Thursday, November 29, 2007

The Harder They Fall

Today’s post is from 50’s comic legend Jack Sparling, and though this isn’t a particularly terrifying story it does have some influential moments that I’m sure some of you will pick up on and comment about. What the heck, I’ll start a discusion myself. “How about the galactic bounty hunter’s skull collection? Remind you of anything?”

From the March 1954 issue of Tomb of Terror #14





8 comments:

Unknown said...

Poor Hawk. That's how most of my romances have ended too. Shot down in flames!

Anonymous said...

Very imaginative artwork and story. I like the way it describes a future or alternative universe right off the bat. I still don't get the references of this story that you mentioned in the intro, though.

Anonymous said...

>don't get the references of this story that you mentioned

EVER SEE THE PREDATOR MOVIES? KARSWELL'S OBVIOUSLY TALKING ABOUT THAT IN REFERENCE TO THE SKULL COLLECTION ON PAGE 2

THIS IS A REALLY GREAT STORY AND THE ARTWORK IS DARE I SAY LOVELY? AND SPEAK OF THE DEVIL, VARLA ALMOST RESEMBLES GLORIA GRAHAME!

Mr. Karswell said...

>VARLA ALMOST RESEMBLES GLORIA GRAHAME!

Maybe a little bit like actress Judy Greer too, who in my opinion really needs to land some juicy horror roles to add to her already excellent filmography.

Mr. Karswell said...

>>don't get the references of this story that you mentioned

Yeah, I was talking about the scenes in Predator 2 where we get to see his neat trophy collection of kills from around the universe.

In the famous words of Glen Danzig, "I want your skull, I need your skull..."

Anonymous said...

You all realize this is a rip off of Robert Sheckley's "The 7th Victim" which appeared in the December 1953 issue of GALAXY and was later made into the Italian sci-fi film THE 10th VICTIM.

Mr. Karswell said...

Kudos Buzz! The 10th Victim was my other point of influence although I guess I'm partially wrong in that Sheckley's original story came out a year before Sparling's version for Harvey. Some might even think King's The Running Man was influenced by this as well.

Uncle Ernie said...

Jack Sparling has never been a favorite of mine. His rushed looking jobs for Dell and Golden Key always disappointed me in the 60's. I was surprised by the quality of the art he did for DC's mystery books in the 70's. I have never been able to find much information about him.