Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
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Atlas/Seaboard. It didn't burn long, it didn't burn bright and it crashed as much as it burned but burn it did - and at significant cost.
Launched by Marvel's former publisher Martin Goodman, for the alleged purpose of visiting vengeance upon Cadence Industries for not hiring his son Chip as Marvel's new editorial director, much money was flung at the project and much talent was hired to work for it.
As those books started to flood the spinner racks of the western world, it seemed a whole new era had arrived in the US comic industry. One that might sweep aside Marvel, DC, Charlton, Gold Key, Dell and all others, in a tidal wave of unadulterated ambition.
In this case, that other mag being Warren's Famous Monsters of Filmland.
As the cover informs, us, issue #1 features articles about Planet of the Apes and Christopher Lee's Dracula, plus The Exorcist and Gorgo.
It also, I believe, contains pieces about Star Trek, Curse of the Werewolf, The Creature from the Black Lagoon and The Monsters of Hercules.
I suspect the fellow on the cover is the Cyclops from The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad. Therefore, I shall assume there's also an article about that movie too.
But here's a book which bucked the trend of Atlas/Seaboard titles only lasting for four issues before disappearing, by only lasting for one issue before disappearing.
It's true. Never again would we see this book but, while it's among us, it does, at least, give us such breath-defying tales as The Cruel Cliffs of Malaspina, The Devil's Chapel, The Black Unicorn, Mommy Save Me From the Night Monsters and Asylum, as well as providing me with my own personal star-scope.
Who could demand more in exchange for their money?
Not me, even though Mommy Save Me From the Night Monsters doesn't exactly scream, "Romance," at me.
And was this mag too a rip-off of anything else?
I suspect it may have been designed as a, "homage," to Dell's Gothic Romances published in 1970 whose first issue also featured a front cover painting of a young woman fleeing a sinister house.
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28 comments:
I was a massive fan of the Atlas line of comics at the time and had every issue (as you noted they were all over the place in the UK) except Gothic Romance and Vicki . I picked up all 4 issues of the Vicki around 1990, then gave almost every one of my Atlas books to a charity shop. Seemingly Gothic Romance featured illos by Neal Adams, Howie Chaykin etc.
Even now Atlas books dont seem to be of interest to comic book fans , I saw a few issues of Police Action, the Scorpion and the Brute for sale in Glasgow at 50p each they've been in the back issue section for nearly a year now. Saying that their black and white mags were excellent.
Paul, I think the two issues of THRILLING ADVENTURE STORIES were the absolute best comics Atlas/Seaboard produced. I don’t really remember their two horror-themed b/w comics very well.
Steve, there was another GOTHIC ROMANCES mag from another publisher that ran for two or three issues in the early 70s. And Marvel published 3 issues of a mag called GOTHIC TALES OF LOVE in 1975, meaning that Marvel was following Atlas’ lead for once.
b.t.
For some bizarre reason there seemed to be lots of copies of Thrilling Adventure Stories #1 on sale round my way back then. But try to find any of the US Marvel b&w mags? Forget it.
Anyway, it was terrible. I mean, Tiger-Man? Come on, b.t.
Iirc there was a story drawn by Russ Heath in it though (set in a WW2 prison camp?) That was the only thing you could say for the mag really... that it had a few pages of nice Russ Heath artwork in the back.
I suppose that might well have been enough to make it the best Atlas title.
-sean
I'd never heard of Atlas/Seaboard until a few years ago.
sean:
A quick refresh of my memory at the GCD, and yes, that first Tiger-man story wasn’t so hot and I’m never too keen on Leo Summers and Jack Sparling art. But as you mentioned, there’s that nicely drawn Russ Heath WWII story and I thought Frank Thorne’s art on the Lawrence of Arabia story was pretty good.
The second issue of THRILLING ADVENTURE was better overall, with another nifty Russ Heath story, a cool sword and sorcery story by Archie Goodwin and Walter Simonson, stories illustrated by John Severin and Alex Toth and a very SAVAGE TALES-esque cover by Neal Adams.
b.t.
Oh, and for anyone who’s interested, there’s a copy of Atlas’ GOTHIC ROMANCES up on eBay even as we speak. The seller has posted the interior illustrations by Chaykin, Adams and Colon. They’re only asking 900 bucks for it :D
b.t.
You know it's Christmas when Tesco is crowded at 6 am.
Tonight BBC Four is showing a colourised version of the Dr Who story The War Games from 1969 which was Patrick Troughton's final appearance as The Doctor but this version is only 90 minutes long and the original series in 1969 consisted of ten 30-minute episodes so some serious editing has taken place! Anyway the final episode of The War Games is the first thing I can remember watching on TV - I was only 3 at the time but the scene where The Doctor has to choose his new face stuck in my mind for decades. Earlier this year I watched the episode again on BBC iPlayer and lo and behold The Doctor rejects all the possible faces and doesn't choose a new face after all (I assume Jon Pertwee hadn't been cast at that point).
Its not Christmas tíl Charlie mentions 'Wonderful Christmastime' in the comments, Colin. I don't think he's done that yet this year...?
-sean
Has any of this material been reprinted over the years, or is it lost?
