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Impulse: February 1972
Editors/publishers: Clifford Letovsky, Pierre Fornier

After last month’s mammoth entry I thought we might all need something a little different, so, thanks to Pat Hilger providing the scans, we are treated to the only issue of Impulse. Above you see a cover by Bill Pearson (I assume the same Bill Pearson associated with Squa Tront, though I could be wrong), who also provides a few spot illustrations. To be honest, I don’t know if that is a clown of some sort or the Frankenstein monster getting ready for a date, but is visceral and I like it!

There isn’t much in the way of explanation…of anything really, in this zine, aside from the opening editorial. Editor Letovsky explains he intended a balance of text and art but it just did not materialize. He mentions a few people that helped him, some art he intended to get but wasn’t able to, as well as a few other things, but…no credits of any kind, so we are left a bit in the dark here and there. No themes, not much in the way of design either. There are several pages where spot illustrations appear to just be dropped in with no planning (other than a few pages featuring solo contributors). For example, if you had an illustration by sf great, Vincent DiFate (seen above), wouldn’t you credit it in some fashion? I certainly would…for now, what I can do is give you his website here! I emailed him to see if he had a better image of this, but I will be surprised to hear back. Moving on!

It is really quite a shame there isn’t more mention of the various people involved here, because the list is really really impressive! I mean, for Crom’s sake, above you see a King Kull illustration by Wally Wood and Dan Adkins! And you have not one, but two illustrations by Joe Sinnott (one seen below)! Oy!

I mentioned earlier there are a few pages of spot illustrations thrown together somewhat randomly…one pair of pages has some grotesque heads by Pearson (I think), and some small figure studies by Roy Krenkel and Doug Wildey…no signatures, no apparent specific placement. There are a batch of Submariner sketches (Wildey?) and some warrior sketches that appear to be Krenkel. Again, though, wouldn’t you trumpet these names to some degree? Ken Steacy figures largely in this zine with many spots and a single page strip…obviously very early in his career, but darn interesting regardless. This being a Canadian fanzine, many contributors (like Steacy) herald from up north. You can see a link to his website here, which focuses on other creators as well as Steacy. You can see his database entry, which shows you the mammoth amount of comic work he has done. Myself, I remember very well his gorgeous Sacred and Profane series.

Above is another incredibly clean job by the great Dan Adkins. Below is one of a couple of nicely rendered pieces by Dave Ludwig, this one being Rosa Klebb, from the James Bond film.

Below I will sprinkle some more assorted work for your eyes to dwell on, featuring John Cornell, Stephen Fabian, and Bill Stillwell.

Within this plethora of pictorials is even a Howard Chaykin piece seen below (unsigned). I had to ask Howard himself (on Facebook) if he did it (he did reply in his usual self depreciating manner, god love him).

Why not end on a whimsical and happy note with the always dependable Alan “Jim” Hanley? Below you see another example of why he was so beloved.

OK, that about does it! Considering the somewhat slapdash manner in which this zine was seemingly put together, maybe it is no accident it is called Impulse! You should definitely get the pdf from my site, because what you did not see here was work by Jim Pinkoski, Bill Elder, Kenneth Smith, Gray Morrow, John G. Fantucchio, Pierre Fornier, as well as more work by many of the artists seen above (especially Steacy).

Thanks again to Pat Hilger for the scans and I hope to see you next month for more fanzine madness! Leave comments, you stingy bums!

Ken Meyer Jr.
kenmeyerjr@yahoo.com