Charlton Premiere Presents Trio - The Tyro Team!

Today begins a three-day celebration of the debut issue of Charlton Premiere. The comic book was a try-out which last a mere four issues, but the first was a doozy. It had three distinct features and we'll look at them all. And that brings us to Steve Skeates' The Tyro Team. The artwork on this feature is the always reliable team of Bill Montes and Ernie Bache. Below you'll find a text piece from the issue discussing the way these stories came to be gathered together under one cover.

 I'll get to The Spookman and The Shape in due course. And now let the stories begin The Tyro Team.

 That was fun. Tomorrow it's The Spookman. 

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The Spirit Archives Volumes Seven!

By the time we get to the seventh volume of The Spirit Archives we are seeing 1943 winding up. The Spirit Section has been a success for three years and has survived its creator being drafted to take part in the great war. 

Before we dive into the Spirit adventures there is a small essay discussing Midnight. Midnight was a character crafted by Quality Comics just in case Eisner decided to walk off with the Spirit for greener pastures. He appeared in Smash Comics and is visually identical to the Spirit and really could only continue to be published at Eisner's sufferance. I'd imagine any lawsuit would immediately smash the character into oblivion, 

Marathon Dancers July 4, 1943

 Dolan is distressed when he learns that Ellen is taking part in a dance marathon. He's even more distressed when a robbery occurs at the joint and later still a murder. A murder it seems only Ellen could have committed. It's a good thing as usual that the Spirit is on hand to sort out the mystery and save Ellen from shame and prison or worse. 

Three Wishes July 11, 1943

When Ebony is nice to an old man named Alladin who it seems has escaped from an asylum, he is granted three wishes. During the course of this story which has Ebony embroiled in the discovery of a murderer, those wishes one by one appear to come true despite the skepticism of the Spirit. Joe Millard steps in to write this Lou Fine effort. 

The House of Darkness July 18, 1943

When Commissioner Dolan agrees to mee a Mrs. Olcott in the House of Darkness, he finds danger. Assisted by the Spirit he looks for the lady in question but ends up investigating a murder. It's a topsy-turvy misadventure as they avoid death and catch a killer. Regular fill-in writer Manly Wade Wellman returns to script this Lou Fine effort. 

Framed July 25, 1943

The Spirit must be nimble and fleet-footed when he's framed for the murder of a Mr. Lathrop, a wealthy man. His brother pushes Dolan to press to capture the Spirit even as the Spirit relies on Dolan's loyalty to help him track down a killer. Wellman and Fine are on the job for this story that put poor Dolan in a hard place. 

The Maestro August 1, 1943

Ebony White gets a notion to be a drummer in a band. At the same time a villain known only as "The Maestro" is swindling money from various bands by threatening to kill the leaders. It's a wild ride for both the Spirit and Ebony as they get to the bottom of this mystery. Wellman and Fine produced this musical yarn. 

Shipyard Sabotage August 8, 1943

Ships are being sabotaged when they are constructed by doing a poor job in that construction. Nazi spies capture and coopt a welder who works in the shipyard and has already shown signs of poor performance. It's an explosive adventure when the Spirit gets on the trail. This story is actually a message by writer Bob Powell and artist Lou Fine to all readers to remember that the real threat to the nation is often from within. That's a message which is especially salient today. 

The Last Gang in Rotten Row August 15, 1943

Will Eisner returns for both script and art with this delightful tale of a bunch of crooks who end up turning on one another when the Spirit puts on the pressure. Ellen's maid seeks romance as well and that story of course if fused in with the crime yarn. As entertaining as the stories have been by others this is a reminder of what the Spirit stories had been under his creator's hand. 

On the Ferris Wheel August 22, 1943

In this one the Spirit treats Ebony and his girlfriend to a ride on a local Ferris Wheel. Some mobsters spot them and see a chance to blow up their foe, but slipping the bomb aboard proves more difficult than they expected. This is a Wade Manly Wellman and Lou Fine effort as the back-up team returns. 

Broadway Lily August 29, 1943

Mayor Blast puts pressure on Dolan to arrest the Spirit since it's an election year and he's hearing complaints. At the same time Dolan is being blackmailed with photos of him and a fetching dame named Broadway Lily. The Spirit gets to the bottom of the mystery, This is a particularly good Wellman and Fine offering. 

