Children Of Doom!

"Children of Doom" is a story I've examined before, but this time I'm focusing on it as an atomic fable. The yarn of how the story was composed is interesting in itself as it was put together quickly when a scheduled story for Charlton Premiere failed to appear and that Denny O'Neil (under his Charlton pen name of "Sergius O'Shaunessy") wrote it quick and artist Pat Boyette (who typically did pencils, inks and letters for his jobs) handled the rest. It's weird and oddly compelling, even if it doesn't totally make sense all the time. 

We begin at the end with a story told in flashback of how an atomic Doomsday device was made to scare mankind into peace. But a tinpot dictator used other technology to create massive firestorms which were the targets of missiles from space which caused the firestorm to overspread the entire planet. It resulted in mutations of three kinds -- firestarters, blind soothsayers, and mysterious others who stay hidden from the mass of humanity who survive but just barely.

The astronauts who fired the missiles think they can get their ship to Venus where they think they might survive and there they encountered a mutated human, one of the mysterious hidden variety who is apparently able to transport himself across space, and they bring him back to Earth.

But all that folderal activates the Doomsday device and only the weird powers of the mysterious and shunned mutants can save the day for the rest of humanity which hangs on by a thread as the story winds up. It's not a happy tale, it's not really a sad tale, it's an enigmatic fable which does and doesn't make sense at the same time. 

But one thing it is for certain and that's a parable preaching against the dangers of war and particularly atomic war, as if that needed preaching against. But there we are. This story is widely reprinted but I read it this last time in The Unknown Anti-War Comics from Yoe Books. 

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Dystopian Countdown #2 - Children Of Doom!

It's as close to poetry as comic book stories can come. From out of nowhere in the second issue of Charlton Premiere  a little gem of a tale was told by Denny O'Neil (as "Sergius O'Shaugnessay") and the late great Pat Boyette. "Children of Doom" is one of those yarns that rises above its genre roots and takes hold of your imagination in strange ways and unexpected ways. The story is part apocalypse, part ghost story, and part vintage space opera and yet none of these really. It's a truly unique tale (an overused word) told with pace and using the range of Boyette's artistic techniques to throw actual real atmosphere into a comic book story, something quite rare.

If you'd like to read this 1967 classic online check out this Groovy link.

If you'd like to read it in paper form of course you can seek out the original or perhaps one of its reprints.  There's the 1978 reprint in Space War #32.

And more recently the 2010 publication from Abrams Books of Art in Time.

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The Coming Of the Man-God!

This is one of my comic book dreams come true. One of the earliest comics I ever stumbled across in my youth was the singular Hercules from Charlton Comics by Sam Glanzman, Joe Gill, and Denny O'Neil. I fell in love with the book immediately and despite having the issues in the original and some in proper reprints, I have yearned for a proper collection to make the reading of this true saga a real event. And now it's arrived at last, dropping on my porch  a few days ago. It's handsome and light, ready to read. I know I'm being greedy, but I want Thane of Bagarth now -- it never ends.

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Dojo Classics - Hercules #6

Hercules #6 is dated September 1968, and is something of a turning point for the series. In the previous issue Sal Gentile had taken over as editor and in this issue Sergius O'Shaugnessy (Denny O'Neil) gives way as writer to Charlton stalwart Joe Gill. Sam Glanzman remains on the the art chores.

The title of the lead story is "Hercules' Choice" and it begins quite literally with Hercules having to choose a path, one leading to pleasure and joy and the other to hardship and duty. These paths are marked on a sign and each has a lovely woman marking its beginning. Zeus and Hera look on while Hercules ponders his choice. But Hera is interrupted by Mars, the God of War who is mad at Hercules because he stopped a war that Mars was sure would last a good long time. Mars hurls a spear at Hercules which brings down a hillside on him. Thinking this the work of Zeus, Hercules chooses the path of duty and hardship. That road takes him to King Eurystheus, who was mentioned in the first adventure but is seen now for the first time. He gives Hercules the task of slaying the Birds of Stymphalus, birds which are the pets of Mars no less. Hercules takes on the task and Mars is most upset looking down from Olympus. Going to Stymphalus, Hercules finds it deserted save for a woman who seeks to warn Hercules of the danger of the Birds. It seems they are giants, and very dangerous. Hercules escapes the talons and falls into a cellar where he finds the villagers cowering from the monsters. Taking his weapons he goes up to fight the Birds but finds them proof agains his spear and his sword. He does manage to break the neck of one of them swinging a giant timber. Then the Birds show another power and fire some of their nigh-metallic feathers like arrows at Hercules who protects himself with a giant rock slab. He then strings his bow, a gift from Vulcan, but the Birds fly out of range. Hercules is at a loss. But in Olympus Aphrodite goes to Minerva who sens a magic rattle to Hercules, which draws in the Birds which he then uses his bow and arrows to dispatch. Triumphant he travels on the road of hardship looking for his next task. Meanwhile in Olympus Zeus invites Hera and Mars to dine with him on a scrumptious meal of Bird gotten he says from the Stymphalus region. They are both nauseated by the invitation.

