Sheena, Queen of the Jungle in "Vengeance of the Talu Chief" (Fiction House;1942)

It's been too long since Sheena, Queen of the Jungle graced the Catacombs, but the premiere jungle "gal" returns today in a golden age classic tale from her self-titled series. "Vengeance of the Talu Chief" is written & illustrated by Robert Webb (credited as W. Morgan Thomas) from Sheena, Queen of the Jungle #1 (Spring 1942); originally published by Fiction House.

Sheena possessed the ability to communicate with wild animals after having grown up with them since being orphaned in the jungle. She was fiercely proficient in fighting with knives, spears, and bows, and often improvised with makeshift weapons. Sheena was the first female comic-book character with her own title, starting in 1938 in the United States, after her British debut the year prior; beating Wonder Woman #1 (December 1941). Although she inspired a wealth of similar comic book jungle queens, even Sheena was predated in prose literature by "Rima, the Jungle Girl", originally introduced in the 1904 William Henry Hudson novel, Green Mansions.

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 publishers and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

At the Movies: Your Highness

I bought a movie ticket this weekend for the sole purpose of seeing Natalie Portman's ass. Thank the maker that was the only reason, since "Your Highness" isn't much of a movie.

Rated R for strong crude and sexual content, pervasive language, nudity, violence and some drug use, "Your Highness" stars Danny McBride, James Franco and Natalie Portman in a medieval comedy that may have been better served by a more seasoned director. There were moments in the movie that I couldn't believe made the final cut, and what did work - the raunchy humor - seemed to become less and less apparent as the film continued. If they could have sustained the incongruity of sleazy modern terminology, at the same level from start to finish, it might have helped overcome some of the films weaknesses.

When Prince Fabious's (James Franco) bride is kidnapped, he goes on a quest to rescue her... accompanied by his lazy useless brother Thadeous (Danny McBride). Although the film was written by screenwriter Ben Best and actor McBride, the dialogue was heavily improvised. Director David Gordon Green said there was never a script used on-set. Only the plot outline and written notes were used, and unfortunately this actually shows on screen. There simply isn't enough story or character content to flesh out the brief 102 minute run time. The film badly drags near the end and they should probably have cut another ten minutes to minimize the overall effect. The casting agent & film editor should also share a portion of the blame for this mess. Actor Justin Theroux is pathetic as the evil wizard Leezar. Heck, the three women who portrayed the witches were more threatening than he was. And funnier too!

In fact there were three actors in this movie in supporting roles who would have been far superior as the main villain. Charles Dance, Damian Lewis and Toby Jones are wasted in ways that work against the film. Zooey Deschanel basically cameos as Belladonna, the kidnapped princess and I have to agree with critics who felt like Portman phoned in her role. She's good in an okay sort of way, but if not for the trailers that showed her riverside stripping scene (above), I doubt that I would have seen this movie. Her ultra-fine ass was worth the price of admission.

Your Highness had all of the elements to become a classic comedy film, but the creative talent was seriously lacking. Danny McBride is just not a lead performer. In a strange way, I felt like he would have been better used in James Franco's role, with another comedian playing the central role of Thadeous. Maybe Russell Brand, who is terrific in the remake of "Arthur", which I really hope took in more dollars that this turkey. Ye gods!

Anaglyph Theatre Presents: Tor in "The Crater People" (St. John;1953)

This story from Tor #2a [3D] (aka 3-D Comics), originally published by St. John in October 1953, with artwork by Joe Kubert enhanced with spiffy three-dimensional effects, has no official title. I'm calling it "The Crater People", so there you go. The whole issue is lots of fun to read & view and if posting a 3-D tale doesn't rankle too many feathers, I would like to post more of the content from this issue. Grab your specs and let me know how you feel about that idea!

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 publishers and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

"Gal" Friday! Whitney Able

I just finished watching a terrific film on Netflix, which explains why today's "Gal" Friday selection is not whom I had intended to go with originally.