The Art of Making Love Ardently September 5, 1943

Ellen Dolan is surprised when a chap named Derwood shows up on her doorstep and seeks to kindle a romance since he has followed her advice from years ago and gotten successful. The Spirit is jealous but we learn there his more to Derwood than he admits. Wellman and Fine on the job. 

Woman Crooks September 12, 1943

Wellman and Fine produced this offbeat crime story which suggest women have taken over the men's jo's in crime as well as a dame robs a local bank. Ellen Dolan helps the Spirit solve these crimes and reveal the true nature of the gang. This one did have a taste of some tight crime drama in places. 

Killer Sykes September 19, 1943

The weather is rainy and a great opportunity for some of Eisner's patented water effects and we get a taste on the splash page, the best in this collection, but the rest of the story fails to deliver. The Spirit and Dolan find a man who predicts the weather and accidentally uncover a wanted hood named Tyker Sikes. Bill Woolfolk steps in to write this story for Lou Fine. 

Murder on the Job September 26, 1943

Woolfolk and Fine return in a story about a cursed work site. Men are dying as they work the high steel and it's up to the Spirit to uncover the reason. There is a lot of death-defying action in this one. The splash page lets you know that Ebony is on the job as well helping the Spirit in his work. 

Case of the Southpaw Maiden October 3, 1943

Ebony White is bugging the Spirit to work a case alone and finally the Sprit relents. The case is a murder in which the killer of an old man who wished to disinherit his relatives was left-handed. But multiple suspects are left-handed. As usual Ebony has a hard time on his own, but the Spirit is there to support him. Bill Woolfolk wrote this one for Lou Fine. 

Ellen Dolan, Murderess October 10, 1943

Inexplicably it looks as if Ellen Dolan has committed murder, she even remembers committing the crimes. Justice is swift in this one and in a week she's due to be executed and it is race in the final hours for the Spirit to get to the bottom of things. Wade Manly Wellman is back to write this murderous yarn for Lou Fine to illustrate. 

The Magic Drums of the Shonokins October 17,1943

Things get desperate when Commissioner Dolan hears the "Drums of the Shonokins", but no one else can. It's presumably a curse handed down by a people who presumably pre-dated the Native Americans on the North American continent. The Spirit solves the mystery of course. The Wellman-Fine team worked together deliver this oddball. 

Who Killed Gloria Drake? October 24, 1943

Once again Ellen Dolan is accused of murder when an actress named Gloria Drake is discovered dead. The problem is that the Spirit head Drake's voice after she was supposedly killed. The action is in a radio station as our hero works furiously to save the damsel. It was odd to get this story so soon after another very similar only a few weeks before. It's another writer -- Joe Millard who penned this one for Lou Fine, so that explains it to some extent. 

Death in the Lion Cage October 31, 1943

The title says it all when a man is found dead inside a lion cage. How he came to be there is a mystery and how the lions came to be in contact is another. The Spirit hangs out at the circus to solves this one and treats Ebony to a holiday as well. Best guess is that it's Wellman and Fine again on this three-ringed murder mystery. 

Fronie Pettigrew November 7, 1943

This is a story by Wellman and Fine which introduces us to a no-nonsense character from the South named Fronie Pettigrew. She's a gun-toting bit of dynamite who is longtime family friend of the Dolan clan. The Pettitgrews and another family the Brummagems have feuded for generations and Fronie is the last of her people. The challenge comes when the last of the Brummagems turns up in town. 

Vance McVane November 14, 1943

Vance McVane is terrified that Aces Scanlon will squeal on him and send him to prison, so he plots to murder Scanlon. His scheme is a clever one and almost succeeds save for the suspicious mind of the Spirit. Joe Millard wrote this one for Lou Fine and inkers from Quality Comics. They've been helping Fine for some time and the influence of other artists is increasing. 

On Guard! November 21, 1943

No doubts that Commissioner Dolan is a brave man, but he is called upon to prove it when he is challenged to a duel by a certain Count Riprap. The Spirit suspects there's more to this than meets the eye and he's correct and it's a direct threat to the job that Dolan holds. Joe Millard wrote this one for Lou Fine and the boys. We learn one disturbing fact about Dolan though, he apparently sleeps which is omnipresent pipe clutched between his teeth. Weird. 

