Star Trek 59th Anniversary

In 1966, on this date, Star Trek first boldly went where no man had gone before with Captain Kirk and his crew of the starship Enterprise.

Some time has passed since then, and, to commemorate the event, a small collection of covers from 59th issues of Star Trek, with Gold Key (art by Mel Crawford), DC (with art by Jerome Moore), DC's Next Generation (with art by Jason Palmer and Jerome Moore) and IDW (with main art by Tony Shasteen).

Star Trek #59 (Gold Key) and Star Trek #59 (DC)

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Star Trek: The Next Generation (DC) and Star Trek #59 (IDW)

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Star Trek 58th Anniversary

Celebrating the debut of the TV show, Star Trek, which was on September 8th, 1966...

...boldly going where no man has gone before..

...with two special issues featuring the original cast in adventures set during the original series.

Star Trek #58 (Gold Key, December, 1978)

Here, in a story by George Kashdan with art by Al McWilliams and painted cover by Chuck Liese, Dr. Leonard McCoy has to cure more than a cold...he has to help out a much larger patient, "The Brain Damaged Planet", as a virus was menacing a whole planet's population, via the brain at the core of the planet.

An incredible task for a man who considered himself at heart just a country doctor.

Star Trek #58 (DC Comics, March, 1994)

With this story, by Howard Weinstein, with Carlos Garzon on interior art and cover by Jerome Moore, this issue started a run with a flashback on Pavel Chekov (as Chekov visited Sulu in the present day), set during the time of original mission, wherein the Enterprise was dealing with a mysterious ship bombarding a colony with lethal radiation as an old flame came back into Chekov's life.

Chekov, looking back on his life, just as, on this anniversary, Star Trek fans celebrate the original show (and all that came after).

National Picnic Day

Celebrating National Picnic Day, and what better way than a quick peek into Jellystone Park, the home of Hanna Barbera's Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo, who usually spend their days looking for a picnic basket, much to the consternation of park Ranger Smith.

Along with all his animated success, Yogi Bear had a comic book that lasted for 42 issues at Gold Key (even if the first three issues were under their Four Color title), with the series ending in October, 1970.

Covers above are from Yogi Bear #32 and #35 (April, 1968 and January, 1969), and the second batch of covers from Yogi Bear #34 and #42 (October, 1968 and October, 1970), with surprisingly few covers with picnic baskets.

Remembering Artist Russ Manning

Remembering artist Russ Manning on his birthday (January 5, 1929 - December 1, 1981)...

...with a quick look at a serialized feature that ran in the back of Gold Key's Magnus: Robot Fighter series from February, 1963 to November, 1969...

...The Aliens.

The Aliens was a short feature following the adventures of Captain Johner and his crew in the far future, where they first encounter alien life.  At first adversarial, the crews of the ships learn to work together, with members of Johner's crew going off with the aliens, while Commander Zarz and 3 of his crew join Johner to face the unknown, including a group called the False Men.

Gold Key/Whitman reprinted chapters 1 and 3-10 twice, in the two volumes pictured above, once in September-December, 1967 and the second time in May, 1982.

Valiant gave readers two collections of The Aliens (though the covers were not by Manning), with the first containing the first 7 chapters, the second, the next 7 chapters in May, 1995.

Manning seems to have left the series after issue #22 (May, 1968).  Sadly, the original series ended on a cliffanger in issue #28 (November, 1969), with Johner, Zarz and new crew member M'Reema defeating a space wizard (but left with a lifeless planet Earth, covered in ice).

  

Time Tunnel Comics

One would think that a series about time travel might take more time on the comic book racks, but the Time Tunnel only lasted for two issues back in the 1960s.  

But, they and the series they were based on deserve a little love here.

Irwin Allen's time travel epic, the Time Tunnel, airing from September 9, 1966 to April 7, 1967 (with 30 episodes), featuring the bold adventure of the United States experiments in time, with a secret base in 1968 Arizona, where with scientists Tony Newman and Doug Phillips being lost in time, transitioning from era to era, all under the watchful eyes of the Project Tic-Toc base of Lt. General Heywood Kirk, Dr. Raymond Swain and Dr. Ann McGregor.

As this was going on, Gold Key released two comic books based on the series, both with multiple stories per issue, featuring Tony and Doug having more adventures, with painted covers by George Wilson, and interior stories by Paul S. Newman and art by Tom Gill.

