Showing posts with label Gold Key. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gold Key. Show all posts

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Review: TUROK: SON OF STONE Volume 8

TUROK: SON OF STONE, VOL. 8
DARK HORSE BOOKS

WRITER: Paul S. Newman
ARTIST: Alberto Giolitti
ISBN: 978-1-59582-641-1; hardcover
240pp, Color, $49.99 U.S., $54.99 CAN

The late author and writer of comic books and comic strips, Paul S. Newman, is apparently credited in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most prolific comic book writer in history. Newman, who died at the age of 75 in 1999, not only wrote for Marvel Comics, but also for the two earlier versions of the publisher, Timely Comics and Atlas Comics. He wrote for DC Comics, Archie Comics, and St. John Publications, among others. Newman is best remembered for his 26-year-tenure writing the comic book series, Turok, Son of Stone.

Turok is a fictional Native American comic book character that first appeared in Four Color Comics #596 (cover dated October/November 1954). In 1956, Turok received his own title, Turok, Son of Stone. The series, which actually began with Turok, Son of Stone #3, was published by Dell Comics, later by Gold Key Comics, and finally by Whitman Comics (an imprint of Turok’s owner, Western Publishing).

A pre-Columbian Indian (Native American), Turok and his brother, Andar, were trapped in an isolated valley populated by dinosaurs, Stone Age-type humans, and other assorted cave men types. Turok and Andar referred to this strange land as the Lost Valley, and the brothers called the dinosaurs, “honkers,” for the noise they made. The brothers struggle to survive while searching for a way out of Lost Valley, which is surrounded by seemingly impregnable and sky-reaching cliffs.

Through its Dark Horse Archives line, Dark Horse Books is reprinting Turok, Son of Stone. Dark Horse sent me a copy of Turok, Son of Stone Volume 8 for review. It reprints Turok, Son of Stone #44-50 (cover dates March 1965 to March 1966), which were published by Gold Key. All the stories are written by Paul S. Newman and are drawn by Alberto Giolitti, an artist of whom I’d never heard.

Seven issues might not seem like a lot of material for an archival collection. At the time of publication, however, issues of the Turok, Son of Stone ranged from 28 to 38 pages of comics and story. And boy, what comics and stories they are.

There are few pages of this book in which Paul S. Newman does not have Turok and Andar living with the specter of death hanging over them. However, Newman’s “action comics” are not of the constant titillation or throw-everything-at-the-wall variety. Newman’s storytelling is natural, as he offers tales of survival – man vs. man and man vs. nature. These are thrilling tales of wild adventure in a natural world.

A good example of this is issue #44’s “The End of the World,” in which a meteor shower sends the denizens of the Lost Valley into panic. All the complications the duo faces and all those obstacles to overcome are natural, rather than supernatural, even in a book about dinosaurs. These include a forest fire, a stampede, animal attacks, and tribal warfare. In a way, Newman is practically writing these Turok stories as frontier adventures. Newman doesn’t leave his readers without some weirdness; there is issue #48’s “The Top of the World,” a creepy and scary tale about abominable snowmen.

All of these stories are brought to life as comics by Alberto Giolitti, who was born in Rome, Italy and eventually became an American citizen. In these Turok, Son of Stone comic books, Giolitti is a brilliant storyteller, and his compositions reveal a level of draftsmanship that was likely matched by few of his peers in the mid-1960s. [Right now, I can think of only Alex Toth.] Giolitti’s depiction of the Lost Valley includes exotic jungles, massive cliffs, craggy mountaintops, dank caverns, alien jungles, lush forests, striking desert vistas, and inventive underwater scenes – all done with an illustrator’s grasp of landscapes. Y’all, this Giolitti fellow is incredible. I doubt that there are more than a handful of comic book artists working today who could draw like Giolitti – Mark Schultz, maybe, and I doubt he could draw six issues a year.

