BB-Gun

I am not sure how he managed to put this all together but Greg Sadowski sent me a copy of his new book. Supermen! The First Wave of Comic Book Heroes 1936-1941 It looks like a whole goldenage collection in onebook. There are some great Daredevil vs Claw stories by Cole and it is hard to find those Silver Streak comics. There are also stories by Eisner, Guardineer, Fine, Kirby and Wolverton. Fletcher Hanks was also included due to his recent popular book I guess. Other artist that were represented were Everett and Briefer. I am not suprised that he finally decided to put some early work by Everett into the pile. His art is just too good and his stories are very popular. But I was suprised that he included Richard Briefer. I have always enjoyed his Rex Dexter strip but it was never as big as some of the other Fox strips. However, he could have included a Rex Dexter Destruction Ray kit with the book. His models were fun to see and make. The other suprise was the Skyman adventure. I like Ogden Whitney's work and had recommended one of his strips but I also recommended and scanned Mr. Justice which was not included. Instead a Comet strip was included which makes me almost as happy. Perhaps Cooper's art can make it into another book with that early Montana superhero work. Its a fun read and I highly recommend the book. Other fans, who did a lot more than me to help Greg, are acknowledged at the end of the book. Particularly, Jon Berk, Craig Carlson and Jim Vadeboncoeur were thanked for their help in assembling the material for the book. Thanks for the book Greg! Now you have something to give as Christmas presents this year BZ and I have a matching card for you. Before Superman, Popeye by BZ Trimmed up Xmas Card is from Mr. Door Tree's site.

I found a copy of Phil's catalogue from 1968 in one of the old boxes. He had a specific section for first issues. The prices were low but to make it a good investment, you would have to take care of the comics and hold on to them for 40 years. You would also have to fight dealers like Rogofsky and Bails who probably purchased a lot of these to fill customers' Want Lists. But look at the prices of the original art. Ouch! bb

Merian Cooper is partly responsible for the nifty fight between the bi-wing airplanes and Kong at the end of the movie. He is also responsible for the absurd finale to Flying down to Rio. He had women standing on top of the wings and dancing to the music as the planes flew over Rio. (I guess that was the first Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie.) The scene was repeated in a way on a broadway stage for "The Drowsy Chaperone". bb

Since I mentioned vampires, we should give some more time to the other guys. I don't think these were my scans originally. Are they yours BZ? I wonder who did the art for these two masterpieces. bb

Great cover BZ! I liked some of the articles in CF and Screen Thrills Illustrated too. I was more of a detective mystery and serial fan than a monster fan but I did enjoy seeing Blaisdells' creations and Ray Harryhausen's models. I also liked the big three movies, i.e., werewolves, vampires and Frankenstein, oh my. Speaking of vampires, I think Mr. Door Tree posted this vampire cover which could easily be one of my favorites. It was cleaned up a bit with photoshop. bb

I have seen a few copies of the Peter Pan Treasure Chest but they were usually beat up. That is a great buy if in 6.0-8.0. bb

It's odd seeing that Rick allowed his cat to walk on his comics. He was always a stickler for buying comics in the very best condition. I also noticed that neither Rick nor the Collector's Bookstore bagged any of their comic books at that time. Cat owners are like that I've noticed. They let them walk all over everything. So unsanitary! It is difficult to stop a cat from walking on things. They don't understand the word stay. They think it means hesitate. At least they don't chew everything like a dog. bb PS My dog chewed up all of the pillows on my couch and then chewed up the back of the couch. I never let her in the comic room.