The Killer Nurse November 28, 1943

When Mary Selwyn is found innocent of having murdered the man she cared for, it doesn't sit well with Dolan who is convinced of her guilt. The Spirit is more supportive and when Mary cannot find a job because of the publicity he helps find a position. But that's only the beginning of this yarn written by Manly Wade Wellman and drawn by Lous Fine. 

The Auction December 5, 1943

When Dolan gets a cheap pen and a mystery box at an auction all hell breaks loose. First a stranger tries to buy his booty and later he's attacked. The secret is both what and not what you expect. This story by Joe Millard with art by Fine and reminds the reader that the war is on. That's snazzy front-page panel as well. 

Train Wreck December 12, 1943

The Dolans and the Spirit and Ebony are on a train trip that ends tragically when the train jumps the tracks. The young engineer is all to ready to take the blame even attempting suicide, but the Spirit gets to the bottom of this mystery and at the same time reminds the reader quite directly in the final panel about the dangers of sabotage during wartime. GCD doesn't list a writer for this one, but the usual Fine and Quality team are on art chores. Bob Powell wrote a similar story titled "Shipyard Sabotage" with an identical ending (look above) so maybe he's the writer of this one as well. 

Duce's Time Bomb December 19,1943

This story begins when the life of a notorious bomber's ends. Druce was his name and after his demise bombs with is signature beginning going off all over town, even in Dolan's office. While the Spirit does visit a medium in his investigation, the answer if of this world. Bill Woolfolk wrote this one. GCD does not identify any single artist but rather credits the Quality Comics staff. 

Cloak and Coffin December 26, 1943

This story begins as the year ends with Ebony White spotting a suspicious hearse hauling a coffin from which a voice seems clearly to coming. Ebony at first suspects ghosts but once again the answer less spiritual and more terrestrial, and it requires the help of the Spirit to get to the bottom of it. I noted too that Ebony seemed to be even more of the cinematic stereotype even down to his irrational fear of ghosts. This one was written by Joe Millard and drawn by Robin King according to the GCD. 

The Spirit gets oddly domestic in this volume. Many of the stories feature the Spirit seemingly at ease in the Dolan household, but not once do we see him actually date Ellen. He's just hanging out with the Commissioner and available to help solve the crimes. He has a friendly rivalry with Dolan, who needs the Spirit but at the same time wants to appear independent and useful. Artistically the stories seem to be showing some variety, and the look of the strip loosens up when Eisner is not on board either with script or art. 

The Dojo will return with a report on the eighth Spirit Archives edition in a fortnight. 

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Dangerous Visions!

I've finally done it. I've finally read all of the 1967 anthology Dangerous Visions edited by the rambunctious Harlan Ellison. For science fiction fans of a certain age this is who's who in the field. It's a crossroads of sorts with plenty of classic names from science fiction's "Golden Age" such as Asimov, Del Rey, Sturgeon, and Pohl. And fresher faces who went on to become a new generation of renowned talents such as Spinrad, Zelazny and Delany. And lots of talents who fall in between such as Farmer, Knight and Dick. The collection garnered two Hugos and two Nebulas for the stories within. Not a bad showing at all for novice editor Harlan Ellison.  

As much as I enjoy Ellison's fiction, I think I prefer his nonfiction better. And this collection offers up some dazzling little essays introducing the various talents. His snark is full on display as he praises and pinches the writers within. Those who are his friends get especially sharp barbs. Each story is also accompanied by an afterword from the author. They range from a single sentence to much larger reflections. 

