Warren Magazine Reading Club! 7 7

[The Lions Den]

On 4/23/2024 at 7:38 PM, Jayman said:

Alternative version...

I was hoping you'd create this version...

[Jayman]

On 4/24/2024 at 1:31 AM, The Lions Den said:

I was hoping you'd create this version...

It was a no brainer once I saw the finished painting. Other than the obvious prelim/finished look to these covers, the main difference that I see is that the finished (unused version) seems to be an animated hand clutching at the door. The used prelim art always left me thinking it was a severed hand lying on the floor.

[Jayman]

Friday and no AxeElf. 

@Axe Elf if you’re reading this, hope you are well and that you will be back soon! 

[OtherEric]

So, how do we want to continue from here?  For at least a few weeks, I can take over the Sunday initial post for the week if people want me to do that.

[Jayman]

On 4/26/2024 at 11:56 AM, OtherEric said:

So, how do we want to continue from here?  For at least a few weeks, I can take over the Sunday initial post for the week if people want me to do that.

I will dig out my copies and see what I have to read and contribute to the thread. 

[The Lions Den]

On 4/26/2024 at 11:56 AM, OtherEric said:

So, how do we want to continue from here?  For at least a few weeks, I can take over the Sunday initial post for the week if people want me to do that.

Absolutely...   

[OtherEric]

  Vampirella #14- November 1971

According to the Warren Magazine Index:

14. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Nov. 1971)

                1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: Ladies Of Misfortune [Tom Sutton] 1p   [frontis]

                2) Vampirella: Isle Of The Huntress! [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 20p

                3) The Wedding Gift [Nicola Cuti/Mike Ploog] 7p

                4) The Sword Of Light [Sam Glanzman] 9p

                5) Deadman’s Treasure! [Lynn Marron/Tom Sutton] 9p

                6) Vampi’s Flames: Doug Moench Profile/The Crimson Heel!/The Prisoner/The Entity/The Last Blast! [Doug Moench, Fuat Ulus, Ron Lovett, John Kaska & Dan McGee/Cara Shorman, Robert Shugrue, Jose Munoz, Vivian Jane Amick & Glen Abrams] 2p   [text article/stories]

                7) Wolf Hunt [Joe Wehrle/Esteban Maroto] 7p

Notes: Great issue!  True, the Vampirella story was no great shakes (but then, they rarely were) but the rest of the issue was dazzling.  Sanjulian’s cover was one of the best of the early Vampirella run.  Esteban Maroto made his first Warren appearance (and it’s a beaut!) in ‘Wolf Hunt’.  Mike Ploog illustrated a darn good Cuti story.  The legendary Sam Glanzman turned in his only Warren work and it’s a fine, fine job!  Lynn Marron made her professional debut with a solid story and Tom Sutton, who probably illustrated more stories by first time writers than anyone else at Warren, provided her with an equally solid art job.  Another South American pro, this time the great Jose Munoz, saw his sample art stuck on the fan page.

____________________________________________________________

A few notes:  Since I'm taking over the post the weekly starting block duty until further notice, I'll hold off on my personal thoughts on the issue for about a day to see if any discussion happens, and to give the thread a bump.  I won't promise to be quite on the nose time-wise as @Axe Elf was, although I'll try very hard to get it posted before I go to bed Saturday nights.  And I'll start posting the images of my copies of the issues with the opener posts, rather than when I give my review.  Other than that, I'm open to any suggestions people have: this has always been a group project, and it should continue that way.  Here's hoping that Axe Elf will be back soon to take back over, we're still trying to figure out a way to contact him or his family.  On a very different note, I highly recommend getting some contact info out to some other boardies you trust, so if something like this does happen we have a better chance of finding out what's going on.

Sorry if some of that is a bit of a downer; let's move forward and enjoy this weeks issue! 

[The Lions Den]

One of the better issues from this era, IMO.

Very solid artwork and some pretty entertaining stories as well. Not my favorite cover, but still very well done with an interesting color scheme. Maroto's art on "Wolf Hunt" is pretty outstanding, and it doesn't hurt when you have Gonzalez, Ploog and Sutton (among others) backing you up. 

