Friday Frights this week is an epic-sized werewolf extravaganza featuring two classic tales (one Gold and one Silver), PLUS a gory, in-depth gander at my amazing Aurora '69 Wolf Man model kit which I just got back from my buddy Greg yesterday after he repainted it for me. And like a few of the other Aurora's I've recently posted here, I also have excerpts from the incredible instruction sheet-- but unlike all of them that I've already shown you, this time I actually have the bad ass box too! Okay, first up, a terrific Joe Maneely Atlas cover on the July 1953 issue of Marvel Tales #116 kicks it all off, including the freakish 5-page cover story classic that many of you will recognize as later becoming one of Marvel's greatest supernatural monster series titles of the Silver Age. And we'll wrap up this wild and wooly post with a funny little mad scientist / werewolf quickie filler yarn from the April 1966 issue of The Little Monsters #4. So have yourselves a heckuva howlingly great weekend, I have lots more fun on the way throughout all of December... and all through the house... and with lots of creatures ominously stirring too, obviously!
Marvel loved to recycle concepts; from the 50s pre-code monsters to this story here. The title, and paneled cover. As great as Maneely was, Ploog was the guy that really hit WWbN out of the park. I also really loved Perlin's later run on the art, a more Marvel and less Ghastly type artwork but worked well for the book. Both were great at gothic architecture.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great ending, BTW, it's out of left field, incredibly hard to believe, but is one of those endings that makes you want the story to continue -- and frankly, is it really that bad for Johan? He gets the girl, he gets rich, and he's also been an accomplish to multitudes of murders. Why does it even matter anymore?
The gag strip is great, I love the art, and especially the werewolf.
The wolf man is an awesome paint job; I especially love the drips and blood drenched claws, all well done, the two tones on the rocks and fur are excellent.
Hey, I was a werewolf roommate! I kind of like the odd couple vibe happening here. I feel like this could have been a real contender in the race for best domestic monster sitcom in the early sixties--even before it all became a family affair in the final twist.
ReplyDeleteThe Maneely cover is pure gold, but I don't want to slight Weltman(?)/Abel's story illustrations. I dig the way the panels are opened-up top to bottom by limiting the captions mostly to the vertical gutters. I think all the dots in the inking on the first few pages work to make the beginning festive with a magical richness. What is actually shrubs and stuff looks a lot like confetti. Very clever.
I also love the Little Monsters story; it's a shame that nobody seems to know who drew it. Simple as he is, I like the werewolf here better than the usual cartoon lycanthrope. And kudos to this story for literalizing the connection between Dr. Jekyll and the Wolf-Man.
Speaking of wolf-men, that's one great paint job. Kudos to Greg!
I will relay the messages to Greg, thanks you guys
ReplyDeleteYour buddy did a great job on wolfie. I lyce it. Did he stipple the pants or is that the texture?
ReplyDeleteAlso like everything about the 50's comic.