Pre-code comics 001

Quick bit of history here. In 1954 the comic industry created a ratings/self censorship board. The comic code authority. This was done cause of all the bad press the industry had got over the past few years. Which lead to a Senate investigation.

Like how the Hayes Code changed the way movies were made,the CCA changed the entire comic industry.I had heard for years how graphic and wild the pre-code comics were. And in the early 90s started collecting reprints of pre-code comics. With the pre-code horror and crime comics being the ones I spent the most time searching out.

Fast forward to 2007. I was listening to an episode of the sadly defunct Golden Age of Comics podcast. The host,the ever knowledgeable Bill Jourdain,mentioned how the comic he was reviewing was in the public domain. And not only that but there is a website full of public domain comic book scans. So I quickly went to the site. Now that site has changed hands. And a sister site has popped up.

This site is The Digital Comic Museum. Where all you have to do is register. Which is easy to do and free,then you get access to a huge amount of public domain comics.

Once you download the comics,you will need a comic reader program. There are many free ones. I have been using Cdisplay for close to a decade now and it works great.

So with that bit of history explained onto the first of what hopefully will be many reviews of great public domain pre-code comics.

Yellowjacket Comics #1 is from September 1944. Published by Charlton comics,who most modern comic fans will know as the original home of Captain Atom and The Question. This comic was like most comics of it's era. An anthology title made up of stories of many genres.

The  reason I selected this comic is for a 7 page horror story. Famous Tales of Terror,which is a fairly faithful adaptation of the Edgar Allen Poe short story "The Black Cat".

While the story isn't as graphic or brutal as some other pre-code horror,it  is still a really fun read. That has some very nice art. Being a Poe fan since I first read "Murders in the Rue Morgue" back when I was 7 or so,I love seeing a comic book version of what is one of Poe's best stories.

Yellowjacket Comics #1 also has other stories in it. Like the titular superhero Yellowjacket.Where Yellowjacket fights gangsters. Back in the Golden Age lots of heroes mostly fought gangsters. There wasn't that many recurring super villains back in this era. Unless you are reading stuff from DC or maybe Fawcett.

Then there is Diana the Huntress. Where the Greek Goddess is sent to Earth to fight Nazis. Now one word of warning. With lots of these Golden Age comics that came out during WWII,there is plenty of racial stereotyping. So don't be shocked when you see "Evil" Japanese villains that have yellow skin and slanted eyes and buck teeth.

Up next is a short text only piece. Back during this time-frame every comic would have a 1 or 2 page text only story. These were done so comic books would fall under the old "book rate" mailing label. That way the publisher could save money on shipping out his wares.

The next story is the Black Cat adaptation. Then there is a one page titled "Debunker" Which tries to teach the readers that a few pieces of commonly accepted knowledge are not true. Sadly on this page we get a very racist drawing of a black man.

Then there is "King of the Beasts" Which is a 6 page story about a lion tamer. The art is kind of crap. And the story is bland. But part of that might be I am so accustomed to modern comic book art and storytelling techniques.

"Harbor Lights" is next on deck.Again this one has sub par artwork and the story,which tells of a merchant marine fighting off a u-boat full of Nazis,isn't that appealing.But I bet when this came out the kids that made up most of the audience ate it up.

"Bee Lines" is a one page humor comic. Made up of 8 one panel gag strips. Humor is a thing that doesn't always translate to later generations. And none of the 8 strips made me even chuckle.

"Filipino Kid" is a war story. And while it does have some nice looking art,once again the writing just doesn't grab me. And it is also the final story in the comic.

But there is one last thing I have to mention. Anytime I get any comic made before the mid 90s,the first thing I do is sit down and look at all the ads. And Yellowjacket Comics #1 has a great ad on the back cover. One that I remember seeing a slightly updated version of in the comics I was reading back in the late 70s.

Yep a blackhead remover gun. Never seen one of them in person.But seen ads for them for years in older comics.

Yellowjacket Comics #1 is a decent comics. You get 3 good to great stories,Yellowjacket,Diana and Black Cat. If you are interested in reading it here is a link to download it.

