This is the last issue of the V comic I’ll be reviewing. I initially only planned on reviewing the first issue, which I did in February of 2009. I’ve mentioned before that I’m a big fan of the V franchise, which is why I’ve spent so much time reviewing and writing about its various tie-ins. But I think I’ve gone to that well a few too many times in the past year. At the end of the previous issue, Dr. Earl Meagan has contacted Diana, leader of the Visitors, with the offer of a peace conference. She accepts. As this issue opens, Lydia and Charles are questioning why Diana agreed to meet with Dr. Meagan. They think she is going to far; it is suggested that the two will soon be plotting her overthrow.

Juliet Parrish, for her part, can’t understand why Dr. Meagan is going through with his peace conference and begs him to reconsider, telling him it’s suicide. He dismisses her objections by telling her she’s becoming short-sighted, just like Mike Donovan. Juliet, now aware of Dr. Meagan’s other plan to destroy Diana if she doesn’t agree to peaceful coexistence with humanity, hurries to war Donovan, who realizes that the Visitors would blame the Resistance for Diana’s death and likely retaliate with brutality.

It turns out that Dr. Meagan believes he is to blame for the invasion of the Visitors. A decade earlier a probe was sent out into space with a peace message. It was Dr. Meagan’s idea. There’s no way of knowing whether the Visitors were drawn to Earth by the message but that hasn’t stopped Dr. Meagan from feeling incredible guilt. So, he has a micro-bomb implanted in the base of his neck. It’s a small nuclear device that could destroy a Visitor mother ship.

Mike and Willy make plans to sneak aboard Diana’s ship and somehow stop Dr. Meagan. They have no way of knowing that Diana has already detained Dr. Meagan, forcing him to activate his micro-bomb. The countdown begins.

V #5 Front Cover – Copyright DC Comics Inc.

Ham Tyler and Chris Farber, meanwhile, are with Nathan Bates and Elizabeth, who Bates believes can lead him to his missing son, Kyle. But Elizabeth can only babble. One word she keeps repeating is “lakka,” which refers to Camp Lakka, a Visitor prison camp used for experimentation on humans. Ham and Chris kidnap Bates and bring him to Camp Lakka, hoping to somehow free Kyle and the other humans. They’re shocked — and disgusted — to discover that the Visitors have found a way to force-feed humans until they grow to an immense size. All the better to feed the hungry Visitors forces.

The letters column in this issue, “V-Mail,” features a paragraph explaining how changes in the television series will be reflected in the comic:

By now major changes have happened on the TV series; changes we only learned about shortly before Christmas. Some characters have died, others have moved away from the storyline. In two months we will devote a special issue to sorting out how our comic ties in with the series. There will be a passage of time, but everything will make sense in the end–we promise. And to those of you who worry that the comic might go away if the series is cancelled, we plan to be here for a long, long time.

The television series was soon canned and the comic wasn’t around for “a long, long time,” although it outlived the series by about a year. I wrote about how the comic series ended back in March.

Related posts:

1. Bookshelf: V #4
2. Bookshelf: V #3
3. Bookshelf: V #1

I’m reviewing the final three issues of Marvel’s Man from Atlantis comic book at the same time for two reasons. First, they make up a three-part adventure, so reviewing them together makes sense. Second, I don’t think anyone wants to read three more individual reviews. When I reviewed the very first issue back in July of 2009 I wasn’t planning on reviewing the other six issues. But one thing led to another and over the next year I reviewed the second, third and fourth issues as well. In the future, if I ever review an entire comic series again, I’ll try to do it in one review.

As I mentioned, the three issues are chapters in a three-part story. Issue #5, “A Modern Master of the World,” begins with a sudden attack on Sea Base (operated by the Foundation for Oceanic Research). After ensuring that Dr. Elizabeth Merrill is safe Mark heads out into the open water to investigate. He makes his way to the surface and is stunned to find a massive aircraft dropping bombs on Sea Base. Navy planes are making a futile attempt to drive off the attacker, which eventually leaves after dropping a canister.

Man from Atlantis #5 Front Cover – Copyright 1978 Marvel Comics Group

The canister holds a video tape which reveals that Lars Skorba is behind the attack (Mark has fought him before in the comic). He threatens to wreak havoc up and down the California coastline if Mark doesn’t agree to help him with a mysterious task. The Navy wants to wait to see if Skorba will attack again. He soon does, heading directly for Sea Base. Mark is forced to surrender to Skorba rather than see Dr. Merrill killed. Later, aboard Skorba’s aircraft, he attempts to escape, only to discover that the aircraft is surrounded by dinosaurs!