Overall, a really solid issue which comes close to reaching the heights attained by issue #12---all that's really lacking here is another great story by Wally Wood.  

[OtherEric]

Vampirella #14 thoughts:

Cover: A very nice piece by Sanjulian, I think the big border also works better than usual here, giving a claustrophobic feeling to the art, as well as some depth.

Feary Tales:  A nice couple of short pieces by Sutton; and I really like the Vampi-as-host panel as well.

Isle of the Huntress:  This is what I'm talking about.  The various subplots start to merge and the story is long enough to breathe, with gorgeous art by Gonzales and a genuinely clever and touching denouncement.  Great stuff.

The Wedding Gift:  Nice art by Ploog but I'm not sure I understand the ending of the story.

The Sword of Light:  Sam Glanzman is best known for his autobiographical stories dealing with WW II, he would have been a natural for Blazing Combat.  Instead his only Warren work is the excellent fantasy story he turns in here.

Deadman's Treasure:  Lynn Marron is not a name I'm familiar with.  They have a handful of credits for Warren and a couple dozen across comics in general, including a few with Warrant.  It's a good debut with excellent art from Sutton.

Wolf Hunt:  So, we get to see Wehrle's one script for Warren, having seen his one art job a few issues back.  And the script doesn't impress me any more than his art did, it's an ugly and nasty rape plot.  Some beautiful art by Maroto doesn't put this one into the win category but definitely brings up the score for the story.

This was a strong issue overall, with excellent art throughout, even if a couple of the scripts didn't quite live up to the illustrations.

[Jayman]

Well here goes my first try at a review.

Vampirella #14:

I’m usually not a fan of border covers but I agree with @OtherEric that this blue border especially with the yellow outline really enhances this Sanjulian painting. It is one of my favorites. Perhaps it is that along with the beautiful gal, there is that looming cyclops. The 7th Voyage of Sinbad was a movie that impressed young me, and made me a fan of everything cyclops!

Feary Tales: Good art on just ok features. How can a headless woman scream? 

Isle of the Huntress: A really solid story in script and art. Mixing shades of The Most Dangerous Game and The Island of Dr. Moreau. Gonzalez at his best with the opening splash showing the depth of field with varying ink weights.

The Wedding Gift: Ploog art is always a treat and we get to see see him draw curvy women and some creatures. My take on the ending was a nod to the Woman’s Liberation movement.

The Sword of Light: Really like the art on this one. The story needed a couple more pages to flesh it out better IMO, but was enjoyable. I thought this page was done well with the extensive crosshatching.

Deadman’s Treasure: A very nice story that was paced well. The Sutton art was good as usual except the pirate character looked more ape like than backwoods swamp dweller for some reason.

Wolf Hunt: Simply stunning art by Maroto! The plot is kind of bare and brutal but works well within the story as to why the wolf would break its code not to prey on humans. By his actions he became less than human, and therefore could be consumed as an animal.

Overall a great issue from cover to cover. Strong art and good scripts make this a top issue in my book! I also loved the double page spread highlighting the Vampi Annual too!

[OtherEric]

@Jayman:  It's possible that Sutton was just warming up for his legendary run on Planet of the Apes in a few years.  Although Ploog did some classic work on that series as well.

[Jayman]

On 4/29/2024 at 11:49 PM, OtherEric said:

@Jayman:  It's possible that Sutton was just warming up for his legendary run on Planet of the Apes in a few years.  Although Ploog did some classic work on that series as well.

Maybe. Either way it does not make or break the story for me. It just seemed a bit ogre ish for no particular reason. Sutton was probably just having fun with it! 

[OtherEric]

On 4/29/2024 at 8:57 PM, Jayman said:

Maybe. Either way it does not make or break the story for me. It just seemed a bit ogre ish for no particular reason. Sutton was probably just having fun with it! 

