hough traditional SF has never been a particularly profitable part of the
comic book industry, over the years publishers have occasionally attracted
readers with titles that focused upon either thoughtful speculative
scenarios or eccentric space operas. This was especially true during the Golden Age of comics, in the 1940s and 1950s, when for only a dime per issue
fans could follow the exploits of numerous heavenly heroes and otherworldly
warriors.
Thrilling Science Fiction reprints some of that era's most
intriguing illustrated adventures. The first two volumes of this ongoing
series present tales culled primarily from the long-running Planet
Comics, which showcased stories starring characters like Mysta of
the Moon, Gale Allen and the Girl Squadron, Auro - Lord of Jupiter and Mars -
God of War. Sundry selections featuring these individuals are included here,
along with a few narratives from lesser-known periodicals such as Captain
Science and Buster Brown Comics.
Both Thrilling Science Fiction books begin with editorials
outlining the origin of each strip and the credentials of the artists. Many
of the drawings spotlight early efforts by renowned illustrators like Reed
Crandall, Wallace Wood, Joe Orlando and Steve Ditko, although a number of
other cartoonists are also represented. All of the internal artwork is
printed in black-and-white, and each volume sports a full-cover color.
Long-forgotten wonders
When discussing classic comic books, most experts generally cite titles
such as Weird Science, Weird Fantasy and Incredible Science
Fiction as benchmarks for illustrated speculative storytelling. While the
accolades bestowed upon these famous publications are certainly well
deserved, the Thrilling Science Fiction anthologies introduce
contemporary comic fans to long-forgotten SF selections that appeared in
other, frequently unheard-of periodicals.
The writing on most of the works is generally unsophisticated and
formulaic, but the artwork is usually competent and compelling. Readers
can clearly observe the dexterity of draftsmen such as Bernie Krigstein,
George Evans and Graham Ingels, all of whom either ultimately went on to or
simultaneously worked at industry powerhouse EC Comics. It's also interesting
to survey the surprisingly abundant tales featuring buxom yet bold women as
main characters, who through daring, skill and spectacular sex appeal
inevitably manage to defeat evil aliens and interplanetary overlords.
The overall presentation is adequate, though a table of contents and page
numbers would have been a welcome addition. It would also have been beneficial
had the works been printed in color on higher quality paper. However, both
volumes still retain a requisite sense of wonder, ensuring that individuals
who choose to investigate these old-fashioned adventures will truly
experience Thrilling Science Fiction.
