When set against the bloodstained tapestry of historic warlords and their deeds, the atrocities of the Great Khan of this first tale seem a bit pedestrian. Still, he has a conscience; a guilty beast within that is squat, hairy, and always grinning.
Arnold Drake scripted this one, and put some appropriately grandiose sentences in the right places. John Celardo did the pencils and inks. Celardo did brutal power quite well – as these pages will attest. This is from Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery No. 38, December 1971.
Arnold Drake scripted this one, and put some appropriately grandiose sentences in the right places. John Celardo did the pencils and inks. Celardo did brutal power quite well – as these pages will attest. This is from Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery No. 38, December 1971.
Genetics is simply a frightening word. Have you ever heard a conversation about genetics that didn’t make you uneasy in some way? Neither have I. Neither have any of the characters in this next tale.
The art here is by Jack Sparling, and the more I see of Sparling the more I see there is to like. Here, for example: take note of the way he gives his scientist, who is studying insects and pesticides, the look of a large-headed insect from the get-go. Clever work, Mr. Sparling.
The art here is by Jack Sparling, and the more I see of Sparling the more I see there is to like. Here, for example: take note of the way he gives his scientist, who is studying insects and pesticides, the look of a large-headed insect from the get-go. Clever work, Mr. Sparling.
As if being incinerated and poisoned by an atomic blast weren’t enough, apparently the irradiated and scorched earth of Hiroshima was stalked by vampires, drinking the radioactive blood of the doomed. This one-pager gets some major points for concept
Finally, this ad from the same issue. "I can't wait for tomorrow," Broadway Joe Nammath once said, "because I get better looking every day." With Nammath, you really had to be there. Trust me – he was cool.
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18 comments:
This is becoming somewhat of a painful blog, Mykal. Most of the stuff that you post is terrific and all, but if I don't have it already, seeing these beauties makes me want a copy of my own.
My budget is quite angry with you!
Wow, these would make awesome nightmare fodder for any kid back then. Kids must have been tougher back in the day. I love that cover too. I wish someone would collect a book's worth of Gold Key painted covers.
Chuck: My apologies to your budget! Hehe. But it's Christmas, so go ahead and pick yourself up some beautiful Gold Key! If it's any cancellation, comics have become a real line item in the Banta Budget as well!
Keith: A big, swanky edition of Gold Key covers would make a great coffee table book, I agree! I'm glad you are enjoying them. It was the covers, after all, that pulled most of us into a Gold Key book in the first place!
Thanks, guys. -- Mykal
I'll second the desire for a Gold Key Cover collection!
A really good, packed post Mykal... you know I like the spooky stuff!
Karswell: This cover I particularly liked. The monster/demon is so odd and thick - actually potbellied and bald! Very nightmarish! And he never stops smiling. Thanks for stopping by, spooky king! -- Mykal
What??? Nobody bothers to comment on the Joe Namath plugging Dingo Boots ad? What is this blog comming to? JK... anyway, cool as this comic was I really just wanted to pipe up and say how much I enjoyed the MARS PATROL comic you posted the other day. I have a few of the later issues, and the art pales in comparison. I love the whole concept behind MARS PATROL, I didn't even know about the TOTAL WAR comics! Thanks as always for posting some far out junk!
When I was in 2nd grade, I had a pair of Dingo boots.
Mitch: Thanks for reading and commenting. Don't think I have forgotten your UFO request. I'll get to that within the next two posts!
Aaron: You came in right on que after Mitchell's post! Good man. Joe Willie would have been very proud of a fellow Dingo man.
Thanks, guys! -- Mykal
Hey Mykal, good couple of stories, and your right about Sparling drawing the scientist with large fore-head and over-size "bug-eye" glasses. I really like his initial splash, reminiscent (kind of) of the early Kirby/Ditko monster art.
R/E: Thanks for stopping in! I agree about the Ditko comparison. So much of Ditko's stuff was sheer grotesqueries. – Mykal
That cover blows me away! Love it!
The story was good, but -- that cover! Add me to the list of Gold Key cover art fans! Thanks Mykal!
Oh, my two cents on the Dingos ad...the one I remember featured O.J. Simpson!!
Apocolyte: There has never been anything like those covers. This one in particular was cool. A very unique demon.
Simpson. Talk about losing your endorsements! -- Mykal
The art in the second story looks like Joe Certa - the original Manhunter from Mars artist.
Worf: The second story, Dr. Toomey's Discovery is definitely Jack Sparling. Did you mean the one pager that is mostly text? The Vampires of Hiroshima? With the one panel artwork? Although I didn't mention it in my post, that is probably Joe Certa. Thanks. -- Mykal
Worf: I bet you meant to comment on the post from UFO Flying Saucer No. 9. I have given you credit for identifying Certa on that post. Thanks! -- Mykal
Hey Mykal,
thanks for posting the Abulam Khan story! I read it a year or two after it was first published, and haven't seen it since. It holds up pretty well: nice art, great twist ending, and FANTASTIC cover! Hope to see lots more Karloff and Ripley's.
Mykal---Thanks for publishing the Abulam Khan story; I read it a year or two after it came out, haven't seen it since. Holds up pretty well, I think: nice art, great twist ending, and FANTASTIC cover! Hope you post lots more Karloff and Ripley's!
Mugali: My pleasure; and erst assured, I will post lots more!
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