Whitney Able had her first big role in the 2006 teen horror and Sundance cult classic All The Boys Love Mandy Lane in which she played a supporting role. Her performance was well received by critics and audiences alike. Able next appeared in the horror flick, Unearthed in a bit role, but the film was critically panned. In 2010, Able starred in yet another horror genre film, the independent, low budget thriller Monsters, in which she played the lead female character. This is the film that I just watched, and it deservedly won various awards and established Able's career.

Give it a look at some point and you will perhaps fall in love with Ms. Able too. Oh, and she apparently married Scoot McNairy (her Monsters co-star) in July 2010. I really enjoyed his performance in the movie, but now I don't really like the guy at all. Nobody should be that lucky, unless of course its me, and there's no chance of that. Trust me!

Whitney Able is also a fan of Led Zeppelin (points for that) and she has lived in Spain and Mexico. Now, she earns a permanent spot in the Catacombs, so I take solace in that if nothing else.

*Gunga in "Tiger" (Buster Brown Shoe Co.;1948)

This supremely cool golden age story simply called “Tiger” stars a boy named Ghanga and his elephant Teela, shortly after this was published the main characters name was changed to “Gunga” for all future issues. This Spring 1948 tale is taken from Buster Brown Comic Book #11 (issued by the Buster Brown Shoe Co.) and was written by Hobart Donavan and richly illustrated by the great Dan Barry.

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 publishers and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

From the Dust Bin: 3D Comics

3D comics are comics whose artwork suggests a three-dimensional quality have periodically popped up over the years. Although there are a couple of varieties, for the most part stereoscopic comics, which have line art published in two colors, are designed to be viewed through specially tinted glasses. When read with these glasses, the comics present various three-dimensional effects. A notable modern practitioner of this style of comic is artist Ray Zone.

The technique has been used since the early 1950s, using carefully constructed line drawings printed in colors appropriate to the filter glasses provided. The first material presented was shorter tales generally from war, horror, or crime & detective genres, similar in content to some modern Japanese manga. Of course, these genres were largely eliminated in the United States by the rise of the Comics Code Authority. Anaglyphed images were of little interest for use in the remaining comics, which emphasized bright and colorful images, unsuited for use with the viewing and production methods available at the time; which were usually red-green rather than red-cyan.

Some of the prominent characters who received the 3-D treatment beginning in 1953 included Abbott and Costello, Batman, Captain 3-D, Felix the Cat, Mighty Mouse, Superman, Sheena Queen of the Jungle, The Three Stooges and Tor.

Tor, who was originally created by Joe Kubert and Norman Maurer, has appeared in the Catacombs several times and he will make a return visit this Saturday, when I will be proud to present a classic Tor story from 3-D Comics #2 (St. John, 1953 series). Break out those glasses now, and come check it out!

Auro, Lord of Jupiter vs. "The Tyrant of Jupiter" (Fiction House;1943)

Auro, Lord of Jupiter helps an old friend, Laron of Tando, rescue his kidnapped daughter, Mara from the vicious Opar Irafa in today's rather abruptly ended story from Planet Comics #27 (Nov.1943); originally published by Fiction House. As there was no title for this golden age adventure, I've christened it "The Tyrant of Jupiter".

["Dick Charles"] is credited on the title page, and the Grand Comics Database attributes the artwork on this tale to Joe Doolin. 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 the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

Retro-View: My Love #1 (Marvel Comics)

The comics of yore used to run the gamut of all genres and it's no secret that the legendary team of Joe Simon & Jack Kirby helped introduce romance comics for female readers back in the waning days of the golden age.

