Look it up (it's funny)!

I'm going to call someone a foul name before this post runs its course and I want you all to look up the term used online (since it is very funny and apropos). I recently discovered that some nameless troll has created a blog that is disguised as mine, that re-presents many of my own posts here in the "authentic" Catacombs, as his own. It annoys me quite a bit, since many folks link to this site and/or share my posts (a practice that is perfectly fine to me, and even flattering), but this bottom-feeder claims that his ersatz site is his blog creation. It took less than a couple of minutes to determine that reporting abuse to Blogger leaves much to be desired, and will require some thought before launching that necessary campaign. However, that doesn't mean that I can't point this ASS PUPPET out to my loyal (and/or casual) followers. So, if you find your way over to the alternate Catacombs (link). Please say hello to "Master Koplak" and tell him that the real, true, and original "The Comic Book Catacombs" says that he can suck my ass to infinity and beyond.

Ka'a'nga in "Stalker of the Beasts" (Fiction House;1941)

After his parents were killed by wild beasts, the boy who would come to be known as Ka'a'nga was saved from death and raised by a she-ape to become master of the jungle. Later a young aviatrix named Ann Mason crashed in his jungle and he saved her from slavers. Of course she becomes his woman. Today Ka'a'nga stars in a story identified on the issues cover as "Stalker of the Beasts" written by 'Red Brady' and illustrated by Silver Age legend George Tuska (who also drew the cover). This golden age adventure is from Jungle Comics #13 (Jan.1941); originally published by Fiction House. 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 belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

The Art of Reading: "Judy and the Golden Crown" (Better;1949)

Golden age comics typically included short stories, usually accompanied by a panel or two of artwork in order to qualify for magazine mailing rates. These 2-3 page text pieces served their purpose well enough, but in the absence of any eye-appealing artwork (as was often the case), I doubt that many kids gave them the time of day. The script on “Judy and the Golden Crown” which was originally published in Exciting Comics #65 (Jan.1949) by Better/Standard/Nedor, is credited to “Charles S. Strong” (a bogus company alias) but the attached art panels are illustrated by Art Saaf. 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 belongs to the original publisher and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

"Gal" Friday! Jordan Carver

 

Images from her website.

I occasionally consider choosing a specific pin-up queen that could suitably represent the overarching themes of The Comic Book Catacombs. It’s a tall order mind you, given an infinite number of lovelies that would potentially qualify for such a lofty status. Bavarian beauty Jordan Carver has previously appeared as an official “Gal” Friday selection (November 2010) and she is definitely on my personal Top Ten list. Just look at her incredible 32HH assets (boy, howdy). I found these ultra-fine photos from an entire photo shoot that Jordan shot wearing this leopard print bathing suit. I’m not posting them all, to encourage you to conduct your own web search for the remainder (you will be glad that you did). German born, and current resident of the state of California, this phenomenal "gal" definitely deserves consideration should I ever get around to naming a single “gal” for the ages. 

In Memorium: Robert L. Washington III

Static #1 (June 1993)

Writer Robert L. Washington III, who co-created and wrote the first year of “Static” for DC Comics Milestone imprint with Dwayne McDuffie and artist John Paul Leon, passed away yesterday after suffering multiple heart attacks. He was only forty-seven. His other series work included Shadow Cabinet, Extreme Justice, Timewalker, and Ninjak. Washington had difficulty securing work within the industry after the mid-1990s implosion. He had even been homeless a few times, receiving assistance from The Hero Initiative for basic living expenses. He detailed his situation in his final work, a one-page autobiographical strip he contributed to "Hero Comics 2012", a charity comic released last week to help raise money for the organization that had previously aided him. The Catacombs extends its condolences to his family, friends and fans.

