Number 976


Cosmo the Merry Martian #3


In answer to some requests, here is issue #3 of the short-lived Archie Comics series, Cosmo the Merry Martian, published in 1958 and '59. It was drawn (and written?) by the late Bob White.

Cosmo was a funny, well-illustrated comic book, and it's too bad it only ran for six issues. I've noticed that over the years, even though Archie Comics published titles outside of its core Archie grouping, with some exceptions most of those other comics just don't have the permanence of Archie. I've never known if it was because the comics didn't sell, or because the company's heart wasn't in anything but its bread-and-butter.

I posted Cosmo #1 in Pappy's #794, and #2 in Pappy's #907.

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Number 975


Tarzan boy

In 1957 my father, Big Pappy, spotted me reading a Tarzan comic book. He told me Tarzan was featured in a series of novels, many of which I subsequently found in the local public library in tattered, worn editions. I remember I checked out several at once--my memory tells me seven, but I don't always trust my memory--and read them simultaneously. I read Chapter One in each book, then Chapter Two, an assembly line reading. It didn't seem to matter because all of the books were about lost civilizations, Tarzan saving Jane, etc. I don't remember whether I finished reading all or any of the books, but I read the whole series in the 1960s as they were published in paperback.

I remember having the impression from the novels and comics of Tarzan's Africa as an unending series of lost civilizations and cities, hidden by jungles.


"The Terribs" was written by Gaylord Dubois, drawn by Jesse Marsh, and originally appeared in Tarzan #20, 1951.

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Collected Linkblogging for 7-2-11

Rich Johnston had yesterday's big scoop on Bleeding Cool, that rumor has it due to retailer pressure DC Comics will release the Flashpoint hardcover in October.

The release time is actually not all that monumental in comparison to Blackest Night. That series ended in May 2010, and the collections came out in July; Flashpoint will end in August, and the collection may be out in October. With Blackest Night, however, we knew about DC's collection plans the previous November, while here we are staring down the end of Flashpoint with no official word, and speculation has been that it could be into next year before the Flashpoint collections emerge. Seeing this in October -- with, hopefully, the other miniseries collections alongside -- would be a fantastic development.

Flashpoint's main lead-in trade Flash: The Road to Flashpoint is scheduled for the end of October. DC has been generally good about releasing these books in order, so potentially that last week in October might be where we should look for the main Flashpoint collection to emerge.

At random, I also thought it was interesting that Rich had some scheduled DC Relaunch writers who didn't quite make it, including one "C. O. Austen" on Blackhawks. Is it ... ? Could it have been ... ? I remember well the Chuck Austen flap from a few years ago, and I'd have been very curious to see DC give the writer a second chance (albeit under a paper-thin new moniker) and the fan reaction thereof, but unfortunately it seems not to be.

That's what I've got for today. Visit Bleeding Cool for lots more great insights into the DC Relaunch, and be back here Monday for our review of the classic Time Masters miniseries, before we cover the Flashpoint-connected Time Masters: Vanishing Point trade later in the week. See you then!

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Number 974


Axle and Cam


If you haven't gotten a copy of Craig Yoe's Popeye book, then I recommend you buy one through Yoe Books, Amazon.com, Bud Plant, or your favorite fine book outlet. Yoe's excellent book is a tribute to Forrest "Bud" Sagendorf, who drew the Popeye comic strip and comic book adventures for several decades.

"Axle and Cam," father-and-son robots on Planet Meco, was the backup feature for six issues of Dell's Popeye comic book, from issue #26 in 1953 to #32 in 1955.

The well drawn strips are full of gags about robots. Maybe that's why "Axle and Cam" only lasted six issues. There really are not a limitless amount of jokes that can be told about robots, but what jokes there are Sagendorf told well.

These three strips are from Popeye #26, #27, and #30, respectively.

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