Unusual Tales - Where Is Kubar?

"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.

From Charlton's MYSTERIES OF UNEXPLORED WORLDS #6 [1957] comes the 5-page "Where Is Kubar?".


It's an amusing little story about an attempt to construct a bridge in India running into trouble from some local superstition.  Ditko does a really good job with the characters, and there are a lot of really good visual tricks to make the story interesting.  Definitely an above average story for work of this era.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Classic MR. A work in a superior edition to the high-priced originals
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
All things Ditko delivered to your mailbox by federal employees
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Okay, we got the Creeper, where's The Hawk and The Dove?
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.

 

Unusual Tales - Who Knows?

"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.

From Charlton's TALES OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER #10 [1958] comes the 5-page "Who Knows?".

The Traveler talks briefly about the increasing skepticism of the modern age, and how people reject old legends, leading to a retelling of the classic tale of the cursed ghost ship the Flying Dutchman, and an ending that doesn't really explain much.

 As usual, Ditko does a great job of bringing the maritime based fantasy to life, this time combined with the usual background images of the Traveler.  Page 2 is especially strong for Ditko's work of this time, for the haunted look in the captain's face.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Retailers interested should contact Robin Snyder for discounts
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Bi-monthly explorations of the fan-tastic
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Lots out there, more every month it seems
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.

Unusual Tales - Glow Of Woe

"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.

"Glow Of Woe" is a 5-page story from Charlton's STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #39 [1958].  Genies are another common theme in these stories, so here's a variation on that.  An above average story with a bit of verve in the scripting and definitely an ending you can't see coming.

The long vertical panel on page 3 is pretty decent, and the balance of light and dark on that page overall works really well.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
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.

 

 

Unusual Tales - Strange Country

"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.

From Charlton's BLACK FURY #18 [1959] comes the 5-page "Strange Country".  This time around Fury takes a train trip down south, where he almost gets captured, but manages to foil some badguys and free some horses before returning home.

Couple of funny bits in this story.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
ACT 4 coming up soon
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Reviews of all the recent Ditko and much more
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Did you know there's a reprint of one of Ditko's WHAT IF stories?
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.

 

 

Upcoming Ditko - DITKOMANIA #79

DITKOMANIA #79, with a focus on "Ditko's Women", will be out this week. Brand new cover by Dave Sim featuring Miss Eerie, star of some of the more recent Ditko comics. Cover and ordering details here, the Sim cover is also on Ebay and discussed in the most recent episode of CerebusTV, various links over here.

Unusual Tales - Not Normal

"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.

From Charlton's TALES OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER #7 [1958] comes the 5-page "Not Normal".

Odd little story about Peter Benton, a young man who has an abnormal streak of luck, which doesn't seem to be as good a thing as you'd think.

Not really the best of stories, and some of the artwork looks like it had some other hands in it.  Overall one of the more understandable never-reprinted stories.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Lots of stuff that did deserve reprinting in AVENGING WORLD
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Includes art from pro fans of Ditko like Dave Sim, Michael T. Gilbert, Neil Vokes and others
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Check out the new softcover series of Marvel Masterworks
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.

 

 

Unusual Tales - What Are The Flying Saucers?

"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.

From Charlton's OUTER SPACE #19 [1958] comes the 5-page "What Are The Flying Saucers?".  Not really a story but a survey of UFO sightings, ending with the 1952 Sutton Monster, which seems to be better known as the Flatwood Monster these days.  Ditko's visualization of that one is actually a bit of a let-down, when compared to the great image he has on the first page.  That ominous bit on the bottom of page 2 is also really good.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Check out the great book of 1970s Charlton reprints
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Lots of back issues available
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Reprint of some classic Kraven stories on the way
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 Roswell size.

 

 

Unusual Tales - Pursued

"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.

From Charlton's BLACK FURY #18 [1959] comes the 3-page "Pursued", one of many ebony equine stories Ditko did that year.

This time, Black Fury is being hunted by a pack of wolves, led by Lobo.  Some nice visuals in this one, I especially like that final panel.

This is one of a handful of stories from the era that Ditko signed with the anagrammatic "J. Kodti" (sometimes "J. Kotdi") in early 1959.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Huge library of books available, more on the way
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Art and articles from all eras of Ditko
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Full Spider-Man issue from copies of Ditko's pencils in upcoming reprint
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.