Tuesday, April 14, 2015

REAL CLUE CRIME STORIES "America's Most Heinous Crime"

150 years ago today...
...what was, until 1963, America's most henious crime occured...
Published in Hillman's Real Clue Crime Stories v2#8 (1947), this Bob Fujitani-illustrated tale wasn't considered important enough to be given the cover illustration...or even a blurb on the cover!
The writer of this never-reprinted tale is, regrettably, unknown.
BTW, when President John F Kennedy was assassinated almost 100 years later, that event was labeled "America's Most Heinous Crime".

Sunday, January 12, 2014

NORTHWEST MOUNTIES "Mountie Guns Break the Snow Siren's Secret!"

Meet the guys who maintain law in the land of the Polar Vortex...
...and remember, they always get their man (and/or woman)!
Pencilled and inked by Chuck Miller, this tale from St John's Northwest Mounties #4 (1949) was typical of the high quality work St John was noted for.
Regrettably, this issue was also the last of the title...until a one-shot reprint several year later that featured a Matt Baker cover supposedly-illustrating this tale...

...even though there are no wolves in the story (and no snow in the cover art)!
Sure looks dramatic, though!

Monday, December 23, 2013

Christmas Comics Repost VAULT OF HORROR "...and All Though the House..."

Since the original post's links to the videos are no longer working...
...we're re-presenting this sordid story from EC Comics' Vault of Horror #35 (1954) with new links!
This horror-day classic (sorry, couldn't resist) written and illustrated by Johnny Craig had been reprinted numerous times and been adapted twice, once as part of the 1970s anthology movie Tales from the Crypt...
and as the second episode of the1990s Tales from the Crypt TV series...
We'll be back after the New Year with more proof that Crime Does NOT Pay..but it sure is FUN!
Merry Christmas
&
Happy New Year!

Monday, December 9, 2013

The Gifts are Afoot, Watson!


OK, it's a silly paraphrase of a classic line, but we at Atomic Kommie Comics™ take our Sherlockania VERY seriously...
As part of our Crime & Punishment™ collection, we've given The Greatest Sleuth of All™ his very own section!
12 different designs, including several with Basil Rathbone, the man who is to Sherlock Holmes as Sean Connery is to James Bond, not the first, but to many (including myself), the definitive portrayer!
Add to that, several classic comic book covers, a variety of other movie posters (including the campy A Study in Terror with Holmes as "The ORIGINAL Caped Crusader"!), the coolest cigar box art I've ever seen (based on William Gillette), and 1st Edition covers from A Study in Scarlet and His Last Bow!

If you're looking for a cool Christmas gift for the Holmesian, Sherlockian, or Baker Street Irregular in your life, you can't go wrong with one of these mugs, bags, t-shirts, e-reader covers, or other goodies!

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

BURKE'S LAW "Who Killed the Hollywood Hopefuls?: The Third Victim" Part 2

Captain of Detectives Amos Burke investigates several murders of Hollywood actors apparently commited by classic movie monsters!
When several leads peter out to dead ends, the captain's aides decide to take a different approach...
Well, this looks like another dead end...or is it?
You'll discover the astounding answer tomorrow as the story concludes where it began, at our "brother" blog Secret Sanctum of Captain Video!
Writer Paul S Newman and artists Frank McLaughlin (penciler) and Dick Giordano, Sal Trapani & Vince Colletta (inkers) will keep you guessing as they finish this tale from Dell's Burke's Law #3 (1965).

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

BURKE'S LAW "Who Killed the Hollywood Hopefuls?: The Third Victim" Part 1

Movie actors are being killed by beings resembling famous monsters.
Captain of Detectives Amos Burke and his aides follow a trail of clues leading to the film studio that made the movies the creatures originally appeared in...
Be here tomorrow as we show how movies were screened in the pre-BluRay (and even VCR) days!
(and there'll be more clues, too...)
Note: you didn't miss a post here.
The first part appeared at our "brother" blog Secret Sanctum of Captain Video!
Burke's Law (1963-1966) was produced by Aaron Spelling, who later did such genre series as Charlie's Angels, TJ Hooker, Matt Houston, Hart to Hart, Starsky and Hutch, The Rookies, SWAT, Mod Squad, and Honey West (a spinoff from Burke's Law we've featured HERE.)
While it was a police procedural, the plot was often secondary to the parade of high-profile guest stars playing victims and suspects, making it "CSI meets Love Boat".
Classic movie stars like Buster Keaton, Don Ameche, Basil Rathbone, Dorothy Lamour, and Broderick Crawford joined up-and-comers like William Shatner, Barbara Eden, Tab Hunter, Annette Funicello, and Telly Savalas as the weirdest grouping of West Coast eccentrics outside of San Diego ComicCon!
As you can see, translating it to the comic page proved difficult, since the editors felt the guest star aspect couldn't be carried out in a licensed comic.
Depite that, writer Paul S Newman and artists Frank McLaughlin (penciler) and Dick Giordano, Sal Trapani & Vince Colletta (inkers) did a commendable job trying to capture the light-hearted feel of the series in this tale from Dell's Burke's Law #3 (1965).
Trivia: Every episode's title was "Who Killed (Insert Noun)?", much as Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s titles were "The (Insert Noun) Affair" and Wild, Wild West's episodes all had a "Night of the (Insert Noun)" title (even if they took place during the day)!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

SHERLOCK HOLMES "Sherlock Holmes' Greatest Challenge"

Far afield from his usual British haunts...
...the Greatest Sleuth of All deduces the truth about a murder mystery in the wilds of Canada!
This never-reprinted tale from Charlton's Sherlock Holmes #2 (1955) is an original story of Holmes (minus Dr Watson) aiding the RCMP in present-day Canada.
Both the writer and artist(s) of these tales is unknown and the art style seems to be a combination of the techniques of several different illustrators.