The Miserable Married Couple Named The Lockhorns!

Posted on February 2, 2025 by bloodlinematt

Welcome back to Rotten Ink. As you can see, breakfast is on the table, and the Rotten Funnies are open. Today I think we will be taking a look at The Lockhorns, a comic strip that I can remember in the paper when I was a kid in the Dayton Daily News Funnie Pages, and while not one of my favorite strips, it was one that I found entertaining from time to time. And who doesn’t enjoy a married couple’s antics of going back and fourth at each other due to them being at odds? With that let’s grab another cup of coffee, and let’s get ready to chat about The Lockhorns and their creator Bill Hoest for this flashback to the glory days of the Sunday Funnies.

Bill Hoest was born on February 7, 1926 in Newark, New Jersey, and in his early life he would join the Navy for two years before starting his art career for Norcross Greeting Cards as he would design greeting cards for them starting in 1948 until 1951 when he would try his hand at becoming a freelancer and would get cartoons published in Playboy and The Saturday Evening Post among a few others. He would then enter the comic strip world in 1960 with his first strip being “My Son John” for the Chicago Tribune, and it would last until 1962. He would join the comic strip “Penny” created by Harry Haenigsen and would end up taking up most of the strip after a 1965 accident left Haenigsen not able to draw, but the creator would make sure to supervise each and every strip. In 1967 he would be one of many cartoonist to be features on the “Think Small” promotional book given away by Volkswagen dealers that featured cartoons showcasing the car. In 1968 while still working on Penny, he would create his biggest comic strip “The Lockhorns” that started as a single panel and would become a full strip in 1972. In 1974 he would create the car themed strip “Bumper Snickers” for National Enquirer; he would also create “Agatha Crumm” a long running strip that would run from 1977 to 1996. In 1979 he was hired by Parade to be the cartoon editor, and he created “Laugh Parade” bring together many different comic strips. In 1987 he would co-create the comic strip “What A Guy!” with John Reiner and that strip would also run until 1996. During his time as a comic strip creator, he would win the Nation Cartoonist Society a total of three times years being 1976, 1977 and 1980. And he would also become the President of the National Cartoonist Society, a position he would hold up until his death. Bill Hoest would pass away on November 7, 1988 at the age of 62 of lymphoma. While Bill Hoest is gone, his legacy of comic strips and creativity lives on.

I will take a moment to introduce the characters of The Lockhorns here as some of you readers may not know who they are in these modern times, and you should get to know them before we get into the paperback novel review. Leroy Lockhorn is the husband who is balding, drinks lots, enjoys looking at the ladies, playing golf and has a very short temper and enjoys arguing with his wife. Loretta Lockhorn is the wife, and she is a terrible cook, a bad driver, is handy around the house and is annoyed about her husband who she thinks is lazy once home. But while they argue and fight with each other, it’s clear that they both really do love each other. Other side characters in The Lockhorns universe include Dr. Pullman, who is the couples marriage counselor, Arthur is the bartender at Leroy’s favorite bar and lastly we also have Loretta’s Mother who comes around for the holidays and is a pain in Leroy’s neck. Say what you will, but Leroy and Loretta Lockhorn are true icons of comic strips and have made Sunday Mornings a little more fun for paper readers over the years.

So now that we have talked about The Lockhorns and their creator, I think that it’s time we take a drink of our coffee and get to the review part of this update. I would like to thank Game Swap Kettering for having this paperback in stock and making this update possible. I want to remind you that I grade this book on a standard 1-4 star system and am looking for how well the comic stays to the source material, its entertainment value and its art and story. So let’s go visit The Lockhorns and see what this crazy married couple is up to.

The Lockhorns PB ***
Released In 1988 Cover Price $1.95 TOR # ? of ?

Much like all these comic strip paperback books, they feature one page jokes so it makes it very hard to cover for these reviews, so like always I will pick 10 of my favorite gags from this book and give you a taste of the style of humor used in The Lockhorns and again in no real order. # 1 Loretta is choking Leroy in the office of their marriage counselor who informs her to loosen her grip a little so at least her husband can apologize. # 2 Leroy is opening a gift from Loretta’s mom and it’s a noose, and Loretta informs him her mother sent him a necktie. # 3 The Lockhorns are walking past the local movie theater and the film showing is called “Mother In-Law” and Leroy tells his wife that he doesn’t like horror movies. # 4 Leroy returns home with a bottle of milk in one hand and his other arm around a beautiful young woman, and he informs his wife that she is the one who said to pick up the milk and anything else he liked. # 5 The Lockhorns have guests over for dinner and Leroy is in the kitchen with Loretta reminding her that she forgot to bring the steak knives out for the mash potatoes! # 6 The Lockhorns are at a movie and on the screen a man is down on one knee purposing to his lady and in the theater Leroy is standing up in anger screaming how the man is a fool! # 7 Leroy is flat on his back and looks dazed as a cup of coffee is on the table in front of him and his wife is asking if the coffee was to strong. # 8 A doctor enters a room at the hospital and Leroy is at the beside of a pretty woman, and the doctor is questioning why he is not at his wives beside. # 9 The Lockhorns are looking at a Man-Eating plant and Leroy is whispering to the salesman if it would also eat women? #10 Leroy is sick and is on the golf course telling a fellow golfer that he was to sick to go to work and to sick to be at home so this was the place for him while ill.

I really enjoyed this book, and it brought me back to my youth when I would read the Sunday Funnies and The Lockhorns was one of the comic strips that brought me entertainment while eating breakfast. The Lockhorns are a married couple who are clearly in love with one another, but almost seem to love to be at odds as well as they pick fights with each other and always seem to have a sarcastic comeback during arguments. That is the odd thing about this comic strip, it’s mostly about married life and yet it was popular with not only adults but also kids and that’s weird as how many kids did you know growing up that thought bills, day jobs and domestic fighting was funny? But while many of the topics are more geared toward married couples, it somehow just worked to bring laughs and chuckles from many readers as the couple are just good people who are dealing with real issues that a long time married couple could fac,e and this is why I think the older readers really could and do connect with these characters. This paperback does a good job of mixing up the style and punch lines of the humor up not to make it come off stale and that is why I find it to be a good solid read for fans who not only enjoy The Lockhorns but also who enjoy comic strips in general. The artwork by Bill Hoest is good stuff and really does have that classic style that one thinks of when comic strips come to mind. Over all this is a good paperback and is worth tracking down and reading if you are a fan. Also check out the artwork below to see they style and jokes used in this strip.