Camilla in "Ruins of the Mobazi" (Fiction House;1941)

Camilla, Queen of the Lost Empire returns again this week in a previously untitled story from Jungle Comics #16 (Apr.1941); originally published by Fiction House and with art by Frank Frollo. I’ve christened this golden age classic “Ruins of the Mobazi”. 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 belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

The Red Panther in "The Mad Hermit" (Fiction House;1940)

The Red Panther stars today in a previously untitled adventure from Jungle Comics #11 (Nov. 1940); originally published by Fiction House. The artist on “The Mad Hermit” is Arthur Peddy. The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, all contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or the creators and are reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

In Memorium: Ray Bradbury

One of the Grand Masters of Science Fiction, author Ray Bradbury passed away quietly in his sleep last night at the age of ninety-one. His stellar writing career was built upon a string of seminal 1950s works that became standard reading in schools across the world: The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, Dandelion Wine, and Something Wicked This Way Comes, were followed by over 400 novelettes, shorts stories, screenplays, teleplays, and anthologies. He was one of the most celebrated 20th century American writers of speculative fiction. Many of Bradbury's works have been adapted into comic books, radio broadcasts, television shows or films such as It Came from Outer Space, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, The Illustrated Man, The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes and he also adapted the Herman Melville novel “Moby Dick” in 1953 for director John Huston. That classic film starred Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab. The Catacombs extends its condolences to his family, friends and fans.

Camilla in "The Renegade Hunchback" (Fiction House;1941)

Camilla, Queen of the Lost Empire stars today in a previously untitled story from Jungle Comics #15 (Mar. 1941); originally published by Fiction House and with art by Robert Webb. Once again the usual jungle scenario takes a back seat to simple fantasy in “The Renegade Hunchback” which is weird since Camilla’s primary love interest, Sir Champion used to be a hunchback named Caredodo. 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 belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

Three weeks .....Heroes Convention (30th Anniversary)!

http://www.heroesonline.com/heroescon/

"Gal" Friday! Rosie Jones

I must be dead, because this photo kills me!

British pin-up queen, Rosie Jones is a staple of lad mags having been regularly featured in Nuts, Loaded, FHM, Front, and as a popular "Page 3" girl for The Sun tabloid. Jones was voted the No.1 Sexiest Babe of 2010 by visitors to Nuts' website, grabbing over 1 million votes (a feat she repeated in 2011). She also set a Guinness World Record for the most bras taken off and put back on in one minute in November 2009 (a total of seven). Now, gentlemen, that’s my kind of trivia!

Superman: The High Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero

In addition to being a Neiman Fellow while at Harvard University and award-winning journalist for The Boston Globe, author Larry Tye has written books on railroad Pullman Porters, the Jewish Diaspora, electroshock therapy, and a biography of legendary baseball pitcher Satchel Paige. Tye also loves the character Superman, and you just can’t fault him for that, because who doesn’t really.

His latest work, “Superman: The High-Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero” is a biography not just of the iconic character, but also of the creators, writers, artists, publishers and others, who’ve depicted him in various media over the last seven decades. Larry Tye very effectively reveals how Superman has changed to meet the needs of his audience in ways that always kept the famous hero at the forefront of a fluidly evolving cultural environment. Hey, I thought that I knew everything that there was to know about the Man of Steel, but I discovered trivia snippets that I had never read before, and not simply as footnotes. Ingrained within the body of the 300+ page volume is an engaging and entertaining look at the popular history of the fictional Last Son of Krypton, and the real world that warmly embraced him.

I particularly appreciated how the author covered well-known aspects of how young Siegel and Shuster originally crafted their hero and the sad legacy of how they ultimately came to lose control of their creation, and the still-ongoing legal battle to reclaim him for their estate; and Tye relates this controversial information without making harsh judgment calls on the individuals involved. You also get to tag along as the legend of Superman grew from one era to another, see the impact of major historical events against which this comic book champion played against within his own four-color milieu and like Larry Tye, recapture the imagination of youth and what it meant to have a hero like Superman to aspire to.

I am grateful to Tye’s intern Nick Catoni and the fine folks at Random House for providing me with the review copy. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially comic book fans. It is as clear and captivating a depiction of Superman as I have ever read, and it will grab you right from the start. The book was obviously a labor of love for the author, as there are over 100+ appendix, index, bibliography, and note and photo pages. Give this book a shot, folks!