TOR vs. TOR

TOR #1
July 2008
Written and Illustrated by: Joe Kubert
A Six-Issue Miniseries

Tor is a prehistoric man, he's the curious type and full of wonder as created by writer and artist Joe Kubert, and has long been in the comic book realm.

This run of TOR came out in 2008 and having had some old TOR from the 70's I had to pick it up. I've dug out this first issue and one from the the 1975 run, issue #3, to see how things have or haven't changed.

In this first issue; "Tor: A Prehistoric Odyssey" our hero, a strong silent type of the past, has been outcast from his tribe and is left to wandering and surviving on his own.


Tor goes off on his quest, aiming to explore what is off in the horizon, a place that his elders avoided. Kubert narrates each step of Tor's journey sharing his survival instinct through the uncertainty that lies ahead in this bright and fresh colored world. Filled with curiosity Tor is and ready to meet his fate finding moments of paradise...



and moments of danger...


Tor is ultimately a hero type, though he takes care of himself first, he is not the kind to let others suffer if he can be of some help and that was part of his drive in the earlier series as well.

This issue of TOR was a bi-monthly series from DC.
Vol. 1 No. 3 Oct 1975
By Joe Kubert

Kubert created Tor back in the 50's and I learned he was one of the first characters in a 3D comic book. As the Tor series continued off and on this issue from the 70's was very Tarzan-esque. The prehistoric times were very jungle heavy and Tor even has his primate pal, Chee Chee.

It is understandable that Kubert leaned a bit towards Tarzan themes as he was in charge of Edgar Rice Burroughs properties at DC and also drew for those books in the 70's after-all.



Tor is an entertaining read and a fun adventure from a 1,000,000 years ago. I must say that I found the art of the earlier Tor more exciting. There's a darker color tone with a lot of action going on and they really filled out the panels or I'm probably just nostalgic for that old comic book look.



Now I'm leaning towards digging out some of my Tarzan books, will that be next weeks? Hmmm...

COMIC BOOKS KICK ASS!

Weird Suspense: The Tarantula

WEIRD SUSPENSE Featuring THE TARANTULA
Three Issue series from 1975 - Atlas Comics
25 Cents

Issue #1 - Curse of the Tarantula
Character Created and Scripted by: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Pat Boyette

Issue #2 - The Revenge of the Spider Witch!
Script: Michael Fleisher
Artist: Pat Boyette

Issue #3 - Mind Over Matter = Murder
Scripter: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Pat Boyette

“...a weird blood gorging creature of the supernatural...”

Hi there! Are you looking for weird suspense? Do you want to be frightened? Well look no further comic book readers; the Tarantula is here to deliver the goods! Strange things are afoot and we’re being warned from the start of issue one to look away – “…those who become easily frightened are cautioned NOT to read this magazine!”

In this world of weird the Tarantula is Eugene Lycosa, a cursed descendant of Count Lycosa who burned the High Priestess of the Tarantula Cult ages ago at a small European Village.



The curse of the Tarantula means all males of the Lycosa lineage are doomed to transforms into a spider creature that has a terrible blood lust, which must be appeased. In this modern day of 1975 Count Eugene Lycosa lives in his countryside mansion as the 11th Count suffering the affliction.

The Count has kept himself isolated for fear of devouring innocent men and women. Of course one fateful night three escaped convicts find his home and get caught in the Tarantula’s mighty web. It is then that the Count decides he must use his curse for some “practical” means while also quenching his blood thirsty desires, he will prey on evil men. (That’s very Dexter-esque, wouldn’t you say?)

The first issue gives the full origin of the Lycosa clan and the troubles continues on through issue two!



While the Count is in the city feeding on some cop killers the one hoodlum who got away has become entranced and resurrects The Spider Witch! Yes, the Priestess is back and out for vengeance, though momentarily weakened by Astral Disintegration.



After killing the Count’s servant Joseph she works on rounding up a few new tarantula henchmen.



Check out the Priestess out on the prowl…and the men are totally into her too!



Once the Priestess gets the Count in her web it’s time for a showdown! The Count and Priestess have a tussle at the edge of a cave while in spider mode and our hero the Tarantula wins! Even with the witch killed again the curse still continues and the Count is determined to use the Tarantula to prey on “evil wherever it may flourish!”