The Longhorns is a comic strip that is still going as of this update’s posting and remains a well loved strip that many readers look forward to every week. And like other comic strip paperback books I have covered, this was lots of fun to read and relive that classic youth feeling of reading these styles of strips every week. And what is also very cool about these comic strips like The Longhorns is they make for fun and quick updates that I have been enjoy writing and it seems you have enjoyed reading! But for now breakfast is over and its time to fold up the Rotten Funnies as it’s time for me to tell you want the next update is going to be as it will take us to Witch Mountain as we take a look at the comic adaptation of the Disney kid sci-fi semi horror film Escape To Witch Mountain! So until next time, read a comic of three, watch a film or two and as always support your local horror host! See you next update as we will watch the skies over that spooky old Witch Mountain.

Malibu Comics Ultraverse Memories: Sludge

Posted on June 3, 2024 by bloodlinematt

Rotten Ink is a place to talk comic books, and like I have stated before, Malibu Comics is a company that sadly went under way too quickly and was bought out by a company that had zero clue about what to do with the characters they now owned. One of the characters that I was a fan of was the creature known as Sludge, who, thanks to toxic chemicals, was created to stop crime as well as be misunderstood by those who came in contact with him. And because he is a creature, a monster if you will, he is perfect to cover for one of our Ultraverse update as he is big and scary and is one of the Ultraverse characters that I have been looking forward to covering since I started these updates covering Malibu Comics. So if you are ready, let’s head to the dark and spooky swears and try to stay clear of Sludge!

Frank Hoag is a cop who was dirty and was on the take of a crime boss named John Paul Marcello, but he finds himself a target of a hit when he refuses to kill another dirty cop that is on his boss’ payroll. Frank is killed by being shot several times and then blown up with a bomb, but something happened to Frank. As the bomb exploded, it also hit some nearby chemical drums that came in contact with Frank and cause him to become an oozing creature when his contaminated body is tossed near sewage. Now as this creature known as Sludge, he has many powers including being strong, able to shrug off many attacks and poisons, does not need air to break, can grow back his own limbs and even has a deadly touch that melts human skin. Sludge is a superhero, but also walks that line as his grotesque appearance and messed up speech seems to scare people that he is trying to save. It’s clear that Sludge was Malibu Comics’ version of Incredible Hulk and Man-Thing and was one of the first characters that drew me into the Ultraverse.

So we all know that Marvel Comics became the parent company of Malibu when they bought them back in 1994. Over the following years after the purchase, they phased out the Malibu Ultraverse heroes, and as of this posting many decades have passed and these characters seem to be in limbo as none of them have seen the light of day in comics as well as other media projects. Now if I worked for Marvel Comics as a writer this is what I would have done with Sludge: first I would have him be hiding and lurking in the sewers of New York and after scaring some homeless people that are seeking shelter from a bitter cold night they alert the police who do not listen to their tale of a creature in the sewer but a person that does listen is Bruce Banner and this leads to him thinking that The Glob is back and as The Hulk he looks into this and we get an epic clash between The Hulk and Sludge as the two do not communicate and The Hulk thinks Sludge is a new look for his old foe! After the two work out this misunderstanding, I would keep Sludge in The Hulk universe but would also have him cameo in other Marvel titles set in New York like Spider-Man, Daredevil, The Avengers and Fantastic Four as you know as well as I do, comic readers would love to see him battle The Thing. And while in The Hulk universe, Sludge would be a friend and help him fight against the likes of The Abomination, Rhino, Absorbing Man and The Leader to name a few, but I would also do a mini series that would have Sludge finding himself in Florida and testing his death touch against the burning touch of Man-Thing! It’s a shame that Marvel Comics is not using Sludge as he could have been a very interesting character in the Marvel Universe and could have all types of possibilities in both comics and in film and could have stayed a good guy or even turned into a villain to be a thorn in the side of any hero he faced. Shame on you, Marvel Comics and Disney for allowing these character to fade away with time.

Sadly Sludge did not get the same treatment when it came to merchandise as besides the comic series, he got very few other items. Trading cards, promo posters and POGS are all I can really think of. He never even made it to the Galoob Ultraverse toy series as his figure was rumored but cancelled before release, but some really cool fan figures have been made of Sludge as well as a few other forms of items. It’s crazy that Sludge never did get his fair share of that merchandise bubble as his monstrous look was made for toys.

When Malibu Comics started their Ultraverse line many of the heroes caught my attention with one of them of course being Sludge as at this time monster hero comics were some of my favorite things to read when it came to superhero titles as new issues of Incredible Hulk, Toxic Avenger and even somewhat Pitt were comics you could find in my hands sitting around the house. When I saw Sludge what came to mind was that Malibu was mixing Swamp Thing, Man-Thing and The Hulk together to make a superhero that blends in a touch of horror, and that is why I knew I had to read this comic series. Sadly growing up where I did, it was hard to find indie comics and Malibu comics were not stocked at the grocery stores that I would have to get most of my currant comics from. But when I finally was able to discover the Ultraverse, I truly became a fan of many of their characters, and Sludge was one of those as the monster characters in comics always caught my attention. And after reading the Sludge issues for the first time I really enjoyed them as I felt they were a great mix of the 90’s style superhero comics that was going at the time of their release, and yet they also had that 70’s feel of classic horror comics that were being released by DC and Marvel at that time like Swamp Thing, Tomb Of Dracula and Man-Thing. And from that moment on I was a fan of Sludge. And over the years when I found myself buying back all the Malibu Comics I used to have, Sludge was at the top of the list of ones I must get back and cover on Rotten Ink, and now here we find ourselves at that update that is long overdue. Really I did poor Sludge wrong as he was slated to be the first “Malibu Comics Ultraverse Memories” updates but when the time came I covered the team The Exiles with Prototype and Hardcase to follow, and Sludge kept getting pushed back. While Prototype is one of my favorites as well from Malibu I should have covered Sludge at the start of these themed updates. I am very much looking forward as well to sitting back and re-reading these issues as it has been a very long time since I have read them and I am hoping they hold up! To sum it up, I am a Sludge fan and if you like horror themed superhero comics make sure to check him out as his issues can be found pretty cheap at your local comic shops or even online. Also I want to thank the gone but not forgotten Bookie Parlor and its owner Hal for introducing me to Malibu Comics.

