The Origin of the NEW FRANKENSTEIN part 1

   At some point in the late '60s, someone at Dell Comics thought it would be a good idea to take classic monsters and turn them into superheroes.  Unless they were prescient enough to realize that, nearly 50 years later, there would be a World Wide Web, on which snarky bloggers would relish in ripping their work to shreds, it was not a good idea.  Published in 1966 by Dell, written by Don Segall and drawn by Tommy Tallarico, we bring you the COLLECTOR'S ISSUE of  FRANKENSTEIN #2.

   This was not Dell's first dance with Frankenstein.  Two years before, in 1964, they published FRANKENSTEIN #1, a more traditional take on the monster.

That book ended with the monster presumably meeting his fate at the bottom of the ocean after practically sinking an ocean liner by himself in a fit of rage.  It's safe to assume, then, that issue 2 has little or nothing to do with issue 1.  Good work, Dell!

   Our story opens on a dark and stormy night at Frankenstein's castle.  As it tends to do in stories like this, a bolt of lighting zooms down from the sky and unerringly strikes a lone figure lying on a slab.  After the smoke clears, the hulking figure rises and asks, "Where am I?  Who am I?"

   The book, being a hundred years old, crumbles in his hands before it can tell him anything.  Searching through the castle alone, fragments of memories come back to him, piece by piece.  Upon finding the laboratory he says: "This place...I do remember! This place is the doctor's laboratory...the place where I was....where I was born!"
 

What lab would be complete without rubber masks just lying around?

     After naming himself Frank Stone (clever boy), he ventures out of the castle to see what the world holds for him.  It is then that he immediately runs into his first adventure.  He witnesses a car crash, and despite being asleep for a hundred years, he instinctively knows someone is in that car and might need help.  The old man he rescues sees through Frank's brilliant disguise...

 
     The old man is Henry Knickerbocker, the richest man in the world.  His fortune was made by his father, who was colleagues with Frank's creator.  Through that connection, Knickerbocker swears to keep Frank's secret...and make him the sole beneficiary of his will.

     We should all be so lucky as to sleep for a hundred years, wake up, save a millionaire and have him pledge his fortune to you and then die!  And this is all in the first 10 pages!  Stay tuned, dear readers, it's about to get...stupid. 

Hide Your Games, Grownups! Captain Aurora is Coming!

 

Yeah, he actually just kinda sounds like a dick. 

R.I.P Carmine Infantino 1925-2013

Carmine Infantino was a true comic book legend, bringing us the Silver Age Flash and the "new look" Batman, among other things. His importance to the industry cannot be overlooked.

So Real He Almost Seems Alive!

The G.I. Joes of my day were much smaller than this guy here. I don't ever remember my little 4 inch figures ever "seeming alive." Maybe it was a size thing, maybe it was an articulation thing...maybe it was that little rubber band in the crotch that snapped twenty minutes after you got your new figure home (I'm looking at you, Quick Kick!), but I now feel gypped that my figures were never promised to look real.

Down With Whitey (Ford)

         Does anybody call themselves "Whitey" anymore?

Jimmy So Silly #3: The Unbeatable Jimmy Olsen part 3

This will take you to Part 1, whereas this little puppy will take you to Part 2.  Got it?  Good!


     After getting his ass kicked by nearly everyone he met who wasn't Superman, Jimmy storms back to the Professor's, demanding to know what's up.  The Prof defends the serum, proclaiming it to be "the most terrific of all my discoveries!"


     The next day, at the Daily Planet, business runs as usual until Jimmy sees Superman fly in through the window.  While no one is looking, Jimmy takes a huge gulp of the serum and runs up to Superman.

     After flying back to the Professor's to spy on him and damage his property, Jimmy and Superman are amazed at what they see...

     In short, the Professor is a lunatic.  Realizing the serum was worthless, and desperate not to disappoint Jimmy, the Professor pretends to be Superman so that Jimmy can defeat him.  Every time Jimmy beat up Superman, it was actually the Professor in disguise, who was able to imitate the Man of Steel well enough to not only fool an arena full of fans, but Superman's best friend as well!  Perhaps the Professor should give up this whole science business and move out to Hollywood, where he would revolutionize the make-up and special effects of cinema.  Ah, well...

     As part of Superman's plan, Jimmy goes to complain to the Professor yet again about the serum.  Before the senile scientist can away and change into his amazing disguise, Superman shows up, flying through an open window.  Superman begs for another chance to test his strength against Jimmy.  The Professor looks on in amazement and confusion as the pair in front of him begin to wrestle!
     "Maybe I'll beat you this time," screams Superman, advancing slowly on Jimmy.
     "You won't succeed because Professor Potter's wonderful serum has made stronger than you!"

      Feigning weakness against Jimmy, Superman begs the Professor for some of the serum...

     Superman's ruse was a success, and the status quo was restored.  Just in time, too, as we were at the end of the comic book.  Funny how that worked out.

     What kind of crazy shit will that Olsen boy get into next time? 
    

The Continuing Adventures of the Dubble Bubble Kids

     Gettin' into adventures, chewin' gum...yes, it's a Dubble Bubble Kid's life for me!