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Monday, August 4, 2025

Major Matt Mason - the comic book that wasn't ?! by Denny O'Neil and Murphy Anderson

I have recently been on a bit of a comic buying spree, in large part due to the fact that my local comic store (Forbidden Planet, Glasgow) has been in receipt of several large back issue collections from folk who have for whatever reason, decided to cash in their collections (one I heard had sadly passed away and his wife was selling his old comics) . Two comics that I picked up as part of my “spree” were issue 7 & 8 of DC’s SF reprint comic “From Beyond the Unknown” purchased on a whim as they were only £3 each. On skimming through these issues, it became clear that one strip “Earth Shall Not Die starring Cmdr. Glen Merritt” by Denny O’Neil and Murphy Anderson, was not a reprint. On checking this tale online, it seems that this story was to have been the first issue of a comic book based on the Mattel toy “ Major Matt Mason”. However, for some reason the licensing deal between DC and Mattel fell apart so rather than waste the story DC split the story into 2 parts and released it under the name Commander Glen Merritt in issue 7&8 of “From Beyond the Unknown”.
Back in 1966 as the US was working on landing a man on the moon, Mattel had released the Major Matt Mason astronaut action figure. The figure was a massive success in the US with many adverts (example above) appearing in US comics.
Above the cover to "From Beyond the Unknown” #7 and example pages from the first Commander Glen Merritt tale.
Above the cover to "From Beyond the Unknown” #8 and example pages from the last episode witht he finaql page of the story hinting that Commander Glen Merritt may return, which (as far as I am aware) he never did.
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8 comments:

  1. KidAugust 5, 2025 at 1:46 AM

    There were also b&w ads in UK comics, McS, as you probably know - like Smash!, Buster, etc. You can lift a few from my blog if you wish, and look at my collection of Matt Mason toys at the same time.

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    Replies
    1. KidAugust 5, 2025 at 1:47 AM

      And what happened to clearing out your collection? You seem to add more than you give away.

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  2. McSCOTTYAugust 5, 2025 at 8:00 AM

    Thanks Kid. I'm still clearing my comics out despite picking up 7 back issues ( for me that's a spree lol) I recently gave around 150 comics to a few charity shops in my area, all now sold. Perhaps thinning out my collection is a more apt phrase.

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  3. Rip JaggerAugust 6, 2025 at 6:56 AM

    Major Matt Mason was my all-time favorite Christmas present. Loved it! And I never knew about this aborted attempt to adapt the character! Thanks for sharing and for letting me know. I have back issues to hunt!

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  4. McSCOTTYAugust 6, 2025 at 8:21 AM

    I was only aware of Major Matt Mason via US comic ads although he was also advertised and sold in the UK which passed me by at the time . Good luck with the back issue hunt Rip

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  5. baggseyAugust 16, 2025 at 4:50 PM

    A really interesting post, Paul; it's great to read a blog entry that provides new information. I do have a few issues of From Beyond The Unknown (12 to 17) that I picked up a few years back, but have never read. I'll look out for those back issues you have highlighted. I loved my Major Matt Mason toys in the 1968-1969 era, even though the string that "powered" Matt's jet pack used to get knots in it, plus the rubber that Matt and his mates was made of was starting to decompose even back then!

    Like many of us, I see you're slimming down your comic collection. Have you tried selling on eBay, or have you concluded that charity shop donation is the way to go?

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  6. McSCOTTYAugust 17, 2025 at 1:09 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. McSCOTTYAugust 17, 2025 at 1:15 AM

    Hi Ian, I never had a Matt Mason action figure as a kid and wasnt aware that they were on sale in the UK until I read Crivens blog, I would have loved a Matt Mason they look amazing.

    I do plan to sell some of my better 1960s - 1970s comics on eBay but most of my 1980s to date comics I have ( most purchased in sales and 3 or 5 comic packs for £3) I tend to pack up and give to charity, out of sight out of mind etc. I am finding it more difficult to let go of my old British comics (Pow,, Smash, Lion etc)

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