As you can see, Sludge was one of the Malibu Comics that made me become a fan all those years back as I do find his look and backstory interesting! But growing up I never read the full series and only had spot issues in my collection so this will be a fun time reading them from start to finish. I want to thank both Bell Book And Comic as well as Game Swap Kettering for having all these issues in stock and making this update possible. I want to also remind you all that I grade these comics on a star scale of 1 to 4 and am looking for how well the comics stay to the source material, their entertainment value and their art and story. So if you are ready, let’s head to the sewers and see what Sludge has in store for us.

Sludge # 1 ***
Released in 1993. Cover Price $2.50 Malibu Comics # 1 of 12

Radio DJ Chase Naylor is talking about the case of missing NYPD Detective Frank Hoag, who has gone missing after responding to a break-in where lots of blood and bullets are found. The DJ is saying that the city should be sick of all the deaths, and as he is broadcasting a gang of thugs shoot at a rival and end up also killing innocent people in the gunfire. As the gang members get away, they run into the monster hero known as Sludge who destroys their car and takes many of their bullets and even a sword stab without being hurt. One by one Sludge kills the punks with some dying painfully as if he touches you new lumpy tumor like skin grows, and Sludge has no sympathy for those he is killing. Sludge also finds that thinking and speaking hurts and that while he is a muck monster, he does still bleed red blood. Sludge thinks back to the night he went missing as he is Detective Hoag and that crime lord John Paul Marcello is the one who gave the orders for him to be killed when Hoag refused to kill a fellow officer. And when the crime lord’s goons shot Hoag, a toxic chemical spilled all over his body and caused him to turn into this monster when it mixed with the sewer water they dumped his body in. When the gang’s bodies are found the police are happy that someone took care of them for good as Sludge is seen by the homeless that are living in the sewer.

The first issue of Sludge holds up for me as it is a great and entertaining read that showcases a monster hero who deals death to a handful of punks who deserve to meet their maker after killing innocent people during a hit. The plot is mostly about Sludge and his former life as a regular human that was a police detective that was involved in some shady stuff with the local crime lords that mostly was allowing drug deals to happen on beats he was on, but once he refuses to kill for them, he finds himself the victim of homicide and only because of a toxic chemical split on him is how he is still “alive” if you want to call being a bright blue muck monster living. Sludge is a confused mess of a hero as his brain is on fire, his thoughts are a mess, his body misshapen and his own speech hurts him…but while a mess, he is very much doing the right thing as he is going after criminals and dealing death to those who a doing truly evil things in the streets of New York. And his powers of creating flesh on his victims looks like a painful and terrible way to go. John Paul Marcello is a crime lord that gets what he wants and does not like being told no, and if you cross him, you will find yourself swimming with the fishes or is that sewer rats? The comic is pretty violent and showcases lots of blood an killings and that is kind of what sets it a part from the Marvel and DC Comics at that time. The cover for this issue is pretty cool and shows Sludge’s face and lets the reader get a real good look at him. The interior art done for this issue was by Aaron Lopresti and is really great stuff, and I like the way he draws Sludge to look very goopy and gross. I have to also point out that when Frank Hoag is covered in the toxic waste his transformation makes you flashback to the Troma film The Toxic Avenger, or at least it made me do that. The comic also features a backup story that is all about that vampire character Rune so you get a little more bang for your buck here. What a cool read, and I know remember why I was a fan of this comic series when I was younger as you cannot go wrong with a massive creature hero killing punks on the New York streets. Let’s see what issue two has in store for us and if it as well holds up.

Sludge # 2 ***
Released in 1993 Cover Price $1.95 Malibu Comics # 2 of 12

Bloodstorm is a paid assassin and his latest job is killing a man’s father so that he can collect the family fortune, and killing does not bother Bloodstorm as he is good at his job and nothing is going to stand in his way. Meanwhile Sludge stumbles on some of Mr. Marcello’s men who are beating up a guy who owes money, and they are going to take a body part as payment…but instead they all meet a bloody and painful fate. Detective Quinn is looking into these vigilante style killings, and he and the doctor are confused over the rapid skin growths that appear on many of the victims, and they come up with nothing. Meanwhile Bloodstorm once more is performing a hit and this time kills a woman as well as some security guards that works the apartment she lives in, and like before he takes joy in his deeds. Detective Quinn is working for Mr. Marcello and they are all trying to figure out who is killing the criminals on the street, and they end up calling in the services of Bloodstorm who costs them lots of money but they think he is worth it and will find the vigilante who is taking down crime. Days pass and many shakedowns take place all the while Bloodstorm is watching and waiting for his target, and it finally appears as Sludge shows up on a pier and attacks more of Marcello’s goons. Sludge and Bloodstorm fight with Bloodstorm getting the upper hand and using an exploding arrow that takes Sludge down. This is all witnessed by Detective Quinn who was part of the shakedown of the man who owned the crime boss money, truly showing he is a corrupt cop.