Here is the table of contents: 

"Foreword 1 - The Second Revolution" by Isaac Asimov'

"Foreword 2 - Harlan and I" by Asimov

"Thirty-Two Soothsayers" (Introduction) by Harlan Ellison

"Evensong" by Lester Del Rey

"Flies" by Robert Silverberg

"The Day After the Martians Came" by Frederick Pohl

"Riders of the Purple Wage" by Phillip Jose Farmer (Hugo for bet novella)

"The Malley System" by Miriam Allen de Ford

"A Toy for Juliette" by Robert Bloch

"The Prowler in the City at the Edge of the World" by Harlan Ellison

"The Night that All Time Broke Out" Brian W. Aldiss
"The Man Who Went to the Moon -- Twice" by Howard Rodman

"Faith of Our Fathers" by Philip K. Dick

"The Jigsaw Man" by Larry Niven

"Gonna Roll the Bones" by Fritz Lieber (Hugo and Nebula for best Novelette)

"Lord Randy, My Son" Joe L. Hensley

"Eutopia" by Poul Anderson

"Incident in Moderan" and "The Escaping" by David R. Bunch

"The Doll-House" by Hugh Jones Parry

"Sex and/or Mr. Morrison" by Carol Emshwiller

"Shall the Dust Praise Thee?" Damon Knight

"If All Men Were Brothers, Would You Let One Marry Your Sister?" by Ted Sturgeon

"What Happened to Auguste Clarot?" by Larry Eisenberg

"Ersatz" by Henry Slesar

"Go, Go, Go, Said the Bird" by Sony Dorman

'The Happy Breed" by John Sladek

"Encounter with a Hick" by Jonathan Brand

"From the Government Printing Office" by Kris Neville

"Land of the Great Horses" by R. A. Lafferty

"The Recognition" by J. G. Ballard

"Judas" by John Brunner
"Test to Destruction" by Keith Laumer

"Carcinoma Angels" by Norman Spinrad

"Auto-da-Fe" by Roger Zelazny

"Aye, and Gormorrah" by Samuel R. Delany (Nebula for best short story)

I haven't the inclination to review every story. But some that stood out were "Eutopia" by Anderson, "The Happy Breed" by Sladek, "Test to Destruction" by Laumer, "The Night that All Time Broke Out" by Aldiss, and "Evensong" by Del Rey. I found all the stories enjoyable in their own way, but I will have to say I'll need to read "Riders of the Purple Wage" by Farmer again to fully grok it. The stories were selected because in most cases they pushed boundaries at a time when boundaries desperately need to be pushed. (Actually, they probably need to be tested all the time.) I wasn't shocked especially by any story, but I'm reading these tales in 2025, over half a century from when they were concocted and first published. That the stories feel fresh at all is a triumph for the collection, but perhaps a sad commentary on society. 

As tall peak as Dangerous Visons was, it's sequel Again, Dangerous Visions is even more daunting. I've already dived into it and expect a report when I get get through with it. That's going to take a spell. 

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The MAD Readers Ride Again!

The Mad Reader is one of those truly important books. EC Comics made a big splash in the heyday of comics, both critically and financially. So much so, that the furor around them eventually caused them to disappear from the comic racks. But MAD survived, and in fact thrived for decades after becoming a cultural touchstone for millions of kids trying to find a way to interpret adult society. Soon after its sales success in the early 50's, Ballantine Books stepped forward to bring the distinctive humor brand to a broader audience in the first paperback comic book reprint, The Mad Reader. The Mad Reader, first published in 1954 went through many editions and spawned many subsequent collections. It was the perfect fusion of the wildness of MAD with the surge of paperbacks which came to dominate book sales in the decade. 

Some years ago, IBooks under the direction of the late Byron Preiss returned these vintage classics to the market in handsome and faithful reproductions. As you can see, the leering mug of Alfred P. Neuman guarantees MAD-level quality. In point of fact, this was the first time that Alfred's famous puss ever graced a MAD publication, but as we all know it be far from the last. IBooks went on quickly to publish other of the 50's MAD paperbacks. There are later volumes in this esteemed series, but these five from Ballantine Books (MAD moved to Signet with the sixth volume) are the core upon which the long MAD paperback tradition lives. It's exceedingly neat to have most of these clever reproductions in my sweaty mitts. I've seen and read many of the stories in more lustrous volumes, yet the crazy way they are presented in these volumes makes them oddly fresh. 

IBooks made reprints of all the volumes above which originally were published from 1954 to 1961.  (I think I have the order right, but please correct me if I got it wrong.) MAD was in its heyday and seemed indestructible until it fell on hard times in recent years following the demise of the publisher Bill Gaines. There is sure no shortage of MAD paperbacks out there, ninety -three to be exact. Check out this link to the MAD Museum to get a look at the ones IBooks never got a chance reprint. 

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