Todd Klein's Blog, page 197

And Then I Read: B.P.R.D. HELL ON EARTH Vol. 12

Image © Mike Mignola.

Just after I complained about the complicated and depressing storyline of Volume 11, this one turns things around nicely. In the first of two stories, Agent Johann, the one with no corporeal body who must wear a containment suit to hold his ectoplasmic essence, is coming back from a mission he led that went badly. The surviving troops are pissed, and won’t talk to him. Back at headquarters in Colorado, Johann thinks about the mission and wonders if he has become so much less than human that he can no longer lead the living. In a fascinating exploration of his feelings and fears, as well as the events of the mission, with excellent art by Peter Snejbjerg, we get more insight to Johann than we’ve seen in a long time.

The second story, with equally fine art by Julian Totino Tedesco, involves a suit of super-armor developed in World War Two and used by an American soldier to help fight Nazis. The same armor in the present is being examined by Johann to possibly help with their current dire situation against the monsters of Hell that are marching on their headquarters. The two story lines intertwine well and actually leave us on an upbeat note for once. Kudos to writers Mike Mignola and John Arcudi (who I suspect does the lion’s share).

Recommended.

And Then I Read: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF THE MAD SCIENTISTS’ CLUB by Bertrand R. Brinley

Illustration by Charles Geer.

When I was about 10 I joined the Cub Scouts, and continued into the Boy Scouts for a few years. With that, or perhaps through the Scouts but paid separately, I got a subscription to BOY’S LIFE magazine, the official Scout publication. In addition to all kinds of information, comics and factual articles, there was at least one short fiction story in each issue. A few were series, and one of my favorites of those was Brinley’s stories about the Mad Scientists’ Club of Mammoth Falls. Lead by tinkerer and scientific genius Henry Mulligan, it was a group of boys who worked together on scientific projects, plotted mischievous pranks on their home town, helped police with investigations, and tangled with a rival gang of boys who were always trying to ruin their plans. Long ago I found the first collection of Mad Scientists’ Club stories reprinted in book form. Recently I found this second collection at a book sale, and enjoyed reading the five adventures within, none of which I remembered.

The era of the stories is very 1950s, with small-town America brought to life, and the boys seem to have an endless supply of equipment, hang-outs and energy, not to mention permission to range far and wide in their territory at all hours with little or no parental supervision. The town’s police force sees more of them than their parents, seems like. The adventures are funny and fun, not to mention full of clever ideas. In one, they cash in on the then-current flying saucer reports flooding the news by creating a very believable one to panic the town, and amazingly do not get into serious trouble even when the police and the army are called in to investigate. In another, they buy a war trophy miniature German submarine and rebuild it to working condition, only to have the sub caught in their cavern hideout by a rock fall.

The hardcover edition of the book I have was reprinted by Purple House Press of Texas in 2002, and looking online, I see they’re still in business and have reprinted a number of books for children I like. It’s the second time recently I’ve found a small press doing this, and I think it’s a terrific trend. They also printed two further books about the Mad Scientists, novels rather than short stories, and also books I haven’t read or even known about. I’ve bought Kindle editions and will read them soon. Though a bit dated, I think these stories will still appeal to kids of today, but probably boys more than girls, as there’s hardly a girl in sight in them.

Recommended.

Robert Heinlein in the Pulps

Robert A. Heinlein, early 1940s, image found online.

Science fiction writer Robert Heinlein has been a favorite of mine since I began finding his books in our grade school library in the mid 1960s. I also read him in the science fiction digest magazines on the newsstands at the time, like “The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction,” and others. Book publications of his work listed original copyrights from pulp magazines like “Astounding Science Fiction” beginning in 1939, and when I started going to art school in New York City in 1969, I was able to find some of those first publications still on the shelves of used book stores. Also in 1969 I bought “Heinlein in Dimension” by Alexei Panshin, a commentary on the man’s work which gave chronological lists of the stories and where they were published, which helped me find them. There were also pulp magazines for sale at the science fiction and comics conventions I attended beginning in the mid 1970s, including Midamericon in 1976, where I got to see Heinlein speak and acquired a book signed by him.  I continued to occasionally add to my Heinlein pulp collection into the 1990s, after which the issues I wanted were either impossible to find or too pricey. I’ve decided to put this collection of 13 Heinlein pulps on eBay beginning next Sunday, April 24th, and thought I’d show them here, after having one last look through the issues.Heinlein’s first sale was to editor John W. Campbell Jr. at “Astounding Science Fiction.” Famously, he submitted it to a new writers contest there, and Campbell liked it so much, he bought it at the regular, higher word rate. (Pulp magazines paid by the word, which helps explain the overblown language of some pulp stories.) “Astounding,” published by Street and Smith, was considered one of the best and most prestigious science fiction pulps, and Campbell one of the best SF editors. He and Heinlein began a long and sometimes contentious relationship with this story, followed by many others. The cover art is by famed pulp illustrator Virgil Finlay, though not one of his better efforts.

