The troubles of Atlas/Seaboard periodicals were many and are well documented within comic book circles. However, to many kids at the time who were suddenly confronted by a plethora of new comic book titles that seemed to appear from out of nowhere, Atlas comics were, for a short time at least a total joy to behold. Sadly, many of the Atlas titles turned out to be derivative or downright weird (See my blog on
Morlock 2000) and as a result, wholesale creative changes were implemented to almost every title after only 2 issues which exacerbated their already mounting problems. For example, Howard Chaykin's character the Scorpion (probably their best title) started out as a 1930s pulp adventurer, but by issue 3 the character was suddenly rebooted into a poorly designed and standard 1970s superhero title. No Atlas title lasted more than 4 issues but despite this some of their comics had merit such as the above title "Planet of Vampires".
Planet of the Vampires (PoV) issue 1 (Feb 1975) started out with great promise featuring a stunning cover (above) pencilled by Pat Broderick with inks/finishes by the legendary Neal Adams. The first issue, written by Larry Hama recounts the story of 5 astronauts (it says 6 astronauts on the cover but we only ever see 5 people) the crew of the Mars probe Aries VII , who return home on 21 April, 2010 (then 35 years in the future and now almost 13 years in the past – how can that be?!) after a 5-year voyage only to find that they have returned to an Earth very different from the planet they left.
After a successful water landing (above splash page from issue 1) outside of Coney Island, the astronauts (2 married couples and a single older man) are attacked by a group of savages and one of their crew (the older single astronaut) is immediately killed before a floating aircraft appears obliterating the savages to rescue them. The remaining astronaut crew are then taken to a huge dome designed to keep the savages out by a group known as the “Domies”. Of course, the remaining astronauts soon find out that the “Domies” are not the good guys and are mechanised vampires who have set up an industrial scale assembly line to extract bodily fluids from humans to feed on. Freeing what savages they can the 4 astronauts destroy the assembly line.
As noted above the problem with Atlas comics was that they regularly changed the character(s) or the focus of the story after only 1 or 2 issues. In the case of PoV the changes were less drastic than for most Atlas titles with only the original writer Larry Hama (an artist undertaking his first comic script) being replaced by John Albano. This issue titled "Quest for Blood”, featured the remaining 4 astronauts (Craig, Chris, Brenda and Elissa) fighting off a second band of savages and fending off an attack by the “Domies”. The story ends with both of the female astronauts being captured by the “Domies” leaving their husbands vowing to rescue them.
Planet of Vampires issue 2 - Cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano. The Dracula character on the cover never appears in the actual comic.
Above: The splash page to issue 2.
With issue 3 (“The Blood Plague”) the cover (above) and art chores are taken on by the wonderful Russ Heath with John Albano remaining as the writer. In the story itself Chris and Craig go back into the dome to rescue their wives. The issue is pretty much just them battling the forces of the dome but it’s a fun romp nicely illustrated by Russ Heath. In the story Craig finds his wife, Brenda, but she has already had her blood harvested and is dead, later he finds and rescues Chris’ wife Elissa, and they make their escape and take refuge in an abandoned zoo. However, they are attacked by giant spiders and Elissa is killed!.
I did enjoy "Planet of Vampires", it wasn’t a classic but it was an exciting title at the time and unlike many US comics Atlas were very well distributed in the UK which was strange as in the US thier distribution was very poor and contributed to the companies failure. The problem with PoV was that they killed off 3 of their main characters in just 3 issues leaving only 2 astronauts to seek revenge on a planet full of vampires. Did they succeed? , well, we will never know as not long after issue 3 was published Atlas/Seaboard closed up shop. However, a 4th issues does seem to have been created as can be seen by the advert and splash page that appeared in issues 3. Atlas comics may not have been a success but they provided a lot of excitment and fun for comic book fans at the time.
Above: The advert for the 4th issues of Planet of Vampires that sadly never appeared.
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I adored Atlas-Seaboard when it leapt upon the stands. I was looking for something fresh (getting ready for college) and here I stumbled across a brand-new company (rare in those days) with all brand-new characters using high-value talent. But despite that brilliant burst onto the scene, by the time I actually was supposed to arrive at college that fall, the company was no more. It was a hot summer though for sure.
ReplyDeletePlanet of Vampires was outstanding. Planet of the Apes meets The Omega Man and Neal Adams is overseeing it. Fantastic! But like a meteor, it flamed out. Still fondly remembered though.
I still vividly recall the first time I saw an Atlas comic (Phoenix issue 1) in my local newsagent around February 1975 after a wet Glasgow day school - seeing that Atlas logo it cheered me up no end. After that a new Atlas title seemed to appear every few days and I especially remember seeing Iron Jaw, Grim Ghost, The Scorpion and Tales of Evil appearing in quick succession within a very short period of time after I picked up Phoenix issue 1 . As a comic book fan it was a really exciting time and Atlas has remained a great memory of those days for me.
DeleteOf course about a year or so after I picked up the first issue of the Phoenix, Atlas comics were gone from the newsagents of the UK. Initially , I had thought that they had simply stopped distributing their comics to the UK but not long afterwards I read (in a Marvel UK letters page) that they had gone out of business.
Planet of Vampires was a great idea for a comic book and I’m surprised that no one (that I am awe of) has tried to bring back the series. Great times though Rip.
Atlas comics may have been well-distributed in the UK but I'd never heard of them until the internet came along.
ReplyDeleteAs Atlas were only in business for just over a year (if that) unless you were there at the time (I think by 1975 you were to young) I doubt that you would have remembered or even been aware of them them Colin. After their demise there wouldn’t have been many issues around the UK unless you had a specialist comic book back issues store near you.
ReplyDeletePaul, I was 9 in 1975 and I was already reading Marvel UK comics. Atlas comics were probably only available in large towns and cities and not in my local newsagent!
ReplyDeleteAtlas were available in almost every small town in my area as well as the larger towns and cities I ( incorrectly) assumed they were everywhere Colin. Anyway yer still a bairn! ;)
DeleteI definitely had issue #1 of Planet of Vampires for the Adams-inked cover (as Rip Jagger noted - so derivative of Planet of the Apes and The Omega Man), but I generally held a great antipathy for Atlas comics as they seemed to squeeze all of the new DCs off the spinner rack in my local newsagents in Portsmouth. Atlas comics seemed to swamp all other comic distribution for a period of a few months, and then disappeared as quickly a they appeared. Re the cover of issue #2 - that looks to be Giordano pencils with Adams inks - is that the case?
ReplyDeleteI bought almost ever Atlas comic and magazine at the time ( the exceptions being Vicki and a gothic romance comic whose name I have forgotten ) and I have kept a few of them including the 3 issyes of "Planet of Vampires" . I seem to recall that the DC titles i liked, JLA, Legion , Swamp Thing etc were still on sale, but your right i forgot that they pushed DC and Charlton titles off the "spinner racks".
ReplyDeleteI think your right and the cover to issue 2 is more likely Giordano pencils and Adams inks I just took the art credits from Comic vine .