In issue #6, “Latitude: Ninety!,” the dinosaurs are said to exist in a “smoldering volcano” in “the midst of the frozen polar wastes.” Mark is sent out to explore a series of tunnels below the volcano’s lake. He discovers a deserted city, filled with statues covered in strange hieroglyphics. For some reason he wonders if he could have come from this city. Before he can explore further, he is attacked by a woman and two dogs. As Mark tries to keep from hurting anyone, he uncovers a chamber filled with treasure, which is obviously what Skorba is after, and learns that the woman’s dogs can talk!

Meanwhile, aboard the Ceteacean, someone activates the outer airlock. Who can it be but Mark? But it’s not. It’s a mysterious, laughing figure. Unlike issue #5, this issue included a letters column (Out of the Depths) in which the cancellation of Man from Atlantis is discussed. No mention is made of the comic book ending, however. On the contrary, it seems that Marvel plans to continue publishing the series.

Man from Atlantis #6 Front Cover – Copyright 1978 Marvel Comics Group

Issue #7, “Mad Dogs and Dinosaurs,” begins with Mark and Plaxy (the woman who attacked him in the previous issue) making their way to the top of the volcano. Plaxy’s talking dogs are named Cassiopeia and Sirius. They were given the gift of speech by Plaxy’s father, who developed special speech collars. Plaxy’s parents work at a research station at the North Pole (her older sister stayed behind in England). Shortly before they were to leave, a Tyrannosaurus Rex suddenly appears.

As research center personnel try to fight off the dinosaur, it falls over and lands on the center itself, killing everyone but Plaxy and the dogs. They’ve been living inside the volcano ever since. Skorba, somehow, learned of the volcano and its treasure. Plaxy plans on driving off Skorba and his men, however, and unleashes a barrage of spears followed by a dinosaur charge. As Skorba makes his getaway, he tosses one of his hench-woman into the path of the dinosaurs. Mark leaps off the back of a dinosaur to try to save her and is nearly killed by Skorba.

Plaxy and her dogs are able to subdue Skorba, however, and the hench-woman is revealed to be Plaxy’s sister, who has been searching for the volcano for years. She eventually partnered with Skorba because only his aircraft could get to the volcano. Mark, after seeing the sisters reunited, leaves to investigate the deserted city, wondering again if it was his city. But he has no way of knowing and eventually heads back to the Ceteacean. Once on board, he hears laughter coming from the bridge.

Man from Atlantis #7 Front Cover – Copyright 1978 Marvel Comics Group

When he makes his way to the bridge, Mark finds the Dr. Merrill and the others playing with blocks and other toys as a mysterious man with pointed ears and a long nose, wearing a court jester’s outfit, sits and laughs. If there had been another issue, the identity of this man — who called himself Merry — certainly would have been revealed. But there were no more issues of Man from Atlantis from Marvel Comics. Here’s what Bill Mantlo, who wrote the comics, had to say:

By now you know, if you read MAN FROM ATLANTIS #3, that this issue is Marvel’s last to deal with the adventures of Mark Harris. We here at the Bullpen regret the decision to cancel as much as we’re sure you do. It was a decision that was forced on us by circumstances, not sales, and we’re still hoping that the success of the comic itself will be proven by an upsurge of letters from all of you concerned Atlantis-fans out there.

It’s a funny thing, the demise of a book. Many of us put in quite a lot of time, energy and love to its creation. We borrowed the original stimulus from the TV show, to be sure, but we also invested much of our own concern in the mag…and we think it showed.

MFA may be gone–then again it may not. Your mail can still change that, and so can sales figures which we’ve yet to receive on even MFA #1! Mark Harris may be gone from Marveldom, but undersea adventures are in the works on another great mag even as we write this…what do we call it?…eulogy. Be that as it may, there’s still one thing that remains to be done, and that’s to thank all the people who helped bring you MAN FROM ATLANTIS for the few short months of its existence. There are too many names to list them all, but we can certainly spare space to express our appreciation to Fearless Frank Robbins and Fun-loving Frank Springer. Then there’s Janice Cohen, ARchie Goodwin, Jim Shooter, Ralph Macchio. Last but not least we have to say a word of thanks to Mary Jo Duffy, who cared so much that it hurt.

And we have to express our heartfelt gratitude to you, True Believers, who stuck with us, who wrote in, who plunked down your 35c to show us that we were doing good! Thanks, people! Thanks a million!

Notice the mention of issue #3 in the first sentence. I couldn’t find any mention of Man from Atlantis ending or being canceled in that issue so I’m not sure what Bill Mantlo was referring to. I don’t know why the decision was made to end the series, although I assume it had something to do with the demise of the television show. Given that the final page of issue #7 introduced a new character, some work must have been done on issue #8. Was the story completed? Were pages drawn, inked and colored? As far as I know, Marvel never published another story featuring Mark Harris.

