FINAL PART Of MAD #1 - HUMOUR IN A JUGULAR VEIN...

Copyright DC COMICS

JOHN SEVERIN was much more than 'just' an inker of HERB TRIMPE's pencils for The INCREDIBLE HULK, or his sister MARIE's work on KULL The CON-QUEROR - he was a mighty fine artist in his own right.  He was so good that he was one of the primary cartoonists on the early MAD comic, though he later became more associated in many fan's eyes with Mad's rival, CRACKED magazine.  (Which had the good sense to admit that it was "Number two in a field of one!")

Anyway, John's strip brings us to the end of our four-part tour through Mad's first issue.  Hope you enjoyed it, and that you're soon let loose from those long-sleeved pyjamas that tie-up at the back.  And don't worry - a nice, nubile young nurse will be around shortly to give you your medicine.  You'll get outta here yet - trust me, I'm a doctor!  Now, excuse me while I take this little pill and - ZzZzZzZzZzZ!

BONUS: The real 'Mad Men'.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MIKE MITTELSTADT?

Copyright MARVEL COMICS and CPI

I recently posted a couple of letters I'd had published in British MARVEL mags back in the '70s, and it started me wondering whatever happened to one of the regular contributors to the letter columns at around the same time as myself.  As far as I remember, I only ever had about three letters printed in all, but there was a guy whose name was always appearing in various Marvel U.K. mags and that was MIKE MITTELSTADT.

 

Most of his letters seemed to appear in THE SUPER-HEROES, and they were always erudite and interesting, which is no doubt why the editors picked them.  Mike was American by birth and lived in this country for a few years before moving back to the States.  Anyone know if he still collects comics and what he's doing with himself these days?  For no other reason that it would be nice to know that such a devoted comics fan was still pursuing the hobby which so fascinated him when he was younger.

 

I'm not looking for any contact details - just a word from anyone who might know him to say whether he's still with us and collecting comics to his heart's content.  It'd be reassuring to know that some things never change and that a familiar name from the past (even if it is that of a stranger) is still uttering that timeless cry - "MAKE MINE MARVEL!"

 

******

 

(And in case you were wondering, I've no idea whether or not the above issue contains one of Mike's letters.  I only picked it from my files because it's from around the time that he was so prolific in his Marvellous missives.  Pun intended, as if you didn't know.)   

THOR The MIGHTY In A JOURNEY Into MYSTERY COVER GALLERY - PART ONE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

We all know about the controversy over who did what in the MARVEL superhero comicbook stakes, I'm sure.  Was it STAN or was it JACK?  Kirby's kamp klaims the King kreated absolutely everything (see what I did there?) and Stan just came along for the ride.  However, in the kase (help, I kan't stop) of THOR The MIGHTY, there's good evidence to suggest that this simply wasn't so.

For example, it's likely that had Jack created Thor, he'd have drawn the first ish and mailed it to Stan to simply dialogue (which is not to suggest that dialoguing is really that 'simple').  However, that's not what happened by all accounts.  Here's what did.  Jack worked from a full script by Stan's younger brother, LARRY LIEBER.  Stan came up with the plot, then handed the job over to Larry to write - which he did magnificently.

'Twas Larry who invented the metal URU to explain what Thor's hammer was made of; 'twas also Larry who created the name of Thor's mortal alter-ego - DOCTOR DONALD BLAKE; and 'twas Larry who delivered a true comicbook classic.  Just read the opening captions as Blake fails to see the descending spaceship of The STONE MEN From SATURN! 

"Two principals in a grim pageant... neither one noticing the other! But how different would things be if they were to meet at this moment!  How different would be the future of all mankind!

But ours is a drama decreed by the fates to be acted out!  Nothing can stop it! Nothing can change it!  Watch and see..."

In my estimation, that's darn good writing for a 'long underwear character' aimed at kids back in the 1960s.  Remember, at the exact same point in time over at DC COMICS, a typical caption was "One day, in Metropolis..."  The point is this: No one seems to dispute Larry's account that he wrote a full script which Jack then drew, which appears to rule out Kirby as the 'prime initiator' in the creation of the hammer-swinging thunder god.

Anyway, I've teased you long enough - it's now time to open the floodgates of visual enjoyment and unleash upon you the first part of the cover gallery of The Mighty Thor!  (H'mm, that sounds strangely familiar for some reason.)

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I've just realized I posted these same covers before - but what the heck!  They're worth another outing.

MAD #1 - HUMOUR IN A JUGULAR VEIN - PART THREE...

