UFO Flying Saucers lasted 13 issues on a quarterly publication. The writers often used actual, unexplained incidents, such as the last story of red rain and dead birds; giving the title at times an “unsolved mysteries” feel. Other times, well, inspiration came on a dark, surreal wind. Take for example the 4-pager below titled “A Story That Could Be True.” I for one felt a shiver when the freaky, blond twin broke the fourth wall.
This post goes to Mitchell, who requested a sampling of this title. This comes from UFO Flying Saucers No. 9, January 1976. All art is unaccredited, but the artist for the title story is most likely Frank Bolle. Joe Certa as the artist for "A Story That Could Be True" (good eye, Senski - See Comments!). The last two stories dealing with mysterious rain are probably Jack Sparling. All scans are from my own comic.
This post goes to Mitchell, who requested a sampling of this title. This comes from UFO Flying Saucers No. 9, January 1976. All art is unaccredited, but the artist for the title story is most likely Frank Bolle. Joe Certa as the artist for "A Story That Could Be True" (good eye, Senski - See Comments!). The last two stories dealing with mysterious rain are probably Jack Sparling. All scans are from my own comic.
Time erases just how cool Steve Austin was for kids in the 1970s. He had bionic arms and legs! He could run, I think it was, 90 miles an hour and lift a car without a jack! See, he was part machine and he made this cool sound whenever the bionics kicked in, and . . . oh, forget it. Man, it bites getting old. Just enjoy this extremely well drawn ad and let me eat my damn oatmeal.
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19 comments:
WoW-ee-wow! A whole post dedicated to me! (sniff-sniff)...Why it just warms the cockles of my ever lovin' comicbook heart. What a perfect choice too, I have 5 or 6 of these UFO issues, but I don't believe I have this particular slice of cheesy goodness. Oh,... and there is no way you could have known this, but it just so happens that for Christmas of 1976 I got the entire Bionic man set featured in your ad...yesserie sir, sure did. Thanks again Santa Banta for making a nifty Christmas gifty for yours truly :)
Mitchell: My pleasure! Santa Banta - I'm liking that! -- Mykal
I've actually got this issue sitting on my desk!
Christopher: Cool!
Christopher: You just made me notice I forgot to include this nifty cover. Thanks! Have another look. -- Mykal
Whenever something scary breaks through the fourth wall and invades your personal space, just think of Groucho Marx stepping away from a couple of actresses, speaking right at the audience:
"Parties... parties... all this talk of parties, and what do we get ? Not even ice cream. It would be a better world for children if parents ate the spinach..."
I was gunna ask where was dee cover butts did-dent wanna be rude since you was dedicatin' da post ta me an what-not. Thanks for includin' it dude! :)
Lysdexicuss: That would have helped. That whole story creeped me out, and I can't decide if it was intentional or not. All those smiling people and the instant headline about universal peace - all from aliens shooting up Times Square. My theory is everyone is now zombies. Maybe it's just me.
Oh, P.S. - I think that comic was one that came from your generous donation!!
Mitchell: My pleasure - it's a great cover. I love the grey corpse laying on the table - at least I hope it's a corpse with that coloring. Jeez, what a creepy issue. -- Mykal
Lysdexicuss: That would have helped. That whole story creeped me out, and I can't decide if it was intentional or not. All those smiling people and the instant headline about universal peace - all from aliens shooting up Times Square. My theory is everyone is now zombies. Maybe it's just me.
Oh, P.S. - I think that comic was one that came from your generous donation!!
Mitchell: My pleasure - it's a great cover. I love the grey corpse laying on the table - at least I hope it's a corpse with that coloring. Jeez, what a creepy issue. -- Mykal
Finally, some UFO! I like the scribbley texture on that headless thing in "Fire in the Rain." Gold Key was such a refreshing break from the sometimes too bold inks and heavy lines of the superhero crowd. It was physically impossible for any kid in the 70's to look through the back of Steve Austin's head(through his bionic eye), and not make the bionic focusing noise. Boop..Boop..Boop..Boop!
Tim: Did you request some UFO as well? I thought I might have gotten two requests, but I lost track. If so, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I can't agree more about the refreshing artwork when compared to the superhero stuff. It was very unique in that regard.
Love your comment about the six-million dolor man. As you say, sound effects were absolutely unavoidable!! -- Mykal
Amen brother! Steve Austin was the greatest thing on the planet back then. He's still my hero.
I catch myself doing the same thing on all your posts: 1st I love the covers. Then I love the insides. As a kid I'd mostly look at the pictures. I would read them every once in a while, but mostly I was in love with the drawings. This story is better than most movie plots I've seen this year.
Amen back at ya, Brother! And, as always, thanks for tuning in! -- Mykal
Found it interesting how the 1st story kinda puts the blame on us humans for scaring the poor aliens - "just think how scary you must appear to him...your screaming while he inserts the anal probe is hurting his sensitive alien ears!"
Also something creepy about those twin girls...creepier than any of the aliens in this comic...
Wish I had collected these when I was younger, before I was abducted!
Apocolyte: God knows I let out quit a yelp when it was my turn on the table. As to the two girls, I think they are twin queens of the zombies. Thanks for dropping in an giving me a laugh, amigo. -- Mykal
Hey Mykal - The art credit on "A Story That Could Be True" is definitely Joe Certa, who did the full run of Gold Key's wonderful "Dark Shadows" books, providing pencils to top-notch stories from Arnold Drake, John Warner and Gerry Boudreau - absolutely worth checking out!
Senski: Thanks! Got ya covered with the Dark Shadows recommendation. I have an issue or two in the hopper. Look for stories soon. -- Mykal
After fifteen years of being plugged into the internet (ahh those halcyon dial-up days!) I am still constantly suprised by the gems of seventies culture (that living here in the UK, escaped my radar) I discover thanks to people who lovingly scan in comics that would otherwise disappear down the memory hole.
As a lifetime student of sci-fi and ufology I am so shocked I have never come across this UFO Flying Saucers title before, its amazing! The cover & cell artwork is sublime and the mix of 'fantasy' and 'real' UFO/alien events plus the 'Red Rain' Fortean phenomena story on the back is wonderful!
Thanks so much for sharing this edition, I am going to see if I can find some more issues and if I do, I will scan them for you! (Hopefully the originals do not go for megabucks!).
PS> I remember the six million dollar man action figures too! Looking through the eyes and the removable skin section too!
Great blog, a true labour of love!
WPOD: Thanks for stoping by! Yeah, this blog is a labor of love, for sure. Please stop by again soon. Don't knock yourself out with the scans, though, on my account. I'm only posting stuff on this blog from my own collection. I use this blog as an archive for my own collection. I am grateful, though, for the offer and am really glad you enjoy my efforts. -- Mykal
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