Related posts:

1. Bookshelf: Man from Atlantis #3
2. Bookshelf: Man from Atlantis #2
3. Bookshelf: Man from Atlantis #1

08:00AM – The New Adventures of Casper the Friendly Ghost
08:30AM – The Smokey Bear Show (New)
09:00AM – The Cattanooga Cats (new)
10:00AM – Hot Wheels (New)
10:30AM – The Hardy Boys (New)
11:00AM – Sky Hawks (New)
11:30AM – The Adventures of Gulliver
12:00PM – Fantastic Voyage
12:30PM – American Bandstand

A two-page advertisement for Super Saturday on ABC line-up, from Gold Key’s Walt Disney Mickey Mouse (issue #123, to be exact), included all of the above with the exception of American Bandstand which, to be fair, did not fit well with the rest of the animated fare. The issue had a cover date of November 1969 but likely came out in August. Click on the image for a larger version:

Advertisement for the Fall 1969 ABC Saturday Morning Line-up
Copyright © Western Publishing Company, Inc., 1969 [1]

And here’s an advertisement for ABC’s Super Saturday Club, which cost just fifty cents. The membership kit included an official membership card, a newsletter, coupons, a button, decals and stick-ons, a poster, a stamp album and more. Click on the image for a larger version:

Advertisement for ABC’s Super Saturday Club
Copyright © Western Publishing Company, Inc., 1969 [2]

Was anyone reading this a member of the ABC Super Saturday Club? Do you still have your official membership card?

Image Credits:

Related posts:

1. November 1969 Gold Key Comics Club News
2. Man from U.N.C.L.E. Spy Pen Advertisement, Circa 1966
3. CBS Saturday Morning Advertisement, Circa 1966

Gold Key Comics Club News
Copyright © Western Publishing Company, Inc., 1969 [1]

Notice how many television tie-ins are included: comics based on Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, the animated Fantastic Voyage and Thriller (Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery was originally called Thriller but was retitled after the show was canceled). Gold Key’s comic book adaptation of Fantastic Voyage (a spin-off of the 1967 film, it ran on ABC during the 1968-1969 and 1969-1970 seasons on Saturday morning) only lasted two issues, the second of which is advertised here.

Image Credits:

Related posts:

1. ABC Saturday Morning Advertisement, Circa 1969
2. Bookshelf: TV Tie-In Comics Reprinted
3. Bookshelf: Star Trek #10 (Gold Key)

At the end of issue #3, Mike Donovan, Juliet Parrish and other members of the resistance had convinced a small town to stop working with the Visitors. Meanwhile, Ham Tyler and Chris Farber are forcing a Visitor mercenary named Lorne to bring them to Nathan Bates. As issue #4 opens, Ham and Chris are playing dead and Lorne is transporting their “bodies” to Nathan. The moment they’re inside, Ham and Chris strike. Lorne is soon dead and Ham has a gun to Nathan’s head. Meanwhile, an astronomer named Earl Meagan is on television debating a scientist/professor by the name of Myron Grasimov. Mike and Julie are tuned in.

Dr. Meagan, who looks quite a bit like Carl Sagan, believes that there might be altruistic alien species somewhere in the universe who may one day visit Earth. Dr. Grasimov, on the other hand, is convinced that only an evil alien race would go to all the trouble of coming to our planet. After the debate, Dr. Grasimov is approached in the hallway by a man who turns out to be a Visitor. He disintegrates Dr. Grasimov with the shake of a hand and then reports back to his superiors.

V #4 Front Cover – Copyright DC Comics Inc.

Nathan convince Ham and Chris not to kill him by telling them that the Visitors captured Elizabeth, the Star Child, and his son Kyle. Thankfully, Elizabeth and Kyle soon escaped but they’re now hiding out in a forest and the Visitors are likely on their way. Nathan wants Ham and Chris to find them. The two ride into the forest in a jeep sporting a flamethrower. They’re soon are able to find Elizabeth, unconscious and surrounded by an energy field, but Kyle is nowhere to be found. Elizabeth later wakes up at Nathan’s office and reveals that Kyle is in terrible trouble.

Mike and Julie take a Visitor shuttle to the middle of the desert to pick up Dr. Meagan, who becomes one of a very small number of people given access to the inner circle of the Resistance. Although Julie and Dr. Meagan get along famously, Mike is certain there is something wrong. The fact that he has reached out to Diana and asked for a peace summit only makes Mike worry more. Diana agreed and that can only mean a trap. But Dr. Meagan isn’t the mild-mannered astronomer he appears to be. He has a backup plan in case the peace summit doesn’t pan out, one that neither he nor Diana will survive.

