"This is The Mysterious Traveler, inviting you to join me on another journey into the strange and terrifying. I hope you will enjoy the trip, that it will thrill you a little and chill you a little. So settle back, get a good grp on your nerves and be comfortable -- if you can!"
So opens The Mysterious Traveler, a radio program created by Robert Arthur and David Kogan which from the 1943 to 1952 inspired not one but two distinctly different comic books. The second became a platform for the great Steve Ditko to deliver his fast-developing talents as a maker of spooky tales. But let's begin with the first, a one-shot.
The Mysterious Traveler number one from Trans-World Publications debuted in 1948, and was produced by the ubiquitous Bob Powell and his at-the-ready studio. The comic delivers several short stories in the tradition of the radio show though no direct connection can be demonstrated. To get a better look follow this link.
The second comic book featuring The Mysterious Traveler came from Charlton Comics, and ran for a lucky thirteen issues between 1956 and 1959. This version featured tales written most likely by Joe Gill and drawn by many of the stalwarts at Charlton such as Dick Giordano, Rocke Mastroserio, Bill Molno and others including Ditko who drew his first story for the comic in the second issue and his first cover (one of his best) with the third. The title was revived as a reprint only book for two more issues in 1985 in the last throes of Charlton as the company disappeared for good. Later still in 1990 Eclipse Comics put out reprint volume featuring the Ditko stories.
More on The Mysterious Traveler tomorrow.
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