Uncanny Tales #50 - Angelo Torres art

Uncanny Tales #50, 1956 - Cautionary tales have always been pervasive in comics, especially during the post-nuclear era. This story by Angelo Torres warns against the dangers of emerging technologies. Initially set in 2056, a newly perfected perpetual motion machine creates advances in society but brings unseen abuses as well. The artist's loose, spontaneous pencils are enhanced by dramatic inking where necessary. His futuristic visions are somewhat confined by small panels, but does a reasonable job setting the right tone. Torres' last panel interestingly shows a 1960s-era kitchen at the height of modernity. Other artists in this issue include Herb Familton, Joe Orlando, Bob Powell, Robert Q Sale, Ed Winiarski and Bill Everett (cover). This is number 1 of 3 Uncanny Tales issues with Torres art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Torres or Uncanny Tales issues. See also this blog's Angelo Torres checklist.
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"A Man Destroyed" Torres story pencils and inks 4 pages = ***
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Weird War Tales #25 - non-attributed Alex Nino art

Weird War Tales #25, 1974 - Doctors and nurses abandon a completely bandaged patient during an operation. It is the fall of Berlin at the end of World War Two as American soldiers fight their way into the city. The patient awakes, and upon discovering his own invisibility, proceeds to inflict mayhem and confusion on the GIs. Nino depicts both the landscape of decimated buildings and the violence of war with sharp, unnerving lines and shapes. The story's highlight is the first panel: a view of an operating room where the liquid-like reflections of overhead lights contrast against the fine lines of the figures below. Other artists in this issue include Alfredo Alcala and Luis Dominguez (cover). This is number 7 of 9 Weird War Tales issues with Nino art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Nino or Weird War Tales issues. See also this blog's Alex Nino checklist.
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"The Unseen Warrior" Nino story pencils and inks 10 pages = ***
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Two-Fisted Tales #26 - Wally Wood art

Two-Fisted Tales #26, 1952 - A stray dog is witness to the American forces' pull out from Hungnam, their last piece of occupied territory in North Korea. Only two years after it occurred, Wally Wood draws another subtle yet powerfully told tale. There is no character dialogue, only narration, allowing the visuals to set the tone and fill in necessary information. A bird's eye view of the Korean port opens the story, and the artist provides the reader with stunning detail and clarity. Wood's extraordinary effort permeates every panel, epitomized by the sea of individual refugee's faces on page four. Other artists this issue include Jack Davis, John Severin, Bill Elder and Harvey Kurtzman (art & cover). This is number 9 of 18 Two-Fisted Tales issues with Wood art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Wood or Two-Fisted Tales issues. See also this blog's Wood checklist.
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"Hungnam" Wood story pencils and inks 7 pages = ****
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DC Comics Presents - comic series checklist

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DC Comics Presents v1
DC
1978-86

1
2-4
5-10
11-20
21-24
26 - Jim Starlin art & cover
27 - Jim Starlin art & cover
28 - Jim Starlin art & cover
29 - Jim Starlin art & cover
36 - Jim Starlin art & cover
37 - Jim Starlin art & cover
38-40
41-53
54 - Don Newton art & cover
55-60
60-65
66 - Joe Kubert art & cover
67-78
79 - Al Williamson art
80-83
84 - Jack Kirby art & cover, Alex Toth art
85 - Al Williamson art
86
87 - Al Williamson art
88-92
93 - Jim Starlin cover
94-97

Annuals 1-4


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See today's posts, more series checklists or the master list of series. See also this blog's artist checklists, top 10 lists or readers polls.

Marines In Battle #7 - Joe Kubert art

Marines In Battle #7, 1955 - The final story of the issue, "Counter Attack" retells the strategic importance of three hills during the Korean War. Joe Kubert makes his one and only contribution to this war title, atypically falls short. There is little to recognize of the artist's pencils, due to the incompatible inks of Seymour Moskowitz. The layouts are crowded and the panels too small and numerous throughout the story. Although his effort here is disappointing, Kubert would eventually become one of the greatest artists of this genre. Other artists in this issue include John Forgione, Jack Abel, Dick Ayers, Joe Sinnott and Russ Heath (cover). This is number 1 of 1 Marines In Battle issues with Kubert art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Kubert or Marines In Battle issues. See also this blog's Joe Kubert checklist.
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"Counter Attack" Kubert story pencils (Seymour Moskowitz inks) 6 pages = *
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Journey Into Unknown Worlds #59 - Al Williamson art

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Journey Into Unknown Worlds #59, 1957 - Telepathic radioactive wolves make a business deal with fur industry executives? This odd tale is strange even by science fiction comic book standards. Al Williamson's illustrations add some degree of plausibility to a story perhaps better suited to less realistic artist. Still, the drawings are faithfully rendered with all seriousness. Note how the grey tones of an atomic mushroom cloud (see inset above) helps to separate it from the foreground wolves. Ralph Mayo, a frequent Atlas collaborator, adds the smooth finishing touches over Williamson's pencils. Other artists this issue include Bill Everett (cover), John Forte, Ted Galindo and Richard Dorsee. This is number 3 of 3 Journey Into Unknown Worlds issues with Williamson art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Williamson or Journey Into Unknown Worlds issues. See also this blog's Williamson checklist.
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"A Shaggy Wolf Tale" Williamson story pencils (Ralph Mayo inks) 3 pages = ***
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Haunted #5 - Steve Ditko art & cover

Haunted #5, 1972 - Steve Ditko contributes two fine stories as he continues his run on this Charlton horror series. Although "The Garden Of 1,000 Delights" mostly adheres to a common six panel grid, he fills the panels with beautifully intricate, Asian-inspired patterns. "This Is How It Is!" tells of a family fight over a substantial inheritance. Ditko's second tale is a tad better than the first, incorporating more detail, textures, and surprisingly effective pale-colored backgrounds (pages 7-8). This is a fine example of the artist's uniqueness and creativity. Other artists in this issue include Don Perlin and Nicholas Alascia. This is number 5 of 23 Haunted issues with Steve Ditko art and/or covers (reprints not included). See today's posts or more Ditko or Haunted issues. See also this blog's Ditko checklist.
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Ditko cover pencils and inks = *** 
"The Garden Of 1,000 Delights" Ditko story pencils and inks 7 pages = ***
"This Is How It Is!" Ditko story pencils and inks 9 pages = ***
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Captain America #112 - Jack Kirby art & cover

Captain America #112, 1969 - Continuing from the previous issue, Captain America appears to have died at the hands of Hydra. The authorities contact his fellow Avenger Iron Man, who narrates the hero's past exploits (for new readers presumably). From his initial disappearance in World War II to his reappearance in the Arctic, Jack Kirby chronicles these flashbacks quickly and efficiently. Even the past eleven issues are briefly recapped, contributing to the story's frenetic pace. While not of the same caliber as some of his previous issues, Kirby does deliver four exciting splash pages. It's a fitting end to his first run on the series. He would later return during the mid-1970s, just in time for the American Bicentennial. This is number 11 of 34 Captain America issues with Kirby art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Kirby or Captain America issues.
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Kirby cover pencils = ***
"Lest We Forget" Kirby story pencils (George Tuska inks) 20 pages = ***
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