THE CHARLTON ARROW #2 : out now!

The second issue of THE CHARLTON ARROW is out and shipping now, and dare I say we've even outdone our our debut ish? Perhaps!
A little background on the Arrow for those that don't know: a little over a year ago, frustrated with the total lack of Charlton pages on Facebook, I took it upon myself to create a group on FB where fans of Charlton could gather and discuss our love of the long defunct comics company. Little did I know that not just the readers but the pros, including many Charlton alumni, would be joining up as well, to talk of their own memories of Charlton, and to engage in friendly discourse.
It seemed inevitable, then, that some sort of zine or comic would spring forth as a way to further celebrate our beloved long-gone comics company. Not just a tribute, but a sort of revamp and revival, with some classic reprints, and all new stories.
The outpouring of seasoned vets and newcomers alike to be a part of this has been astounding, and all contributing pro bono, for the sheer love of Charlton. And the results have been spectacular. In Fact, in the months to come we are expanding to no less than FIVE titles (of which you can be assured I will keep you in loop about, friends!).
The first issue was a great success and is already on it's second printing. This second issue promises to be no less amazing.
To start, the first couple hundred orders (TCA is available by mail-order or at conventions only for now) get this amazing new exclusive poster by JOE STATON.

FRANK McLAUGHLIN graciously supplied a wraparound inside front and back cover of the Action heroes:

There are columns and editorials by yours truly, ol' FESTER, and our publisher MORT TODD, as well as a letters page.

And, of course, the comics stories. RON FORTIER and GARY KATO open the issue with an all new MR JIGSAW adventure.

 From there we get a preview story of another Charlton based title, CLASSIC HOT RODS AND RACING CARS COMICS, by Jack Keller, shot from the original silver plates, with new colors by Todd.

We follow that up with the return of horror host Mr. Bones, who relates to us an all-new tale of lycanthropy from writer STEVE SKEATES, and artists HOWARD BENDER AND NEIL VOKES.
  

 The big news with this issue is the presentation of the previously unpublished Peacmaker story (told in two parts, and concluded next ish) by the late PAT BOYETTE. Published here (and in color!) for the first time ever, and with the blessings of Mr. Boyette's daughter, Melissa.

Continuing, there's MORT TODD'S parody of The Sentinels, The Barely Sentients. A friendly jab at not only the original characters, but of a certain *other* comics company as well.

And finally,rounding out the issue, ROGER McKENZIE and SANDY CARRUTHERS continue our story of Boyette's Spookman.

A fine issue, indeed, we think you'll agree. For more information or to order your copy (as well as the first issue, and the trading cards!) please visit the website here: THE CHARLTON ARROW 
And be sure to visit us on Facebook here: The Charlton Arrow on Facebook

review: THE PHANTOM:The Complete Series:The Charlton Years Volume One

Hermes Press has begun the task of reprinting, in chronological order, the comic book tales of The Phantom. With two volumes of Gold Key issues, and a volume of King issues already released, we come to the first of several Charlton volumes.

This volume , The Charlton Years: Volume One, contains art mostly by Jim Aparo, but also includes a story each by Frank McLaughlin, Pat Boyette, and Bill Lignante. The scripts are largely written by Dick Wood, with an exception of a tale by Bill Harris.There is also an introduction by Christopher Irving, while providing some nice background information, it doesn't really expound on much more than any Charlton/Phantom fan would already know.
A few discrepancies occur within the book,most notably the attribution of Steve Skeates as the writer for the story "The Phantom's Death" in issue #33. I personally asked Steve about this story not long ago and he had this to say: "My name has somehow been connected with The Phantom for some time now! The thing is, I never did write a Phantom story!....much as I would have liked to!". Perhaps this is an oversight that Hermes Press can correct with later pressings.

The book itself is a sturdy hardcover, with a dust sleeve. The full color cover of the actual book is the same image as the jacket (the cover  of issue #38)--a nice touch that's a bit different than many other collections that tend to leave the binding a single color with just the title printed on it.The pages are printed on a nice slick/glossy paper stock.

Weighing in at a hefty 224 pages, the volume covers Charlton's first foray into the adventures of The Phantom, reprinting their first issue (#30) and continues up to issue #38, for a total of nine issues (sans any text stories and non-Phantom back up stories.)

The cover reproductions have been modified to omit the Charlton logo,price boxes, comics code, and any other extraneous items, leaving just the art and Phantom logo.

As with many reprint volumes of this type, digital color corrections have been made, and depending on your view of such things it either deters or adds to the reprint. In this case, the corrections can be jarring (although not entirely unwelcome) at times due to the original printings on Charlton's sub-par presses. An example:

There is very little in the way of "extras" in this book, but there are 10 pages of original art reproduced, and that's always a plus.

With a cover price of $49.99, the book seems a bit expensive, but with a little digging around you can find a new copy for much less. I was able to find a new/mint copy for around $25 on Amazon--a price much better suited to my wallet.

Hermes Press website can be found here: http://www.hermespress.com/

CHARLTON BULLSEYE #3 -- 1975

CHARLTON BULLSEYE #3, 1975. This one has the most impressive and excellent 24 page Sanho Kim story "Wrong Country"---a true classic in every sense of the word!