This comic book advertisement from Movie Comics #1 (December 1946) complete with smoking jacket-wearing Hef could be the spiritual precursor to the classic 'What sort of man reads Playboy' print ads that would appear in the adult magazine Playboy several years later.
Tags: Comic Book Ad
Chicks are pretty much useless in a crisis, aren't they?
(THOUGHT)
The Sleester just feels like Ol' Gil from the Simpsons.
Or Charlie Brown.
Used...
And abused.
In spite of the drama...
Things are looking up.
It just takes time.
Life is an odd journey but I am comforted by the fact that
Introducing...
Dang, Little Archie's mom is HOT!
"...And stop wasting the whipped cream! I'm going to...er...use it tonight after you go on your trip."Little Archie rescues Little Veronica from the family butler who kidnapped her for ransom by lighting him on fire and throwing the villain down a flight of stairs.
The cartoonish figures of Archie and Veronica are an odd contrast to the far more realistic depictions of the dungeon setting and the plummeting butler.
From Little Archie #12 (1961).
Tags: Archie Silver Age Seduction of the Innocent
While riding the bus a few weeks ago to and from work I noticed the phrase ART AS A THREAT spray-painted in a few places by the college. Oh, those edgy college kids with their local band stickers and graffiti stencils, out to educamate the world. It's so cute. Like a baby's first steps across the living room.
Yeah, once they realize they will starve and die by maintaining their principles they sell out eventually. It'll be years before they realize they have become just like their parents when they walk by that homeless guy without giving him a quarter. It's amusing to see them in later years decline to sign a ballot measure petition because it means they might have to re-register to vote and then be called to serve jury duty later.
I thought it would be interesting to take the message symbolizing their generational angst and pretentious dissatisfaction of a pop-culture they secretly embrace and co-opt it by making it cute, fluffy and Hallmark store marketable.
Tags: Friday Catblogging LOLcats
From the splash page of The Fighting Yank #12 (June 1945) comes this awesome image of the Fighting Yank gleefully destroying America's stereotyped enemy soldiers by using an ELEPHANT-MOUNTED MACHINE GUN!!!!!!!
An ELEPHANT-MOUNTED MACHINE GUN!!!!!!! is almost as mind-plotzing as Cowboy Sahib! This image appears nowhere in the main story and makes me think it was originally intended to be a cover, but the scene may have been too violent for the news stands and the far more palatable art of the Yank kicking back in the Imperial Palace throne room was used instead. I thank the Comic Book Gods it was included for publication in the issue and therefore the awesomeness was preserved for eternity.
Tags: Golden Age ELEPHANT-MOUNTED MACHINE GUN!!!!!!! Awesome
The good old days.
"The Birth of a Nation" was a positive selling point, Manifest Destiny was the 11th Commandment and psychotic fanaticism was called patriotism!
Image via Pulp of the Day.
Tags: Pulp
Some days I think I should just give up and use my LJ account and do nothing but post to scans_daily.
The out of context (kind of) panel is from the story "Gentle Brute" in Unknown Worlds #25 (August 1963). Both the story and the comic is just so appropriately named, isn't it? I mean, you know the editors and staff were sitting around a table pointing to the finished art and giggling like schoolboys. Check out the guy's leering expression. I'm a big believer in the idea that the creative teams of comic books chafed under the Comics Code Authority and often took the opportunity to slip gags and situations past the censorship panel that only mature readers would catch for what they really were.
Cover bonus: Bear zapping!
A bear getting zapped on a comic book cover is almost as cool as evil monkeys.
Tags: Seduction of the Innocent Bear-Zapping
The Eagle versus the Beast, the bad guy with a crowbar for a hand! Now that's a fight scene! Plus, "Helga Vegas" is very nearly the best name ever for a villainess.
This page features something that can only be found in comics. No, not a muscular shirtless hero in the company of a young sidekick who wears school boy's gym clothes! In the final battle, the Eagle leaps from the second story of a building and lands with both feet onto the villains' s face...and the bad guy lives! In fact, he he keeps on fighting until the Eagle smashes him in the face with an anvil!