Here’s the title page of that story with a full-page illustration by an artist named Isip. Pulp magazines were printed on the cheapest pulp paper, which is now gradually turning tan and brittle, though all the ones I have are still readable. They were thick and full of reading material, often over 150 pages with type small enough to include entire novels.

Heinlein’s second published story was in the November 1939 issue of Astounding, cover art by Hubert Rogers. The featured story was by E.E. “Doc” Smith, one of his Lensman series of novels. Smith was one of the most popular writers of the previous generation who began writing for the earliest science fiction pulps in the late 1920s.

Heinlein’s story was “Misfit,” with a half-page illustration by “Wasso.”

Heinlein’s third published story appeared in the January, 1940 issue of “Astounding,” with a cover by Schneeman.

His story, “Requiem,” is one of his best early ones in my opinion, and the kind of Heinlein story that inspired some of the men who went on to become involved in the U.S. space program. The protagonist, D.D. Harriman, has worked all his life to get man onto the surface of our moon, and is finally able to land there himself at the end of it.

The February and March, 1940 issues of “Astounding” ran the novel-length Heinlein story, “If This Goes On–“, but I was only able to find the March issue, with a cover by Gilmore.

Here’s the title page with an illustration by Hubert Rogers, who was the author’s favorite illustrator of his stories. This illustration is seen in the uncropped version of the author photo at the top of this article, which you can find online.

The next Heinlein issue I found is a gem, with two Heinlein stories inside, the longer one, “Universe,” featured on the cover by Hubert Rogers. It’s also the one I have that’s in the best shape, what I would call Very Fine.

Title page of “Universe” with illustration by Rogers. It’s a novelette or short novel, and a fine one.

“Solution Unsatisfactory” is by “Anson MacDonald,” Heinlein’s most common pen name. It was used, as in this case, to hide that fact that two stories by the same author were in the issue, and at other times when Heinlein wasn’t so thrilled with the editing of his work.

The August 1941 issue of “Astounding” has the second half of his novel, “Methuselah’s Children,” under a cover by Hubert Rogers.

The title page illustrated by Rogers. Many of these stories in “Astounding” were connected, part of the author’s “Future History” timeline. This story introduces the character Lazarus Long, one of Heinlein’s most popular and most recurring ones, leader of a band of humans with genetically engineered very long life spans.

The final “Astounding” pulp issue I have with Heinlein in it is from March 1942. Most pulps were about 7 by 9 inches, but at this time the Street and Smith ones were experimenting with larger 8.5 by 11 inch issues. Cover by Hubert Rogers.

Heinlein’s story is “Goldfish Bowl” with an illustration by Kramer, again using the Anson MacDonald pen name.

While most of Heinlein’s work was science fiction, he did write a few fantasy stories. The longest of these was published in another Street and Smith pulp, “Unknown,” Sept. 1940.

As seen here, with excellent illustrations by Edd Cartier, the original title was “The Devil Makes the Law,” but it was later known as “Magic, Incorporated.” While full of magic, Heinlein manages to organize that magic in a very scientific way.

Another shorter fantasy appeared in the companion magazine “Unknown Worlds” of Oct. 1942.

The story has a rarely used Heinlein pen name, “John Riverside.”

My copy of “Startling Stories” from May 1947 has a cover badly marred by part of another pulp cover firmly stuck to it. Cover by Earle Bergey.

The story inside has an illustration that’s not credited, and I can’t read the signature.

“Thrilling Wonder Stories” of Oct. 1947 is in better shape, with another cover by Earle Bergey. Both this and “Startling Stories” were part of publisher Ned Pines’ output. He also published lots of comic books.

The story “Jerry Is A Man” has a beautiful one and a half page illustration by Virgil Finlay. The story, about what makes someone human, is great, too.

“Weird Tales,” the original weird and horror fiction pulp, is not a place you’d expect to find a story by Heinlein, but there was one in the January 1949 issue, under a cover probably by Lee Brown Coye.

