It's mean Gene Colan's turn to give you the creepy crawly heebie jeebies, as our Atlas Fest 2018 marches on, up your pants legs, and... well... let's just not even go there, ok?! From the August 1953 issue of Uncanny Tales #11.
OK, so far, all these Atlas tales have been winners, but this one ... this is one I have a problem with. It works, it's a fun read, and even early Colan is good (he would certainly get a lot better in the coming decades, especially his super hero & horror work for Marvel, he was the Dracula and Daredevil artist for me.)
It's that there's one too many elements. The driving of his workers into the ants is terrifying as is their fate, but the whole face on the ants and the dropped manacle are kind of unnecessary. He was trapped, the ants would have gotten him anyway and the little heads (I assume the people he threw to the ants) what one wacky element too much.
So B+ on this one, it's the first one I can't give an A this month!
The Hellstrom Chronicles is a really strange hybrid of a movie, just as Mestiere says. I'd like to see it again.
The funny thing about "Ancient Astronaut" books is that they get a lot of flak not only from UFO debunkers, but from a lot of BELIEVERS. But I've always liked them, so I'm glad to hear that CHARIOTS OF THE GODS actually got an Oscar nomination.
I'm a big fan of PHASE IV, might even add that to my halloween film fest line up this year as it's been awhile since I've watched it. I'm also a big fan of one too many wacky elements in my pre code horror stories, in fact, the more wacky elements the better, I always say. Anyway, Bill Everett's up next. Thanks for the comments
I would have never detected Gene Colan in this art, so it's a good thing he signed it. I guess it's pretty early work, and maybe a little mangled by the inker? The first few pages aren't very good at all. I thought it got much better by page four, though. Being eaten alive by ants, ugh. I'm not surprised the DDT didn't work. It's so safe children can frolic in clouds of the stuff. Atari centipedes barely take notice.
Yeesh. Dark and horrible, even with the pseudo-physics of it all.
ReplyDeleteHow did the Zanti misfits get into this one? Happy all hollows Mr. K..
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOK, so far, all these Atlas tales have been winners, but this one ... this is one I have a problem with. It works, it's a fun read, and even early Colan is good (he would certainly get a lot better in the coming decades, especially his super hero & horror work for Marvel, he was the Dracula and Daredevil artist for me.)
ReplyDeleteIt's that there's one too many elements. The driving of his workers into the ants is terrifying as is their fate, but the whole face on the ants and the dropped manacle are kind of unnecessary. He was trapped, the ants would have gotten him anyway and the little heads (I assume the people he threw to the ants) what one wacky element too much.
So B+ on this one, it's the first one I can't give an A this month!
The Hellstrom Chronicles is a really strange hybrid of a movie, just as Mestiere says. I'd like to see it again.
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing about "Ancient Astronaut" books is that they get a lot of flak not only from UFO debunkers, but from a lot of BELIEVERS. But I've always liked them, so I'm glad to hear that CHARIOTS OF THE GODS actually got an Oscar nomination.
I'm a big fan of PHASE IV, might even add that to my halloween film fest line up this year as it's been awhile since I've watched it. I'm also a big fan of one too many wacky elements in my pre code horror stories, in fact, the more wacky elements the better, I always say. Anyway, Bill Everett's up next. Thanks for the comments
ReplyDeleteI would have never detected Gene Colan in this art, so it's a good thing he signed it. I guess it's pretty early work, and maybe a little mangled by the inker? The first few pages aren't very good at all. I thought it got much better by page four, though. Being eaten alive by ants, ugh. I'm not surprised the DDT didn't work. It's so safe children can frolic in clouds of the stuff. Atari centipedes barely take notice.
ReplyDelete