Hercules - Netherworld!

I continue with my review of Charlton's Hercules series from the late 60's.

Hercules #3 dated February 1968, offers up a striking change in the series after only two issues. Hercules is given a more vivid and distinctive visual appearance by the addition of the skin of the Nemean Lion and a beard. This issue's cover was drawn by Sam Glanzman as have been all of them. He also is the artist on the lead story written by Sergius O'Shaugnessy (Denny O'Neil). The editor is Dick Giordano.

The Hercules adventure this time is titled "Netherworld" and opens with a wonderful splash page of Hercules battling Cerberus. The story begins with Hercules seeking human companionship and being rebuffed first by a mother who fears for her child and later by soldiers who consider him a wandering oaf. He quickly proves his strength with the latter but his anger is quelled when his friend King Admetus shows up. The procession is a funeral but Admetus tells Hercules it is only for a favored servant girl. Later while enjoying the hospitality of Admetus Herucles finds out the funeral was for Queen Alcestis and he pledges to go to Hades and rescue her. He calls to Zeus who arranges with Hercules that if he defeats Cerberus the three-headed hound which guards Hades he will have completed the third of his twelve required tasks to become a full-fledged god. Hera still wants to defeat the Man-God so she arranges with Hefestus to make a million spear points to rain down on Hercules. But Aphrodite sees this and goes to Zeus who is polishing up his thunderbolts (which are dingy) and he arranges for Aeoulus to blow the spear points away from Hercules and they become a defacto ladder for him to use to climb up to the cave which is the door to Hades. There he encounters Pluto who sends him into Hades unarmed. Then quickly Hercules finds Death and Alcestis. He battles death and makes off with the grateful Queen, but sadly has to leave others behind in the land of the dead. Then Cerberus shows up and he and Hercules battle. Hercules defeats the beast and drags him up out of Hades as he and Alcestis escape. Pluto indicates he's impressed with Hercules. Alcesits and Admetus are reunited and Hercules goes off to face for challenges.

"Letters to the Editor -- Hercules" returns with three letters, another one from Klaus Janson. The letters seem to recognize the similarity between Glanzman and Joe Kubert, and all are complimentary. One letter writer asks if Charlton might adapt Conan, but the answer is that it's too expensive. I'd have loved to see that adaptation personally.

The text story this time is "The Story of Momotaro" and it appears to be the retelling of a Japanese myth about Momotaro who is born out of the center of a peach and goes to battle evil spirts on Devil's Island aided by three helpers-- a monkey, a dog, and a pheasant. Momotaro also has magic dumplings.

The Thane of Bagarth story this time is titled "Chaper Three: Banishment". In this story written by Steve Skeates and drawn by Jim Aparo, the Thane of Bagarth Hrothelac has been betrayed by his brother Eowanda and the Thane of Rothfor who deliver forged documents to King Beowulf indicating that Hrothelac has conspired with the hated Swedes. Beowulf demands the traitor be brought before him and dispatches men to accomplish that. Meanwhile Hrothelac wakes up in the cabin of Daeghred the Scholar where he'd been brought by the Scholar's daughter Freahulf after she found Hrothelac unconscious. He finds wax on his signet ring and wrongly suspects Daeghred of having betrayed him. He leaves only to be immediately captured by Beowulf's men and brought to the King. The King banishes Hrothelac who assumes Daeghred is the culprit. He leaves but is waylaid by Vikings and taken aboard their ship as a slave. Beowulf plans to give the title of Bagarth to the Thane of Rothfor frustrating Eowanda's plans.

There's another entertaining House Ad in which they ask for money. This features the cover for Hercules #3.


And that's it. It's a really good issue, the first in which you feel the elements of the comic book have come together. Hercules looks exactly right, echoing not only the classic film versions but also the classic look of old Greece. The stories feature the Gods of Olympus who offer a range of distinctive and very human personalities. There's humor in the Hercules story, nicely meshed with the adventure. The Thane of Bagarth story is picking up steam nicely, though it looks at this point more like a standard comic than a Prince Valiant clone.