The second issue of Sludge has our goopy hero still on the prowl and killing off the goons of the crime boss Mr. Marcello who is now very much annoyed by the killing of his men and that is why he hires the assassin Bloodstorm to take care of his “issues”. And speaking of Bloodstorm he is one scary villain as he kills with ease and very brutally and gets joy watching people die, all because he was a bullied child who was laughed at and mocked. Bloodstorm also gets joy in hiring woman to come to his house were he will beat them almost to death with his bare hands…he is one sick psycho! Mr. Marcello and his men are you typical crime family who do bad things but they look tame compared to Bloodstorm. Detective Quinn is another corrupt cop who is on Marcello’s payroll and is the cop that was slated to be killed by Hoag, and this is unknown to him and he is still on the crime lords payroll. Sludge meanwhile is still killing the baddies and wondering around the streets even bonding with the cities homeless. We also see that Sludge has to eat as well to survive and he gets his food from dumpsters! It’s crazy that Bloodstorm is able to use his explosive arrow to take Sludge down at least for a little bit, but while the issue ends with Sludge hurt we all know that he will recover to continue his crusade to bring down the crime in New York. And it is nice to see that Sludge, while un-killable, does have some weakness and that can be challenged by skilled fighters like Bloodstorm who is also known as Unknown! The second issue as well really holds up and is way more bloody than most superhero comics going at this time, and truly Sludge was one of the best characters Malibu Comics made for their Ultraverse series. The cover is cool and has Sludge and Bloodstorm fighting with Aaron Lopresti returning to do the interior art that of course is really good! And with that, let’s head to issue three as I want to see how Sludge makes his comeback in this fight against a trained killer like Bloodstorm.

Sludge # 3 ***
Released in 1993 Cover Price $1.95 Malibu Comics # 3 of 12

Sludge is hurt on the ground as a group of crazed people appear and pick him up and toss his body into the ocean and then start attacking Bloodstorm who holds them off before retreating out of this crazed mobs attack. Detective Quinn as well finds himself being chased by the crazed people and he dives into the ocean to get away from them. At the bottom of the ocean Sludge wants to just die and end his weird life as a hero, while above ground a young mobster named Pistol working for Lord Pumpkin has his men wait around the dock to take down Sludge if he appears again as they have interest in this creature that has killed many of Mr. Marcello’s men, and he heads to Pumpkin to fill him in on what he has found out. While Mr. Marcello and his men are hiding out in a skyskraper, and the crazed mob are running wild in the streets and even climbing the building talking crazy. At the bottom of the ocean Sludge is forced to fight with a race of sea creature monster people called The Rivermen who end up taking him down and as their prisoner and to Lord Pumpkin who promises Sludge death if he helps him in his war with Marcello. Meanwhile Mr. Marcello sends a massive tank to New Jersey to go after Lord Pumpkin who is pushing into New York and his territory, and after taking down the tank that attacks his base Lord Pumpkins offer to Sludge is also shot down as the mucky hero wonders into the streets that is still filled with crazy people.

For those wondering, the crazed mob of people are explained in the Malibu Mini Series called “Break Thru” and the events carried over into Sludge. They do a very poor job of explaining them to the readers who just read Sludge and not the other million crossover and events that Malibu constantly had going on. The plot of this issue has the streets being filled with people who are like a mindless mob just wandering around the streets causing chaos, while Bloodstorm returns to his home, waiting to be paid for the job he got done and that was “killing” Sludge who in turn is not dead but wants to die. And throw in now a turf war between Mr. Marcello’s gang and the gang of the evil demon Lord Pumpkin and you have a showdown in hell. In this issue Sludge is a creature that really just wants to find peace in death, as he feels he has gotten his revenge and frightened those who double-crossed him when he was a human. But even when he finds a way to truly die he does not take as it would mean that he would have to work alongside another crime boss that this time is also a demon. Speaking of Lord Pumpkin, he is a supernatural crime boss who is making his way into New York and seems to get more joy in the upcoming gang war than actually gaining any real power. He also seems to employ some very odd henchman as one is a young kid who is good with guns that is called Pistol, and with this youngster he also seems to be calling the shots in the streets and is Pumpkin’s right hand man. The action in this comic is really fun and Sludge’s fight with the Rivermen is great and showcases monster vs. monsters and at one point the Rivermen are called Creature From The Black Lagoon’s…so brownie points there. The cover for this issue is really cool and has Sludge in the water being attacked by the fish creature Rivermen and like with the other two issues the interior art by Aaron Lopresti is great stuff and his style for Sludge’s look would be hard to beat for any other artist at Malibu at the time. Over all another great issue that makes me look forward to rereading the next issue.

Sludge # 4 ***
Released in 1994 Cover Price $1.95 Malibu Comics # 4 of 12

Two brothers are messing around in the New York sewers when they find Sludge and run away in fear, but only one makes it out alive as the other is killed by an alligator creature that rips the youngster apart, leaving the younger brother shaken and hiding in some bushes in the park covered in blood. The local newspaper get the scoop on the story and reporter Shelley Rogers wants to cover the case, and she gets a report that two city workers were also attacked in the sewer. Meanwhile Sludge finds the bloody coat of the murdered kid and starts wandering around looking to find him, and even comes above ground to get a newspaper to read. Meanwhile Shelley is getting no help from the police nor any photographer as she wants to head into the sewers and find what is causing these deaths. Shelley heads alone into the sewer and soon runs into Veffir Voon Iyax, the alligator man who also goes by “He Of Cold Blood And Boundless Appetites” and before he can attack and kill Shelley the wall shatters and Sludge comes to her aid an ends up killing Veffir Voon Iyax with some big hits to his skull! In the end Sludge crushes the camera of Shelley and tells her he does not want his picture in the paper nor does he want people to know who he is. Sludge then picks up the body of his fallen foe and heads into the sewer.

What a fun read as this issue has monster vs. monster as Sludge takes on Veffir Voon Iyax, a weird alligator man who can talk and loves to kill and eat humans. We also now have Shelley Rogers, a reporter who has seen Sludge and knows that he lives in the sewers. And while the fight between the two monsters could have been more epic, it does show that Sludge is very powerful as he is able to kill his foe with his bare hands and does so very easily. The character of Veffir Voon Iyax is pretty interesting as it makes you wonder where he came from and is he a God like he tried to pretend to be, plus why can he talk and is pretty smart with his words. Sludge shows that while he truly was a crooked cop he makes for a pretty great hero now that he is a muck monster who does what he can to protect people from those who are doing very bad things. And we all know that Shelley Rogers will more than likely become a pain in the side for Sludge as she will try and report about this monster hero from New York’s sewers. The issue has blood spilt as Veffir Voon Iyax murders many and even keeps body parts around his sewer home. Lord Pumpkin and Mr. Marcello and their crime family war is not spoken about in this issue, as this seems like Sludge who is very confused in his mind might have forgotten that the two crime lords even exist. This is such a great read as the plot being the build and final battle between two monsters was a great break from our story of Sludge hunting down and killing hoods. The cover for this issue is also very cool as it’s a showdown between Sludge and Veffir Voon Iyax and the interior art is done still by Lopresti who does a great job and his splash pages in this issue is really cool. Over all, this is once more a great issue in the series and like the others before it, I enjoyed revisiting this one as it held up really well.