“Our Fair City” is another of Heinlein’s rare fantasies, nicely illustrated by Boris Dolgov.

The last and latest pulp I have, chronologically, is “Two Complete Science-Adventure Books” from Winter, 1952, when the pulps were dying out in favor of the smaller digest-sized magazines. The rather nice cover is signed “Anderson,” but is not by Murphy Anderson.

The interior double-page illustration for another “Anson MacDonald” novel is not credited. This is actually the third publication of the novel, first serialized in “Astounding” in 1942, then published in book form by Fantasy Press.

I’ve enjoyed having these magazines, but now it’s time to pass them on to others. Have a look for them on eBay the week starting April 24th if you’re interested.

 

Hand Lettering is Alive and Well!

Okay, not much in comics, but if you do a Google search for Hand Lettering and then select Images, you’ll find tons of beautiful examples like these. Follow those images to the websites, and you’ll find much more, including videos.

These are just the first three groups of images. I didn’t get any further.

I didn’t have time, nor did I feel I needed to look any further to know that people are still creating beautiful work by hand, and lots of it. That made me happy.

And Then I Read: SWAMP THING 3

Image © DC Comics

There is no question that Kelley Jones is a wonderful choice to depict Swamp Thing. His style echoes the original Swamp Thing artist, Bernie Wrightson, but adds the manic exaggerations and mind-boggling detail he’s known for. Len Wein is, of course, the creator of the character, and while his handling of the script is predictable, it’s still fun to read.

Matthew Cable, once a protector then a pursuer of the monstrous creature, has returned to Alec (Swamp Thing) Holland’s life with a powerful and dangerous arcane artifact that he believes might restore Alec’s humanity and human body. Neither of them are able to use the thing, so they seek out the magician Zatanna for her help. Zatanna is reluctant, but finally agrees to attempt the transformation. What happens then is…well, you’ll have to read it to see.

Recommended

And Then I Read: THE EYE OF THE HERON by Ursula K. Le Guin

Cover art by Mary GrandPre

The beginning and end of this short novel involve a group of humans, who have settled on the distant Earth-like world of Victoria, exploring new territory in search of a place to begin a new settlement. The rest of the book is quite different, and is a study of two human towns and societies in conflict.

In Victoria there are only two places where humans live: the City, which was founded by former Earth criminals many decades ago, and Shantih, a loose community of farmers, founded by another group from Earth that were exiled for political reasons. In brief, they were peace marchers on a grand scale, and the leaders of a movement that swept Earth for a time, but did not overcome Earth’s warlike behavior. Luz is a young woman of the City. Her father is a wealthy and important man there, one of the City Bosses. Luz feels trapped and confined in her home, where her father wants her to marry one of his political allies. She longs for the freedom of Shantih. Lev is a young man in Shantih who many look to for leadership. He is idealistic and charismatic. He holds to the ideals of the peace marchers, and their spiritual leaders like Gandhi and King. The two settlements have long been in partnership, but the City Bosses believe themselves in charge of Shantih as well as their own City. When they begin enforcing that belief, they meet the calm resistance of Lev and many others. Some are taken hostage. Others are forced to labor for the Bosses, until they slip away in the night. Meanwhile, Luz escapes the City and joins her former school friend Lev in Shantih. This precipitates a crisis that will forever change both settlements, and many of the people in them.

Wonderful book, which is no surprise. Le Guin’s understanding of society and human nature is deep, and her skill as a storyteller is strong. And her creative powers are as wonderful as ever, as in the beings native to Victoria known as Wotsits, among others. Highly recommended.

And Then I Read: DOCTOR FATE #9

Image © DC Comics.

The new Doctor Fate is trying to stop a protest rally near the United Nations in NYC. What tools does he have to do this? Khalid Nassour isn’t sure yet. He has elemental powers that he’s beginning to get a handle on, but each time he uses them it’s a shot in the dark for him. He has the counsel of Nabu, an ancient Egyptian spirit guide whose advice is often brief and cryptic. And, most importantly, he has his own intelligence and problem-solving skills, the ones that were leading him on a successful path through med school until this all happened. A new power that surfaces this time is the ability to find someone close to him by following a golden path that only he can see. Sure beats Google maps! So does the flying. He wants to help his protest rally friends who have been taken off the streets by some unknown force. Where he finds them is surprising.

