Tuesday, February 9, 2010

POST # 29 - THE DEBT














Hello, friends!
Where does the time go?
I have been neglecting you, haven't I?
Well, please accept this original art from Jack Davis, originally printed in EC Comics IMPACT # 3, 1955.
A story from their 'New Direction' line of Comics Code approved tales with an "Impact", which appear to be Shock Suspenstories with less blood. This one was written by Carl Wessler.
(For the published color version, click here to go see
THE BLOG AT THE END OF TIME!)


Jack Davis is a legend. I don't think you need me to tell you who he is, and I'm in a bit of a rush, so I'll skip the usual insights and let you enjoy...
THE DEBT!







Thursday, February 4, 2010

POST # 28 - HOWLING SUCCESS


Have you heard the latest? Werewolves are IN this year!
That's good news for horror fans, and I have soooo many wonderful werewolf tales to share with you...

Like this terror-iffic tale by Archie Goodwin and Angelo Torres, from CREEPY # 3, 1965.

What would you do if you ran into a werewolf on a dark street?
Would you try to negotiate, like Joe Schneider?
Would it be useless, or would it be a...

HOWLING SUCCESS!









Wednesday, February 3, 2010

POST # 27 - SPAWN OF THE CAT PEOPLE


Here's another beauty from the pages of CREEPY. Issue number 2, to be exact. 1965.
Archie Goodwin wrote it, and Reed Crandall exqisitely illustrated it, with the cinematic genius that hides beneath his perfectly rendered forms. As always, Crandall's gorgeous work is a joy and a wonder to behold.

Following the story is an ad that also appeared in CREEPY #2, drawn by the amazing Jack Davis. It depicts a scene from the story, and was more than likely originally a proposed cover design for issue 2 (Davis created the now famous cover artwork for CREEPY #1, and this cat-people design did make it onto the cover of 1965's EERIE #1 - ashcan edition). It appears Warren decided to bump Davis's cover image, and instead started printing covers by a blossoming artist named Frank Frazetta. The rest, as you know, is history.

Now, grab yourself an extra-large scooper for the kitty litter box, here comes the
SPAWN OF THE CAT-PEOPLE!










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Ad from CREEPY #2. Art by Jack Davis.

Cover for EERIE #1 ashcan edition.

Friday, January 29, 2010

POST # 26 - SAM'S SON AND DELILAH


This is the story of Bubber.

You heard me. No, It's not the story of Rubber.

Bubber is the son of Sam. No, not the mass murderer. He's Sam's son, the deaf kid with amazing strength and skill. Skill that Sam uses for his own purposes.

When I first read this story in EERIE # 79 both my friend and I would laugh at his name. We just don't see many "Bubber's" where I come from. The scenes where the fans are chanting his name were particularly amusing to my buddy.

But Bubber's story is far from funny. Nope. It is a tale with tradgedy of biblical proportions, you might say. Certainly a cautionary tale for all parents.

The story is written by Bruce Jones, Pencilled by Carmine Infantino, and Inked by Al Milgrom.
Those names should be familiar to most comic fans. I think I've already mentioned my appreciation for Bruce Jones work.  Carmine Infantino is a DC legend, and he does a typically perfect job of story-telling here.
 Al Milgrom 's inks fit over Infantino's pencils like a glove, their styles working together as one.

Are you ready to be Bubberfied?
Then strap in for the most Bubberific ride of your life,
for here comes the Bubberous tale of
SAM'S SON AND DELILAH!
















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"Bubber! Bubber! Bubber!"

Monday, January 25, 2010

NEW COMICS BLOG - APOCOLYTE'S WORLD OF COMICS


SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

Today is the GRAND OPENING of my 3rd, final and ULTIMATE Comics Blog -

It will be my new main home for Nothing But COMICS (the NON black and white kind)!
Of course I'll still be posting here at BLACK 'N' WHITE AND RED ALL OVER
(hopefully with more frequency), and comics will also still be a huge part of THE BLOG AT THE END OF TIME as well, but for pure comic book history and stories, you'll want to bookmark



POST # 25 - COOL AIR


If one were to take the odd camera angles and ghastly, shadowy gothic imagery of  EC horror maven Graham Ingels, and cross it with the delicate, fine-lined etching quality pen-work of illustrator Franklin Booth, what would you get?

Whatever it is, I'll bet it looks a helluva lot like the art of Berni Wrightson, whose work has been compared to both. Mr. Wrightson has become enthroned as the modern master of horror, and for good reason. Picking up the torch once held by Ingels, Wrightson has carried said torch farther and to more places than Ingels could have imagined. With an expert mastery of the black and white shapes he creates with his fine pen lines or his broad brushstrokes, Wrightson certainly had a hand in bringing horror comics back into fashion in the late 60's and early 70's.

Here he shows he is not only an excellent illustrator, but also a keen writer and director as he takes on the challenge of adapting H. P. Lovecrafts classic horror tale COOL AIR.
Originally published in EERIE # 62, 1975, here is Berni Wrightson's version of
H.P. Lovecraft's COOL AIR!

















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EERIE #62 inside cover. Art By Berni Wrightson.

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If you want more Berni Wrightson, then you must see these two posts from Mr. DoorTree over at the incredible GOLDEN AGE COMIC BOOK STORIES! I highly recommend it!
Click here and here.

Monday, January 18, 2010

POST # 24 - ONE FOR DE-MONEY!



Angelo Torres was one of the first artists to be featured here, and you will very likely see his name and artwork here quite often, if I can help it! The more I revisit his art for Warren Publications, the more respect I have for his bold and finished style.
Today's tale comes from EERIE # 2, 1966, and was written by E. Nelson Bridwell. If you've ever read a DC comic or a MAD magazine from the sixties, you've read Bridwell's work. This happened to be his first contribution to the Warren line (click here for another), a story about a rich uncle, a squandering nephew, and conjurings of demons. Torres creates such an aura of horror, you can practically smell the sulfur and brimstone tickling your nostrils.

A classic horror tale of greed and murder, here is...
ONE FOR DE-MONEY!