Tigra in "Nightmare's Evolution" (Marvel Comics;1978)

I posted a couple of silver age DC stories about a month ago that tied into my jungle comics motif and today you get a late bronze age gem from the vaults of Marvel Comics old anthology series Marvel Premiere, specifically issue #42 (July 1978), starring Tigra the Feline Fury. Tigra was originally the hero known simply as The Cat, and had a brief four issue run earlier in the same decade. She was transformed into her newer, furrier alter ego in the pages of Giant-Size Creatures #1 (July 1974) and the character eventually joined the ranks of the Avengers.

"Nightmare's Evolution" is written by Ed Hannigan with John Warner and drawn by Mike Vosburg and Ernie Chan. I've never thought that Vosburg was a particularly good artist, but he does have good layout skills and Chan really adds alot to this story, giving it what it needs to be entertaining. The cover, which is included, is by the late Dave Cockrum. The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Since I put out the word only yesterday that I wanted one of the DC Universe Classics variant figures of Wildcat, I suppose I've inadvertently entered into another theme week, so I will have to see what I can come up with for "Cat Scratch Fever Week". (Wish me luck!)

Enjoy!

Help!!! I want a Wildcat.

DC Universe Classics is a popular line of toys manufactured by Mattel. Considered by many to be the main line of the re-branded DC Universe characters, these 6-inch scale figures are based on characters taken from throughout the entire DC Comics library. Earlier expansion sets from previous Mattel lines focused primarily on Batman and Superman related characters. The entire DC Universe Classics line is sculpted by the Four Horsemen Studios.

I stopped buying the DC Direct figures some years back after so many of them manifested quirks that limited displaying them on a shelf. They were either too top heavy and the figures didn't want to stand up, or the disparity between different sculpting styles within a specific group of related characters turned me off. I later picked up three of the Alex Ross Justice figures, Superman, Sinestro and Flash (Barry Allen). The Flash figure was designed to stand in a running pose on his base. Two days after I placed him in that position, I noticed that he had fallen over. The knee peg had given out. It's a nice looking figure though and I still have them available for trade, but I haven't bought action figures since.

Now, today I happened upon this image of the DCU Classics figure of Ted "Wildcat" Grant from the Justice Society of America. I have to admit that I would like to have this toy, but since I believe that this blue version is the "variant", who knows what that would cost. I always liked Wildcat's appearances in The Brave and the Bold during the 1970's.

Several of the DC Universe Classics figures appeal to me, but not enough to shell out megabucks for a few toys to sit on a shelf. I do find their "chase" figures to be the most interesting, but those were included in "segmented form" with each new waves release. Metamorpho, Gorilla Grodd, Solomon Grundy, Despero, Metallo, Kalibak, Atom-Smasher, Giganta, Chemo, Imperiex, Kilowog and Trigon (in the upcoming 13 wave). That's a lot of villains isn't it? (and yes there are a couple of exceptions)

I thought that it couldn't hurt to post my interest in securing a blue Wildcat figure in the hopes that someone could lead me to the most affordable one available.

Tangi in the Buried City (Star Publications; 1953)

There is just enough time to squeeze in one more golden age comics post before "Go Ape Shit" Week breathes its last gasp. This particular tale comes from Terrors of the Jungle #21 (Feb. 1953) which was published by Star Publications, but the story is reprinted from and unidentified issue of Fox Comics series, Jungle Jo, from a mere three years earlier.

Tangi originally appeared in issues of Dagar Desert Hawk and Jungle Jo, however several of her adventures were repackaged by Star in Terrors of the Jungle. The GCD lists no credits for the creative team on this one, but the great Jack Kamen had illustrated a few shorter Tangi tales (and those will be forthcoming in the Catacombs). In keeping with my whole gorilla-theme for this week, at least one great ape appears in this story. You also get a glimpse at the nice cover from this issue.

The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

"Gal" Friday! Jessica Lange

It took forty-three years to do it, but Hollywood demonstrated how NOT to remake a screen classic when producer Dino De Laurentiis released King Kong in 1976. Talk about awful, legendary make-up artist Rick Baker donned a gorilla suit to portray the "Eight Wonder of the World", but nothing could have saved this turkey of a film - which surprisingly became a commercial hit.

Crummy effects notwithstanding, the ONLY reason to watch this movie is to appreciate the smoldering sensuality of acting ingenue Jessica Lange in her motion picture debut. She was sweet, sexy, sultry and her just the right amount of girl-next-door charm, managed to lure you in, despite the goofiness oozing out of every other minute onscreen. Strangely, they opted to name her character "Dwan", I guess because she came across as a free spirit. Dwan bonded with the big ape the same way that original starlet, Fay Wray had in the 1933 version.

