Sometimes 'ol sure smilin' Stan could be a real barrel of silly monkeys, as evidenced by this quickie classic from the August 1953 issue of Astonishing #26, story art by Manny Stallman (cover by Russ Heath.)
I like how this one just ignores all the literature that presumes that, once you've become a bank robber and a murderer, the devil's got your soul already. I like my like this devils to be such sporting guys, all things considered. This one's got a heck of a sense of humor, too.
That's a great cover! I love the grinning skull and the angle of the body. I'd be interested to see how close -- if at all (!!) -- the story follows that cover.
This is a fun quickie but I'm with Mr. Cavin -- obviously the devil is just doing this for laughs. The man killed 4 people in the course of a 3 page story, and per the mythology I think he's already punched his ticket to hell!
Stallman does an excellent job here, the monkey face Page 2/Panel 4 and the initial devil appear on Page 3/Panel 1 are all great. BTW, the devil is actually naked and as clean as a Ken doll!
This one's hilarious. Just leave it to Ol' Satan to make an actual Monkey out of Monk Smith!
ReplyDeleteLike one of those old Night Gallery blackout bits, except this one is actually entertaining.
ReplyDeleteHeh... I actually thought there was more to the story... Maybe Monk looked too normal...
ReplyDeleteI like how this one just ignores all the literature that presumes that, once you've become a bank robber and a murderer, the devil's got your soul already. I like my like this devils to be such sporting guys, all things considered. This one's got a heck of a sense of humor, too.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Monk just could've shot Rocky again....wait, that's too logical. Lol.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great cover! I love the grinning skull and the angle of the body. I'd be interested to see how close -- if at all (!!) -- the story follows that cover.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun quickie but I'm with Mr. Cavin -- obviously the devil is just doing this for laughs. The man killed 4 people in the course of a 3 page story, and per the mythology I think he's already punched his ticket to hell!
Stallman does an excellent job here, the monkey face Page 2/Panel 4 and the initial devil appear on Page 3/Panel 1 are all great. BTW, the devil is actually naked and as clean as a Ken doll!