Cool Page from Weird Comics #15 (June 1941).
Tags: Golden Age
A friend told me to bring along a cat with me to the theater when I went to see the Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer movie, because the urge to kill something out of fanboy rage might possibly turn upon myself if a victim was not otherwise readily available.
While I didn't think it was that bad I have to agree with most reviews of the film:
- The sequel was better than the first, which isn't saying much.
- It's a fine 90-minute babysitter for eight year olds.
- The CGI was pretty good.
- The FF mostly stood around or ran away.
- The FF and Doom were the Eddie Murphy to the Silver Surfer's Golden Child.
- The film is almost good (a la' any Golan & Globus production).
I often gauge a science fiction or effects-driven film by how much story remains after the special effects are removed. The measuring stick I use for is Raiders of the Lost Ark. Story wise, Raiders has more plot and characterization crammed into 2 hours than most trilogies. Even mentally subtracting the F/X leaves you with a movie that is full and entertaining. Not so the Fantastic Four.
FF: RotSS is typical of Hollywood productions of late, a thin story that won't confuse too many people and a few neat-o CGI effects thrown that someone much smarter and with far more wit and talent than the committee that produced the film could envision. FF: RotSS joins other films like Ghost Rider in being a shallow series of vignettes connected by a loose plot designed to sell toys and video games and justify the product placement licensing opportunities.
As a guy, I have to comment on Jessica Alba as Sue Storm. Wig and contact lenses aside, she is becoming more attractive as she ages and it is a pity that she does not posses a greater acting talent. As Alba matures she is probably destined to become the next Terri Hatcher, someone who is pretty enough for television dramas and Lifetime Channel movies but not much of a challenge for the viewer.
I also did not mind the V'ger-ish Galacti-smog as much as some fans, though I can't believe a scene like this one from Thor #167 (August 1969) would not have worked in the right context. If not even Vince Colletta were able to ruin this scene, then Hollywood couldn't.
The hint of the face of Galactus at the center of the cloud in the film was enough for me, but I would have liked to have seen the Surfer emerge from the cloud into the calm eye of the cosmic storm, confronting Galactus as it stands stands on the world ship operating Kirbyesque machines. The film makers could have even thrown in the "Galactus appears as whatever the observer can accept it to be" thing and show differing representations of Galactus as the Surfer battles for the life of the Earth. One of them could have been the classic Kirby space-god. That would have been cool.
Tags: Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer
Are these examples of Golden Age tentacle porn?
That isn't to say that the popular Japanese media didn't import the concept and make it their very own in ways to numerous and horrible to contemplate, but the American mainstream comic books didn't take the idea past the occasional Freudian image.Gosh! Cutesy cartoons about the nuclear annihilation of mankind are so darn funny! Any child living in the atomic age who read this Professor Eureka page-filler tale from Showcase #12 (January-February 1958) must have been splitting his sides with laughter. This installment of the Prof. Eureka strip is just so Atomic Cafe.
The strip is quite a bit less humorous in contemporary times given the high rate of behind-the-scenes corporate involvement in war and corrupt shenanigans we have in the battle field of today. Not to say it didn't happen in the past, but the American mind-set was a bit different then and the military-industrial complex was the basis of most country's economies. To paraphrase Hank Ford, what was good for war was good for America.
I imagine that even now somewhere there is licensing executive sitting in an office praying for the day their company can put a corporate logo on a weapon of mass destruction similar to the decals on a NASCAR racer or as an advertisement on a soldiers' body armor. It is already in the public consciousness that the bumper-sticker sentiment of "This war brought to you by [insert company name here]" is a truism.