Every issue of Turok, Son of Stone also has extras about the natural world, the early history of man, and trivia and details about Native Americans. Although much of this material is probably outdated, it adds a nice touch to the naturalistic storytelling of Newman and Giolitti. I always wondered what the Turok comic books were like. If I’d known they were this good, I would have sought them out a long time ago. At $49.99, Turok, Son of Stone Volume 8 is a bargain because the quality it offers is worth more.

A


Saturday, January 7, 2012

Review: Flash Gordon Comic Book Archives Volume 4

FLASH GORDON COMIC BOOK ARCHIVES, VOLUME 4

DARK HORSE BOOKS
WRITERS: John Warner, Gary Poole
ARTISTS: Carlos Garzón, Frank Bolle
INTRODUCTION: Arthur Lortie
ISBN: 978-1-59582-717-3; hardcover
224pp, Color, $49.99 U.S., $54.99 CAN

Flash Gordon and the science fiction, newspaper comic strip that shares his name debuted on January 7, 1934. Created by Alex Raymond, the strip followed the adventures of Gordon and his companions, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov, on the planet Mongo. There, they battle the evil despot, Ming the Merciless.

The first Flash Gordon comic books were published in the 1930s and 1940s and were reprints of the comic strip. In the 1940s, Dell Comics began publishing Flash Gordon comic books with original stories from the mid-1940s to the early 1950s

Published by Dark Horse Books, Flash Gordon Comic Book Archives is reprinting Flash Gordon comic books that were produced by various publishers, including Dell Comics and Charlton Comics. Flash Gordon Comic Book Archives Volume 4 reprints Flash Gordon #19-27, which were published by Gold Key Comics from 1978 to 1980. Prior to Gold Key, there had not been a Flash Gordon comic book series since Charlton Comics’ Flash Gordon #18 hit newsstands in 1970.

According to the introduction to this volume by Arthur Lortie, Gordon’s nemesis, Ming the Merciless, was deposed as ruler of the planet, Mongo, in the 1930/40s continuity of the comics strip. Gold Key Comics staff writer, John David Warner restores Ming to power and returns Gordon, and his companions, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov, to Mongo to battle Ming. Warner sends the three on an odyssey through Mongo’s myriad regions as they try to build a coalition of kingdoms to defeat Ming.

Warner wrote issues #19-24, and writer/editor Gary T. Poole wrote the last three issues of the Gold Key series, #25-27. Columbian-born comic book artist and comics illustrator, Carlos Garzón drew every issue of the Gold Key series, except for two issues. Garzón was also an assistant to Al Williamson, a noted Flash Gordon comic book artist who had grown up idolizing Flash Gordon creator, Alex Raymond. The two issues not drawn by Garzón were drawn by New York City-born and bred artist and illustrator, Frank Bolle.

I received a review copy of Flash Gordon Comic Book Archives Volume 4 because Dark Horse was doing some shelf cleaning, getting rid of some books to make way for review copies of newer titles. I didn’t expect to like this because I mistakenly associated Gold Key Comics with substandard material, mainly because it has been decades since I’ve read a Gold Key comic book. I was wrong to prejudge these Flash Gordon comic books because I actually had a great time reading them.

Warner and Poole stick to the pulp fiction and weird fiction roots of Flash Gordon without being hokey. These are smoothly-written sword-and-fantasy tales that recall Silver Age DC science fiction and fantasy comic book titles. Both writers build tension by spinning Flash Gordon’s fiery, man-of-action nature: never use words when fists can be just as articulate, in diverse conflict scenarios. That is contrasted against the personalities of Gordon’s co-stars. Dale Arden is quick to lay her head on Gordon’s strong chest, but she is something of a woman-of-action herself. Combine her with the eccentric Zarkov, who is also not above kicking some butt, and the Gold Key Flash Gordon is unpredictable. This is because the co-stars are not window dressing simply meant to make Gordon look like the great White hero; Arden and Zarkov are also capable of moving the story forward and resolving problems.