Time Tunnel #1 (February, 1967)

The first issue, with three stories, have Tony and Doug trying to prevent Lincoln's assassination in "The Assassins", "The Lion Or The Volcano?" which find the duo dealing with the Vesuvius eruption in Pompeii, and "Mars Countdown", wherein the scientists are trapped on a rocket headed for Mars.

All stories that echo episodes of the series, but that are slightly different....still, a pretty impressive cover, even if the logo was a little generic!

Time Tunnel #2 (July, 1967)

The second issue, featuring two stories, expands the plot a little, as Tony and Doug end up in the future, dealing with time traveler there who were planning to go back in time to help the Nazis win World War II by interfering with D-Day (though they didn't meet Sgt. Rock or Fury), and then, in "The Captives", they end up in between a battle between General Custer and the Indians.

A little more for Tony and Doug to do, but, sadly, the comic, not unlike the TV series that inspired it, was doomed to too short a season, with readers still wondering if Tony and Doug got home.

Both of these stories were collected in the Hermes Press tradepaperback in 2009 (where they got the TV logo on it), along with articles about the series in general, and the pin ups of stars James Darren and Robert Colbert (Tony and Doug).

Star Trek 56th Anniversary

On September 8th, 1966, fans were treated to the first episode of Star Trek.

Now, 56 years later, time to celebrate that science fiction classic, with a look at comic covers from Star Trek's long history in comics, with one being a little sadder than the rest.

Gold Key was the first to publish Star Trek, and IDW is the current license holder, and here are the covers of their 56 issues of their respective series....with art by an unidentified artist (October, 1978) and Tony Shasteen (April 2016).

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DC had two concurrent series running with Star Trek, one on the original series and one based on The Next Generation, with covers by Rod Whigham and Carlos Garzon and by Deryl Skelton (both issues cover dated January, 1994)

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But, the sad part of this anniversary, is this, the 56th (and last issue) of DC's original run of Star Trek comics, with cover art by Jerome Moore (November, 1988....and read more on the history of Star Trek comics here).  

But, not unlike Spock, Star Trek would return to comics, including the Next Generation and beyond!

Twilight Zone Time

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour tonight, as Daylight Saving Time begins again, putting us in a battle with time, just like this classic painted cover of Twilight Zone #70 (May, 1976).

Star Trek 55th Anniversary

Celebrating 55 years of Star Trek, as its first episode aired on September 8, 1966.

Here, with a painted cover (and a sLight error), Spock and Scotty faced off in the Gold Key Star Trek 55th issue from September, 1978, while an older Spock was the feature for the IDW Star Trek 55th issue from March, 2016.

DC had 2 Star Trek series, the first with Kirk, Spock and McCoy beaming down from the Enterprise-A in the 55th issue from October, 1988, the second, with Sulu and Kirk fighting Klingons disguised as Klingons from December, 1993.

More info on Spock here, some special Star Trek issues here, Next Generation and Deep Space Nine here, and on all the Star Trek comics from a 50th Anniversary article here!

Happy Easter Bugs Bunny

For being a rascally rabbit, Bugs Bunny doesn't really partake in Easter covers, or at least he didn't do too many at his time as a solo artist at Gold Key from 1962 to 1983.

Here's one, from Bugs Bunny #117 (May, 1968), and look here for more Bugs Bunny's comic history.

Happy Easter!

Remembering James Doohan With Scotty Star Trek Covers

Remembering James Doohan (March 3, 1920 - July 20, 2005), most famous for his portrayal of Montgomery Scott, chief engineer of the USS Enterprise of the original Star Trek.

True, he didn't get the number of covers of Kirk or Spock, but he did make many of the group covers, as well as the movie covers.

Too busy studying technical manuals on shore leave to pose for covers!  It's how he keeps his reputation for being a miracle worker.

Merry Christmas From Mighty Samson

A Merry Christmas from a post apocalyptic future N'Yark, as the half blind Mighty Samson fights for his life on a reindeer float, versus a menace on a Santa Claus float (and a mutant bat), on this Gold Key classic from Mighty Samson #30 (December, 1975) cover by George Wilson, and story by Arnold Drake and Jack Abel!

Happy 80th Anniversary Bugs Bunny

Happy 80th Anniversary to Bugs Bunny!


While in more recent years, he's appeared with some of his "super friends" as a part of the greater Warner Brothers universe....Bugs Bunny has had quite the history!

While Bugs had appeared a few times with Porky Pig starting in 1938 as Happy Rabbit, the first feature starring Bugs Bunny (as such) was in Tex Avery's "A Wild Hare" that came out on July 27, 1940, with Bugs voiced by Mel Blanc, facing off against one of his most persistent foes.....Elmer Fudd!