All in all this is now a solid comic book package. The lead Hercules story was reprinted in Charlton Classics #3.

The Thane of Bagarth story has been reprinted several times, but most prominently in Thane of Bagarth #25.

More to come.

Rip Off

Hercules - When Man Meets Monster!

I continue today with Hercules #2 from Charlton.

This issue is dated December 1967. The lead story starring Hercules is drawn by Sam Glanzman and written by Sergius O'Shaughnessy (Denny O'Neil) or at least that's what the letters page suggests about the writer. The comic is edited by Dick Giordano. The title of the lead story is "When Man Meets Monster!" and it pits Hercules against the multiple-bodied giant Gerion.

In this issue we see Zeus for the first time and we meet several other gods especially Hera the jealous stepmother of Hercules who begins immediately in this story to make his life and quest to become fully immortal very difficult indeed. Hercules begins the tale by asking Zeus what the second of his twelve labors will be (yes it was nine in the debut issue, a mistake mentioned and corrected again in the letters page) and discovers he must sail to the giant Gerion's palace to confront him. While on the sea Hera raises a strange wave that swamps the ship but Zeus employs Aeolus the wind god to counteract this plot. Hercules ends up swimming 335 miles to his destination. There he confronts Gerion for the first time and defeats the club-wielding giant and defeats him. Then the second Gerion tells his third incarnation to hide and he tries to trick Hercules and drops him into a pit of snakes. Hercules defeats them and uses the snakes as ropes to get out of the pit. All the while Zeus and Hera watch and comment on his efforts. Hercules defeats the second Gerion when the third Gerion arrives on a winged lizard and Hercules and he fight atop the monster. Eventually Hercules defeats this third Gerion, completing his labor and he swims home. There he meets his dad Zeus and the two share a friendly moment as the story closes.

"Letters to the Editor -- Hercules" offers up three letters from fans on the debut issue. Of special note are letters from Klaus Janson and Bill Mantlo. In a response to Janson the editors reveal that Hercules is intended as a sword and sorcery book, but do indicate that Herc will get a beard and begin wearing the Nemean Lion skin as something akin to a costume beginning with the very next issue.

"The Molecules and the Cook Book" is a text story that reveals a scientist who is ingenious enough to develop a recipe that will allow him to travel through solid objects, making him ostensibly the most powerful man in the world. Others seem to take this claim to heart and he is given great authority over world affairs and as master he plans to give his power to all people in the free world.

Thane of Bagarth returns with a story entitled "Chapter Two: The Plot". Written by Steve Skeates and drawn by Jim Aparo this installment continues the saga of Hrothelac, the Thane of Bagarth who has gone to his younger brother Eowanda to find affirmative proof that he did not lie to King Beowulf about being a collaborator with the hated Swedes. Eowanda goes to a witch who concocts a potion that puts Hrothelac to sleep, giving the treacherous Eowanda a chance to use Horthelac's signet ring to forge papers. Eowando then goes to Garmscio the Thane of Rothfor who is also enemy of the current Thane of Bagarth and after a swordfight they realize they must work together to bring down Hrothelac. Garmscio agrees to take the forged documents to King Beowulf. The groggy Hrothelac is found by the beautiful Freahulf while at that moment Beowulf gets the forged evidence and calls for a scholar to read them.

The comic book ends with a great Charlton house ad with the funny blurb "Buy Charlton Comics! (We need the money!)".


This issue's Hercules story was reprinted in 1980 in Charlton Classics #2.

The Thane of Bagarth story was reprinted in Thane of Bagarth #1 in 1985.

To read the entire issue go to this link to Comic Book Plus.

More in a few days.

Rip Off

Hercules - Adventures Of The Man-God!

I begin today a series of reviews of Charlton's memorable late 60's series Hercules.