One thing to remember is that the Professor Eureka strip was written by Henry Boltinoff, who often seems to insert a subtle message into most of his gags, particularly those not only of Prof. Eureka but Peter Puptent as well. I don't know anything about Boltinoff or his politics specifically, but he seems like quite the progressive. In reading his strips I find sexual liberation themes, anti-war and racial equality messages covertly inserted in strips that appear on the surface to be falling in line with the prevailing political and public sentiment of the times but are really the opposite. That he does it without preaching like an After-School Special reveals his cleverness.
Tags: Henry Boltinoff Propaganda
One of the popular conceits about the Library of Alexandria is the perception that the unfortunately destroyed archives contained in the dusty scrolls the answers to mysteries that will never be solved and secrets lost to the ages.
Tony Stark gets all misty-eyed in Sub-Mariner #1 (August 2007).This poignant story of a young widow worried about the future welfare of her baby is made horribly tragic by the "erase everything and get the pages to the messenger by 3 pm" inking style of Vince Colletta. What should be a dramatic moment as the young widow reminisces about her late husband is instead transformed into a scene from a horror comic featuring a shut in and her mindless, zombie toddler.
48 hours after the last cleaning this mass of fur, twigs, dog food and other debris is what I swept up out of just the living room.
Pets suck.
Tags: Pets suck
From Young Love #80 (May-June 1970) is another example of a love story featuring a liberated comic book woman. Liz is sexy, confident and capable until she meets her dream man. Then when he dismisses her in favor of his work she falls apart and goes totally psycho nutty insane as the fear she will live the remainder of her life without a father-figure as a husband consumes her.
Good thing for us guys that women don't behave like this in real life!
So long as Richard can keep slipping anti-psychotics into her food without Liz noticing then they will surely live happily ever after.
Aww, who's got the cutest little daddy issues? You do! Yes, you!
Carole Danvers didn't handle very well losing her super powers that one time.
I'm so glad to be male. I will gladly put up with the occasional bout of impotence when I'm older than to have to go through the ordeal that gals have to deal with every month.
Suddenly, Zatanna pointed her hand at Liz and shouted, "ZIL POTS!"This shingle was attached to the newspaper racks around San Diego yesterday.
Is the local paper trying to bring to people's attention an article about the pervasiveness of pornography in popular culture and the media? I can't tell from the card display. Or, as the card suggests, is the Union-Tribune offering coupons good for over $699 in porn-savings?
If so, that's some pretty good porn discounts, right there.
The Union-Tribune has been aggressively pushing recently for subscriptions and the advertisement is probably a part of the campaign. As advertising designed to cause people to notice the brand it seemed to be kind of effective, at least from what I observed at work yesterday. Several times during the day I heard comments about the display and I saw a few people taking pictures of it with their cell phone cameras. Sadly, it's a juvenile sort of advertising and the kind of high school gimmick I'd expect from a place like Annapolis but not San Diego. Maybe the Union-Tribune out-sourced to a marketing agency from Maryland or something.
I've been on the fence about canceling the UT but hung in there because I receive my paper free of charge and I need something to protect the table for when I polish my shoes. But because of this campaign I think I'll cancel it anyways because the ad annoys me and is stupid.
Tags: Grocery Store Artifact Advertising
I scored a 27! How did you do?
My version of the test would be a lot shorter:
1) Are you hot?
2) Are you easy?
If you answered "Yes" to either question then YOU are the type boys go for!
From Heart Throbs #132 (June-July 1971).
Tags: Comic Book Romance
Bad Advice from Romance Comic Books
With issue #20 of the newest incarnation of Jonah Hex I have to admit the series is finally starting to grow on me. I have not been too thrilled with the the Palmiotti, Grey, et al version of Jonah Hex since it started because I like my characterization deep and Me Ling, but the recent Lady Hex story went a long way to changing my opinion. The idea of God's Wild West Revenge-Ninja was something that was okay when Clint Eastwood did it so long ago but I never cared for it in regards to the Hex character.