The artwork here is par for the course. The characters are recognizable but not perfect. What’s notable about this issue is the inclusion of the first letters column, called V-Mail. Here’s a brief message that came before the letters:

The mail came in like a deluge in just the first few weeks. We’re going to keep relatively quiet both this issue and next as we let you comment on our first issue.

But first a word of caution. As the production of the weekly series has been progressing, changes are in the wind. New characters, new relationships and departures are all on the horizon. Please remember that we’re working several months ahead, so don’t be confused if things are a little out of synch between here and the television series. For example, many of you asked why we used Chris in the first issue while he had not been seen on the series. By no you know he is on the series, just not that often.

And now, for a very special first letter:

That first letter was from none other than Faye Grant, the actress who played Juliet Parrish. Here’s what she had to say:

Dear Bob,

I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with the first issue of DC’s V.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to send forthcoming issues to our writers–they might see some entirely new things!

I hope all is well with you. It was nice bumping into you and chatting for a second in September.

Best,
Faye Grant
Burbank, CA

The Bob in question is Robert Greenberger, then associate editor of DC Comics Inc., who was the one answering the questions, two of which asked why the Visitors in the comic still had a slight reverberation in their voices, as seen in both V: The Miniseries and V: The Final Battle, when the television series had ignored that distinctive feature. Greenberger explained that while budgetary constraints meant the television series had to do away with the voices, “we’re continuing it with Blatt-Singer’s [producer of V: The Series] blessing.”

Related posts:

1. Bookshelf: V #5
2. Bookshelf: V #2
3. Bookshelf: V #1

Although the cover screams “All New!,” this issue is actually adapted from the third made-for-TV movie (Killer Spores, broadcast by NBC on May 17th, 1977) that led to the short-lived weekly series. This is mentioned on the first page in a small bubble in the bottom left-hand corner: “Freely Adapted In Our Might Marvel Manner From The NBC-TV Series!” As the issue opens, Mark Harris is deep below the surface, followed by the submarine Cetacean, heading towards the Gamma Sig Space Probe that is embedded in the ocean floor. He hears a terrible sound, one that no one else can hear.

We then flash back to the launch of the probe and the news that the probe was falling back to earth only hours after entering Earth orbit. Six ounces of something has attached itself to the probe! The Cetacean and its crew are quickly dispatched to recover the probe. Back in the present, Mark is shocked when dozens of shimmering, glowing discs suddenly emerge from the probe and penetrate his body and mind. He is flooded with memories of events and people and a time he doesn’t recognize. As he boards the Cetacean, he also sees into the minds of Dr. Elizabeth Merrill and Dr. Miller Simon; Dr. Merrill is giving him a kiss on the cheek while Dr. Simon is upset after deciding to leave the Foundation for Oceanic Research

Man from Atlantis #4 Front Cover – Copyright 1978 Marvel Comics Group

Mark soon makes his way to a laboratory, where he is able to show one of the spores to Dr. Merrill and Dr. Simon. He then uses something called the Alpha-Brainwave Projector to share his thoughts — and the thoughts of the spores — with the others. The spores have been separated from their apparently space-faring colony and want to return home. Sensing the hesitancy of the other doctors, the spores freak out and take complete control of Mark’s body, forcing him to rush from the Cetacean (which has returned to port) to a parking lot and steal a car. The only problem is that Mark can’t drive.

Before long, being away from water and in the hot desert sun has taken its toll on Mark. He can’t see very well, his skin is turning blue and he’s having trouble breathing. He soon crashes the car but, thankfully, Dr. Merrill and Dr. Simon show up in a helicopter and soon have him above the ocean. Revived, Mark convinces Dr. Merrill that the spores must be returned to their colony. Somehow, she convinces NASA to relaunch the Gamma Sig Space Probe. The spores leave Mark’s body and attach themselves to the probe, which is soon sent off into space. A happy Dr. Merrill gives Mark a kiss on the cheek, just like his vision. And then, Dr. Simon tells everyone he’s been reassigned and will be leaving the Foundation.

Once again, much of the issue is made up of advertisements. Of the 32 pages, 14 are advertisements or promotions for Marvel. One full-page ad is for the official Star Wars Fan Club; another is for a Secret Agent Spy Scope (only $3). The issue also features the first letters column for the comic (“Out of the Depths”) with four letters from fans of the television series and the comic. One mentions that the first issue of the comic had Dr. Merrill watching Mark through a window in the Cetacean while the television series involves an external monitor and view screen. Whoever answers the letters explains that the window was a better visual grab than an impersonal monitor screen.

