wonderful folks at Heritage Auctions. It gives us all a chance to study the techniques used by the artists. Heritage sold the entire story in 2003 for a winning bid of $16,675.00.

Ray Bradbury’s original text version of “I, Rocket” can be read on the Amazing Stories website. Just click on the thumbnail.

Number 1639: Who were the Fleagles?

The Fleagle Gang was a nickname reportedly given to Al Williamson and friends by Harvey Kurtzman. Al's “Fleagles” could be Frank Frazetta, Roy Krenkel, Angelo Torres, and other artists who pitched in. This story, for instance, from Blast-Off #1 (1965), a one-shot from Harvey Comics, has Williamson assisted by Roy Krenkel. Krenkel drew really great buildings.

The Fleagle Gang was named after a real-life criminal group led by brothers Jake and Ralph Fleagle. The Williamson-led Fleagle Gang is well thought of by comics fans, but the gang of Ralph and Jake has been mostly forgotten. It was one of several outlaw bank robber gangs of that period in American history. At least one opinion I read said that the name “Fleagle” may have led to the gang being dismissed by crime buffs. I think the name has a certain ring to it, but is comical enough that it makes it hard to take serious.

This version of the Fleagle’s downfall (a single fingerprint did them in) is fairly close to what I’ve read of the gang’s history. It is from Choice Comics #1 (1941), a short-lived comic produced by the Iger Shop. The artist and writer of “G-Men Vs. Crime” are unknown. It is one of a variety of features in Choice Comics covering different subjects (including Kangaroo Man, a hero who teams up with, you guessed it, a kangaroo). But in style and tone it fits in with what Charles Biro did a few months later when Crime Does Not Pay was introduced.

Number 962


Dying to be loved


Al Williamson, Roy Krenkel, and I think I see some Frank Frazetta in here, too, did this story for ACG's Forbidden Worlds #5 under the name "Roy G. Williams." The poor joker in the story has to run his car into a tree to find his true love. That's asking a lot of a guy.

The 1952 strip isn't perfect; the printing was pretty terrible, and maybe some of the flourishes Williamson liked to put into his panels suffer as a result of the crappy job the printer did. Al had no control over what third parties did to his pages. Despite that I love looking at his art. He died last year after devoting his life to the comics. He really loved them, and he didn't have to run his car into a tree to show that love.