Spacemen Cover

Here's an interesting story behind the cover of a 1962 magazine. SPACEMEN was designed to be the sci-fi version of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND, catering to editor Forry Ackerman's true love--sci-fi. The articles had the same reverential but tongue-in-cheek style, the format was the same and even the concept of having artist Basil Gogos paint the covers was the same. The thing is, when this one came out, old-time fans were confused. At no point in any of the serials did Buster Crabbe's Flash Gordon fight a hideous alien monster like the one depicted here. Enough fans were perplexed enough to write in and the next issue's letter column offered the unusual explanation that follows!

"Actually the cover on our July issue was a collectors item--the first collaboration between Basil Gogos and...Jim Warren! Upon completion of the left hand portion of the painting, Gogos was suddenly stricken with Venusian Virus and ordered to bed by his physician with a 103 degree temperature. Originally Emperor Ming was to be fighting with Flash but suddenly the choice was either a half-blank cover or___? So borrowing a popping eye from Peter Lorre, a bolt from the Frankenstein monster, a swelled head from the Metaluna mutant, a horn from a triceratops and the robotic arms of a robot, your resourceful publisher himself rushed out and got a Draw It Yourself Kit and, with the printer panting down his neck, painted the "immortal kitchen sink creature" which so many of you hailed as a Monsterpuss!"

Archie and Valerie

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Archie Comics writer/artist Dan Parent on the ‘Net for a forthcoming project. Parent’s name has been in the news quite a bit recently for his controversial creation of the first openly gay character in Riverdale. Perhaps because of the substantial news coverage that Kevin Keller’s still upcoming debut received, Dan managed to sneak by with another potentially hot topic—Archie’s first inter-racial romance!

The recently released ARCHIE issues 608 and 609 featured this two-parter which turned out to be one of THE most surprisingly enjoyable and genuinely romantic stories I have read in a comic in a long time. Plotwise, the Archies agree to a small tour with the more professional band, Josie & the Pussycats, both, of course, occasional sources for plots in their respective red-headed leads’ individual series for 40 years now.

One day after rehearsal, Valerie, the once-token African American smart pussycat, stays behind to help Archie finish working on a song. They eat, they talk, they write, they banter…in short, they fall in love. It’s a beautifully done, fairly realistic scene told in quick cut cinematic-style shortcuts by Parent’s collaborator here, artist Bill Galvan. Yes, Archie falls for every pretty girl. It’s his nature. The way this is written and drawn, though, the reader knows something is different this time.

Deciding not to rock the boat of the successful tour, the pair reluctantly keep their relationship a secret, meaning that every night, poor Valerie has to listen to Josie share the heartfelt love song she had written with Archie.

Little by little, the secret gets out, though, as knowing glances and terms of endearment (She calls him “Freckles”) are notice by all…well, nearly all.

They make a truly sweet and fun couple. Perhaps the most important and telling aspect of their relationship is that NO ONE raises an eye over the race issue! There's one scene where it seems as though someone might do so but their complaint is actually completely unrelated. Parent actually manages to come up with an ending which, although bittersweet, allows all kinds of speculation as to the future of the whole relationship and its effect on Archie’s OTHER relationships, also.

All I all, in these days when I’m reluctant to pick up even the most basic superhero comic for fear of being assaulted immediately with visceral panels of entrails and gore, I found the Archie/Valerie coupling to be quite touching in many ways. For those of us who have always appreciated the untapped potential of mainstream comics, here’s someone tapping it. I can’t wait to meet Kevin Keller now!

Random Panels of Comic book Weirdness # 75

Here's one for all of you who ever wondered what it would have been like if, as rumored at the time, Sylvester Stallone had been cast as Superman instead of Christopher Reeve.

Marlo Thomas

One of my very favorite sixties gals, she was funny like Lucy but also clever, smart, fun and gorgeous. And successful! THAT GIRL was a huge hit and latterly became recognized as a pioneering, empowering show (although never really planned a s such) for women and girls of all ages. It's the only sixties TV series that I actually bought every single season of as they came out. My all-time favorite sitcom. Marlo went on to many more hits and misses but the legend of her sixties incarnation remains secure.

Pin the Ear on Hitler

Here, from an early 1940's issue of TERRYTOONS, is a wonderful example of anti-Nazi propaganda as only the comic books could present it.

The image of Adolf reminded me so much of Jerry's picture in yesterday's post, I had to share today.

Which Way To the Front-1970

Like many folks my age, I have a kind of love/hate thing for Jerry Lewis movies. There was a time in my youth when I unquestionably cited them as my favorite comedies and yet now it’s rare when any one of them makes me laugh for the right reasons. I admire jerry as a filmmaker, for his work against muscular dystrophy, for his longevity in show business and for his moments of comedic genius. I also find him a boorish, elitist, insulting comedy snob with an annoying real-life personality and an ego the size of a not so small planet!