Bugs Bunny had his first foray into comics back in the 1940s, as one of many features in Dell's Four Color Comics, where he continued well into the 1950s, when he got his own series starting with issue #28 in December-January 1952/1953 (starting there because he had 27 Four Color issues!).

Gold Key/Whitman kept the Bugs Bunny title running from the 1960s to the 1980s, running issues #86 (October, 1962) to the title's end in 1983 with #245.


Still, this wasn't the end for that rascally rabbit!

DC started some Bugs Bunny tales with a 3 issue series starting in June, 1990, continuing on with specials, one-shots and Looney Toons comics.....

....and the party will likely be going on well into the future!







 

Remembering Fred "Curly" Neal

Remembering Fred "Curly" Neal (May 19, 1942 - March 26, 2020), who was one of the flashiest members of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball exhibition team for 22 years from 1963 to 1985.

From April, 1972 to January, 1975, Gold Key had 12 issues featuring the adventures of Hanna Barbera's Harlem Globetrotters....


...based on the animated series featuring the team.

Gold Key Happy Days

Back in the 1970s, one of the most popular TV shows of the time was Happy Days, a light comedy set in the Milwaukee of 1950s, detailing how Richie Cunningham grew up with his friends like Potsie, Chachi, Ralph and the Fonz, and family including his mom, dad and sister Joanie, all the while hanging out at the local burger joint, Arnold's.

Best of all...Gold Key gave readers six issues of Happy Days comics to enjoy!  Here's a quick look at those books!

Happy Days 1

Starting with the cover date of March, 1979,  the first issue of Happy Days premiered, with a photo cover with Richie, Marion, Joanne and Howard Cunningham surrounding the Fonz, giving his usual thumbs up approval of the new book!

Inside, there are four stories, including "The Winner" where Fonz wins the lottery (a whole $100,000) but finds money buys problems; "Over The Hill", with the Fonz helping Marion out with Howard's problem of turning fifty; "Star Light, Star Bright" with Richie dealing with actress Dora Lake coming to speak to the school drama department and deal with her own drama; and "Dream Girl", with Joanie being crowned prom queen, but attracting a make-out artist, which Richie and Fonzie must protect her from.

Art on the interior of the issue for all these stories is by Bill Williams, but no writer credits are to be found.

Happy Days 2

Happy Days #2 (May, 1979) has the Fonz on the phone, with Richie and the rest of the Cunninghams.

This time, the three stories are "The Great Fonzarelli", with the Fonz performing a magic act to raise money for a charity (maybe he should have saved some of his winnings from the last issue....); "An Offer You Can't Refuse", with bikers trying to extort money from Al Delvecchio, the owner of Arnold's, with Fonzie and his friends running interference to stop them; and "Masquerade", where Howard and Marion work on a costume for the upcoming Elk's masquerade ball (which they win, getting all expenses paid vacation to Detroit!).

No records of artists or writers were available. 

Happy Days 3

Next up is Happy Days #3 (July, 1979) with another photo cover, but this time including Chachi, Potsie, the Fonz, Richie and Ralph Malph.

This time around the three stories are "Male Fraud" with Chachi starting a chain letter scheme, promising dates with the Fonz for every girl that passes the letter along (and he getting the overflow); "Framed!" with the Fonz being set up for another man's theft and having to prove his innocence; and "Matinee Idol" with Ralph trying to impress a girl, thinking he looks like Humphrey Bogart.


Art on these three stories is by Bill Williams, but no writer is identified.

Happy Days 4

Happy Days #4 (September, 1979) has a photo cover with the Fonz, Potsie, Ralph Malph, and the whole Cunningham gang!


The three stories here are "Marooned", with the gang going to enjoy a Caribbean cruise aboard the Humphrey's yacht, but a hurricane messes up their plans; "Love Is Better Than Ever", with Howard dealing with an old flame of Marion's who meets the Cunningham's for dinner; and "Dreamboat" with Richie being voted the dreamboat of the campus (and all the trouble that ensues from that).


No artist nor writer credits are to be found for this issue.

Happy Days 5

In a bit of a surprise move, the cover to Happy Days #5 (November, 1979) is a drawn cover by Art Saaf, with Fonzie, Richie, Potsie and Ralph dealing with the trouble caused by a Crystal Ball.