Colin, I love The War Games. Even though it's insanely long, it never stops moving and carries you along with it. I'm definitely going to watch the truncated version to see how they can possibly get it down to just an hour and a half.
Matthew, I'm not aware of it having been reprinted but I could be wrong.
The saying goes that, “revenge is a dish best served cold. “Yet 50 years on, one might ponder a little bit how emotional Martin Goodman was when he decided to launch Atlas.
The efforts he went there to avenge his son for his perception that Marvel had treated him inappropriately were certainly enormous.
And presumably were costly.
CH
Might anyone know if Atlas Comics ever contemplated any joint activity with DC at that time?
Charlie, ever the connoisseur of the golden age of radio and pulps and basically 1930s pop culture, could easily envision a team up involving the SCORPION (the original Scorpion).
Regarding SCORPION that perhaps was my fav Atlas book.
Errr… actually it was my favorite issue.
The CHAYKIN cover was erotically delicious for a 13 year old. Well, actually after looking at it just a few minutes ago out of the long box, it is still pretty delish for a 63 year-old, lol.
Compare cover number one to cover number two… I suspect that transition pretty much summarizes the woes that faced Atlas comics.
Never was a 13-year-old more confused than when he went to the spinner rack and was looking at Scorpion number two scratching his head as to what the heck THIS scorpion IN TIGHTS was because it obviously wasn’t the same character from scorpion number one. And the cover art to #2 and suggested story… I mean for sure they had all the angels in comic book heaven working on scorpion number two like KALUTA, CHAYKIN, WRIGHTSON, et al. but that cover is just a dog. A DOG!
Which brings Charlie full circle! I wonder since they had Kaluta working on the scorpion, and Kaluta did that brilliant work on the SHADOW, might it have crossed somebody’s mind at Atlas to do some joint work with DC and try to put a nail in marvel‘s coffin?
SEAN - you rascal you!!! I did mention, sir PAULs “wonderful Christmas time “perhaps on Saturday. It was in conjunction with musing whether the only thing people might know John LENNON for within a decade or two, outside of the Beatles, is his song “WAR IS OVER.”
Whereas, Paul has many songs that are still in the popular culture at this time And that body of work should carry him along in the public consciousness for a few more decades one would think.
Well, until Colin hears “it’s a marshmallow world” in Tesco, Charlie will be anxiously hanging around at Steve’s. Does Comics to hear y’ all‘s comments!
Just to be clear… We’re all the Atlas comics appearing on the spinner acts in the United Kingdom?
Charlie, in my experience, Atlas comics were very readily available. I can only assume the huge quantities of unsold stock in America got sent over here.
Interesting thoughts, steve! In the simplest sense as an avid comic book reader in the United States, i welcomed a challenger to Marvel and DC. Charlton, Gold key, Harvey, and Archie comics were never considered that, even though they all had their brief dabbles into “men in tights.”
But once the novelty wore off, and lacking compelling storylines EG what they did to the scorpion, interest faded quickly enough.
Charlie —
I still haven’t heard “Marshmallow World” yet either, but i did hear The Ronnettes singing “Sleigh Ride” this morning, which is like the Next Best Thing.
I know I’ve already chimed in about THRILLING ADVENTURE STORIES, but going forward I’m gonna try to hold fire on bloviating about Ironjaw, Bog Beast and the others so I’ll have something ‘new’ to say about them when Steve officially brings them up on future Seaboard Sundays.
Meanwhile, I know there’s not much to say about Atlas’ FAMOUS MONSTERS knockoff mag and nobody’s even uploaded GOTHIC ROMANCES to the Internet Archive, so I can’t really opine on that subject either.
All 3 issues of Marvel’s GOTHIC TALES OF LOVE mag ARE up on the Internet Archive and believe it or not, I may actually have a thought or two about that…
b.t.
Charlie, I haven't heard Marshmallow World in Tesco nor Macca but I did hear Lennon.
The Ronnettes managed to make that goddam annoying x-mas song compelling.
She had that voice....
On another note, I still get choked up a little when I here the Lennon song.
John Legend put out a remake, and, nothing against the guy, but it ain't got the same impact. Not even close.
Of course, no Christmas would be complete without watching the Heatmizer and the Coldmizer from Year Without a Santa Clause.
Merry Christmas, Steve, and to all here!
And wishes for a more peaceful new year.
M.P.
Merry Christmas to you too, MP, and to everyone who visits the shores of this website.
Merry Christmas, Steve, and to all the readers of Steve Does Comics!
Merry Christmas, Steve, and to all fellow followers of SDC.
b.t.
I would like to say merry Christmas to everyone as well! And, if you really want to hear a nice selection of Christmas songs go to 87.7, MeTV, FM, and stream it. They are counting down the 100 most popular Christmas songs And it is really really refreshing to not hear the same familiar dozen tunes that are on auto play right now on the other stations.
It is really a blast to the past!
Charlie
Merry Christmas to SDCs' readers. I've just bought a mint, rather than orange, chocolate orange (on Steve's previous recommendation), along with some matchmakers, & a cheapo chocolate log. I'll consume them all tomorrow!
My best to everybody!
Phillip
Merry Christmas all!
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