Another letter addresses the artwork, complaining that the television Mark’s muscles are sleeker, his hair is brown (not black) and he swims like a dolphin without bubbles. The reply stated that the comments would be passed on to artist Frank Robbins but asks for patience because issue #6 is already being worked on. Of course, the series only ran for seven issues, so it seems unlikely that the artwork was ever influenced by letters from fans.

Related posts:

1. Bookshelf: Man from Atlantis #3
2. Bookshelf: Man from Atlantis #2
3. Bookshelf: Man from Atlantis #1

Although referred to as the third issue of Dell’s I Love Lucy comics, technically this was in fact the first issue of a standalone comic book based on the sitcom. The first two issues were actually part of Dell’s long-running Four Color series (#535, February 1954 and #559, May 1954) and were apparently popular enough for Dell to begin publishing I Love Lucy Comics, which would run for 35 issues, ending with the April-June 1962 edition. Thus, there are a total of 37 issues of I Love Lucy Comics, counting the two earlier Four Color issues.

I Love Lucy Comics #3 Front Cover – Copyright 1954 Dell Publishing Co., Inc.

As you can see from the scan my copy of this issue is in very rough shape. In addition to all the creases and tears someone decided to draw a mustache and beard on poor Lucy. Notice that someone wrote “Read by Erika” on Lucy’s hand in pen. The name Luinne is written in pen in the I of I Love Lucy. And on Lucy’s forehead what appears to be N718 or perhaps NW8 has been written in pencil.

The issue runs for 32 pages, although the final story is continued on the inner back cover (in black and white) and on the back cover (in color). The inner front cover features five black and white photographs of Lucy and Ricky as they drive home; Ricky accidentally drives into the ocean. The first story, called “The Letter,” runs for ten pages. In it, an exasperated Ricky writes a letter of resignation to a frustrating club owner. He doesn’t intend to mail the letter unless he can’t work things out with the man. Lucy, of course, accidentally puts the letter in the mail. She tries to get it out of the mailbox with a piece of wire, but is chased off by a kid who thinks she’s a thief.

Next, she walks into the mailman as he is emptying the mailbox, then helps him gather up the envelopes in the hopes that she can grab Ricky’s letter. Unfortunately, the mailman gets to it first. She then climbs into the back of the mailman’s car but gets locked in before she can find the letter. So, she hides in one of the bags of mail, is tossed down a mail chute and nearly falls three stories onto a conveyor belt for sorting the mail. Somehow, Lucy is actually able to spot the letter on the conveyor belt but it is snatched up by a mailman who decides to deliver it himself.

I Love Lucy Comics #3 Page – Copyright 1954 Dell Publishing Co., Inc.

Lucy follows the man to the club owner’s house and then tries to reach through the mail slot to recover the letter. A dog bites her hand so she climbs in the window and finally recover Ricky’s letter of resignation. At home, she puts it back on the desk where Ricky left it. Moments later she notices that it is gone. Ricky, finally fed up with the club owner, has mailed the letter on his own. Ay-ay-ay!

In the next story, “Behind the Scenes,” which runs 12 pages, Fred Mertz is hard at work in the basement, trying to track down the source of a loud wailing. He eventually discovers that Lucy is the source. She’s trying to sing but, as Fred and Ethel remind her, she can’t. Ricky suddenly calls to say he won’t be home for dinner because he has to rehearse a Spanish flamenco dancer. Lucy quickly comes up with a plan: she’ll dress up as a flamenco dancer and show Ricky that she’s just as good as any professional.

Ricky soon discovers that ruse but, after seeing Lucy cry and talking with Fred, decides to let her have a part in the show. Backstage. It will be up to Lucy to push a lever forward in order to revolve the stage for the grand finale. Regrettably, Lucy decides to practice and sends a quartet of Flying Frenchmen, well, flying. Ricky is also caught up in the revolving stage and eventually manages to pull the lever back, using his head! But because Lucy still wants to be in the show, Ricky finds another job for her: guarding the door to the stage, with strict instructions to keep out a certain redhead.

The third and final story, “Photo Finish,” runs for ten pages (plus the inner back cover and the back cover). Lucy has got her hands on a camera with an incredibly bright flash, which is so powerful it knocks Ricky off the couch. There’s a candid photo contest a the Snapshot Store and the first prize is a mink coat or $1,000. Ricky wants nothing to do with the contest but Lucy has other ideas. She has Ricky tighten a light bulb in order to get a picture of him on a ladder. She takes a picture, temporarily blinding Ricky, who falls to the floor. Lucy also takes a picture of that.

