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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Monday, August 29, 2005
For three decades, ALAN CLASS published black-and-white comic books in England. In titles like CREEPY WORLDS and SECRETS OF THE UNKNOWN, he reprinted stories from several American comics outfits, including Atlas (Marvel), Charlton, Tower, and others. The issues with the Atlas material are among the most sought-after by comics fans because, save for a too-brief period in the 1970s, Marvel has itself rarely reprinted any of these stories.
SINISTER TALES #131 would've been published in the late 1970s or early 1980s; the Alan Class comics I have acquired do not carry publication dates. This may have been to assure as long an on sale period as possible.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
The cover and lead story - "Trull! The Inhuman!" - are from TALES TO ASTONISH #21 [July, 1961]. The cover is pencilled by Jack Kirby with Dick Ayers as possible/probable inker. However, I get a Steve Ditko vibe from the blonde woman's hair on this cover; she remains me of a recurring supporting character in the early issues of Ditko's KONGA at Charlton Comics. There's no question Kirby and Ayers drew the 13-page "Trull" story; it's signed.
"Trull" is a terrifically odd story. Editor Stan Lee likely had something to do with the plot, but something about the actual scripting says Larry Lieber to me.
"Trull" is a disembodied life-essence that can enter/control both living bodies and unliving machines. His driving instinct is to "attack, conquer, and destroy"...which seems like one step too many to me. Why "conquer" something if you're just gonna "destroy" it? Cut out the middle step, why don't you?
The hero of this piece is Phil, an engineer. When a bridge he builds collapses before opening, a collapse caused by an accident, a flaw that went unnoticed, he loses his nerve and vows that he'll never again build something which might collapse and hurt people. His girlfriend Gloria dumps him for Bart, macho foreman of the crew Phil used to run.
Fate leads Phil, who has built the world's best steam shovel, to the same part of Africa where Trull has landed. His ex and her new fella are there, too, missing no opportunity to diss Phil and rub their romance in his face.
Trull takes over the steam shovel, has Phil build a television set out of sand and soil - I'm not making this up - and plots his conquest of Earth. Before the end of the story, Bart is revealed as a coward, Phil saves Gloria from being crushed by Trull, and an elephant which Phil stopped Bart from beating defeats Steam Shovel Trull. The alien reverts to disembodied energy which will pose no threat to mankind for many years to come.
Gloria puts the moves on Phil, but Phil kicks her to the curb. She and Bart deserve one another. But, thanks to Trull, Phil has regained his mojo, his self-confidence.
Is it any wonder I love this goofy story?
There are nine other stories in this issue, including all six of the stories which originally appeared in STRANGE TALES #46 [May, 1956]. Carl Burgos, the creator of the Human Torch, drew the cover for that issue with the interior tales being drawn by some of the best artists of the era.
Here's the line-up:
"The Sands Are Running Out" (Joe Sinnott);
"The Man From Nowhere" (Joe Orlando);
"Repeat Performance" (John Severin);
"The Wild, Wild Wind" (Dick Ayers);
"You Must Not Look" (Paul Reinman); and,
"The Greatest Experiment" (Steve Ditko).
All of these tales ran but four pages in length with the one by Severin only running three pages. They are a mix of sci-fi and supernatural, every one of them suitable for children as determined by the Comics Code. None are outstanding - though I got a kick out of the Orlando and Severin tales - but each manages to introduce characters and tell a satisfying story even with their meager page counts. That isn't exactly a lost art in comics, but, outside of humor titles, we don't see many examples of it.
The last three stories are the weakest in the issue. Two of them are from STRANGE TALES #47 [June, 1956]:
"The Hands" (Jim McLaughlin), and,
"When Mankind Vanished" (Frank Bolle).
The third - "The Deserted Lighthouse" - is from STRANGE TALES #48 [July, 1956] with pencil art by Bob Forgione and inks by my old pal Jack Abel. It's a convoluted tale about a criminal on the run, a police officer who won't rest until the criminal is apprehended, and a lighthouse where men go and never return. It's got a lot of twists for a four-page story, but the big one comes completely out of nowhere.
