Favourite Comics: Challengers of the Unknown #74 - Neal Adams, George Tuska, Bernie Wrightson

The Challengers of the Unknown (created by Dave Wood and Jack Kirby ) had their own title which ran for an impressive 77 issues (1958-1970) following their test run which began in Showcase# 6 (February 1957). Despite the titles relatively long run this was a comic that I was unaware of and my introduction to the team would have to wait until issue 79, when the title was re-launched as a short lived all-reprint comic in 1973. It wouldn’t be until 1977 when DC rebooted the title under the stewardship of Gerry Conway and hot artist Mike Nasser when I would become a fan of the team. Although this new series did not last long it whetted my appetite for the team and in 1981, I eventually tracked down my first “Challengers” back issue, the above #74 (1970) featuring art by Neal Adams, George Tuska, Bernie Wrightson and Henry Boltinoff !!!! Below are a few pages from this excellent issue.

As can be seen from the above splash page and cover, Deadman guested in issue 74, an occult story drawn half and half by Tuska and Neal Adams who, at that point, was the only artist who got to draw Boston Brand. Although Adams and Tuska's styles would not be considered compatible, as a fan of both artists I loved this issue even although Tuska's pages had a touch of "Scooby Doo" about them compared to Adams realistic style.

As was the norm for many DC titles at this time (1970) most issues feature a one page humour strip by the great Henry Boltinoff.

An to round of this excellent comic, DC added a one page tale by Bernie Wrightson.

Everything old is new again! - Savage Sword of Conan - Reforged #1 -John Buscema, Barry Windsor Smith

Titan comics, who currently hold the publishing rights to Conan, have released another new Conan book to add to their monthly colour "Conan the Barbarian" title and their black and white "Savage Sword of Conan magazine" that may be of interest to bronze age comic fans. "Savage Sword of Conan - Reforged" is a new magazine sized monthly that reprints coloured versions of the classic black and white tales from the legendary “Savage Sword of Conan" monthly from the 1970's, and the first issue is a decent package wrapped up in an actioned packed cover by Roberto De La Torre.

The main story in the first issue of "Reforged" is "Tower of the Elephant" by Roy Thomas, John Buscema and Alfredo Alcala from Marvels "Savage Sword of Conan” #24 . I had missed this tale first time around in the US (and UK reprint) and had only previously read the Thomas / Smith version in "Conan the Barbarian" #4 - so I was more than happy to shell out £8.99 to read this. Below are a few pages from what I think is excellent magazine.

"Reforged" also features a newly coloured version of one of my favourite Conan stories, "The Frost Giants Daughter" by Thomas / Smith (originally published in black and white in " Savage tales" #1 and a coloured version reprinted in "Conan the Barbarian" #16).

This issue also sees a new coloured verion of the Robert E Howard poem "Cimmeria" by Barry Smith & Tim Conrad.

This new book is going to appeal to those bronze age Conan fans who don't have the original comics/magazines or those looking for a decent comic to read (like myself). Of course there will be those Conan/Marvel fans that don't approve or like the colouring and although I do not think the black and white versions will be surpassed, I did enjoy these coloured versions. Issue 2 features "The Devil in Iron" (from SSOC #15) which I will be picking up.

The horrific beauty of Nick Cardy's covers - From Ghosts to the Witching Hour

As most readers of this blog will be aware I am am a massive fan of Nick Cardy's covers. Cardy (1920-2013) was one of the top comic book artists of the 20th century and was easily one of the greatest cover artists ever. His covers graced most genres but perhaps he was best known for his horror covers (although DC never used the word ‘horror’ in the 1960s and 1970s) . Along with Neal Adams and John Buscema, Nick Cardy was instrumental in cementing my love of US comic books with his unique and enthralling covers that begged you to pick up the comic book to find out more about the stories contained within - although these were rarely as good as his wonderful covers suggested. To celebrate , below are some of my favourite Nick Cardy “horror” covers.

Above: "The Witching Hour" comic was one of the best of DC's mystery comics line featuring not only some of Nick Cardy's best covers but it also featured some amazing strips by the likes of Alex Toth, Neal Adams and Bill Druat. Issues 31 & 45 are 2 of my all time favourite Nick Cardy mystery covers .

Above: The Unexpected #147 - This was the first DC mystery comic that I bought based on the cover alone back in 1973.

Above: Secrets of Sinister House # 5 - I wasnt aware of this title until I saw in in a bargin bin for £1 a few years ago - I only purchased this for the cover and the fact the tale was set in Scotland. Its a bit of a strange book for DC at this time as the entire comic only featured one story.

Above: The cover to the collected "Witching Hour" Showcse collection featuring my favourite Nick Cardy mystery cover from issue 4 of the comic. I was hoping to feature 13 covers but sadly these are my last Nick Cardy mystery/horror covers.

Top Tens: The Horrifically naughty but nice art of Bruce Timm.

Bruce Timm’s style is immediately distinctive. It lends itself to most genres whether that be superheroes, grim detectives, or horror all of which are created with a hint of humour. Timm also makes no secret about his love for drawing pretty girls who are put into perilous situations and for the most part these are not just titillating drawings for teenage boys to drool over ; the women are usually in control of the situation (ok they do look titillating) or are the perpetrators of the scene. Despite all that I just love Timms work as for me it harks back to the fun that Stan Lee , Steve Ditko , Jack Kirby, and others breathed into those early Marvel comics. Regardless, who can resist horror art featuring pretty ladies – Below are some of my favourites to celebrate the Halloween season:

Above illos and at header, from "Naughty but Nice and "The Big Tease" collections by Bruce Timm.

Above: Pin-up from the Dark Horse "Creepy" magazine # 15

Back page art from "Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave " # 1.

Above: "Out There" #3 - With some nice Humberto Ramos art.

Above: "Little Shoppe of Horrors" magazine #18

Above: "Vampirella" #3 of the "Rebirth" mini series (Bruce did the interior art as well, if only I g could find issue 1 & 2)

Above: A final non-Halloween treat the covers to "Naughty but Nice" and "The Big Tease" collections - thanks to my mate Ronnie for loaning me a copy of "The Big Tease" to scan.

Tomb of Dracula - Gene Colan, Tom Palmer,& Marv Wolfman

Following the liberalisation of the comics code in 1971 Marvel comics responded by publishing a series of monster and vampire themed comic books which featured lead characters as diverse as werewolves, vampires and the sons and daughters of Satan. While most of these comics were successful one title stood out, "The Tomb of Dracula " by the team of Marv Wolman and Gene Colan. Despite the titles lead character being the actual villain of the piece this was a great title that mixed horror with soap opera with wonderful art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer. The title lasted for 70 issues covering the period 1972 until 1979 spawning a US monthly title (1972-75) and an 87 issue UK weekly comic both titled “Dracula Lives”. Marvel have rebooted their version of Dracula several times but none of these have come anywhere near to the original and best Dracula series.

Above (and at header) from Tomb of Dracula #1 - The pages where we first encountr Marvel's Dracula has always stuck with me ever since I first read this in the UK "Dracula Lives" title in 1975. Cifton Graves a friend (its complicted) of the titles hero Frank Drake,does not die from this attack and is later turned into Dracula's personal valet, before eventually being killed. Below some of my favourite splash pages from my sadly limited US ToD run:

Tomb of Dracula #7

Tomb of Dracula #14

Tomb of Dracula # 30

Tomb of Dracula #35

Tomb of Dracula #38

Tomb of Dracula #68

Above: From the one off special edition of "The Silver Surfer Vs Dracula" (originally publsihed in ToD #50) my favourite Dracula cross over (and there have been a few)