The text story this issue is titled "Mountain Man Morgan in Sandstorm". It is a tall tale of a railroad crew besieged by Indians who seek help. The get that help from a giant named Mountain Man Morgan who is empowered by Indian magic. He is reluctant to kill the Indians despite the evil nature of their leader, and uses his massive lungs to blow up a sandstorm which drives the Indians away far into Mexico making it possible for the railroad to finish.

There are two letters in "Letters to the Editor -- Hercules". Both are by writers who would make impact in the field. The first from David Singer praises the comic and the second from Duffy Vohland is a broad letter commenting not only on Hercules but three other Charlton books as well.

Thane of Bagarth this time is presumably written by Steve Skeates though for the first time there are no credits. The artwork is by the all-purpose Charlton team of Nicholas and Alascia. The story is titled "Chapter Six: The Queen" and finds Hrothelac captured after escaping his Viking captors in England. He is taken to the dungeon and there is tended by another prisoner named Mordwain who is in jail for speaking out against his Queen. We meet the Queen and the King as they hear news of a possible pact with the Mercians which the Queen rejects. She is clearly the one in charge. Another scene change takes us back to the Land of the Geats and King Beowulf's castle as he gets word the Swedes are raiding the territory. Thane of Bagarth Eowanda, Hrothelac's disloyal brother sends an envoy to get the lovely Freahulf for him. While on their way back to Eowanda's castle, the pair meet a party of Swedes. Back in England Mordwain treats Hrothelac's wounds but the two cannot converse yet. The story closes with the threat of war in England.

This issue as I say is a transitional one. Mars is introduced in the main Hercules story and he will have an increasing role in the trials of Herucles. As drawn by Sam Glanzman, Mars is a vivid character with his exotic armor. Also in this story Hercules seems more a frail man with desires and weaknesses of spirit. It's been hinted at in other stories, but is a focus here. In the Thane of Bagarth the story is pretty static really, as Hrothelac is pretty passive in most of it. In fact that's been something of a flaw in the story all along.


The main story here was reprinted in Charlton Classics #6.


The backup story was reprinted in Thane of Bagarth #25.

More to come.

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Dojo Classics - Hercules #5

Hercules #5 is dated July 1968. The issue is edited by Sal Gentile who took over from Dick Giordano who was beginning his tenure at DC. There seems little evidence of his hand in this issue though.

The first story starring Hercules is written by Sergius O'Shaugnessy (Denny O'Neil) and drawn by Sam Glanzman whose name appears in full for the first time in the credits. The story is titled "The Land of the Amazons". Hercules is fighting two bulls in the arena for the entertainment of some locals. He then is interrupted by Zeus and Hera the latter giving him his next task, to bring to her the Golden Girdle of Hippolyta the Queen of the Amazons. Hercules takes up the task readily and heads off. He soon chances across a beautiful young blonde maiden chained to a stake being threatened by a giant lizard. He battles the lizard and saves the girl only to learn that this was seen by Queen Hippolyta who had staked the girl out to begin with for her amusement. Hippolyta is impressed by Hercules and invites him to her palace where she attempts to woo him. When he balks she shows him the young maiden trapped on a platform over a firey trap. Hercules is himself then imprisoned. He asks Zeus for aid who is ready to give it until Hera intercedes. Hercules then takes matters into his own hands and breaks out of his jail, climbs to a connecting rope and swings out to the trapped girl and rescues her from her danger. The two of them battle through Hippolyta's forces, Hercules even toppling some columns but it is to little avail when they find themselves confronted by her whole army. Hercules prepares to fight the Queen but is stopped by a command from Hera ordering him not to battle a woman. His dilemma is solved when the blonde maiden chucks a rock at Hippolyta knocking her out. Hercules takes her Golden belt and the army is freed from her influence. They thanks Hercules who takes the Girdle to Hera who doesn't seem that happy that he's succeeded. The maiden wants to thank Hercules but he says he must continue with his quest and he leaves.

