Saturday, June 4, 2016

YOU can be the Fighting Yank on Flag Day (or at least wear his uniforn shirt)!

With Flag Day approaching, why not adopt the vintage look of one of the most patriotic superheroes of World War II, the Fighting Yank (now appearing in Project SuperPowers), by wearing his uniform shirt emblazoned with a 1940s period-accurate 48-star flag unfurling proudly on the chest (Remember, Hawaii and Alaska didn't become states until the late 1950s!) and a tiny official Lost Heroes logo on the back collar area (where it won't be seen under your cape!).
Available as a sweatshirt or long-sleeve t-shirt, depending on how much padding you feel you need to achieve the "heroic" look you want.
Tricorn hat and knickers not included.
But a sport jacket or denim jacket might go better with it...

And, we offer the usual assortment of other kool kollectibles like Mugs, Messenger Bags, Magnets, etc. with the unfurled Old Glory fluttering proudly...

Friday, June 3, 2016

Reading Room CLIFF HANGER "Chapter Three: Voice of Doom"

...ok, that covers it!
Let's continue...
Is Cliff Doomed?
What Will Become of Jill?
Does the Madman Have a Fate Worse than Death in Store For Her?
Written by Bruce Jones and illustrated by Al Williamson, this backup strip from Pacific Comics' Somerset Holmes #3 (1983) perfectly conveys the fun and excitement of 1930s-40s movie serials!

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Reading Room BUCCANEERS "Black Roger and the FireDrake"

...as he once more faces them along the Barbary Coast!
Sadly, the writer and artist for this kool tale from Quality's Buccaneers #23 (1950) are unknown, but their imagination in using anachronistic elements like the "FireDrake" certainly livens up the story with fantastic, but not totally-implausable elements.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Reading Room: FLASH GORDON "Chapter Two: Prisoners of Molluskum"

Flash, Dale, and Zarkov head for Torneo (Mongo's "City of Tournaments", to open the non-lethal Olympic-style games that replaced the annual "Games of Death".
However, Azura, Queen of Black Magic kidnaps Flash for, as yet, unknown reasons!
Flash overpowers the kidnappers and the ship crashes into the sea...
What's Azura's Plan?
Find Out...in Two Weeks!
The opening and closing illustrations by Al Williamson for this post were the inside front and back covers to this tale from Marvel Select's Flash Gordon #1 (1995).
The tale is written (and probably laid-out) by Mark (Xenozoic Tales) Schultz.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Reading Room CAPTAIN JOHNER AND THE ALIENS "Case of Nerves"

...we've neglected the humans traveling on the alien ship!
Yes, its Tuesday, and we usually run CJatA on Mondays, but it was Memorial Day, and we took the day off!
Now on to the unusual art in this story from Gold Key's Magnus, Robot Fighter #6 (1964).
The areas of color without black lines are called "color holds".
Before computer coloring, they were incredibly-difficult to do properly!
Creator/artist Russ Manning used "keyline" (red line art) to indicate where the areas for color were to be...
...because red ink photographs like black ink on the printer's film and the original negative would have both the red and black lines as guides for the color overlay cutters to trim to.
(note Manning's instructions to the printer on the euuper-left of the page.
But once the colors were cut, the red ink areas would be erased on the black printer's film, leaving just the black line art and the color areas with no holding lines!

Monday, May 30, 2016

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Reading Room: UFO FLYING SAUCERS "Read the Real Story of the UFOs and Flying Saucers!"

As we mentioned in an earlier post, Dell and Gold Key published anthology comics about UFOs..
Here's the intro story from Gold Key's UFO Flying Saucers #1 (1968)
Written by long-time sci-fi/fantasy comics scripter Leo Dorfman and illustrated by Golden and Silver Age artist Joe Certa (best known as the co-creator of another alien series; J'onn J'onnz, Manhunter from Mars), the story set the rather straightforward tone for the book, which would run for 13 issues from 1968 to 1977 before changing its' title to UFO & Outer Space and continuing for another 12 issues combining reprints and new material until cancellation in 1980.