Unusual Tales - There It Is Again

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

"There It Is Again" is a 5-page story from Charlton's STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #35 [1957]. An interesting variation on the old Frankenstein story, with a scientist creating an artificial life-form and being disappointed with the results, and then hounded by his creation. Sort of.  Couple of nice bits where Ditko gets to show off his mastery of the creepy in some varied settings.

But before the story, some links:

Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
A wide variety of comics and essays in THE AVENGING WORLD
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Back issues and subscriptions available
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
CREEPER hardcover available from DC
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 to embiggen

   

Unusual Tales - Journey's End

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

"Journey's End" is a 5-page story from Charlton's OUT OF THIS WORLD #9 [1958] (not to be confused with the story of the same name in AMAZING ADULT FANTASY #7 [1961]), about a group of exiles who are forced to leave their planet after a robot revolution. The early bits of the story are really good, with a lot of vivid imagery. The ending is a bit of a cliche (I think it was used in an EC story, or maybe a Marvel story, possibly also by Ditko, or maybe both?), but cutely effective.

But before the story, some links:

Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
New publication #16: SIXTEEN now available
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Back issues and subscriptions available
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
CREEPER hardcover available from DC
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 to embiggen

   

Unusual Tales - The Shining Stallion

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

"The Shining Stallion" is a 5-page story from Charlton's BLACK FURY #17 [1959], this time featuring the wild black horse being captured by by a bandit who hopes to break the horse and use its speed in his crimes. Nothing too noteworthy in this one, but check out that chin on that bandit.

But before the story, some links:

Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
New publication #16: SIXTEEN now available
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Back issues and subscriptions available
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
CREEPER hardcover available from DC
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 to embiggen

   

Unusual Tales - Second Chance

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

"Second Chance" is a 5-page story from Charlton's UNUSUAL TALES #11 [1958] (not to be confused with the Ditko stories of the same title from Warren's CREEPY #13 [1967] or Marvel's THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #25 [1991]). In this one, a scientist has a breakthrough after years on a project that he hopes could  be used for good, but fears could be used to destroy, and we follow his thoughts on his walk home. Couple of nice bits in the art, the use of the close-ups on the glasses provides a unifying visual motif and and clothing in the wind-swept streets are a Ditko specialty from the era.

But before the story, some links:

Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
New publication #16: SIXTEEN now available
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Back issues and subscriptions available
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
CREEPER hardcover available from DC
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 to embiggen

   

Unusual Tales - The Canyon Of The Little Horses

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

"The Canyon Of The Little Horses" is a 5-page story from Charlton's BLACK FURY #16 [1958]. This is a stand-alone western story, not dealing with the horse of the title, about a man who finds a group of tiny horses in the Grand Canyon. This claims to be a true story, and apparently it is, although this newspaper article seems to suggest there was more than a little fraud involved (if you search "Jack Tooker Miniature Horses" you'll find a few other articles mentioning the story). Whatever the truth of it, some nice bits of artwork in an off-beat western.

But before the story, some links:

Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
New publication #16: SIXTEEN now available
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Back issues and subscriptions available
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
CREEPER hardcover available from DC
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 to embiggen

     

Unusual Tales - Oggo The Thinker

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

"Oggo The Thinker" is a 5-page story from Charlton's MYSTERIES OF UNEXPLORED WORLDS #11 [1959], drawn by J. Kodti, whose work looks remarkably similar to Steve Ditko's work of the era, so I've decided to include it in this series. It's an amusing trifle about a sensitive young caveman who who dreams of more than the hunting that consumes the life of the men of his era. A couple of really good panels, Kodti especially does good with the despair Oggo feels in a few panels, as well as the look of pleasure as he contemplates what would be his final invention.

But before the story, some links:

Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
New publication #16: SIXTEEN now available
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Back issues and subscriptions available
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
CREEPER hardcover available from DC
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 to embiggen

   

--Link-- TV source for early Ditko story

Thanks to Michael Main in the comments for  "A Hole In His Head" from BLACK MAGIC #27 [v4n3], here's a link to "And Adam Begot", a 1951 episode of the TV show LIGHTS OUT from which the writer of the comic story seemed to have drawn more than a little inspiration (ie, he lifted it wholesale). It was apparently based on a 1939 radio play.

Unusual Tales - From Out Of The Depths

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

"From Out Of The Depths" is a 5-page story from Charlton's THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #14 [1957]. Some very nice spooky imagery in this short fantasy story set in Mexico, this one is high up there on my list of favourite 1950s Ditko.

But before the story, some links:

Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
New publication #16: SIXTEEN now available
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Back issues and subscriptions available
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Two DITKO OMNIBUS hardcover available from DC
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 to embiggen