The "Letters to the Editor -- Hercules" page features two letters this time out. Both praise the book for its staying to true to the mythological details of Hercules and both single out Glanzman for praise.

The text story "Mogo the Mighty" tells a tale of a village threatened by a evil warrior chief named Gogo. The villagers go to a wizened old man on the mountain who takes from each man in the village some hair, some nails, and some drops of blood to fashion a super warrior named Mogo the Mighty. Mogo defeats Gogo and vanishes telling the villagers that next time they should battle evil themselves.

Thane of Bagarth is again written by Steve Skeates and once again drawn by Jim Aparo. The title of this installment is "Chapter Five: The Battle Lost". Hrothelac the banished Thane of Bagarth finds himself a slave aboard a Viking ship. He's beginning to adapt to his role when the ship runs aground and he finds his chains freed by the melee. He tries to get clear of the ship, fights a Viking and both are thrown into the sea, the Viking sinking because of his armor. Hrothelac swims to shore only to see the ship itself finding purchase on the shore. But the land is England and Celts long under attack by Vikings immediately assault the weary Vikings and soon kill them, including the chief Figlaf. Meanwhile Hrothelac wanders this new land thinking of those he left behind when he chances upon a castle. Unknown to Hrothelac a warrior approaches him from behind.

This is really solid issue. Hippolyta is a beautiful and well-defined villain for Hercules. In fact the characterization in the series is really becoming sharp. Visually Herucles is really becoming more fully realized. Glanzman gives him a more exotic look this issue by angling his eyes not unlike those you find on Greek pottery. Some of the pages featuring the Amazons are very neatly designed and Hippolyta is actually a ravishing creature as presented in this story. The Thane of Bagarth story reverts to its Prince Valiant roots eschewing any use of word balloons in this installment. All in all a very solid and enjoyable issue.


The lead story was reprinted in Charlton Classics #5.


The Thane of Bagarth story reprinted in Thane of Bagarth #25.

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Dojo Classics - Hercules #4

The fourth issue of Hercules from Charlton is dated June 1968, several months after the previous issue. It is the last issue edited by Dick Giordano and probably this shake-up is the reason for the delay.

The Hercules story is titled "Land of Menace" and is attributed to Sergius O'Shaugnessy (Denny O'Neil) and is drawn by Sam Glanzman (who signs his work here and in previous issues as "S.J.G"). The issue begins with a splash of Hercules battling what appear to be green flying monkeys.

The story itself starts with Hercules walking through a storm and seeking shelter in a cave. In the cave in the smoke of his fire Zeus and Hera appear. Hera reviews the successes Hercules has had battling the Nemean Lion, Gerion the Three-bodied Giant, and Cerberus of the Underworld. She then offers up a fourth task, to get her something to eat. She wants Golden Apples only found in the other-dimensional world of Nul. She opens a portal for Hercules and tells him he has three days. He leaps into the portal and moves through a psychedelic zone to come out in a desert landscape. He starts to eat some of what looks like a giant cactus but the plant attacks him and he has to uproot it. Then his attention is taken by young boy crying for help, but this turns out to be a Harpy in disguise. The Harpies look like green flying monkeys with spikes for hair. Hercules battles many of these Harpies before being overcome by a magic net that puts him to sleep. He's taken before King Poov, leader of the Harpies and is told he will be a slave. Hercules takes Poov's staff and shatters the light escapting into the desert. There he meets a giant named Atlas who is chained and holding up a giant stone slab to give shade and protection to the Harpy village. Meanwhile the Harpies uncork a magic urn filled with weapons and attack Hercules again with exploding rocks. Hercules throws the chain of Atlas into one of these rocks and frees the giant. Then Atlas takes the slab and covers the mouth of the cave in which the Harpies dwell. A fire leaks out of the magic urn and destroys the Harpies. Atlas then takes Hercules to the Golden Apples and then tells him that time is different in Nul and he's almost out of time and throws him through the portal before it closes. Hercules returns with the prize much to Hera's displeasure but Zeus is very happy.

The text story this issue is titled "The Goddess of Mercy" and tells of a wicked warrior named Nicherin who steals a jewel from the Goddess of Mercy and summarily punished for his impudence transforming him into a tiny stone statue.