Sludge # 5 ***
Released in 1994 Cover Price $1.95 Malibu Comics # 5 of 12

A couple are walking home when they are attacked by a zombie looking creature that kills them and starts to eat them. The victims’ screams are heard by Sludge who busts from the sewer but he is too late to save the couple as the zombie creature runs off the police arrive and catch a look at Sludge standing over two dead bodies. Sludge is able to escape but the police blame him for the deaths and now he is wanted for murder! Shelley Rogers, the reporter who was saved by Sludge, is upset by the report as she is on the side of Sludge and says he is a hero and not a cannibal! Garrett Whale is a professor who is dealing with lung cancer and was fired many years back from the Aladdin Company due to his experiments dealing with the dead, as the cannibal zombie was his friend that died in an explosion and he brought back to life! And when hearing about Sludge and his touch that builds tumors on his victims he thinks that he can maybe use Sludge to find a cure for cancer and hires some thugs to get the creature for him. They are able to trick Sludge in the sewer and use a dart to knock the muck hero out and get him back to Whale’s lab. Meanwhile the Zombie is hanging out in the alleys with the homeless who take him in as one of their own, and it remembers back to the day it was created and how Whale buried it back in the ground when he thought it was a failure…the zombie ends up killing and eating the homeless man who took him in. Meanwhile Shelley Rogers gets the news and heads out to the location of these cannibal attacks, while back at Whale’s Lab, Sludge is about to be experimented on when the Zombie busts in and kills not only Whale but also his thugs! Sludge breaks free and the two monsters fight with Sludge ending the Zombies life again with his touch as tumors grow all over the undead monster as it once more slips into the abyss. In the end Sludge buries the Zombie in a cemetery and shuffles off to head back to his sewer home, as Lord Pumpkin watches his every move.

The fifth issue in Sludge is another monster fight as this time around our sewer muck monster hero fights with a cannibalistic zombie who is running around the city eating people, and worse of all Sludge is getting the blame for the crimes! And let us also not forget that a Professor who is dying from cancer is also on the hunt for Sludge as he thinks he might hold the key to cure him. Sludge in this issue is more confused than before as words do not come out right, his memories are jumbled and he still really just wants to die. But while he is dealing with his mind issues Sludge still is a hero and rushes to the aid of those screaming for help. Professor Garrett Whale is a very smart man who has turned bad when he finds out that he has lung cancer and this leads him into bringing the dead back to life, creating and spreading a new street drug and also taking Sludge prisoner in order to experiment on him! But of course Whale ends up paying for his crimes as the undead creature he created comes for him. The Zombie was once a very brilliant Doctor that might have found a cure for cancer but a lab accident leaves him dead and his cure gone with him, and due to desperation Whale brings him back from the dead…but the man he was is no longer and in his place is a flesh eating zombie. News reporter Shelley Rogers, who was saved by Sludge from being killed by the alligator man Veffir Voon Iyax, does not believe that her hero is the one eating people around the city and wants to help prove his innocence, and this shows that Sludge has some friends in the city with Shelley being one and the homeless being the others. The fight between Sludge and the Zombie is really cool as the undead human eater wanted to find peace, and thanks to the cancerous touch of Sludge, he finds just that. The cover for this issue is really cool and has a true indie horror comic look to it, with yet again Lopresti being the interior artist. And with them hinting that that war between Lord Pumpkin and Mr. Marcello is far from over, you know a crime land war is in our future, so with that let’s see what issue six has in store for us.

Sludge # 6 ***
Released in 1994 Cover Price $1.95 Malibu Comics # 6 of 12

Tabitha works for Lord Pumpkin and delivers his drugs to very big clients all who do what is asked of them in order to get the drugs, but on her way to deliver she is attacked and killed with her body dumped at the base of Pumpkin and her drugs taken. Lord Pumpkin is angered as he was in love with Tabitha and sends Pistol and his men out on the streets to find out who did this hit, and while upset and saddened by the loss of his love Lord Pumpkin feeds her body to his plant that produces the drug he sells. We find out that business man and secret crime lord Wong Ten Yu is the one who placed the hit to get the Zuke drug to see what it is made of, meanwhile near the dock one of Yu’s ships explodes almost killing everyone on board with the only survivor being saved by Sluge who by accident tumors up her arm. This explosions sparks a talk between Yu and Mr. Marcello as they seem to both have a common enemy in Lord Pumpkin, and for the meeting each bring their top assassins and henchmen with Marcello even hiring Bloodstorm to watch his back. Lord Pumpkin gets the word of the meeting and gets a surprise guest as Sludge appears wanting to talk to the demon, as he will help him now if he grants him death. The meeting takes place at a cemetery and unknown to Yu and Mr. Marcello in the shadows watching is Lord Pumpkin along with Pistol and Sludge…and after a few moments Sludge goes on the attack! And then Lord Pumpkin shows himself to his two enemies and they are in shock of his appearance as he really does have a Pumpkin for a head and is a demonic looking creature. Lord Pumpkin lets them know that the war is truly on as he disappears with Pistol and Sludge as another fight with the crime lords is in the works.

In this issue the war between three different crime families is about to go down as each have made big mistakes that is causing lots of heat and New York is becoming a pressure cooker! It is clear that New York is not big enough for Lord Pumpkin, Wong Ten Yu and Mr. Marcello as all three want to corner the drug market as well as want the others dead or at least out of town…but I think death on one another is truly what is in their hearts. While Mr. Marcello and Mr. Yu are normal men, Lord Pumpkin is a true evil demon who while has love in his sinister heart for some does seem to be enjoying all the death, misery and abuse that this is causing. Sludge in this issue is really suffering mentally as his brain is truly turning into mush and he is having a real hard time dealing with it, while he tries to be a hero saving a woman from drowning his touch causes her pain and he even tries to kill himself but fails, and now he finds himself in a team up with the very evil Lord Pumpkin to try and end his life. Bloodstorm being added back into the series was a wise choice as he is the one villain who has really be able to hurt Sludge, as this far all others who have crossed him have meet a quick death. The other great part of this issue is showing that while Lord Pumpkin is a demon, he still has emotions as he was in love with Tabitha a woman he had working for him, and with her death now we understand why this crime war is going to turn deadly very fast. And if the killings in the graveyard is a preview of what is to come during this war many people are going to die. The cover is cool and once more has a very indie Horror Comic look to it and yep like we have seen many issues before this one Lopresti did the interior artwork. Over all another great issue that helps push this series story along as with each issue showcases the mental breakdown of Sludge and builds to the baddies of the city getting ready for a showdown.