The most recent issue is still a bit shallow around the edges for my tastes as the story reads like a first draft was being published. I also found the art inconsistent, scratchy and hurried. For that one page it took me a second to realize Jonah wasn't picking up rocks to hurl at his tormentors but rather he was getting his hands stomped. And he punched out people with his mangled fingers? That makes sense for a guy who makes a living pulling triggers. Plus, what was up with the on-again/off-again bandages? My impression was that I was reading someone who copied the sparse style of the Whitman or Dell comics of the 1970s.
While it may not seem like it from the mini-review, I really am starting to like this Jonah Hex and that is mainly on the strength of the past six months worth of stories. I hope this isn't because any Jonah is better than no Jonah, if you get my drift.
That said, if I was writing Jonah Hex his adventures would be a little bit different than what readers might be used to.
Script and art by "Fleisher Hanks".
Gasp!
Go get 'em, Pard!
Look out, Jonah Hex the Super Wizard!
America is saved! Yay!These final panels from the six-part comic book soap opera "Confessions" are supposed to convey the reconciliation between two sisters who were feuding over men. But due to the text and the poses of the characters what is supposed to be a hug with a sibling really comes off as something pretty different altogether.
In reading the story one could easily ignore that the scheming, blond starlet and kind-hearted, black haired nurse were related. I came away from the stories with the impression that the pair could really be considered "sisters" only in the sense that they were both women and that by stating they were family DC Comics could keep the Comics Code Authority away.
At every turn Jewel sabotaged any budding romance between April and any possible suitor. Jewel later confessed that she interfered in her sister's relationships out of jealousy of April's potential happiness. In my mind that really signified that Jewel was worried that she would lose her chance forever to be with April if her "sister" went ahead and conformed to traditional standards of gender identity and sexuality. The final unnecessary and gratuitous expository panel immediately after the kissing scene only reinforces my impression that this story was ultimately about two women finding each other back before it was acceptable to have openly gay characters in pop-media.
From the appropriately named Girl's Love Stories #152 (July 1970).
Tags: Comic Book Romance
In the Marvel comic title Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, when does the story arc begin when this version of Gwen Stacy gets knocked up by Norman Osborn and dropped off a bridge?
Just asking.
Tags: Spider-Man Gwen Stacy
Romance comics had a hard time going in the 1960s and 1970s. As a useful plot device the dreams of a girl finding a husband and setting up home that populated the love titles of the previous two decades were now out of fashion. Now women had to be portrayed as liberated, sexy, confident and no longer defined by a man or the traditional roles of a homemaker and housekeeper. In the midst of a cultural revolution and with sales threatened by the theme of the books, comic companies were forced to portray modern, educated and strong liberated women who were not defined by their partners and traditional female roles.
However, the romance comics of the 1960s and 1970s became a bit schizophrenic, due in no small part to the old men who were the editors. They tried to make the stories contemporary to the times but usually failed, unable or unwilling to tell a story that was different from what they were used to in their experience and also partly because of the Comics Code Authority, which was slow to embrace changes like the graphic depictions of bra-burning and Jane Fonda-like characters having orgies.
The young ladies of the Bronze Age romance comics were definitely liberated but it was a superficial sort of surrender to popular culture and feminism. While the women were no longer living at home, were out on their own in the big city, earning a living, dressed in "happening" fashions and were active sexually (never stated but the subtext was there), the idea of what constituted a liberated woman in the comics of the time was still very mired in the stories of the 1950s. More often than not the heart-sick young woman searching for love was a secretary, maid or nurse. They were usually confined in the story to supporting or 2nd tier jobs while mooning over the handsome doctor or professional man that callously ignored them. Rarely was the woman considered an equal in the setting where the drama took place and while there were usually a few nods to feminism and equality the sentiment was only panel deep.
A typical example of a liberated female romance story of the time can be seen in the Marvel Comics title My Love #20 (July 1974) in the story "The Boy Who Can't Be Mine!".
An angry Radea turned evil thinks about Captain Comet, who in turn thinks about her.