"Letters to the Editor -- Hercules" features four letters, two by Canadians. There is the usual praise for the Hercules and Thane of Bagarth and recommendations. One letter writer would like to see Son of Vulcan replace Thane of Bagarth but the editors reject this idea and point out that reading nothing but superheroes would be dull. There is a great little thumbnail portrait of Hercules by Glanzman done in a more realistic style.

Thane of Bargarth is titled "Chapter Four: The Galley" and is written by Steve Skeates and drawn by Jim Aparo. The story starts with Hrothelac captured by Vikings and chained aboard a Viking galley as a slave. After several lashes of the whip he begins to row. The leader of the Vikings is Figlaf and he imagines where they are headed, a new world beyond the great ocean and he wishes to explore it for his king. Hrothelac despairs. Meanwhile King Beowulf seeks out a Hag who can tell the future who reveals to him in magic mists that Eowanda the new Thane of Bagarth will lead Beowulf's forces in battle and get great fame. Beowulf is at once confused and threatened by this prediction. He rides back to his castles as Hrothelac suffers under the lash. A storm is building as the chapter closes.

There is also a house ad for Charlton's war books.

This issue is a real milestone for me personally. This is one of my very first comic books. I knew Hercules from myth and loved this grand tale blending the story of the Golden Apples with action and zest. O'Neil and Glanzman do a wonderful job telling this story and giving it some new twists. Atlas is magnificent and the full page panel revealing him is very dramatic. Today these panels are commonplace but then not so much, especially in a Charlton book. The Harpies evoke the flying monkeys of the Wizard of Oz and are very creepy. The story has a wonderfully brisk pace. This is a great comic book, and arguably the best installment of the series. I didn't know when I was reading this way back when, that it was the end of a great era at Charlton with the departure of Dick Giordano, a name I would see again over at DC.


The lead story was reprinted in Charlton Classics #4.

The back up tale was reprinted in Thane of Bagarth #2.

More to come.

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Dojo Classics - Hercules #3

I continue with my review of Charlton's Hercules series from the late 60's.

Hercules #3 dated February 1968, offers up a striking change in the series after only two issues. Hercules is given a more vivid and distinctive visual appearance by the addition of the skin of the Nemean Lion and a beard. This issue's cover was drawn by Sam Glanzman as have been all of them. He also is the artist on the lead story written by Sergius O'Shaugnessy (Denny O'Neil). The editor is Dick Giordano.

The Hercules adventure this time is titled "Netherworld" and opens with a wonderful splash page of Hercules battling Cerberus. The story begins with Hercules seeking human companionship and being rebuffed first by a mother who fears for her child and later by soldiers who consider him a wandering oaf. He quickly proves his strength with the latter but his anger is quelled when his friend King Admetus shows up. The procession is a funeral but Admetus tells Hercules it is only for a favored servant girl. Later while enjoying the hospitality of Admetus Herucles finds out the funeral was for Queen Alcestis and he pledges to go to Hades and rescue her. He calls to Zeus who arranges with Hercules that if he defeats Cerberus the three-headed hound which guards Hades he will have completed the third of his twelve required tasks to become a full-fledged god. Hera still wants to defeat the Man-God so she arranges with Hefestus to make a million spear points to rain down on Hercules. But Aphrodite sees this and goes to Zeus who is polishing up his thunderbolts (which are dingy) and he arranges for Aeoulus to blow the spear points away from Hercules and they become a defacto ladder for him to use to climb up to the cave which is the door to Hades. There he encounters Pluto who sends him into Hades unarmed. Then quickly Hercules finds Death and Alcestis. He battles death and makes off with the grateful Queen, but sadly has to leave others behind in the land of the dead. Then Cerberus shows up and he and Hercules battle. Hercules defeats the beast and drags him up out of Hades as he and Alcestis escape. Pluto indicates he's impressed with Hercules. Alcesits and Admetus are reunited and Hercules goes off to face for challenges.

"Letters to the Editor -- Hercules" returns with three letters, another one from Klaus Janson. The letters seem to recognize the similarity between Glanzman and Joe Kubert, and all are complimentary. One letter writer asks if Charlton might adapt Conan, but the answer is that it's too expensive. I'd have loved to see that adaptation personally.

The text story this time is "The Story of Momotaro" and it appears to be the retelling of a Japanese myth about Momotaro who is born out of the center of a peach and goes to battle evil spirts on Devil's Island aided by three helpers-- a monkey, a dog, and a pheasant. Momotaro also has magic dumplings.

