Thrill-O-Rama Monday #3--Pirana!!

After languishing in limbo for a full year, Harvey Comics line of "non-kiddie" comics, "Harvey Thrillers," made sudden return in the fall of 1966.

Why? No doubt the success of former partner Jack Kirby's work at Marvel inspired Joe Simon to try again in the genre. And, of course, the nation's descent into Batmania from the television show convinced Harvey that the iron was hot. So...

Oh, of all the heroes to try and rip off, we've got to do the lame underwater ones?

Still, the logo is pretty cool:

There are enough alternate spellings out there that I think we can cut them a break, right? Because that's a cool logo.

Ah, and the cover copy...let's try to combine Stan's successful hucksterism and Batman '66's camp. The result?

Oh, dear.

There was a second issue...

Yes, he had pet barracudas named..Bara and Cuda. Yes, he fought some guy called The Human Anchor.

Well, for two months, at least, there was a hero lamer than either Aquaman or Namor...

Despite the pedigree--most of the stories were by Otto Binder and Jack Sparling, there was a back-up Clawfang The Barbarian story by Wally Wood and Al Williamson--Pirana and Thrill-O-Rama sank to the briny depths after issue #3, setting the model that Atlas would follow a decade later.

Oh, but there was more to Harvey Thriller...stay tuned...

Thrill-O-Rama Monday #1--The Man In Black!

Good old Harvey Comics, always trying to break out of the "kids comics" mold. Bless 'em.

In 1965, they tried again, launching the "Harvey Thriller" line. First out of the gate?

Thrill-O-Rama #1!!

Now, the "Man In Black" was a pre-existing character of theirs, from their short-lived 1950s horror line (Oh, Harvey, you're so cute when you try!). He was pretty much a Phantom Stranger/Tales Of The Mysterious Traveler type: more often than not just a narrating host for someone's ironic ending, and when he did participate, it with undefined and seemingly unlimited powers to smack down the occasional evil demon type.

Why the change from "The Man In Black" to "The MIB Called FATE"? Who knows...editor Joe Simon just probably liked that better. And who knows, maybe they were trying to poach the trademark on DC's Doctor Fate.

This issue was apparently just unused material left from MIB's own cancelled title back in 1958, and this was his last appearance, except for a couple of small backups in other Harvey mags. But there are some fascinating things on this cover.

First, the logo...

...looks like an evil alternative to the one on Casper et al:

I find that very, very amusing.

Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, the cover's caption introduces us to the Exciting Character Find Of 2012:

That's right...

THE HATE CUPIDS!!!!!!!!

I really have to find this comic someday, because I mean..HATE CUPIDS!!!!

Stay tuned all day for more Harvey Thrills!!!!