Still enjoying the writing by Paul Levitz and the art by Sonny Liew. The coloring by Lee Loughridge and lettering by Saida Temofonte are also fine.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: DOWN THE MYSTERLY RIVER by Bill Willingham

Image © Bill Willingham & Mark Buckingham.

So, you’ve finished the entire run of FABLES, and wondering where to get your next fantasy fix? This book is just what you need!

A boy named Max, nicknamed “The Wolf,” finds himself suddenly walking through a forest in his Boy Scout uniform with no memory of how he got there. Max prides himself in his detective skills, he’s solved many mysteries at home, but here he’s completely lost.

Before long he meets a talking badger named Banderbrock, who also doesn’t know how he got here. Soon they’re joined by a battle-scarred tomcat, McTavish and a peace-loving bear, Walden. Max has never met a talking beast before, and one thing he knows is that he’s in a very different world. Before they have much time to think about this, they’re attacked by a warrior with a blue sword known as a Cutter and must flee. Soon an entire company of Cutters are on their trail. Cutters, they learn, do not want to kill them. Their plan is worse. The swords they carry can cut into a person’s memories and personality, making him into a much different person than he wants to be. Soon they are fleeing down the Mysterly River hoping to reach the sanctuary of Wizard Swift’s Castle before the Cutters can remake them into dull model citizens of this place.

Needless to say I loved the writing by Bill and the many illustrations by Mark Buckingham. This book will not only appeal to their fans, but anyone who enjoys a good fantasy adventure with lots of action, many surprising twists and fascinating characters. I don’t know if there will be sequels, but this one certainly sets them up. If so, I’ll want to read them.

Highly recommended!

And Then I Read: PHANTOM OF THE BLOCKADE by Stephen W. Meader

Stephen W. Meader was an author of 40 novels for children published from 1920 to 1970. He’s largely forgotten now, but when I was a boy he was quite popular, and I found many of his books in libraries, and some at book sales. Meader’s stories were of two main types: either a teenager or young man finding his way to making a living in the current times through hard work and perseverance (from growing blueberries to driving a big rig truck), or similar boys caught up in moments of American history full of danger and excitement. This book from 1962, found at a sale recently, is one of the latter.

Anse O’Neal grew up on Ocracoke Island on the coast of North Carolina sailing and fishing from an early age. When Civil War battles came to his home state, he joined the crew of a Confederate Blockade Runner, small fast ships whose job was to sneak past Yankee naval ship blockades around the port of Wilmington carrying cotton to Bermuda where it could be traded for weapons and supplies for the Confederate troops. This dangerous business brought death or imprisonment to many, but the captain and crew of the “Gray Witch,” not to mention the ship herself, are expert at the task. Even so, Anse’s voyages are full of sea battles, close shaves, and cannon fire. When the ship takes on two female passengers, Lucy Harcom and her mother, Anse soon finds a new friendship turning into something more. That makes survival even more important, and as the Confederacy comes ever closer to losing their fight, Anse and the crew have to leave their ship in hiding and strike out across war-torn country attempting to get Lucy and her mother to safety.

As with all Meader’s books, this is a great read, bringing history to life, and teaching me a lot about the period and people. The characters are well-done, though their attitude and efforts are always positive, and the hero always wins in the end. Fun stuff. And there are still about half his books I either haven’t read or don’t remember to look for. I’ve just discovered that Southern Skies has reprinted most of them, so perhaps Meader’s work will fine new readers.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: ASTRO CITY 32

Image © Juke Box Productions, cover art by Alex Ross

I think I’ve figured out something about why I love this series. Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson have a talent for making super-heroics the least important part of a character’s story. Steeljack is a former villain turned private eye, doing work for the city as a one-man salvage crew, helping the kids and folks of his low-rent neighborhood, and rounding up deadbeats for bail bondsmen. He calls himself a detective, but knows he’s not really smart enough to do the Sherlock Holmes thing. Still he’s getting by.

That changes when an old partner in crime shows up in his office. It’s a dame, and a choice one. Only, she’s gone legit and has built a successful real-estate business. Someone is causing big trouble for her, though, by using her unique weapons in a bank robbery that left corpses all over the steel vault floor. Ismiri, a.k.a. Cutlass, turns to her old friend for help. But as we see in the opening scene, that doesn’t go so well…

I loved this issue and story, and as an added bonus, Brent has drawn Steeljack as if played by Robert Mitchum, heavy-lidded eyes and all, and that put Mitchum’s voice in my head for the character. Worked perfectly.

Highly recommended.