"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.
An entertaining bit of space opera, starring Major John Allard. As far as I know this is the only story with the character, although this could easily be an adventure of an ongoing character. Anyway, Allard is suspected of selling out Earth to the forces of the dictator Aaakus of Darius, and doesn't put up much of a defense, making even the beautiful and elaborately coiffed Elena suspicious.
A really nice story, visually, in particular look at the bottom of page 2 and the middle of page 5. I really like Ditko's work from this era when he uses this more tight and detailed style.
Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Boy, wouldn't it be great to see a collection of some of the late 1970s work similar to this story that Ditko did for QUESTAR and other places reprinted?
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
And for that matter, how about a Starman reprint, DC?
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Read about those kinds of comics and more in the bi-monthly fanzine
Download public domain comics, likely including the one this story is from
scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies
Click images to big-up.
What a great little short!
ReplyDeleteIn places (example: page two, panel four), it looks like Wally Wood inked this story.
Had Charlton received enough fan mail about it, perhaps Major Allard would have become a featured regular. The space race was heating up and a regular patriot would have been in vogue. The good major looks like the actor Jack Lord did back then.
I love Elena! And even better, she speaks Yiddish!