Sludge # 7 ***
Released in 1994 Cover Price $1.95 Malibu Comics # 6 of 12

Sludge is having a nightmare about Edna, the woman he was in love with when he was human, and in his dream he touches her and her skin turns to tumors and she dies as the evil Lord Pumpkin mocks him…but this time even when he awakes he sees the twisted face of Edna as his denigrating mind is playing tricks on him. At the cemetery reporter Shelley Rogers arrives as the cops are removing the bodies and meets Detective Quinn who refuses to answer any questions but she also meets Agnes who works for the Medical Examiners office and says after the autopsies she might be able to help Sheeley with her questions and story, this does not make Quinn happy. Meanwhile Lord Pumpkin has sent Pistol out to hire a lawyer, while Mr. Marcello is very much stressed over the cemetery attack and the sight of Lord Pumpkin himself and is skittish and thinks his own men are out to backstab him. While Lord Pumpkin is in a great mood and even gives Pistol a bigger cut on the sale of Zuke the drug they are offering, while Mr. Yu’s men are looking at how to duplicate Zuke so they can sell it themselves and later team with Mr. Marcello’s men to crack the code. Lord Pumpkin has created a new version of Zuke from the plant and is selling it cheap on the streets and this new drug is turning some of those who take it into psychos who feel no pain, and Sludge has to deal with one after the crazy kid kills a police officer. Later Bloodstorm gets hired by Mr. Marcello’s right hand man to kill Lord Pumpkin as Sludge is given the order to kill Mr. Marcello…and Sludge does just that as he touches the crime lords face causing it to be covered in tumors, and then the crime boss falls out of a window from his high rise building.

Well it looks like Mr. Marcello is no longer the leader of his crime family as he has splatted on the sidewalk below his penthouse home, and it looks like it will be Vittorio that takes over the operation as he is already setting in motion to try and work with his rivals, kill Lord Pumpkin and learn the secrets of the street drug Zuke. While on the other side it appears that Mr. Yu was injured in the cemetery attack and is also willing to work alongside his enemies to bring down the bigger threat to them both. While Lord Pumpkin is creating more drugs that appear make some people go crazy, is building up the trust of young Pistol, is getting legal eagles on his payroll and orders for the death of Mr. Marcello that is carried out by Sludge who finally gets his revenge on the man who gave the orders to end his human life and turn him into the muck monster he is. Sludge is really starting to lose it as his mind is playing tricks on him and he is even forgetting words now more often, it’s sad that he has to take orders from Lord Pumpkin in order to truly try and end his life. And with Bloodstorm now being called in to kill Lord Pumpkin you know that the action is going to heat up, as this hired assassin will not stop until his target is dead. Pistol, who is very young, is getting his mind warped by Lord Pumpkin as the youngster is starting to crave violence and power. I am going to say yet again that the interior art is done by Lopresti and is well done, and the cover for this issue is really cool and has Sludge going on a rampage. So with Sludge now truly being a henchman for the demon Lord Pumpkin truly shows just how confused our hero is as he is stopping criminals while working for one! So with that, let’s see what issue eight brings to our story.

Sludge # 8 ***
Released in 1994 Cover Price $1.95 Malibu Comics # 8 of 12

The New York local TV News is covering the drug wars that is happing in the streets. They cover the death of Mr. Marcello as well as Zuke being sold in a cheap version on the streets that is turning some users into killers. Sludge is watching the news and has a weird vision of he and his ex-lover Edna eating dinner over a trash barrel, and when he snaps out of it he finds that he is just in a janitor room watching a TV and escapes back into the sewer as the worker returns. While at the cemetery during the funeral of Mr. Marcello, Vittorio learns that the others in the crime family want him to step up and take over, but he needs to bring down both Lord Pumpkin and Sludge! And Vittorio makes the call and hires Bloodstorm to kill them both, while Lord Pumpkin has a spy that over hears the hit and warns the demon who in turn calls on Sludge to help in the coming battle. While at the hospital Mr. Yu’s men take the survivor from the boat explosion out of there as they don’t want her to squeal on them. And while all this is going on Shelley Rogers is looking deeper into these drug killings, Zuke rages and the disfiguring deaths and Detective Quinn is now being asked by Mr. Yu’s group to spy on Vittorio’s group as they do not want to be double crossed. Bloodstorm has arrived and takes out some thugs and Rivermen along his way of getting to Lord Pumpkin, but the assassin is no match as he is blasted by Pumpkin’s demonic blast, shot in the hand by Pistol and then force to eat a ton of Zuke as Sludge makes his mouth cover over with tumors. As Bloodstorm is in pain and drugged up something odd happens as the Zuke that Sludge touched has made his hand human again! And during all this some of Yu’s doctors on staff are operating on the young woman who survived the boat explosion and they took from the hospital.

