Blog

Comic Crusader 16: 1974
Publisher/editor: Martin L. Greim

Buddy of Joe Sinnott, unabashed swiper, and all around nice guy, Marty Greim returns with another incredibly well put together themed issue of the long running Comic Crusader! We saw the 17th issue covered in the last installment, so since we are going back in time anyway, we go even further back in this installment with issue 16.

This issue revolves around three main topics; the charming Charlton series, E-Man, science fiction mainstay Magus Robot Fighter, and Kirby’s New Gods series for DC. As you can see above, co-creator and artist, Joe Staton, plays an active part in this issue (both in doing art and participating in an interview alongside co-creator, Nicola Cuti). The two interview are accompanied by art not only by Staton, but, as seen to the right, fandom biggies like Carl Taylor!

Next up is an article on Magnus, Robot Fighter, as well as an interview with Russ Manning himself.

It is a lengthy piece, with tons of elaborating illustrations by people like Manning himself, Griem, Alan Huthinson, and even early Wendy Pini! A Manning checklist follows the article. One interesting side note is that Manning, a fabled Tarzan artist, when given permission to create/write the character, considered him a “Tarzan of the future!”

Not padding the issue with junk, Marty jumps right into the very extensive New Gods article, complete with illustrations by Dennis Fujitake, Greim, Tom Armstrong, Al Bradford, Carl Taylor, Don Newton, Joe Sinnott, and…Jack Kirby!

The third interview is with the irrepressible Marie Severin…what a blast it would have been to have known her! There are several illustrations by Marie (from various published projects), as well as Greim and Clyde Caldwell. Marie is at turns serious, studied, expansive and just darn funny. I really miss her Not Brand Ecch stuff!

Following the interviews is a strip entitled Dead Planet by seasoned pro, Frank McLaughlin. A beautiful and clean strip visually reminiscent of Al Williamson and Manning himself…check out a few pages below.

The issue ends with the letters page and a Stephen Hickman backcover, but first, a few spare pieces of artwork to fry yer eyeballs!

That brings this installment to a close, and I hope you liked it (you can prove it, bucko, by commenting)! Tune in next month for who knows what? Again, thanks to Manny Maris for providing this and many other zines for me scan for the column!

Ken Meyer Jr.
kenmeyerjr@yahoo.com