Copyright DC COMICS

We now trip merrily along to BILL ELDER's artwork in the first issue of MAD. What is there to say about the late Bill Elder?  One thing will suffice: He was zany, he was talented, and - just as importantly - he was funny!  (Okay, I lied - that was three things.)  Anyway, I know none of you visit this blog to read anything I have to say - you're here to look at the pictures.  So, much as I hate to tear myself away from indulging in my favourite pastime (typing the first thing that comes into my head and then pretending it was all carefully thought-out beforehand), it's time to admire the artistry of one of America's top talents.

     

LETTERS To MARVEL...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Long ago and far away, in a time and place that can now be accessed only by memory, I had a letter published in The MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL.  You'd think I would've kept the iconic issue for posterity, to impress my children and grandchildren (if I'd ever had any), and to look back on in a ripe old age, basking in the glory of my awesome achievement.  But no!  I settled for a photocopy of the epic epistle and consigned the comic to a fate unknown.  (I probably gave it to a pal.)

As regular readers will no doubt know, a recent blog-post featured a letter of mine from PLANET Of The APES #8, in which I'd mentioned another of my magnificent missives in MWOM #108.  I assumed, so many years after the fact, that this was the self-same captivating communication to which I just referred in the previous paragraph, so I promptly tracked down and purchased a copy on sale on eBay, eager to be reunited with an item from my long-vanished youth.

Well, it arrived today - and, surprise, surprise, it's not the letter I had photocopied almost four decades ago (which I still have), but another one I had all but forgotten. Reading it again for the first time in years brought it all back to me, but it amazes me that it could ever have slipped my mind, albeit relatively temporarily.  (If you can consider a period of nearly 40 years a 'temporary' condition.)

Anyway, seeing as how I've been able to fool you all for the last couple of years with the notion that I'm capable of writing anything even remotely worth reading, I thought you might enjoy seeing my lilting letter from The MIGHTY MARVEL MAILBAG so very long ago.  (Whaddya mean I was wrong?)

However, don't go thinking you're safe - when I remember where I put that photocopy, I'll be posting that for your 'reading pleasure' as well.  (Cue 'Jaws' theme.)

  

CAPTAIN SCARLET ANNUAL COVERS...

Copyright relevant owner

A few posts back, I featured a couple of RON TURNER pages from the CAPTAIN SCARLET Annual for 1968, and it occurred to me that you might like to see the complete adventure.  So, that'll be appearing soon in an upcoming entry, followed by another titanic Ron Turner tale from the subsequent Annual for '69.  First, though, I thought you'd appreciate seeing the front and back covers for both books - so here they are in all their captivating glory.  (Sorry, don't know who the artist is - but isn't he good?!)

There was also at least one combined Captain Scarlet and THUNDERBIRDS Annual, but as it was neither one thing or the other, I've not included it here.  What I have included though, are the two CS Annuals for 1994 and '95.  The front and back covers were the same, so I've only shown one side of each book.

Strange to think that over a quarter of a century after his debut in hardcover form, SPECTRUM's best agent was once more enough of an attraction to warrant a further two Annuals - even if the '94 one did reprint three comic strip adventures and at least one text story from the '68 edition.  It's still nice to have though.

And remember, Crivs - SPECTRUM agent Captain Scarlet is indestructible - you are not, so do not try to emulate him!  

PART TWO OF MAD #1 - HUMOUR IN A JUGULAR VEIN...

Copyright DC COMICS

Continuing our look back at the very first issue of EC's MAD, we now turn our attention to the following strip by comics legend WALLY WOOD.  Ol' Woody was equally adept at humour strips as he was action/adventure ones, and this is a prime example of his mastery of the comicbook medium in which he attained artistic immortality.

However, you don't need me to tell you how good he was - you can see for yourself in the accompanying pages.

    

PART TWO Of The FABULOUS FANTASTIC FOUR COVER GALLERY...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Oh, you lucky Crivs!  11 JACK KIRBY comic covers for you all to MARVEL at!  (Pun?  What pun?)  Not only have I presented you with #s 11-20, I've also thrown in the first ever FF Annual from 1965.  You don't deserve me, you really don't.

So, my fellow fans, here's a question for your consideration.  Out of all 11 covers, which one is your favourite - and why?  (Or is that two questions?)  Go on, don't be shy - astound everyone by demonstrating your amazing artistic acumen in the captivating comments section.  Trust me, you'll feel better for it.

And if you'd like to remind yourself of the covers to issues 1-10, you can do that very thing by clicking here.