When it comes to his movies, though, it’s interesting to note that films that were once absolute favorites are now often nightmarishly hard to sit through. One case in point is WHICH WAY TO THE FRONT?. This picture is often cited as Jerry’s worst film (by those who have yet to see his later ones).

Released in 1970, I remember seeing WHICH WAY TO THE FRONT? In theaters when it was new. I remember thinking how cool it was and how handsome and hilarious Jerry was in a slightly different role than his usual nebbish. I watched it again this morning and every step of the way, it was “What were they THINKING!!??”

The script, from a couple of guys best known for their TV sitcoms, is a soft parody of DIRTY DOZEN-style war films which were all the rage in those days. In this case, the world’s richest man (Jerry, of course) is declared 4-F in World War II but wants to serve his country so he takes 3 other 4-F recruits and decides to start his own army to go after Hitler. He adds his butler and his chauffeur (the latter oddly played by pro baseball player Willie Morris) and that’s it. That’s his entire “army.”

There are a bunch of one-off training scenes (including a couple with George Takai) that go straight for lame gags, then a drawn out plot in which Jerry’s character disguised as a Nazi officer meets Hitler (played for inane fun by director and former actor Sidney Miller).

The problem is there is no real plot…just a set-up, some set pieces and a finish. There’s no real character development, either, for Jerry or for his pointlessly annoyed and annoying sidekicks Jan Murray (was he ever funny?), Steve Franken and Dack Rambo.

The best part of the picture for film buffs is the presence of old-time stars who don’t have to do anything other than show up to make one smile…which is good because they have nothing whatsoever to do. Benny Rubin, Joe Besser, Neil Hamilton, Milton Frome, Robert Middleton, and even the great ventriloquist and voice actor Paul Winchell are present along with brief appearances by Kaye Ballard and Kathleen Freeman.

This was, I believe, the film Jerry famously claimed ( and that’s probably all it was) he saw double-billed with DEEP THROAT which made him turn his back on the film industry. In reality, however, he didn’t do that at all. It wasn’t long after this picture that Jerry went into production on what he felt would be his masterpiece, the legendary, unfinished, THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED. When that film’s production ground to a halt amidst financing and legal problems, he did take a few more years before coming back with HARDLY WORKING. HARDLY WORKING was huge box office throughout Europe but took years to pick up a distributor in the US. When it did, it was recognized not as a masterpiece but as a mess. Other films trickled out, most barely a blip on the radar. Then came Martin Scorcese’s KING OF COMEDY which gained Jerry Lewis a whole new respect in a serious role as a kidnapped celebrity host. Jerry followed that up with a couple of horrendously unfunny French vehicles (with nudity yet!! Thankfully, not Jerry) that really do seem the nadir of his career. As of this writing however, it looks as though the octogenarian actor has yet another independent release in pre-production.

See what I mean…love him or hate him ya just gotta admire a guy that’s been making pictures for more than six decades and just refuses to stop!

Update Time Again

Been tough to do more substantial posts lately when I spend most of my day just sleeplessly sweating in 90+ heat and high humidity. Sorry. Hopefully it can get back to what passes for normal around here soon. In the meantime I'm taking a certain absurd amusement at just how many things can get thrown at us.

1--Still unemployed. Filling in apps and sending out resumes almost daily but...New Unemployment compensation law should help eventually but right now, no.

2-Wife's job still up in the air. She's lost it, she's got it back, she gets more money, she gets less hours, she's lost it, she's got it back. Final answer may be next week.

3-Savings virtually depleted. Selling stuff to stay ahead at this point. The Wally Wood Portfolio didn't sell on eBay by the way so feel free to make me an offer.

4-Family issues with my wife's relatives. Not going to get into it except to say it's been emotionally draining for all parties.

5-Bank calls due previously unknown late fees dating back to 2004! Ummm.....

6-Floods! Not only did we lose AC and everything stored in our basement during last week's surprise flooding but every time it rains I have a PTSD-like obsession that the basement will flood again...especially since it has developed three little seeping groundwater leaks now!

7-Minor health issues popping up but haven't been able to afford doctor. Various friends have also had health issues and one friend died in recent weeks.

8-No sleep due to lack of AC. Burning through batteries fast on personal fans and the house is littered with floor models. None help all that much. I never had air-conditioning until I was in my thirties but this house seems impossible to cool otherwise.

On the other hand, there's good stuff--

1-Got the water heater and washer and dryer back working finally!

2-Reconnected with several old friends I hadn't spoken with in 5-25 years via Facebook (and met some great new ones recently!)

3-Got some great pictures of Brittany Rose the other day literally drowning the sorrows of a few bad days in yet another torrential downpour.

4-Got a cheap microphone to help with considering voiceover work and possible podcasts.

5-Sold some comics, a collectible book and some artwork recently as well as some blog adspace. (Anyone interested contact me at booksteve@aol.com)

So anyway, bear with us. Will try to maintain cool stuff even if it's not substantial stuff. As always, if you like what we do here and want to make sure we can pay our internet bill to continue it, that ol' Paypal tip box is on the right near the top of this page. Thanks!