It turns out Ethel has also entered the contest, so she and Lucy decide to team up and split the $1,000 prize. While buying more film they overhear the winner of the last two contests bragging about his photographic skill (Lucy: “Listen to him! I’ll bet he loves to shave himself just so he has an excuse to look in the mirror!”). They decide to follow him and take the same pictures he does. They follow him up a building’s fire escape and then to a park. While trying to take a picture from under a bride, Lucy falls over the side, with Ethel right behind her.

I Love Lucy Comics #3 Back Cover – Copyright 1954 Dell Publishing Co., Inc.

Later, after they’ve developed the film and sent in their photograph, Ricky calls to tell Lucy that her photo won the contest. It sure did: a photo of Lucy and Ethel falling off the bridge, taken by the man who won the previous two contests, has won first prize.

The artwork in this issue is quite good. It is somewhat of a cartoony style, which I feel works well with the characters and the stories. Both Lucy and Ricky are instantly recognizable; Ethel and Fred are far more generic. I wonder if Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz gave Dell permission for their likenesses to be reproduced while Vivian Vance and William Frawley did not. Also, the comic contains at least two instances where Ricky yells out his famous “ay-ay-ay” in frustration.

Related posts:

1. Bookshelf: March of Comics #253 (Yogi Bear)
2. Bookshelf: March of Comics #254 (Lassie)
3. Bookshelf: Fury (Dell Four Color) #1333

The Nurses premiered on CBS in September of 1962. It was retitled The Doctors and the Nurses for its second season third and final season in the fall of 1964; the series ultimately ran for a total of 98 episodes. In April of 1963, Gold Key published three issues of a comic book based on the series. The third issue, with a publication date of October 1963 (meaning it likely came out in September of that year), is the one I’m reviewing here. The cover features photographs of actresses Zina Bethune and Shirl Conway, who played Gail Lucas and Liz Thorpe, respectively. My copy is in pretty bad shape; the cover comes all the way off, having separated entirely from the staples.

The issue runs 32 pages and includes two main stories based on The Nurses. The first, “Heroine in White,” opens with Dr. Murray racing up to the emergency entrance of Alden General Hospital, where he is met by Nurse Lucas. In the car is a man who was badly beaten in a mugging. Dr. Murray just happened to be driving down an unlit street when he came upon three men attacking a fourth. Driving straight up onto the sidewalk, Dr. Murray was able to scare off the men but not before getting a good look at them.

The Nurses #3 Front Cover – Copyright 1963 K.K. Publications, Inc.

Nurse Lucas arranges from a photographer to take Dr. Murray’s picture for the paper, against Dr. Murray’s wishes. As punishment, he tells Nurse Lucas the two will be having dinner the following day. The next morning the muggers, having seen Dr. Murray’s photograph in the paper, wait outside the hospital for him to leave. When he does, he has Nurse Lucas with him. The muggers force Dr. Murray’s car off the road and it tumbles down the side of a cliff. Nurse Lucas is thrown clear. Dr. Murray, unfortunately, isn’t so lucky. After pulling him free Nurse Lucas realizes he is hemorrhaging from a cut artery in his arm.

Despite her misgivings, and with only Dr. Murray’s surgical kit, Nurse Lucas is able to tie off the artery. She then identifies the muggers for the police. Back at the hospital, though, she blames herself for Dr. Murray’s injuries. Nurse Thorpe tells her to knock it off. And when Dr. Murray wakes up, he thanks her for saving him. Her conscience soothed, Nurse Lucas can finally get some rest.

The Nurses #3 Page – Copyright 1963 K.K. Publications, Inc.

In the second story, “All Scars Don’t Show,” Nurse Thorpe tries to help a young woman who continues to limp despite her leg having healed completely. Rehabilitation doesn’t seem to work yet x-rays reveal nothing at all wrong with the leg. Eventually, Nurse Thorpe realizes that the woman is afraid that scars on her face may never heal, meaning she will never be able to model again. The limp is a way to keep from having to leave the hospital. Nurse Thorpe brings in a photographer to retouch a photograph of the woman to prove that she can still have a career.

But the woman reacts violently to the idea of being photographed and is sedated. Nurse Thorpe sends Nurse Lucas to bring the photographer back. He takes pictures of the woman while she is asleep, retouches them and then presents them to her the following day. He offers to sell one if she’ll sign a release. Excited, the woman gets out of bed and walks to a desk to sign the papers. And she doesn’t limp. Thanks to Nurse Thorpe, the woman will leave the hospital healed physically and mentally.