All Hell is breaking loose in New York as this crime war is getting out of hand and all three crime families are jockeying for that top position and each have their own slimy ways to try and achieve it. Mr. Yu and his men are playing it more quite and sending spies to watch what the others are doing, while they themselves are trying to crack the secrets of Zuke as well as are clearly doing something very bad to the young woman they took from the hospital. Vittorio finds himself in charge now that his boss is dead and buried and must do what he can to get the respect of the men who are shook by the death of their leader as well as the number of losses they have suffered on their side. Lord Pumpkin is kind of a sick puppet master during all this as he knows what each of his opposing sides are up to and almost loves the lack of a challenge they truly are to his power. Pistol is young and so willing to kill for Pumpkin who clearly is controlling the youngsters mind, and while I think Pumpkin likes him he would send him to die if it would further his game for power. Bloodstorm, who is a master assassin, soon finds that he was not ready to fight a demon and by the end of the issue is near death’s door! While Detective Quinn is playing all sides minus that of Pumpkin and reporter Shelley Rogers is getting so close to figuring out what is going on in the biggest story of her life. Sludge once more is just taking orders as he wants to die, but now that he sees that Zuke might be able to turn him human again…his wish for death just might change as being cured of this mucky curse might be the new agenda for him. This gang war story is lots of fun and reminds me of the Spider-Man story arch called “Gang War” that feature Kingpin, Hammerhead, The Rose and other super baddies at war with each other in New York…if you have not read this story, you should do so it’s a fun read. I am shocked just how easy Bloodstorm was defeated, but to be fair, the odds were very much against him. And the shocking cliffhanger ending of Sludge’s hand turning human adds even more drama to his sad story and makes you really want to read the next issue to find out how this plays out! Oh before we do move onto issue nine, I should say this cover is really cool as is shows both Sludge and Bloodstorm.

Sludge # 9 ***
Released in 1994 Cover Price $1.95 Malibu Comics # 9 of 12

Lord Pumpkin has cleared the tumors away from Bloodstorm’s mouth and pumps him full of Zuke, and as the assassin starts to rage Pumpkin puts him to sleep. As a confused Sludge and Pistol look on Lord Pumpkin says that Bloodstorm has a use and must do a job for him that is why he did not let them kill him. Sludge takes Bloodstorm to the base of Vittorio and lets him loose as the madman now on Zuke opens fire and kills many more of that crime family, but finally Bloodstorm is gunned down and from his body Zuke gas escapes the bullet holes and chokes everyone in the room with its foul smell. Detective Quinn witnessed that massacre and runs from the scene to look for protection from Mr. Yu, but unknown to him, Shelley Rogers has hidden in his back seat and knows the officer’s dirty little secrets. While she’s listening to Mr. Yu telling Quinn they are working on a weapon that will help in this war, a Riverman appears and takes Shelley away to Lord Pumpkin’s hideout. Meanwhile Mr. Yu and his crime network unload an attack on Pumpkins pushers, sellers, customers and fiends. Lord Pumpkin’s operation is weakened and he once more calls of Sludge to help he and Pistol against the coming weapon that is being sent by Mr. Yu, with the promise being this is the final favor and he will be granted death or more Zuke to turn him normal again! Back at the lab the young woman has been turned into a cyborg and is a killing machine, Mr. Yu has her kill Detective Quinn before heading to the hideout of Lord Pumpkin were she makes short work of some of his men. Once inside she fights off both Pistol and Sludge and ends up “killing” Lord Pumpkin, with her mission complete the Cyborg sets herself to self-destruct, Sludge frees Shelley, and she and Pistol who is holding the head of Lord Pumpkin escape while Sludge grabs some Zuke before making his exit. After the explosion and the dust is settle several days later Pistol is holding and protecting the rotten head of Lord Pumpkin, before finally given up on his bosses return and placing the head into a trashcan.

The Gang War is finally over and so much has happened and changed and only one crime family is still standing tall after all the blood is spilt and the dust has settled and that is Mr. Yu’s who played a smart game and is able to create a Cyborg that brings an end to Lord Pumpkin for now. Mr. Yu seen weakness and took his shot and it paid off big time as he was able to give the orders that lead to him being the biggest crime lord in New York. While on the other side Vittorio and his family come off weak as their original boss is dead and he allows an attack at one of their own bases to happen that leaves many of his higher ups dead! Vittorio has lost the respect and fear that would have allowed his crime family to stay at the top of the crime food chain in New York. Meanwhile Lord Pumpkin’s own ego leads to his defeat as he thinking is was to powerful and bragging about it is what lead to his candle being snuffed out and his life for now ending, he leaves Pistol without a boss and lost on the streets as his own head rots in a nasty trashcan. Detective Quinn who is a no good cop meets his end by playing both sides as he was a narc for both Yu and Vittorio. Plus he was a trying to play a good cop on TV to save face. Poor Shelley Rogers gets abducted and forced to take Zuke for trying to crack the story of the crime war, but in the end she at least escapes with her life. Sludge who got a quick taste of the cure is now seeing a ghost version of his ex-girlfriend, is questioning if he wants death or life and finds himself used as a pawn in this gang war with his best interest never being taken to heart. This Gang War or Zuke War was such a great story arch in these Sludge Comics and some many characters played a part in this story with many of them meeting their fates by the conclusion, and so far can’t you readers see why Sludge was one of my favorites from the Ultraverse? The stories are very fun and the issues have monster fights, crime drama and even a hero that has issues that go very deep. The cover for this issue is cool and has Sludge fighting Lord Pumpkin as the cover reminds me of something you would have seen on an issue of The Incredible Hulk! And the interior artwork this time around is done by Robb Phipps, and his style is good and very fitting for the Ultraverse at this time. Over all another great issue that has held up to the sands of time for this blogger.

Sludge # 10 ***
Released in 1994 Cover Price $1.95 Malibu Comics # 10 of 12

Sludge is in the sewer and takes the Zuke and it has no effect on him, his dreams of being back human are shattered. Meanwhile on the streets of New York weirdo Vinaigrette and her weird bird creature Organism 0.9B are running wild and causing issues for the cops, and when Sludge comes out of the sewer to try and help he is shot by an officer and this cause Zuke fumes to leak from his body and make our muck hero dizzy and as he returns to his sewer home he passes out. When he wakes up the next morning he is more human than before, can speak clearly and his head and thoughts are not mush! He heads up to the streets and gets some clothes and starts walking among the normal people again, and he heads to his apartment home only to find that a new couple lives their and the male armed with a baseball bat attacks Sludge to protect his home and lady! Sludge ends up getting away and finds the home of Shelley Rogers and fills her in on the whole story for a place to sleep and some food to eat, Shelley meanwhile hits the streets and starts to uncover the trail that will lead to finding out what the toxic waste was that turned Hoag into Sludge. The lead takes Shelley and Sludge to Pennsylvania to meet Dr. Ferdinand LaLama who worked at the lab and created a chemical that would re-grow damaged skin…the waste that was split on Hoag when he was shot and killed. At the clinic of Dr. LaLama they find it rundown, and after forcing his way in Sludge is attacked by Vinaigrette and her giant weird ride able bird friend Organism 0.9B who think Sludge is a threat for breaking down the door, and worse moments later Sludge finds that two hulking freaks called The Bash Brothers are joining the fight.