Co-star Jeff Bridges, still a few years away from some of his best theatrical work made it look easy to work alongside Lange. Based on his woolly appearance in the '76 film, one could say that, "even a caveman could do it". Of course, the lovely & talented Jessica went on to win two acting Oscars (and several additional nominations) after Kong premiered, but it took a few years due to the critical drubbing this film received - box office damned.

Jessica earns her spot in the Catacombs as the latest "Gal" Friday and to nicely to cap off my "Go Ape Shit" theme week. See ya next time around!

Tabu the Jungle Wizard in "The Slave Raiders" (Fiction House;1940)

Tabu, the Jungle Wizard was a super-powered jungle hero created by Fletcher Hanks, who was only active in comics between 1939 and 1941. During his brief golden age tenure, Hanks created several eclectic characters including Stardust the Super Wizard, Tabu and Fantomah (one of the first female superheroes, predating even Wonder Woman). He used several different pen names, including "Henry Fletcher", "Barclay Flagg", "Bob Jordan", and "Hank Christy". Hanks was reportedly abusive towards his immediate family, as well as an alcoholic. After eventually abandoning them, he earned some income by drawing murals in the homes of the rich. Fletcher Hanks died in February 1976; his frozen body was found by police on a park bench in New York City.

Today's final "Go Ape Shit Week" post is taken from Jungle Comics #1 (Jan. 1940). On the issues cover Tabu was misspelled "Taboo", and pay close attention because if you blink you will miss the gorilla in this story. I only selected this tale because of the bizarre life story of Hanks, since he apparently really did go ape shit, but the story is just weird as hell too.

The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Thanks for dropping by for my impromptu theme week, and please check back in later today for my regular "Gal" Friday post. She's a classic cutie who first earned her chops starring alongside a very famous gorilla, but in a wretched remake from the 1970's.

Enjoy!

Clibo, Congo King in "Maneuvers and Murder" (Charlton; 1955)

"Go Ape Shit" Week continues with a silver age comics classic from Charlton Comics. Clibo, Congo King was a feature in Zoo Funnies Presents Nyoka the Jungle Girl #12 (Jul. 1955). There is currently no information on this issue in the Grand Comics Database, so your guess is as good as mine on who the unknown creators were. As a word of warning today, this story requires a lot of reading since it is "heavy" on the verbiage, but this issues decent cover is also included to ease the blow.

The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

Editorial Diatribe from the Catacombs: "The Heroic Age!"

Marvel Comics will soon be toning down grim and gritty storytelling elements and making their heroes "good guys" again in an upcoming revitalization billed as "The Heroic Age". Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada says this isn't being initiated as the result of Disney's purchase of the company, but has been in the works for over two years now.

Why is a reversion to actual "heroics" necessary in the first place? I really don't think that the guy who is most responsible for dragging the Marvel Universe down into the gutter is the best choice to take charge on an endeavor such as this and that goes double for Brian Michael Bendis, who is pegged as lead writer, after his "dark" this & that, whatever titles get cancelled or rebooted; allowing this purge to get underway.

To me this seems like an admission that their characters haven't been heroes for the past several years. They have regularly depicted top echelon heroes killing both friend and foe, including the Civil War travesty which led to Dark Reign, and they've also routinely, ramped up adult sexual elements in what was originally an entire fictional, all-ages universe.

In an odd way this reversal also makes poor business sense. Joe Quesada has hinted for some time now that Marvel would take their heroes to a really dark place before finally pulling them back again. What kind of half ass strategy is that? First chase away readers who don't like a darker, more mature Marvel Universe, and then risk turning off all of the newer readers who DID like it AND actually stuck around for the new status quo by shifting back, yet again.

Quesada has presided over a decade in which Marvel basically abandoned their established concepts, characters, and creative talent; then handed the reins over to a small handful of creators who disdained the old order. I like the work of a few current Marvel staffers and support their efforts, but I would prefer to see both Quesada and Bendis move onto other projects or companies, hell even Hollywood - since they both seemingly respond to that kind of stuff much more than comics.

My own feelings on what is more representative of Marvels true "heroic age" is summed up in the John Buscema illustration that accompanies this rant, but any number of Marvel artists work between the companys 1961 debut and on into the late 1980's (or perhaps even the very early 1990's period) would suffice.