To paraphrase myself from when we first encountered Sutton in the reading group, one of Sutton's signature tricks is using exaggeration with the precision of a scalpel.  Here, I think it fits the modern version of character perfectly, while also working as a dramatic contrast when he reverts to the more eloquent reincarnation of the pirate captain. 

Also, thank you so much for joining the reviews, I should have said that in my last post.

[OtherEric]

Creepy # 43- January 1972

According to the Warren Magazine Index:

Cover: Ken Kelly (Jan. 1972)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: The Golden Sun Disk Of The Incas [T. Casey Brennan/Richard Corben] 1p   [frontis]

2) Three-Way Split [Dennis P. Junot/Jorge Galvez] 8p

3) The Mark Of Satan’s Claw [Fred Ott/Jaime Brocal] 10p

4) The Men Who Called Him Monster [Don McGregor/Luis Garcia] 14p

5) 1971 Comicon Awards Go To Frazetta And Goodwin… [?/?] 3p   [text article w/photos]

6) Quest Of The Bigfoot [R. Michael Rosen/Jerry Grandenetti] 6p

7) Creepy’s Fan Club: Richard Corben Profile/The Last Vampire/Now I Know/Friend Or Fiend?/The Realm Of The Mind/Wanted: A Husband/Unwelcome Visitor [Richard Corben, David Yeske, Rich Cook, Joe Letts, Christopher Caliendo, James Olcott, L. T. Simon & Wayne Carter/Richard Corben, Atherton, Steven Assel, Solano Lopez, Ramiro Bujeiro & Tim Boxell] 2p   [text article/stories]

8) Mirage [Gerry Conway/Felix Mas] 8p

Notes: The highlight of this issue was Don McGregor’s script and Luis Garcia’s {in his Warren debut} artwork for ‘The Men Who Called Him Monster’.  The story may also have featured the first inter-racial kiss in comic history, which only came about because the artist misunderstood McGregor’s instructions for that panel.  The lead character in that story was physically modeled after actor Sidney Poitier. The 1971 Warren Awards went to Frank Frazetta for best cover from Vampirella #7, best script to T. Casey Brennan for ‘On The Wings Of A Bird’ from Creepy #36, best art to Jose Gonzalez for ‘Death’s Dark Angel’ from Vampirella #12, best all around writer to Archie Goodwin for his work on Vampirella and best all around artist to Wally Wood.  Solano Lopez was already a South American professional when his sample work ended up on the fan page.  The fan page also undergoes a slight retitling while Tim Boxell, who would do quite a lot of underground and alternative comics, made his comics debut there.

_______________________________________________________________

Not a lot to say before looking at the issue as the reading club enters 1972.  I've had a very hectic weekend, so I may be a day or two later than usual getting my thoughts on the issue posted here.  But if you have thoughts on the issue, big or small, you don't need to wait for me to start the discussion.

 

[The Lions Den]

Thank God for Sundays! The one day of the week where I can relax a bit and enjoy the simple things in life... 

In my opinion this is another solid issue, and it really does reflect how the old and the new were coming together for Warren at the time. The art and stories are decent throughout, even if there are a couple of stories that fail to be very memorable (your mileage may vary).   

For me, the real standout here is "The Men Who Called Him Monster" with its unflinching nod to Sidney Poitier and great art by Luis Garcia (not to mention that totally unexpected interracial kiss).

I also appreciate even one page of Richard Corben artwork (as well as his profile on the fan page and a bit of his art on the letters page, too). Add to that a striking Ken Kelly cover and the awards from the 1971 Warren Comic Art Convention and you have a pretty enjoyable issue.  

Edited May 5 by The Lions Den

[Jayman]

Well this is an interesting issue to me. First of all, I pulled out my original copy from my doubles box. I was 8 years old when I first read this and I still remember my impressions then in contrast to reading these stories again 51 years later.