I have some Castle Frankenstein issues too, but I think I purchased most of them from my neighbor during a garage sale. I have one CF with a Star Trek article which means it was published later than FM 1 (1962). I also have some Spaceman magazines from the same time. bb

Destroy everything in its path and the earth is next! You got me worried and then you quit. bb

This isn't a golden age publication but it was edited by golden age fans. I don't think Forry was happy about the publication but the readers appreciated Ron Haydock's reviews of old movies with robots, Commando Cody and Superman, not to mention Blaisdell's monster reviews. I found it on the top of the pile while searching for Disney BLB and premiums. Christopher Lee is amazing. He made these old monster movies and continued working through Bond movies and the new Star Wars series. And there was "Horror Guaranteed to Shock you dead or your life refunded"

Reprints of Fujitani? I tried to interest Greg in reprinting some Cooper stories and Fujitani but I don't think they made it into his latest book on early Supermen. Mr. Justice was early enough but Hangman was not. Fugitani's crime stories were drawn in a more realistic (proportional) manner and I don't think they are as impressive. It isn't just the stories but it was also a style change. Maybe we can blame it on the inker. There are probably other stories in Continental Comics publications that were done by Fuje. Which reminds me, my other favorite is Palais. I spotted this Black Cat scan recently. He also did some nice work for Continental and Lev Gleason and his style did not change. Scans from GA.UK

The artist for this cover is listed as Larsen in my Fiction House index. Anyone know more about him? Have I forgotten someone (again)? bb

That Hit 17 cover also reminds me of the Splash page by Fuje from Catman 26. Very simple with only a few extras, but very effective. It wasn't signed but I am pretty sure it is his work. bb Edit: I wonder whether the skeleton's hand is pointing to a kind of signature.

What issue of Hit is that Blaze Barton story from? That would be Hit 13. I have the cover to 12 and several other issues but not that one. I only have the scans. I think some of those Hercules covers were really excellant, especially Hit 17. bb

And another ad for the circus premium which was used for a long time compared to others. I guess they were taking advantage of the popularity of the Dumbo movie. bb

There were several other pin-ups that were used as premiums. I have collected a few from the back covers of WDCS. And I was pretty sure that this book with Mickey, Donald and Goofy was used as a premium. The "Mickey and the Beanstalk" story was part of "Fun and Fancy Free" which was an animated feature film (1947). bb I never found an ad that displayed this book. So if someone can find one and get me off the hook...it would be appreciated.

Going through the Disney Box, I found several other premiums listed. There was a book on Water Birds, Bear Country, a Donald Duck goes to Disneyland, Goofy and the Tiger Hunt and Sleeping Beauty. There was also a Mickey Mouse on Summer Vacation which I will try to find in the BLB box. bb

Terrific cover Jayman. Cole could draw a trash can and make it look spectacular. Eerie eyes everywhere. bb

And another that I have found a little more often. I think "Bringing up the Boys" was also sold separately as part of the Story Hour series. I have both hard cover and soft cover versions of some of those books. I assume the soft cover was a giveaway. Fortunately I am still within the age limit and can enjoy reading this beautifully lithographed edition. bb

I think I have posted some of these before but I am interested in a complete list of subscription premiums. Some I wouldn't recognize but a few that I have found are stored away. For example:

I like this scan of the Wings 42 cover by Art Saaf. Just in case you forgot, the Mosquito was made out of cloth and plywood. The Bomber had Two Rolls-Royce Merlins of 1,690 hp each. How did it hold together with all of that power on the wings? Good engineering I guess. Edit: I think this cover was attributed to Art Saaf too.

The Tangerine Terror? BB, You turn up some of the most obscure stuff. Thanks BZ! Blaze Barton and Mysta were always turning up strange things too. A giant spotted Toad-Wolf isn't something you see every day. Scans are from GA.UK. They are easy to download and filled with goodies. bb

I think some of the comics had stories about strong women and not just shy girls gone wrong. I think the guy that was grabbed by a girl with those shoulders should worry a little. And there is nothing like romance with the Roller Derby Queen. There is a simple title on this Lev Gleason comic and romance with the Roller Derby Queen has to be tough love. Not to mention a story with Integrity.

One of my cats likes to sleep on the scanner and the other sleeps on the top shelf next to the "A" box. In 1974 I was still a graduate student living on a small government loan. Prices were low but I was so broke I could barely afford food. I raided the $0.25 box at the Curious Book Store and picked up a bunch of DC reprints and creased Marvels. I also managed to hold on to a small collection of underground comics that I purchased in the early seventies. I think I posted this drawing of Rick before.

I am thinking that they might have been like this. The larger than needed lettering would appear on the 4-color full size comic. bb