In addition to these stories, the issue includes a five-page “Emergency Crew” back-up story and a one-page essay on early hospitals. The inner and outer covers feature black-and-white “Keys of Knowledge” stories. The artwork is very interesting, appearing at time to be rough sketches, although occasionally this makes the characters appear gaunt. In one particular panel, Nurses Thorpe and Lucas are depicted smiling, yet their lips are stretched disturbingly thin across their faces. At other times, however, the characters — particularly Nurse Thorpe and the young woman from the second story — are actually quite attractive.

Related posts:

1. Bookshelf: Wagon Train #4 (Comic)
2. Bookshelf: March of Comics #254 (Lassie)
3. Bookshelf: The Jetsons #3

As part of my Bookshelf feature I’ve reviewed a number of television tie-in comics from the 1960s, including The Man from U.N.C.L.E. #16, Bonanza #25, Secret Agent #2, Cain’s Hundred #2, The Twilight Zone #18 and Wagon Train #4. These are all comics I’ve purchased over the years, typically at the lowest price possible, meaning they aren’t always in the best condition. A few select television programs have seen their tie-in comics reprinted recently, often with bonus material. One company that has released several of these tie-in compilations is Hermes Press. I wrote about Hermes Press and its plans to reprint the tie-in comics based on Irwin Allen’s television shows way back in November of 2008. Since then, Hermes has reprinted comics based on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and The Time Tunnel, with Land of the Giants still to come.

The first release from Hermes Press was Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea: The Complete Series Volume 1, which was published on July 13th, 2009. The hardcover book reprinted the first eight issues of Gold Key’s comic series, which was originally published between 1964 and 1970, and included documentary material about the series. Next up was Time Tunnel: The Complete Series, published on October 15th, 2009. The paperback volume reprinted both issues of Gold Key’s comic series, originally published in 1967, along with documentary material, essays and blueprints. Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea: The Complete Series Volume 2 was released early last month on March 2nd, and according to press material contained issue #s 7-14. If the first volume reprinted the first eight issues then the second volume should have reprinted the remaining eight issues, but I can’t say for sure what the contents are.

Still to come from Hermes Press is Land Of The Giants The Complete Series, a hardcover volume reprinting all five issues of Gold Key’s comic series. It should come out on July 9th. Also coming out in July are Dark Shadows: The Complete Series Volume 1 and Dark Shadows: The Complete Series Volume 2, the first of five hardcover volumes that will eventually reprint all 35 issues of the Gold Key comic series, originally published between 1968 and 1976.

In May of 2009, Dark Horse Comics released Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery Archives Volume 1. Gold Key published two comic books based on Thriller between 1962 and 1963 and then renamed the series Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery in April of 1963 (it would run for 96 issues and was published until February of 1980). Both issues of Gold Key’s Thriller as well as the first two issues of Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery can be found in this first Dark Horse volume. Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery Archives Volume 2, published in February of this year, contains issues the next six issues of Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery.

Gold Key also published 61 comic books based on Star Trek between 1967 and 1979. Golden Press released the first 38 issues — skipping #29, #35, and #37, which were reprints — in four volumes known as The Enterprise Logs. In June of 2004, Checker Publishing Group began reprinting The Enterprise Logs as The Key Collection. According to Amazon.com, six volumes were released, the last of which was published in April of 2009. The Checker website suggests that Volume 6 was originally supposed to come out in October 2008 but won’t be published until May of this year. A seventh and final volume may or may not also be in the works. I’ve seen conflicting reports about whether these volumes include the Gold Key issues that were originally reprints. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know.

I’m not aware of any other recent television tie-in comics reprint compilations. If there are any others out there, please let me know. Personally, I’d love to see the five issues of Gold Key’s comic book based on The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. reprinted. Or maybe the two issues of Dell’s comic book based on The New People.

Related posts:

1. November 1969 Gold Key Comics Club News
2. Bookshelf: March of Comics #254 (Lassie)
3. Irwin Allen Comic Books To Be Reprinted

Outliving V: The Series, however, were a series a novels from Pinnacle Books and a comic book adaptation from DC Comics. Author A. C. Crispin wrote a roughly 400-page novelization of both V: The Miniseries and V: The Final Battle for Pinnacle, first published in April of 1984. The New York Times called it an “unusual multimedia event” given that it would hit shelves shortly before V: The Final Battle appeared on television [2]. Pinnacle had approached NBC during the summer of 1983 about novelizing V, explaining that “bookstores could provide a whole new showcase for television promotion” and ultimately ordered a first printing running an astounding 850,000 books [3]. The publisher hoped V: The Final Battle would draw attention to the novelization while NBC felt that the novelization would promote V: The Final Battle.

