Number 276


At Midnight all cats are gray…


Midnight, a Spirit lookalike, was drawn by artist Paul Gustavson. This particular story was published in Quality's Smash Comics #46, September 1943.

As much as I admire Gustavson's style, I wonder where the editor was when he turned in his artwork. He should've handed him a book on animals and said, "This is a cat. Draw it like this." I think cats in Warner Bros cartoons look more realistic than Gustavson's.

The cover, with a cat that looks like a cat, is by Alex Kotzky, who later went on to draw the successful syndicated comic strip, Apartment 3-G.

Number 275


Don't shake the family tree


This short-short story from Atlas Comics' Uncanny Tales #7, published in 1953, is by Larry Woromay, an artist who went from comics into fine art. He died last year. These are a couple of paintings from his web site:




The story, "The Witch of Landor," is scanned from a reprint in Marvel Comics' Chamber of Chills #15, from 1975. Karswell ran a story here, done in an imitation Jack Davis style, which one of the comments identified as being by Woromay. Could be. I haven't seen enough of Woromay's work to know, but it's a great Jack Davis rip-off, whoever did it.

Based on "Witch of Landor," which is full of moody panels and artwork, I'd like to see more by Woromay in his own style.

"Landor" teaches one thing, and that is be careful when shaking your family tree. You just never know what will fall out of the branches.

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HAPPY ST PAT'S DAY!

Here's my contribution to this day, a Lucky Charms ad from 1964, scanned from Sad Sack #157, from 1964. Baby Boomers will remember the Leprechaun and Lucky Charms commercials from television in the early 1960s. The artwork is by Bill Williams. I have a story written by John Stanley and drawn by Bill Williams coming up very soon.

In the meantime, hoist a green ale for Pappy.

Number 274


Walt Kelly's Cave Kid


"Kandi The Cave Kid" is by Walt Kelly, and is a good example of his early comic book work. It appeared in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Comics #5, from 1942. The racial characterizations are crude and unfortunate but the strip is a product of its times.

Kelly's artwork showed up a lot in the 1940s Dell Comics. In my opinion his best work was done for Fairy Tale Parade and Animal Comics. He worked fast. As always his animal characters, in this case the lion, are great.

Number 272


Distant Shores


Syd Shores was a top artist in the Atlas Comics bullpen during the 1940s and early 1950s. He reappeared in the 1960s, and worked right up until his death at age 59 in 1973.

"I Prowl At Night" is a fine werewolf story drawn for Astonishing #16, August 1952. Too bad the color is printed off-register, but many a well drawn comic book was sabotaged by indifferent printers and mass production on the giant web presses of the day.

This is a page from one of the last things Shores did, from Marvel Comics' Chamber of Chills #1, November 1972.


"Delusions of a Dragon Slayer" is adapted by Gerry Conway from the story by Harlan Ellison. Shores penciled and inked this story. The last panel is turgid for a Code-approved comic of the era.

Number 271


Get us out from under, Blunder Woman


Wonder Woman…Wonder Girl…Wonder Tot…it's a wonder anyone bought Wonder Woman! Back in the early 1960s fandom had the Alley Awards. There was an early designation for "Worst Comic Book;" the Bob Kanigher-edited and written, Andru and Esposito-drawn Wonder Woman "won."

This early fanzine strip is from 1964. In a great little short by Marv Wolfman and artist Dave Herring perfectly captures the Wonder Woman comic. Odd was a fun fanzine, inspired by Harvey Kurtzman and Humbug.
I had to really work at this spirit-duplicated strip to make it presentable. Like a lot of ditto'd fanzines it was unevenly printed.


To Dave Herring and Marv Wolfman, thanks for a very funny strip.

Number 270


Let George do it


Captain George was a publisher and store owner in Toronto, Ontario. In the late 1960s he published several issues of Captain George's Comics World. Reprints of old comic materials weren't common in those days. George must've gotten hold of some black and white photostats from some Golden Age Timely issues of Marvel Mystery Comics and used them for a double issue of Captain George's Comics World, #23 and 24, published in 1969.

This black and white reprint strip is from Marvel Mystery Comics #41, a classic wartime story with our favorite vengeful underwater guy kicking Nazi butt. It's drawn by Carl Pfeufer. The cover is downloaded from the Internet. After you read the story stick around for another underwater treat you've likely never seen.

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Underwater hottie

In the 1970s I was very impressed by the Filipino artists then working in American comic books. At one of the San Diego Comic Conventions I got a chance to pick up some original art and also some of the 1960s Philippine comics. This 5-page story is from Superyor Komiks Magasin #124. It looks like an origin story; I don't read Tagalog, so I can't be sure. The drawings of the creatures of the sea are wonderful, and Atlanta is one hot babe. It takes a real hot babe to wear go-go boots underwater!