Vengence Squad #5, coverdate March 1976

Vengence Squad in "Case #0005: Death Is Driving" by Joe Gill and PAM
Michael Mauser Private Eye in "The Frame" by Nicola Cuti and Joe Staton

Very nice sparse, high-contrast art by Pete "PAM" Morisi, even if it is a bit static. Like most Joe Gill work I've read, the story is just functional, nothing out of the ordinary. Cuti & Staton's Michael Mauser series was awesome though, and this story is no exception. The wrong feature got the lead in this series, IMO.

I've got a couple of issues of "E-Man" with Michael Mauser back-up stories.

Those must be from the First Comics run. I've never read those. I gotta get 'em someday.

Bit of a Toth vibe on the first page...

IAWTP.

Haunted Love #1, coverdate April 1973

This is a gothic horror romance series. I guess DC and Marvel tried these out too, but they never really took off. Charlton's lasted 11 issues though, which is quite long for a Charlton series (neither Blue Beetle or E-Man lasted that long). They seem to be somewhat hard to find though, and I've only got three of 'em.

This book has two stories:
#1: "Eternal Teacher" by Nicola Cuti and Joe Staton. Not my favorite Staton art job, but a darn good tragic love story by Cuti, who I think is my favorite Charlton writer.
#2: "A Kiss To Save Him From The Grave!" by Tom Sutton. You can never go wrong with a Tom Sutton Charlton horror story. His art is wild, eccentric and he knows how to tell a horror story. Next to Wrightson, he may be the best horror comics artist of the 70s (I put him just a bare notch above Gene Colan).

I wish someone would reprint a bunch of the 60's/70's Charlton horror material. Aside from the Ditko reprint book, there's nothing available is there?

Never read "Haunted Love", but I do recall seeing a copy in that pile of comics at the old public library in my home town. Guess they were ahead of their time in a way. Just imagine (if you dare) how it would be if romance comics were still around and they had caught onto the vampire romance craze!

This thread has the song "Tainted Love" stuck in my head.

If only those sword-weilding horsemen knew that they were galloping into the field of fire of their own side's strafing aircraft.... Or maybe the pilots represent a third party trying to wipe out everybody else?

And this is all probably happening in an eight-page story, too!

Not exactly Superman and Batman, were they?

I think looking thru my 10 year old eyes, they'd be pretty exciting.

I'll never understand that toilet bowl helmet design on Peacemaker.

I'm totally going to order that issue of Thunderbolt with the femme fatale on the cover.

In case of accidents...

Why is Thunderbolt feeling under his armpit? Is he trying to determine whether he needs an antipersperent?

Blue Beetle #5, coverdate November, 1968

I believe Linda has mentioned that this is her all-time favorite (superhero?) comic. Anyway, that's why I picked it. There are two stories, both scripted by "D.C. Glanzman", who was a pseudonym for someone (Denny O'Neil, perhaps?). Plot and art are by the legendary Steve Ditko, one of the greatest comic artists of all time.

Blue Beetle in "Faces The Destroyer Of Heroes"
The Question in an untitled story.









This book also contains this awesome house ad:

TMK, you are just full of the wisecracks on this thread!

Judge, glad those 10 year old eyes are still working right! Er...you don't mean some Other 10 year old's eyes, do ya?

Good Thread idea, Trevor! Lots of room for variety...this is what I thought of doing with "Kirby Returns!" as I have incomplete Eternals and Machine Man collections (but I'm offering a deal even now, though then it will be "Steve Ditko's Machine Man" yah?)

Blue Beetle drew me in here. Just a jazzy lil' character!

You have those Machine Man comics, I'll bet.

Do you like them?
(Do you want to review them, LOL?)

Ms. Linda, is this really your fave? Can you put your finger on what makes it work for you?

LOVE that cover.