Hercules #1 is dated October 1967. The title on the cover and on the splash page reads "Adventures of the Man-God Hercules" but the official title of the book is just "Hercules". There are no credits for the opening story, though the script is attributed to Joe Gill and the artwork is undoubtedly by Sam Glanzman. The whole comic was edited by Dick Giordano. The story has no title other than "Adventures of the Man-God Hercules". The splash shows an unbearded Hercules facing off against the Nemean Lion.

The story though begins in the mountains as Hercules has sought the Gods. After the death of his mother Alcmene, he calls out to his father Zeus who responds to him by unbodied voice that he must complete nine tasks or labors and submit to the judgment of Eyrystheus before he can be allowed among the immortals. Hercules agrees to this and heads off to Nemea to confront the Lion, the first of his assigned labors. But a guard takes issue with Hercules leaving as King Phillip has ordered him to stay for the games. Hercules refuses and a fight ensues. Hercules is chased by the guards at the command of Phillip but he knocks over a bridge defeating his pursuers. He then saves a beautiful redhead from three thugs, only discover she is Princess Helen betrothed of Prince Alexander. This doesn't stop them from striking up a friendly relationship though so when Alexander sees Hercules later with Helen he's jealous but has to give Hercules his appreciation when he learns Hercules saved his intended. Hercules then joins Alexander and his troops in a battle agains Phillip and Hercules is instrumental in defeating the other army. Then Hercules at last turns his attention to the Nemean lion. Helen goes with him to the challenge, but he sends her away as he battles the beast. Using his massive strength, he subdues the lion and kills it. Taking the lion's skin as his mantle, he leaves after rejecting a sword from Alexander, saying he doesn't need weapons. As Hercules leaves, they speculate that he doesn't seem completely human.

The text feature in this issue is "Meeko the Microbe". It's the story of a classroom science experiment gone wild as a microscopic microbe grows to vast proportions but becomes the pet of a fifteen year old girl. She goes on to vast fame as scientists all across the globe come to see her remarkable pet, and they agree that she and she alone can make money from the creature. As the story closes her fortune is assured as many flock to see Meeko.

The second feature in the comic is Thane of Bagarth, a fascinating series done roughly in the style of Hal Foster's Prince Valiant. The story is set between the two halves of the epic Anglo-Saxon saga Beowulf. It's after Beowulf became killed Grendel and became King but before he confronted the Dragon and was killed. After the battle with Grendel, Beowulf gave "vast tracts of land" to his thanes. Wigmenric was made the Thane of Bagarth, and on his passing his eldest son Hrothelac became Thane. This is the story of Hrothelac. In this story titled "Chapter One: The Feud" written by Steve Skeates and drawn by Jim Aparo, we find a feud has been going on between Bagarth and Rothor. Some peasants are attacked and in retalation a Guardsman of Bagarth kills a Guardsman of Rothor. This comes to the attention of King Beowulf who demands the truth from his Thanes. Hrothelac comes and tells his side, the truth, but it differs from the story told by Garmscio Thane of Rothor. Beowulf demands evidence and the liar will be banished. Hrothelac goes to his younger brother Eowanda for help, but he doesn't suspect Eowanda wants himself to be Thane of Bagarth. On his way to see Eowanda, Hrothelac sees Freahulf the daughter of a local scholar. As the chapter closes both Garmscio and Eowanda plot to bring down the current Thane of Bagarth.


I'm fascinated by this comic. The idea to create an ongoing comic book featuring the labors of Hercules is a natural one, though I admit it doesn't seem all that marketable. Getting Sam Glanzman to do this was inspired. Backing it up with a series that echoes Prince Valiant is inspired and gives the complete package a real upscale adventure quality. Two great myths are adapted in one dazzling package by some really rock-solid professionals. Hercules #1 points to a fantastic series of stories which begin straightforwardly enough, but will becomes quite bizarre indeed. The comic was reprinted in Charlton Classics #1 in 1980, though Thane of Bagarth was not. Both got reprinted in 1968 in the one-shot black and white Hercules magazine from Charlton.

