PART FOUR Of The INCREDIBLE JOHNNY FUTURE...

Copyright REBELLION

  

Nah, you don't need to read any long-winded waffle from yours truly regarding the awesome artwork of LUIS BERMEJO on the magnificent JOHNNY FUTURE strip from the pages of FANTASTIC back in the swinging '60s.  Just enjoy!

DALEK DESIGNER RAYMOND CUSICK PASSES AWAY...

I've just learned the sad news that RAY CUSICK, designer of TERRY NATION's iconic mutant monsters The DALEKS, died on February 21st at the age of 84.  All children owe him a huge debt of gratitude for enriching their childhoods with his perfect realisation of DOCTOR WHO's scary inhabitants of the planet SKARO.

Sadly, he never got rich from his inspired interpretation of Nation's description of the transformed KALEDS, as he was a BBC employee at the time and it was just another day's work for him.  Apparently he received a £100 bonus as a gesture of appreciation from Auntie Beeb, but considering the many millions derived from Dalek merchandise, it seems they didn't appreciate him as much as he deserved.

Raymond himself never made an issue of it though, and was content merely to be recognised as the designer of the metal-cased mutants.  Mr Cusick is survived by two daughters, seven grandchildren and several million Daleks.

 R.I.P. Raymond Patrick Cusick. 1928 - 2013.

WILL SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE JOHNNY FLAGG A FIGHTING CHANCE...?

Front cover to Titan edition

Back in 1989, I bought the MARVEL hardback featuring the FIGHTING AMERICAN stories by SIMON & KIRBY which had first appeared in the 1950s.  Some of the pages had been very obviously touched-up and, in some cases, re-created by tracing from the published comics.  Some captions and word balloons had been re-lettered also, meaning that the book, though worthy, was hardly archival in nature.

Back cover to Titan edition

Then, a couple of years back, over on the Simon & Kirby Museum, restorer HARRY MENDRYK posted 'before' and 'after' examples of pages from a new Fighting American reprint book which he was then working on.  There were pictorial comparisons with the earlier book, and the new presentation looked superior in every way.  Sadly, this doesn't seem to have transferred to the published result.

Panel from Titan edition

I managed to pick up a copy of the TITAN BOOKS softcover edition recently, and I have to be honest and say that I found it to be disappointing in certain respects.  Some pages and panels are so murky, and colours so dark, that the detail is practically invisible underneath.  Perhaps the problem is purely down to the printing, but what's the point of alleged 'faithful' reproduction of the original line-work if you can't even see it?

Panel from Marvel edition

I can't open the book wide enough to scan complete pages without creasing the spine, but I can show you a panel from each volume so that you can see the difference for yourselves.  The first picture, shown before the preceding paragraph, is an example from the Titan book, followed by the same panel, above, from the Marvel presentation of the tale.  Out of the two of them, which one would you say was clearer?

Front cover to Marvel edition

Despite the imperfections of the 1989 release, it's a much easier reading experience and far less likely to induce eye-strain and headaches in those who peruse its pages than the the 2011 Titan volume.  So don't be misled by its claims to superiority over the Marvel book - it would be a tad hasty to dispense with the earlier edition until a truly superior version is available to collectors.

Sad to say, that's yet to happen.  Maybe one day?  In the meantime, I'd say that both volumes are essential items on any serious Simon & Kirby fan's bookshelf.

Back cover to Marvel edition

FOOTNOTE: I played around with the Titan panel on my computer and this (below) was the result, so it seems that the murkiness is down to the way the book was printed rather than the way the pages were prepared for publication.  Hopefully Titan will release a superior, defect-free edition in the not too distant future.

Reworked Titan panel