Friday, October 7, 2016

Making a Splash: Atlas/Seaboard's Supernatural Heroes (and Monsters)

Dig it, Groove-ophiles! While Atlas/Seaboard wasn't the most original comicbook company in the history of comics, they at least had some great artists working on those kinda-familiar-comix. Since it was 1975, supernatural comics were the rage, and supernatural superheroes (or at least monster-type super-heroes, supernatural or no) were being churned out by the clawfull. The best of Atlas/Seaboard's were Rich Buckler's Demon Hunter, Howard Chaykin's Scorpion, Michael Fleischer and Ernie Colon's Grim Ghost, were the most fab of 'em all, while the Cougar, Morlock, the Brute, Man-Monster, and Tarantula had their own wonky charm. Son of Dracula (which didn't have an actual splash), Bog Beast, Devilina, and their ilk...well, Mom always said, "If you have nothing good to say..."

So, let's get on wit' the cool art by the likes of Mike Sekowsky/Pablo Marcos, Dan Adkins/Frank Springer, Rich Buckler, Ernie Colon, Al Milgrom/Alan Weiss/Jack Abel, Howard Chaykin, and Pat Boyette...













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7 comments:

  1. Dr. ThedaOctober 7, 2016 at 12:53 AM

    We have the "Bog Beast" Comic... Cool post !!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Charlie Horse 47October 7, 2016 at 8:23 AM

    Loved the scorpion by Chaykin. Was it this work that led to him doing The Shadow? Never understood in my young mind how Scorpion suddenly could be in a blue uniform, lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. keythd23October 7, 2016 at 4:16 PM

      Consistency was not a hallmark of Atlas, either with creators or characters.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousOctober 7, 2016 at 8:34 PM

      Funny that a medium whose primary consumer was boys / very young men would have so many inconsistencies to confuse the heck out of us? Groove could probably do several days worth on that!

      Delete
  3. AnonymousOctober 7, 2016 at 2:55 PM

    Charming bunch of characters...
    M.P.

    ReplyDelete
  4. RussOctober 8, 2016 at 7:13 PM

    As a reader I was excited at how edgy the early titles were. Some of the best art ever by Boyette and Colon, who may have put more time in because of the higher page rates. But looking at the splashes and the ads showing all of the characters together, it's apparent how bleak and grotesque the bulk of the titles were. Not many of the characters even existed in the same time period or universe, so there was little cohesion. And where are any attractive female characters? It just seems that a lot of top talent was employed to incoherent ends. I'm guessing that the rapid changes in direction didn't help, but I wonder if the general readership (pre-direct sales) was put off by how grim the line looked.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kracalactaka!October 9, 2016 at 12:32 AM

    Nice run of Horror titles You have going lately, Inspired me to add to the fun with a recent EC scan: http://kracalactakacreations.blogspot.com/2016/10/golden-age-horror-vault-of-horror-26.html

    ReplyDelete

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