Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Reign of Fear

Endless rain in my area for a few days now, so here's a little reign for you as well! A weird switcheroo originally presented in the Spring 1952 issue of Astonishing #11, art by Sy Grudko.

5 comments:

Brian Barnes said...

After reading this though, I went back and looked at the art carefully. I wanted to see if they played it fair ... and I think they tried. With both faces, his hands and feet were (at least in 1 panel each) facing forward. So maybe his head swiveled? I think there was an attempt, as the "good" face ... mostly ... had his hands in his pockets, but his feet were always facing forward.

I'm sorry my OCD is really getting me on this one!

That said, it's fun, I like the concept and the scary face, the shadow kill panel, and all the sound fx on the last page.

Mr. Cavin said...

Man, that Officer Kelly is some kinda supercop. He apparently happens across every crime in the city just as the perp is fleeing the scene. Seems like it's almost enough to make Officer Kelly a suspect.

I love all the panels at the bottom of page one (and the reprise at the bottom of three) in which the criminal is creeping closer. The skull-shaped pupils; those jack-o-lantern teeth. The Lifesavers colors. So great.

Bill the Butcher said...

The only explanation for this is that his head was on a ball and socket joint and everyone including Officer Kelly never looked at him from the side, even once.

Grant said...

Office Kelly is also like Columbo when it comes to going along with demands from civilians. He thinks he should at least search the man, but he's told by Mr. Carlson to forget about even doing that, and he does.

John Mc said...

My theory on this one is that the long hair was combed over whichever face he wanted hidden from view. Thank you Karswell for this quick change offering.