"Homecoming" is a 5-page story from Charlton's SPACE ADVENTURES #10 [Spring 1954]. As previously discussed, that "Spring" date makes it a bit ambiguous if if came out before or after February's THE THING #12 and which has the distinction of being Ditko's first work for Charlton and his first cover. Unlike THE THING #12, the cover here isn't related to the Ditko story, featuring instead alien robots on the rampage, a scene slightly related in spirit (but not really) to the Dick Giordano / Art Cappello story which closes the book.And both cover and story are just signed "Ditko", so still no print evidence of his full name beyond the "S. J. Ditko"on the THE THING #12 cover.
This is also Ditko's first science fiction story, a genre he'd frequent often in the next few years.
Fairly average story, overall, with a clever though somewhat cliche twist. There's really no strong visual hook for Ditko to shine at, but the storytelling is good, the future tech looks believable and he's getting increasingly more consistent with the faces than in some of his earlier work.
Most scans in this series adapted to my personal tastes from those found, and available for free download with registration, at the Golden Age Comics Download site. To buy Ditko comics and things on paper, first head over here for ordering info on his available creator owned material co-published with Robin Snyder (including his latest, DITKO, ETC...) and take a look over here for info on recent and upcoming books with Ditko from all publishers, including the recently revived DITKOMANIA coming fast and furious, and now accepting PayPal for subscriptions.
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One of my favorite scifi cliches. I think I first encountered it in an A.E. Van Vogt story when I was a kid. I didn't anticipate the ending then, and strangely enough, I didn't anticipate it this time. (I thought the twist was going to be that the new planet was as overpopulated as Earth.)
ReplyDeleteSheesh, the least they could have done was intercept the rocket with a space drive equipped ship and save the poor buggers a few decades.
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