This particular issue of My Love #1 (Sept.1969) features outstanding artwork by "Jazzy" John Romita that is of the same loving quality that he brought to his classic run on The Amazing Spider-Man. Twin Romita tales of love and loss comprise the bulk of this under-rated series. In "A Boy, A Girl, and My Broken Heart!" writer Stan Lee and illustrator John Romita showcase Linda Starr, a smoking hot blond that easily reels in every guy she wants, with just a smile and a coy turn of phrase. In fact love comes so readily to luscious Linda, that she has become quite arrogant about her romantic conquests. Considering that this story is from the House of Ideas back in its heyday, something is bound to go awry, especially when Linda learns a harsh lesson after disparaging a couple of "plain Jane's" who are staying at the same resort. Ultimately Linda loses her new spiffy beau, Doug, when he makes a love connection with one of those plain Jane's, whose kinder personality is more to his liking.

Lee & Romita also present "I Dream of Romance", in which studious Val pours herself into her schoolwork at the expense of her love life, constantly daydreaming about that elusive point in time when it will be her turn for an ideal relationship. During a bout of babysitting, she actually believes that she has stumbled upon her dream man, only to discover that he's the married father of the household, dashing out into the night, with regret. The next day Val encounters this cad on a crowded street and learns that she had been wrong, he is in reality the uncle of her young charges and with no barriers to love, flings herself into his arms.

Two find Romita drawn stories, are followed by an awesome story by "Big" John Buscema. "Must I Live Without Love" is just as well drawn as any of his work on The Avengers, in fact this series and others like it are undiscovered gems for anyone who may have missed these books on the first pass. Head for eBay and seek out some of these titles. You might find them to be worth the effort, and for little coin. Be advised though that Marvel recycled many of the stories in their romance books and the tell-tale sign of that practice was often a re-used cover image.

Science Fiction/Double Feature Finale: "The Man Who Killed A World" (Ziff-Davis;1952)

This is the end!

Artist Paul Parker, who contributed several early stories in this series run, takes pencil in hand one final time for the very last tale from the very last issue of Amazing Adventures #6 (Fall 1952); originally published by Ziff-Davis. "The Man Who Killed a World" pits human Don Evans against a Martian counterpart in a battle to the death for the precious resource of drinking water and only a simple quirk of fate ultimately wins the day for Earth.

Thank you all for stopping by over the past few months for this weekly posting event. I enjoyed presenting these stories quite a bit. The second feature today is the half-page humor filler "Fun in the Future" and the accompanying promo ad for the Ziff-Davis title "Crusader From Mars".

Enjoy!

"Gal" Friday (World Exclusive)! Maggie Gyllenhaal

Man, do I feel lucky today!

With much appreciation to my good friend actor Christian Bale, and through the courtesy of Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures, and director Christopher Nolan, the Comic Book Catacombs is proud to announce that actress Maggie Gyllenhaal will surprisingly reprise the role of Rachel Dawes in the upcoming feature film The Dark Knight Rises.

Savvy bat-fans will recall that assistant district attorney Dawes was seemingly killed by the Joker in a factory explosion at the conclusion of the 2008 film The Dark Knight, so this news may come as a shock. However I remember the very moment during the film when it was - oh so subtly - revealed that Dawes had actual superpowers. There was a sequence about midway through that movie when the Joker and his gang interrupted a fundraising gala thrown by Bruce Wayne for DA Harvey Dent. In that sequence the Joker hurled Rachel from the rooftop of the Wayne building and although the Batman pitched himself after Rachel, and somersaulted his torso beneath hers before both of them alarmingly crashed onto a parked automobile, Rachel Dawes didn't so much as crack a nail. It had been established that Batman was decked out in a highly resilient techno-armor costume, but Dawes was wearing an evening gown and pearl necklace, so it was left up the audience to decide how she could possibly have walked away from a twenty story drop without a scratch.

All of the details over how she survived will likely be a huge part of The Dark Knight Rises, so it's yet another reason to look forward to the concluding chapter of the billion dollar box office franchise in 2012.

Gyllenhaal wouldn't normally make the cut for "Gal" Friday, but given the exclusive news that I was blessed to present here today, I googled her for some info and was startled to find the excellent cheesecake photo above (top). That sexy photo and this exciting info snippet were musts for today's post, heck I would have been foolish to pass on this opportunity.

Enjoy!