In the early appearances of the Phantom Stranger the character was not so much mystical as a private detective. The Phantom Stranger investigated crimes that appeared to have a supernatural origin but were actually perpetrated by con artists. He was a free-lance ghost-buster with plots and stories that were much like those much later seen in the Scooby-Doo cartoons. The Stranger and the Scooby Gang shared similar themes in which someone would dress as a monster or ghost to frighten away people from a circus or resort so an unscrupulous business man could buy it cheaply or to swindle people out of money.
At the end of each adventure after the Phantom Stranger had solved the crime the players would suddenly notice that the Stranger had mysteriously vanished. While the impression was that the Stranger had magically dismissed himself there was always an "out" in the scene to allow the comic book company to claim in the event of complaints or Comics Code censorship that it was not accomplished by magic.
Look down the hallway, Lorna!
I think the new Mrs. So Long Copper has been kidnapped twice.
From Gang Busters #2 (Feb-March 1948).
Tags: Golden Age
I don't usually respond to the few troll-attempts I receive but in a response today to this 9/22/2005 post about a teen-age Robin being propositioned by an adult, a commenter confirmed exactly why comic book publishers continue to pander to the baser instincts of fans.
Dr. Zaius of the Zaius Nation fancies himself a rival for Cheryl's affections!
Foolish, damned dirty Ape!Let's skip the panel of the drug-addicted Army nurse pretending to administer an anesthetic to the injured soldier on the gurney while actually injecting herself in the hand and look at the panel with the titled date of May 5, 1942. This representation of the military insignia of the Military District of Washington from World War Two would give anyone the willies. Or rather...Does the patch give one the impression of willies being taken away?
From Our Army at War #104 (March 1961).
It's like an internet meme in comic book form!
Slightly photoshopped from Intergalactic #1 (2007).
Tags: San Diego Comic Books
I previously worked at a place where due to the slobs wrecking the break room the privilege of tables, couch, refrigerator, microwave and everything else was revoked. Basically the employees had access to a water fountain to get a drink and had to plastic classroom chairs to sit on. It sucked that so many people would eat and then just leave stuff on the table that we were forced to take away the amenities.
I'm not the sort that leaves polite notes in the break room to keep the microwave clean an dispose of your trash. My style is from the old school of management: "KEEP IT CLEAN OR I TAKE IT AWAY." In a heartbeat I will take away the microwave, put a lock on the refrigerator and put away all the other toys that make life bearable.
I hate coming in and spending precious minutes of my lunch (which will inevitably be interrupted) cleaning up after adults who abandon a table top full of used microwaveable trays, spilled drinks and wrappers. I dislike prying my lunch bag from the sticky shelf in the refrigerator it has adhered to. I do not want to have to forcibly peel the bag off a shelf like it was a naked, dead fat guy in a vinyl chair on a hot day. Yesterday, I came across this in a cabinet:
Furry, green beef jerky. Ugh."I put a soda in there last Thursday and now it's gone."Makes me wonder what some living spaces look like."Hey! My sammich is gone! Some [expletive deleted] stole it!"
- Oh, you mean the uncovered fountain drink with the straw in it I looked at every day for six days? Yeah, I threw it out. The cup was soaked through and was leaking all over the shelf and dripping down onto other stuff.
"Did you throw out my Doritos?"
- No. The dark threads of mold spreading out from the thumb print in the center of the slice of bread bothered me so I threw it in the garbage.
"Where is all my Tupperware/insulated lunch bags/non-spill travel cups?"
- I don't know. Which one of the eight bags containing crushed Doritos powder in the refrigerator was yours?
"I was going to eat those tamales, man."
- In the sink or in plastic bags. Take them home by tomorrow because if you don't, when I leave at end of my shift tomorrow I will be throwing all of them into the trash.
- No, you were in fact not going to eat them. From the date on the receipt, I saw that the three uncovered Tamales were put in the freezer in late April. It is the end of June. They were freezer-burned. They had ice cream spilled on them. Into the trash they went.
Tags: Grocery Store Artifact
