A Planet of the Apes Gallery

Riding on the great success of the hit movie franchise, Marvel Comics' Planet of the Apes magazine was published under their Curtis imprint from 1974-1977 as part of their new black-and-white magazine series. It has a special place in many young fans hearts since it was the first ongoing comic book series related to the Planet of the Apes franchise. It was also the first medium to introduce new original Planet of the Apes material set in a variety of different regions, eras and conditions that had never been seen before (or since), beginning with a non-continuity serial entitled "Terror on the Planet of the Apes". One of Marvel's best writers Doug Moench wrote these imaginary tales for the twenty nine issue run with some dynamic Mike Ploog and Tom Sutton interior artwork. But the real draw for me and many others were those fantastic full color covers! These painted gems were provided by the likes of artists Earl Norem, Gray Morrow, Ken Barr, Bob Larkin, and Malcolm McNeill as shown on the examples featured below. Used for the American series a group of the best were also used for the Planet of the Apes series published in England.

 

 

Warren Magazine's...Vampirella

Created by Forrest J Ackerman and costume/hair designer Trina Robbins in Warren Publishing's black-and-white horror comics magazine Vampirella #1 for September of 1969, Vampi, started as a horror-story hostess, before becoming  a horror-drama leading lady. First drawn by Tom Sutton and a painted cover by Frank Frazetta, Jose Gonzales became the character's primary artist which soon became a fan favorite. Vampirella was a lovely inhabitant of the planet Drakulon, a world where a vampiric race lived on blood as it flowed in their rivers. The planets twin suns were causing severe droughts across the planet, marking certain doom for her Vampiri race. These strange creatures were able to transform themselves into bats at will, possessed superhuman physical attributes, sprout wings when required to fly, and of course drink blood. Our story begins with Drakulon's last inhabitants are dying when and Earth ship crashes onto their planet and Vampirella is sent to investigate. The sexy vampire soon finds out the astronauts have blood in their veins, takes over the ship and returns back to Earth where her adventures really begin. With her interesting supporting cast of characters, our heroine now becomes a "good" vampire, and devotes her energy to ridding our world of the evil kind of blood suckers.



Dell Comics: Lassie

From the late 1940s through 1970, Dell Comics published a bimonthly Lassie comic to continue the adventures of MGM's favorite canine star. Since the Lassie movies had no running storyline,  Dell decided to invented one for her. The feature began set in the Brazilian jungle, the "Matto Grosso," with Lassie's human companions Gerry and Rocky, two American journalists who owned a ranch who wrote and photographed South American historic locations for publication. Timbu of the Taquari Indian rounded out their little cast of characters as they traveled to Peru, Argentina, Venezuela, and even to New York on occasion. Well written scripts gave bits of knowledge  about the habitats of native animals, plant life, and history, in our collie's travelogue. With fantastic painted covers by Morris Gollub and Matt Baker interior art, Lassie was usually featured saving her human companions, or other dangerous and often charming covers with Brazilian flair. In 1956 though, Dell decided to change the comic to be current with the TV show and sent Lassie to live with friends in Calverton, after discovering a life-threatening allergy to a certain grass found only in the Matto Grosso! From then on, Jeff and Timmy were Lassie's loyal masters as the storyline followed the television series and became wholesome morality plays with lessons on friendship or safety. Photo covers now replaced the painted gems as the series progressed to the Corey Stuart adventures until the comic ended in 1970 of America's most beloved collie.



Marvel Spotlight: The Cat

Introduced as the non-superpowered crime fighter "The Cat" in Claws of the Cat #1 for November 1972, the series only lasted four short issues before its cancellation. The feature was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artists Marie Severin and Wally Wood, with her early adventures scripted by Linda Fite. Greer Grant was a sophomore at the University of Chicago when she met her future husband, policeman Bill Nelson.  However their marriage unfortunately soon ended as he was was killed in an off-duty shooting. As Greer now searched to find a job of her own, she ran into her old physics professor, Dr. Joanne Tumulo. Our heroine to be discovers the good doctor was working on human potential experiments that turned another woman into a super powered villains. Not trusting the test subject chosen by her financial backer, gangster Malcolm Donalbain, young Greer persuaded Dr. Tumulo to let her undergo the same experimental treatments as well. Greer emerged with superhuman physical and mental capabilities and donned a cat costume she created to put an end to Malcolm's evil plans. When Donalbain has the doctor's lab destroyed with dynamite, this avenging cat adapts quickly to her strange garb and powers and eventually wrecks Donalbain's headquarters. Rather than let himself be touched by the Cat's raking claws, our villain committed suicide as Greer now embarked on a brief crimefighting career as the Cat.