First off, the cover: Ken Kelly does a fine job of capturing a demonically possessed figure breaking through the door. The afro and the widows peak were a bit of a strange choice, but this was the 70’s now, wasn’t it. The cover text though, is memorable to me. You can’t escape the mark of Satan’s claw! 1971 introduced two movies that I remember seeing as a kid (and in reruns on tv over the years) that also left an impression on me. The Blood on Satan’s Claw and The Brotherhood of Satan. These two movies helped enhance my appreciation of this cover and issue. 

Loathsome Lore had some nice Corben art depicting the Inca Sun Disc. Interesting to see he slipped a crucifix in the dead king’s hands with no mention of Christianity in the copy.

The letters page had a fan demand no more humor with horror as they never work well together. Wonder what he would have thought of films like Shaun of the Dead and Evil Dead: Army of Darkness?

Three Way Split:

I actually enjoyed the story even though who would ever agree to having their brain removed like in this tale? The way the 3 men get taken care of at the end was fairly clever. I probably enjoyed it more because 8 yr old me refused to ever read it originally because it looked too boring. In fact I still remember this last panel thinking that that shot turned this guy into rubber somehow the way it was drawn! 

The Mark of Satan’s Claw:

A very atmospheric tale that again reminds me of those 2 previously mentioned movies. The multiple child deaths and a town corrupted by Satan worshippers along with the twist at the end make this one enjoyable.

The Men Who Called Him Monster:

An interesting tale here. While the artwork was nice, the story just didn’t grab me. What was with all the breaking and resharpening of the pencil points? A metaphor that passed over my head?

The index explains  “the first inter-racial kiss in comic history, which only came about because the artist misunderstood McGregor’s instructions for that panel” I wonder what was misunderstood?

The story seemed to be pointing out social views and injustices then suddenly throws a werewolf into the mix. Overall just an ok story for me.

Quest of the Bigfoot:

Bigfeet were all the rage in the 70’s huh? The famous film footage and Andre the Giant playing the Sasquatch on the Six Million Dollar Man. However, these Bigfoot always looked rather goofy to me. A cross between a goat and a dog! I still love Grandenetti’s brushwork but the story was kind of basic and predictable.

Mirage:

A strange type of story that fits well in a Creepy mag I think. No vampires or werewolves, but we get the kid from the Twilight Zone that can bend reality! Of all the passengers to get stuck with on this flight! Points for imagination and art but the story was just ok again for me.

Overall, a good issue. Not a great one, but they all can’t be great…

[The Lions Den]

On 5/5/2024 at 10:06 PM, Jayman said:

The index explains  “the first inter-racial kiss in comic history, which only came about because the artist misunderstood McGregor’s instructions for that panel” I wonder what was misunderstood?

I seem to remember an interview with McGregor where he said he'd written a comment for the artist along the lines of "...and this is the clincher!" (Meaning it would be an important plot point or something to that effect). Of course, when he saw the finished story he was completely shocked, since apparently Garcia thought a "clincher" meant an ardent kiss...   

[Jayman]

On 5/6/2024 at 10:03 AM, The Lions Den said:

I seem to remember an interview with McGregor where he said he'd written a comment for the artist along the lines of "...and this is the clincher!" (Meaning it would be an important plot point or something to that effect). Of course, when he saw the finished story he was completely shocked, since apparently Garcia thought a "clincher" meant an ardent kiss...   

Still, what was the clincher supposed to be? And any idea as to the sharpening and breaking of the pencil points? I’m sure it’s a metaphor for something I’m overlooking. 

[OtherEric]

On 5/5/2024 at 7:06 PM, Jayman said:

Bigfeet were all the rage in the 70’s huh? The famous film footage

I think I've mentioned this before, but my side of the family remains utterly convinced it was our cousin Bob in the Bigfoot suit.

[The Lions Den]

On 5/6/2024 at 10:36 AM, Jayman said:

Still, what was the clincher supposed to be? And any idea as to the sharpening and breaking of the pencil points? I’m sure it’s a metaphor for something I’m overlooking. 

I just looked up the McGregor interview and apparently "the clincher" meant getting a strong emotional response from the girl to convince the detective how worried she was about her boyfriend.

I guess that backfired a little...  

 

Edited May 6 by The Lions Den