The three stories here are "Give A Guy A Break!", with the Fonz helping out an ex-convict friend of his with Howard getting him a job at the hardware store; "King Of The Deejays", with Chachi getting a job with the local deejay, but soon getting a swelled head from the experience; and "Roots?" with the Fonz talking to a fortune teller trying to connect with his late Granduncle.


No interior art/writer information available.

Happy Days 6

For the last issue of the series, Happy Days #6 (February, 1980), back to photo covers, this time with the Fonz and Richie.

This time around, only two longer stories, with "The Beggar", when the Fonz and the Cunninghams are kind to an old man, but unbeknownst to them, he is really a billionaire who then secretly leaves them gifts to show appreciation for their kindness; and "A Question Of Muscles", where Richie, after being outshined by a local muscle man, decides to start building himself up, at least until the Fonz intervenes.


No info is available on the writers or artists of this issue.

Something a little different with this article, as ye writer/editor meets Henry "The Fonz" Winkler this weekend at the Motor City Comic Con, hoping you can give this indulgence your thumbs up! 

Aaaaay!

Happy Winnie The Pooh Day

Oh, bother.  Something a little different and lighthearted today, celebrating the work of English author A. A. Milne (January 18, 1882 to January 31, 1956), covering Winnie The Pooh!

Alan Alexander Milne wrote stories in the 1920s about his son's (Christopher Robin Milne) teddy bear (Winnie The Pooh), and other of his stuffed animals, such as Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo (and added characters of the Owl and the Rabbit).

Though A. A. Milne had passed long before, Gold Key/Whitman published 33 issues of a comic book based on those works under the title of Walt Disney's Winnie The Pooh from January, 1977 to July, 1984, with the bear and his friends having adventures (including looking for honey) through the Hundred Acre Wood.

Covering Star Trek's Captain Kirk

Captain James T. Kirk had a long history.....and quite a bit of it was covered in comic books!

Here's a look back at the various looks (and comic book incarnations) of James T. Kirk over the decades, celebrating the long life of William Shatner...


....one of the best covers is the cover for Star Trek Annual #2 (1991) by Jerome K. Moore, for an issue that focused on Kirk's time at Starfleet Academy (but also showed his evolution over the decades).


Let's cover a few more....

Gold Key

Gold Key had the license from the time of the original series, and it lasted for 61 issues, from October, 1967 to March, 1979, with a couple of Captain Kirk covers like #33 (September, 1975) by George Wilson, and #38 (July, 1976) also painted by George Wilson.

Marvel 1

Marvel was next to have the Star Trek series, based on Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and since it only lasted for 18 issues from April, 1980 to February, 1982, it didn't have as much time to cover then Admiral James T. Kirk, with covers here from #4 (July, 1980) by Dave Cockrum and Klaus Janson and #14 (June, 1981) by Ed Hannigan and James Sherman.

DC 1

DC Comics got the Enterprise crew next, with their first series running for 56 issues from February, 1984 to November, 1988; it had many covers with Admiral Kirk, including #6 (July, 1984) by Tom Sutton and Sal Amendola, and #54 (September, 1988) by Jerome K. Moore and Keith Wilson.

DC 2

DC ran a second series based on the original Star Trek characters, running from October, 1989 to February, 1996, with stories of Kirk from all over his career, including #10 (July, 1980) by Mark Bright and Keith Wilson, and #73 (July, 1995) by Jason Palmer, for what ended up being Star Trek's longest running series, lasting 80 issues from October, 1989 to February, 1996, by which time the original Star Trek cast had moved on from Star Trek, leaving the movies and television shows to new generations....

Marvel 2

That didn't stop addition adventures with the original crew from happening....Marvel had multiple Star Trek series during the 1990s under the Paramount Comics imprint, and Kirk was featured in more than a few of the issues, such as Star Trek: Early Voyages #14 (March, 1998) and Star Trek Unlimited #8 (March, 1998), but sadly, neither issue credits their cover artists. 

IDW

The Star Trek characters have ended up at IDW Publishing, with Captain Kirk being the feature of many covers and stories, including Star Trek: Year Four Enterprise Experiment #3 (June, 2008) cover by the Sharp Brothers...


....and even Star Trek #59 and #60 (covers by Tony Shasteen in 2016), where William Shatner's Kirk met Chris Pine's....

....proving Captain Kirk will indeed live long and prosper (more of Captain Kirk's individual history is in Who's Who In Star Trek #1 from 1987; and a story co-written by William Shatner in 1995 called Star Trek: the Ashes Of Eden with cover by Nicholas Jainschigg) and for more Star Trek covers, for one's featuring Spock, and more here for Star Trek's 50th Anniversary).