Yellowjacket Comic #1 download Right click and save as

Capsule book reviews 001

Been doing lots of reading the past 4 weeks. Normally I will read for 20 or so minutes each night as I wait for my sleep meds to kick in.

Island by Richard Laymon

In Diberville MS there is this huge antique mall. And the back fourth of it is a used bookstore. Where it is normally 7 books for 5 bucks. Sometime 2 years ago I went in and grabbed this book and 6 others. Now I have read a bunch of Richard Laymon books before this one. And kept hearing how this is one of his best books. It is about a guy who is in college. His girlfriend invites him along on a family vacation. Where they are cruising the ocean. Through a series of what seems to be accidents they all get trapped on a small island. But quickly find out they are not alone on the island.

The book is told from the main guy's point of view. In that he is keeping a diary each day of what happens.This is a interesting way to convey the store.

As with every Laymon book I have read before,this one feels like a fun 80s era B-horror film. And as always it is full of lots of sleaze.If you are a fan of horror fiction and want something to read that isn't Stephen King or Clive Barker try out this book.Since Leisure fiction is pretty much out of business I have no clue who is currently publishing Laymon's stuff. But it shouldn't be hard to find a used copy.

Night in the Lonesome October by Richard Laymon

Now I had never heard of this novel. But with it being from Laymon I took a chance. Ed has just gotten a "Dear John" letter from his girlfriend. Wanting some time alone and to think,he goes off late at night to walk to a nearby bakery. And he learns that this small sleepy college town turns weird at night.

This is one of the most other there Laymon novels I have read so far. You got cannibalistic bums,crazy rapist stalkers and a young woman that loves to sneak into people's homes late at night.

I started reading this one night,planning on reading for 20 minutes then crashing out. Ended up reading almost half the novel that night. Night in the Lonesome October is one of the best novels from Richard Laymon that I have read so far. One warning,if you are the type of reader that wants everything explained and neatly wrapped up by the end,well skip this book. Richard leaves lots of stuff for you to figure out. Which is fine with me.

Berserk by Tim Lebbon

I had never heard of Mr Lebbon. But needed 3 more books to get the 7 novels for $5 deal. Saw this was from the Leisure Horror line. The description on the back sounded interesting. Plus I love the cover.

Set in the UK,this is the tale of a father. Who lost his son 10 years ago in a military accident. He finds out that what he was told was the cause of his son's death isn't true. And goes to investigate it. Where he learns about a secret military weapon nicknamed Bersekers. And we get a book that is one long chase.A very well written chase.

Looking through my collection of unread books I have another book that is 4 of Mr Lebbon's novellas. So I will check that out soon.

Fireworks by James A Moore

Another author I had never heard of. But it was published by Leisure Horror. And the blurb on the back sounded really good. I went into the novel expecting a horror novel about a UFO landing in a small Georgia fan. Figuring it would have touches of science fiction. What I got was a military intrigue novel.

On the 4th of July in this tiny ass hick town a UFO crashes in a lake. The US government is quickly sent in. They seal off the town. And thing escalate from there. This story really reminds me of an average episode of X-files. And has a couple of neat twists. Where there is 3 main chapters in the novel. With each chapter focusing on one person.I did enjoy the novel and from the little research I have done,it seems that Mr Moore has written some straight up horror novels.

The Walking Dead:The Road to Woodbury by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga

I love Walking Dead.Both the comic book,and no it isn't a graphic novel, and the tv show. I heard about the first novel in this series,which is the back story of the man that became the Governor. I found that one for $5 and took a chance on it. Fucking loved the book and couldn't wait for this novel.

Well I had forgotten about it. Was in town and looking at the new books. Found this novel for $6. Started reading it a few days later,honestly while it isn't a bad novel,it isn't that good either. Where as the first novel focused on the Governor,this one is about a group of 5 survivors in Georgia.I get that this novel was suppose to show fans of the comic,which is the world this novel seems to be set in, and the tv show more backstory on how Woodbury came to be. But that info could have been told in 3 chapters and the rest of the novel could have been more about the Governor and Woodbury. Hell until over halfway through the book we don't see the Governor or head about Woodbury. So unless you are a die hard fan of the Walking Dead,either get this used or check it out from the library.