Both V: The Final Battle and the novelization were successful and Pinnacle commissioned additional original novels based on the franchise. Following Crispin’s novelization was V: East Coast Crisis, which retold the events of V: The Miniseries and V: The Final Battle from the point of view of New York City resistance fighters. Pinnacle editors gave authors “pretty much a free hand,” according to Tim Sullivan, who wrote the fifth novel, V: The Florida Project, but “you just can’t contradict what’s on TV — so it’s good they’ve shown us the first two scripts” [4]. The next novel, V: The Pursuit of Diana, followed the events of V: The Final Battle yet heavily contradicted the events of V: The Series, so apparently those initial scripts weren’t much help.

Additional novels were published, once a month, from December of 1984 through July of 1985. A final Pinnacle novel came out in September of 1985. Here’s a list of the Pinnacle novels, their authors and release dates:

Pinnacle Novels

In 1987, Tor Books acquired the license to publish novels based on the franchise. Between September of 1987 and May of 1988 the company published five additional novels, most of which were written by authors from the Pinnacle era. Here’s a list of those novels:

Tor Novels

DC Comics published 18 issues of a comic book adaptation between February of 1985 and July of 1986, written by Cary Bates and penciled, for the most part, by Carmine Infantino. Because comic books were typically dated two months after they were actually published, the first issue was likely available in December of 1984 and the final issue in May of 1986. That means only three or four issues were released while V: The Series was still on the air. I haven’t read all the issues but from what I can tell, even if the creative staff were trying to stay true to the television series, for whatever reason(s) the comic series takes quite a few liberties.

Here’s what I had to say about the continuity of the comic series in my review of the first issue:

The first question I had after reading this first issue was how it fit in the time line of V: The Series. My best guess is that it picks up the action shortly the first few episodes. Diana has returned to the mothership, Ham has threatened to kill Nathan and Los Angeles has become a free city. Judging from this issue alone there doesn’t appear to be any attempt to sync up the continuity of the television series with the comic book version. I assume it was written before the television series premiered.

The Visitors, for example, use some interesting technology in this issue that was never seen on screen. They have a hoverpad that can hold five armed troopers as well as jetpacks. And the Visitors still have a reverberation in their voices so Mike uses a “vocasimulator” to successfully impersonate a Visitor pilot.

The 16th issue of the comic series, published in March of 1986 (with a cover date of May 1986), more or less wrapped up the various story lines introduced during earlier issues. The final pages mirrored the opening minutes of the final episodes of V: The Series, with Mike Donovan, Julie Parrish and others trapped by a Visitor patrol only to listen in disbelief as the Visitors are recalled to the mother ship. According to the issue, it was the Visitor’s mysterious Leader who called the ceasefire. One unique storyline featured in the comic series was the introduction of Bron, the Leader’s son. When Bron is killed, the Leader decides to call an end to the conquest of Earth.

Of course, the last episode of V: The Series ended quite differently. In the fan mail (“V-Mail”) pages at the end of the issue, DC Comics editor Robert Greenberger — writing on November 3rd, 1985 — gave the following explanation

V is being cancelled with issue #18.

No doubt, you’re crying out, “Why?” Let me explain.

There have been a variety of factors that led us to cancel this series after a year and a half. First and foremost, the sales began slipping just about the time the TV series went off the air last March. We were tracking the figures carefully–despite the six-month delay in getting accurate numbers–and it was spiraling down enough to concern us all.

[...]

It was becoming increasingly difficult for Cary and me to retain our enthusiasm when we had this stone well in front of us. We each had ideas and plans for the LA Resistance and the crew aboard the LA Mothership. We were going to take the now-concluded story line featuring Bron and travel around the country visiting different cities. We were going to bring in Lydia’s brother, expand our coverage of the Fifth Column, and actually cause Kyle more grief than he has seen in recent months. [5]

The final two issues, with cover dates of June and July 1986, featured a flashback story focusing on the character of Elias Taylor.

In February of 2008, Tor Books released V: The Second Generation, a new novel written by Kenneth Johnson (who created V: The Miniseries) that was set some two decades after V: The Miniseries but ignored the events of V: The Final Battle and V: The Series. Then, in November of 2008, Tor published V: The Original Miniseries, which reprinted A.C. Crispin’s novelization of V: The Miniseries and featured a new connecting story by Johnson that would lead into V: The Second Generation.

Works Cited:

Related posts:

1. Bookshelf: V, The Pursuit of Diana
2. Bookshelf: Welcome Back, Kotter #7 (Comic)
3. Irwin Allen Comic Books To Be Reprinted