In issue three there’s a change in tone with a new writer onboard. The origin is again quickly recounted, a new villain is introduced and we get to see the Count at his day job as an Investment Counselor where he has a secretary, Natalie, and they both have secret crushes on each other.



The bad guy is Abdul Rashad, a “brilliant but desperate young Arab student” who has powers over inanimate objects, which he brings to life to do his bidding. Abdul’s big plan is to steal his father’s money and use his powers to rule the world. (Sounds simple enough, right?)




I must say I was sad that the battle depicted on the cover, with the Tarantula fighting a stone gargoyle, never happens! (The covers of this series depict some of the best action bits in my opinion.) Though before it was all done the Tarantula does fight a four-armed snake statue, and plays some mind games with the young man before sucking him dry.





As mentioned there was a change in tone and it was mostly with Eugene Lycosa, here he’s even more tortured and distraught. He has his new servant tie him up at night so he doesn’t go on a killing spree munching on innocent blood. When the Count finally transforms to the Tarantula the creature has motives of his own, more of a Jekyll and Hyde thing that wasn’t around in issue one.

Overall this series dished out some dark attitude and drama, lots of action, and then gushed out a lot of bloody gore talk. The Tarantula really had some potential to spin a lot of web but his run was short lived.



There were a ton of fun ads throughout each comic book with offers for a High School Diploma, and Bodybuilder bodies. I especially liked the film collectibles, model kits and van customizing. Lastly one more highlight was the advertisement for the book Very Special People featuring the likes of “The Caterpillar Man”. It was only $6.95 and postage for 60 cents!



Now evil men beware the Tarantula! While the Count was pretty happy at the end of the book, the curse was not gone and that spider blood lust must be fed! So, watch out for giant webs in dark alleys. Yup!



Comic Books Kick Ass!

SUPERNATURAL: Beginning's End

Since the TV series SUPERNATURAL first started I've been hooked. Following the adventures of Sam and Dean Winchester as they hunt ghosts, fight demons and save people from evil I've laughed, cried and been seriously creeped out. SUPERNATURAL is now in it's fifth season and I'm still on the edge of my seat to see what happens next as the Apocalypse is now in motion.



The SUPERNATURAL series has spun off in comic books, the first mini series was SUPERNATURAL: ORIGINS, a 6 issue story arc focusing on Daddy John Winchester and how he got started in his quest to find the demon that killed his wife while raising his boys.



It was a good set and solid story. I honestly can't get enough of this show and always want more bits and pieces. I was happy when I heard another series of comic books were coming out.

SUPERNATURAL - Beginning's End - 6 issue mini series
Issue #1 - March 2010
Writers: Andres Dabb & Daniel Loflin
Art - Diego Almos (Cover Art too)

In Beginning's End we are told of the events that lead to where Season one began, a time when Sam and Dean are all grown up and at their dad's side though Sam is rebelling wishing for a normal life and college.

The book is very much in tone of the series, it's really nice to get more of Sam and Dean with their dad though the relationship is volatile. They have a real dysfunctional family unit, and it's the family ties that are the core of the show.

In Beginning John, Dean and Sam are close to getting new information on the demon killer while meeting up with a team of Hunters in New York City. These hunters don't to have the same outlook as the Winchesters and use extreme force taking out creatures, even harmless ones just because they're monsters. Supernatural does offer a good sense of humanity and moral dilemmas which adds to it's fine storytelling.



I really do like this art style, though it's not the exact likeness of Sam and Dean a.k.a Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles respectively. The art has captured the overall grimy, shadowed atmosphere of the show and it's all pretty slick.



Now this is just the first issue, the intros have been made and the family dynamic is set up and the action has already started up nice with some monster fights. I'm quite anxious to see how the rest of the story plays out. Thanks to being a regular weekly/monthly comic buyer I have some patience but it's not always easy.

This Thursday, Feb. 4th is SUPERNATURAL TV night and I'm excited for the show. Let the Sam and Dean adventure continue! Yup!

COMIC BOOKS KICK ASS!