Swooping in for the kill today we have a macabre vampire classic from the Atlas vault, from the excellent Marvel Tales series in the 100th issue, April 1951.
What’s interesting about this issue is the front cover lists the names of the stories included inside, but only one tale “Eyes of Doom” is even named correctly. “The Day That Time Twisted” is actually called “The Strange Machine”, while “Cry Vampire” is simple titled “Vampire.” And finally Henkel’s issue opener has TWO names, “The Man Who Wasn’t There” and “The Man Who Vanished.” Was the editor on vacation that week or something?
LOVE THE TRANSFORMATION PANEL ON THE LAST PAGE, AND THE WEIRD DOWNBEAT ENDING THOUGH NOT REALLY A TWIST SEEMS AN ODD BUT SATIFYING WAY TO FINISH THE STORY.
The reason for the cover inconsistencies,may stem from the fact that Stan or Martin would sometimes have an artist drum up a cover before the issue even came out!this led to LOTS of inventory piling up,and when it was discovered,nearly every artist was fired from a salaried job at Atlas and had to work freelance from then on,this could be a reason for problems like this cover,or just a case of artistic license gone whacko.
Intersting thoughts HP... I bet many stories only had working titles that possibly changed UNINTENTIONALLY or even INTENTIONALLY just before print. Thumbnail peeks on the covers rarely ever matched the story inside either let alone the main cover art containing the same name as an inside story.
Poor old Dean forgot the cardinal rule. They can't come in if you don't invite them. Not only did he invite Dina, he brought her into his house and fed her! And then he took her to his brother's house. Boy did he ever slip up!
What’s interesting about this issue is the front cover lists the names of the stories included inside, but only one tale “Eyes of Doom” is even named correctly. “The Day That Time Twisted” is actually called “The Strange Machine”, while “Cry Vampire” is simple titled “Vampire.” And finally Henkel’s issue opener has TWO names, “The Man Who Wasn’t There” and “The Man Who Vanished.” Was the editor on vacation that week or something?
ReplyDeleteLOVE THE TRANSFORMATION PANEL ON THE LAST PAGE, AND THE WEIRD DOWNBEAT ENDING THOUGH NOT REALLY A TWIST SEEMS AN ODD BUT SATIFYING WAY TO FINISH THE STORY.
ReplyDeleteOOOO!! I love me some vampires....
ReplyDeleteThe reason for the cover inconsistencies,may stem from the fact that Stan or Martin would sometimes have an artist drum up a cover before the issue even came out!this led to LOTS of inventory piling up,and when it was discovered,nearly every artist was fired from a salaried job at Atlas and had to work freelance from then on,this could be a reason for problems like this cover,or just a case of artistic license gone whacko.
ReplyDelete>The reason for the cover inconsistencies
ReplyDeleteOr as Karswell said "poor editing."
Intersting thoughts HP... I bet many stories only had working titles that possibly changed UNINTENTIONALLY or even INTENTIONALLY just before print. Thumbnail peeks on the covers rarely ever matched the story inside either let alone the main cover art containing the same name as an inside story.
ReplyDeleteShame. Jeff might have made a cooler vampire than Dina.
ReplyDeletePoor old Dean forgot the cardinal rule. They can't come in if you don't invite them. Not only did he invite Dina, he brought her into his house and fed her! And then he took her to his brother's house. Boy did he ever slip up!
ReplyDelete