Plus, Warner and Poole are quite inventive when it comes to creating settings and plots. Two that stand out for me are. Flash Gordon #21’s “Wolf in the Fold” is rousing political suspense thriller and moving love story (surrogate father and son). “The Enchanted City” from issue #27 is quirky and engaging.

Both series artists produce good work. Carlos Garzón’s compositional style and design recall both Raymond and Williamson, especially the latter. In many ways, the art is Williamson-inspired or has his visual sensibilities. Garzón’s art on issues #19-20 is not good. After a two-issue break, he returns in Flash Gordon #23 and hits his stride with his best Williamson-inspired work.

However, I prefer Frank Bolle’s two-issue run (#21-22). His solid figure drawing and draftsmanship give Warner’s scripts, for those two issues, added dramatic heft. Perhaps, I like Bolle’s work here so much because it reminds me of one of my favorite artists, the late and still great, Gil Kane.

I am glad to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this collection. I think Flash Gordon fans should definitely consider either purchasing this pricey volume or finding the originals through online dealers. The “pleasant surprises,” like this one are the books that justify archive editions.

B+


Monday, April 12, 2010

Mike Richardson, Jim Shooter at C2E2

DARK HORSE TO KICK OFF NEW GOLD KEY COMICS PROGRAM AT C2E2!


LEGENDARY CREATORS JIM SHOOTER AND MIKE RICHARDSON TO RE-INTRODUCE FANS TO THESE ICONIC SUPERHEROES

Dark Horse and Classic Media announced today that this weekend’s C2E2 convention will be the launch for the much-anticipated new Gold Key Comics program. Fans will have the chance to meet Dark Horse President Mike Richardson and creator Jim Shooter, and gain insider information on what to expect from this summer’s upcoming releases. News of the line was first announced at San Diego Comic Con International 2009, and fans have been anxiously awaiting details ever since.

“Jim and I share a great affection for these terrific characters. We have some very exciting ideas on how to introduce them to a whole new generation of fans.” said Mike Richardson, president of Dark Horse Comics. “C2E2 is just the beginning.”

“I've done this long enough to know when it feels right -- and it does -- so there's a chance, at least, that it is. I stand on the shoulders of giants like Manning, Newman and Du Bois,” said Jim Shooter. “On top of that I've had terrific support from Mike Richardson and Senior Editor Chris Warner, plus great art from Bill Reinhold and Dennis Calero. Overture, curtain, lights...!”

In addition, throughout the C2E2 weekend, Dark Horse will announce the creative teams and more titles in the works for Gold Key. Then, the new line will kick off in print only a few weeks later, on Saturday, May 1st, as part of Free Comic Book Day, and fans can look for exciting promotional Apps on iTunes in early May.

Doctor Solar, the first title in the line, will arrive in stores this summer!


About Dark Horse Comics
Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, Will Eisner, and bestselling prose author, Janet Evanovich, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as The Mask, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Additionally, their highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Mass Effect, Tim Burton, Serenity and Domo. Today, Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the United States and is recognized as both an innovator in the cause of creator rights and the comics industry's leading publisher of licensed material.

About Classic Media™
Classic Media, one of the world’s largest independent entertainment companies, is a leader in reinventing the classics of yesterday and creating the entertainment classics of tomorrow. The Company owns and manages a globally-recognized portfolio of well-known family and pop-culture entertainment brands, including Casper the Friendly Ghost®, Where’s Waldo?®, The Lone Ranger®, Gold Key Comics, Lassie®, Postman Pat®, and new global brands Tinga Tinga Tales® and Guess with Jess®. Big Idea, a member of the Classic Media family, is the leading faith-based studio and producer of children’s programming, including the best-selling animated series, VeggieTales®. More than 3,600 hours of Classic Media programming is distributed in more than 170 territories worldwide and showcased in multiple formats, including TV, film, home video, consumer products, publishing, digital, and music.