Thane of Bagarth was reprinted in Thane of Bagarth #1 in 1985. ACG (Avalon) has reprinted the stories several times.

To read this issue in its entirety check out this link to Comic Book Plus.

More to come.

Rip Off

Creepy Presents Steve Ditko!

It was with glee that I collected up Creepy Presents Steve Ditko , the latest reprint from Dark Horse of their Warren Magazines material. I've yearned to get a glimpse of this Steve Ditko collection since it was announced months ago. It lives up to expectations. Steve Ditko famously left Marvel and his most famous creation Spider-Man after a creative dispute with Stan Lee. He then needed new work and found it at Charlton, Tower, and at Warren.

For a year, from 1966 through most of 1967 Ditko produced a monthly story for Warren which found its way into Creepy and Eerie. He delivered a range of compelling work, experimenting with his techniques, especially washes, and created some of the most memorable artwork of his career. This is Ditko at the height of his powers in glorious black and white.

The stories are nearly all written by the late Archie Goodwin, a revered editor and a masterful writer. So you can be certain the words live up to the art. This is an utterly fantastic package, and at a mere twenty dollars for one hundred and thirty pages of great material is a bargain. Here's a link which gives further details on the individual stories.

I had not realized until I assembled these covers that Ditko's contribution to Warren had been so rock steady. In a further demonstration of his complete professionalism, he did not miss a month alternating stories between the bi-monthly Eerie and Creepy magazines for well over a year.

Get this collection. You won't regret it. Here is a gallery of the issues in which Ditko had a story featured.

Frank Frazetta

Frank Frazetta

Gray Morrow

Frank Frazetta

Frank Frazetta

Frank Frazetta

Gray Morrow

Gray Morrow

Frank Frazetta

Gray Morrow

Frank Frazetta

Gray Morrow

Dan Adkins

Frank Frazetta

Gray Morrow

Rip Off

Ditko At Charlton - 1971!

A Touch of Genius - Ditko at Charlton: 1971 is the first of five tomes dedicated to gathering Steve Ditko's output for the little Connecticut company year by year. This lovely book gathers together mostly ghost stories from the titles Ghost Manor, Ghostly Tales, Haunted, and The Many Ghosts of Dr. Graves. There are also two romance stories by Ditko for the titles I Love You and Just Married. 1971 is according to the preface, a unique year for Ditko in that all his output for the year was published by Charlton and written by the uncanny Joe Gill. This volume is no less a celebration of that rapid-fire scribe. The duo of Gill and Ditko had birthed Captain Atom a decade earlier and now they teamed up to scare young readers in Charlton's many ghost host titles. The hosts in these stories include the Imp from Haunted (Gill and Ditko did the entire debut issue), Winnie the Witch from Ghost Manor, Mr. Dedd from Ghostly Tales and of course Dr. M.T. Graves from his self-titled book. One of the things I love about Ditko's work on these stories is how he infuses the hosts into the storytelling, on nearly every page we get them reacting to the story they narrate. In tale I was most surprised to see Mr. Dedd actually assume a more human appearance and actually help save a damsel in distress. There are threats from malignant spirits, greedy relatives, long-dead mummies, mad musicians, and tempting witches. 

On that last note let me stress the appearance of Winnie the Witch, who had been created by Gill and Ditko for the first volume of Ghost Manor and who would continue in that role in the second volume. This buxom verdant beauty was perhaps created in the wake of the success of Vampirella at Warren Magazines, but whereas the latter is a fetching modern lady, Winnie seems to hearken back to an earlier era of bosomy pin-ups, despite her miniskirt. She seems more of the time of Betty Page than Bridget Bardot. 

Here are the covers reprinted in this issue. 

More to come next week when we explore what Gill and Ditko serve up in 1972. 

Rip Off