The Thane of Bagarth story this time is titled "Chaper Three: Banishment". In this story written by Steve Skeates and drawn by Jim Aparo, the Thane of Bagarth Hrothelac has been betrayed by his brother Eowanda and the Thane of Rothfor who deliver forged documents to King Beowulf indicating that Hrothelac has conspired with the hated Swedes. Beowulf demands the traitor be brought before him and dispatches men to accomplish that. Meanwhile Hrothelac wakes up in the cabin of Daeghred the Scholar where he'd been brought by the Scholar's daughter Freahulf after she found Hrothelac unconscious. He finds wax on his signet ring and wrongly suspects Daeghred of having betrayed him. He leaves only to be immediately captured by Beowulf's men and brought to the King. The King banishes Hrothelac who assumes Daeghred is the culprit. He leaves but is waylaid by Vikings and taken aboard their ship as a slave. Beowulf plans to give the title of Bagarth to the Thane of Rothfor frustrating Eowanda's plans.

There's another entertaining House Ad in which they ask for money. This features the cover for Hercules #3.


And that's it. It's a really good issue, the first in which you feel the elements of the comic book have come together. Hercules looks exactly right, echoing not only the classic film versions but also the classic look of old Greece. The stories feature the Gods of Olympus who offer a range of distinctive and very human personalities. There's humor in the Hercules story, nicely meshed with the adventure. The Thane of Bagarth story is picking up steam nicely, though it looks at this point more like a standard comic than a Prince Valiant clone.


All in all this is now a solid comic book package. The lead Hercules story was reprinted in Charlton Classics #3.

The Thane of Bagarth story has been reprinted several times, but most prominently in Thane of Bagarth #25.

More to come.

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Aparo The Prankster!

The Prankster is a one-shot back-up hero who has a lot of charm, mostly because of the delicious artwork of Jim Aparo. It deals with a colorful hero who is a freedom fighter in the dystopic city of Ultropolis which is ruled by a ruthless dictator named Bane. To read this one-time-only adventure check out this groovy link.


The Prankster was created by Sergius O'Shaugnessy (Denny O'Neil) and Jim Aparo for what turned out to be the final issue of Charlton's Thunderbolt, issue #60. No more T-Bolt, and alas no more Prankster would ever be created for the Derby Publisher.


The Prankster though clearly seems to have been inspired by Harlan Ellison's classic short story "'Repent Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman" which was first published in Galaxy in 1965.


It was adapted to comics in 1975 in the third issue of Marvel's Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction. Here's a link to read this story adapted by Roy Thomas and drawn in his own highly exotic style by Alex Nino.

I love Nino generally, but I find his storytelling lacking here, much too difficult to follow. I'll take Jim Aparo's more straightforward approach anytime.

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Aparo Of The West!

This very dramatic cover for 1969's Texas Rangers in Action #72 is Aparo's only Old West cover that I know of for the Derby publisher. He only contributes the cover art to this comic though. But that doesn't mean that's his only Old West action.


Aside from his brief but memorable run on Lee Falk's Phantom, the character Aparo spent the most time illustrating at Charlton was Wander, the naive but far from witless visitor from outer space, specifically the planet Sirius 5, who finds himself marooned in the Wild West of the classic American frontier. He gets as his guide and helper a Gabby Hayes wannabe named Jeb Dooley and P.T. Barnum type dubbed Phineas T. Bloat.

Cover by Luis Dominguez
Wander debuted in Cheyenne Kid #66 and remained the sturdy back up in that strip for the next several years, with Aparo drawing many early episodes of the Sergius (Denny O'Neil) O'Shaughnessy-written saga before Fred Himes took over the reins of both script and art eventually when Aparo and O'Neil headed for the bright lights of DC Comics and eventually the shadowy alleys of Gotham City a year or so later.


Here is a very Groovy link to Wander's debut.

Cover by Rocke Mastroserio

And here's another to his second appearance in Cheyenne Kid #67 which wraps up his "origin". This was my first sample of the Wander adventures and one of my very first experiences with the muscular and compelling artwork of Jim Aparo.

Wander drawn by Aparo would appear in these issues of Cheyenne Kid.

Cover by Rocke Mastroserio Cheyenne Kid #68
Cover by Pat Boyette
from Cheyenne Kid #69
Cover by Sal Gentile & Jim Aparo
from Cheyenne Kid #79
Cover by Pat Boyette
from Cheyenne Kid #71
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