If I were to speculate on how this issue was put together, I'd opine that Alan Class or his editor started with the "Trull" story and its eye-catching cover and then moved on to STRANGE TALES #46. With seven strong stories in place, they pulled not-so-good stories from other issues of STRANGE TALES to fill out the remaining pages. I doubt Class got to cherry-pick the issues he bought from Atlas or his other supplies. If he bought it, he used it...somewhere. But he seems to have had a good eye for burying the turkeys deep within his comics.
As I said, though, this is speculation. For all that I know, he could have gone eeney-meany-miney-moe to pick out which stories would go into which issues.
I'll have more ALAN CLASS capsules for you in future columns. Watch for them.
******
TONY POLLS
Every Tuesday, on our TONY POLLS page, we pose new questions for your balloting entertainment. Two weeks ago, we held a BATTLE OF THE BIG TWO, asking you to choose between DC and Marvel Comics on a six-pack of questions.
Here's how you voted on those questions.
At the present time, do you prefer DC Comics or Marvel Comics?
DC.....75.29%
Marvel.....24.71%
Looking at your comic-book reading life as a whole, do you prefer DC Comics or Marvel Comics?
DC.....56.47%
Marvel.....43.53%
Do you think DC or Marvel Comics is more respectful of its readers?
DC.....76.55%
Marvel.....23.45%
Do you think DC or Marvel Comics is more respectful of its heroic characters?
DC.....63.12%
Marvel.....36.88%
Do you think DC or Marvel Comics is more respectful of its current creators (writers, artists, etc.)?
DC.....71.64%
Marvel.....28.36%
Do you think DC or Marvel Comics is more respectful of its former creators (writers, artists, etc.)?
DC.....78.42%
Marvel.....21.58%
I abstained from voting on these questions because I honestly didn't see much difference between the two companies on the various questions involving respect. Each has done things in those areas I applaud, each has done things in those areas that have appalled me. A series of 50-50 votes wouldn't have surprised me.
What did surprise me is the huge margins by which you thought DC was better in matters of respect. Maybe these should have been essay questions so that you could explain why you voted for DC over Marvel...or vice versa.
On the subject of the current DC and Marvel Comics, as I have written elsewhere, I am feeling more of an affinity for the Marvel titles I've been reading. Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo's FANTASTIC FOUR was right up there with John Byrne's legendary run and maybe better. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN remains my favorite of the Spider-Man titles currently being published. The HOUSE OF M stuff has been a lot of fun for me as well.
This is a contrast from all the company-wide crossovers at DC, comic books that seem to be aimed at an exclusive "in" crowd who know every minute detail of the current DC Universe. These comics make me feel like an unwelcome outsider.
And, when we're talking about my overall comics reading life, I would have to vote Marvel Comics all the way. If it weren't for the works of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and others, I doubt I would have continued reading comic books past elementary school. Marvel made me a comics fan for life.
Moving right along...
Today is your last day to vote on our current poll questions. We're asking you to vote for your favorite comics outfit that isn't named DC or Marvel, and also to "grade" the SIN CITY movie and your interest in AQUAMAN.
You can cast your votes by going to:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
Sometime tomorrow - it may not be until later in the day than has been the norm - I'll be posting a new series of poll questions for you. Once I figure out what they are, that is.
******
TONY STUFF
Things are maybe a little crazier than usual at Casa Isabella this week. Eddie and Kelly start the new school year today...with Kelly's volleyball team playing their first game of the new season later this afternoon. The massive renovation and repair projects here are going way too slow and costing way too much; even if/when the work is finally complete, I expect to have nightmares about it for years to come.
On a happier note, I'm writing my first super-hero script in years. I don't want to reveal who the lucky or unlucky super-hero is, or who will be drawing this story, or when and where the story will appear, until it's finished and all concerned are pleased with it, but I hope to be able to bring you that news in the very near future. The only downside to this good news is that it'll be a few more TOTs before I can resume reviewing other people's comic books. I'm a little rusty and that makes maintaining my focus a touch more challenging than usual.
On another happier note, I want to thank those TOT readers who have donated to this column via our TIP THE TIPSTER link. Though my finances remain shaky, those donations have helped cover some of the ever-burgeoning bills.
Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Thanks to all of you for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 08/26/2005 | 08/29/2005 | 08/30/2005 >>
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
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