In this issue Sludge thanks to the power of the street drug Zuke has turned some what back to human and wants to find a full cure for his mucky curse, and is able to blend in with the right clothes and seeks out the help of reporter Shelley Rogers to find out what toxic chemical spilled on him and turned him into a monster and the person that created it! And of course nothing can be easy for Sludge as he finds himself being attacked by other strange powered and looking people that appear to be connected to the same man who might have indirectly been responsible for his own creation. Sludge while more human like still is super strong and seems to not be able to be fully hurt, while he does have aches and some pain now when it comes to combat. His mind and voice are clear and his one goal is to find a way to make himself back into just normal old Detective Hoag. Shelley Rogers is getting the story of a lifetime and it’s clear at this point that she has a friendship with Sludge and is willing to help him in his quest for answers. Vinaigrette and Organism 0.9B are very strange as Vinaigrette seems to sweating a slick oil like substance that makes her hard to grab onto while Organism 0.9B is a big silly looking bird who uses it’s head like a battling ram, while they were causing issues in New York I do not think they are baddies, and the same goes for The Bash Brothers who we do not get to see in action in this issue. Dr. Ferdinand LaLama is the man behind the toxic chemical and by the looks of it is also the keeper of the “freaks” it has created. While I am a fan of the classic muck monster Sludge, this more quick thinking version is a fun change of pace and is making for a good story of who and why he was created. And for some reason when reading this issue again I was getting Basket Case 2 vibes, if you have not seen the film its about a house of odd, strange and freaks living together in a home being cared for by a doctor. The cover for this issue is odd and yet catches your attention and for this issues interiors, Robb Phipps returns and does a great job, as clearly he likes to draw the ladies. With that let’s see what issue eleven has in store for us and if Sludge will get what he seeks from the mysterious Dr. LaLama.

Sludge # 11 **1/2
Released in 1994 Cover Price $1.95 Malibu Comics # 11 of 12

The Bash Brothers end up beating up on Sludge and knock him out for a brief moment, and that attack stops when Shelley informs them that they can to seek help, and once the Brothers take a look at Sludge’s face that is now starting to burn drippy and gooey again they see that they were wrong to attack and inform the two that Dr. LaLama is away and has been for some days now and none of them have heard from him for a week! So The Bash Brothers, Organism 0.9B and Vinaigrette join Sludge and Shelley on their hunt for the now considered missing Doctor, and the ride back to New York Vinaigrette tells them all about a Dr. Gross who is the one that made her the way she is, and how he is a very bad man. Once in the city Vinaigrette and Organism 0.9B break away from the group to get money, while the rest find a portal opened in the city land of Dr. LaLama and when they all enter it they find themselves in a weird world, but they do find Dr. LaLama! To return home The Bash Brothers and Sludge must stand on each others shoulders so Shelley can climb up them and get back through the portal to drop down a rope, and when she makes it up, weird water creatures bellow attack our heroes! They are able to fight off the water creatures and climb the rope and return to the lab where Sludge is starting to turn back into the muck monster so he quickly asks Dr. LaLama about the chemical he made that turned him into this monster. Dr. LaLama informs him that the chemical was created to heal damaged skin, and when he was shot an dumped in the sewer the chemical bonded his flesh and bone with that of the sewage, and he informs him that without the Zuke samples he can not help him…Sludge who is turning back into the creature leaves the lab to return to the sewers a defeated man.

In this issue Sludge who is starting to turn back into the muck monster goes to another world to find the missing scientist Dr. LaLama who is the one person who might be able to help cure him or at least give him the answers he seeks…but instead all he finds in disappointment and a one way ticket into turning fully back into Sludge! While the issue is fun and the plot moves the story along as we find out that the chemical was not toxic, but was a way to help injured people that just went wrong for Detective Hoag when his body was dumped in the sewer, I also feel that it was the one this far that kind of dragged and that was mostly do to the uninteresting characters called The Bash Brothers who ramble on with their smart talk and just kind of are dorks. The Bash Brothers are around way to much of this comic an take away from Sludge and his story, plus I just think that once Sludge left the home of Dr. LaLama to find him in the lab back in New York the only person with him should have been Shelley Rogers and not the rest of the weirdoes. I think with the Gang War being over and no appearances of other monster for Sludge to fight the pace of the comic just kind of stalls as his fights in this issue or so brief. While this issue for me is a little slow, we at least do get a little look into what the chemical was that made him as well as now see that he is turning back into the monster hero we all love. The cover for this issue is great and has Sludge’s face being it on both sides by the fists of The Bash Brothers and the interior artwork is once more done by artist Robb Phipps and is solid great work. Not much to say about this issue besides it’s the weakest issue in the series that does help give a little look into the sad life of Sludge who just wants to be normal again or at least find peace in death.

Sludge # 12 ***
Released in 1994 Cover Price $3.50 Malibu Comics # 12 of 12

A witch and her demon friend Phleeb have casted a spell and have Sludge under hero command, and as this event happens teenager Michael Green wakes up from a bad dream that was about Sludge’s cursed possession and this causes him to turn into the Ultra Hero Prime to go and investigate. The Witch orders Sludge to go to the museum and steal a stone tablet as if he joins that half they have with the half he has a smell can be done that will free the Witch’s son from another dimension and together they will take over the world. And with orders given the entranced Sludge makes his way to his mission and breaks in and gets the tablet, but Prime arrives on the scene and starts a fist fight with Sludge and for a brief moment Sludge snaps out of the mind control but quickly falls back under as the Witch uses her powers to do so as well as weaken Prime! The fight ends as Prime is getting weaker and Sludge makes it back to the Witch and she starts working on the spell to bring back her son as Prime recovers after many hours and goes back on the hunt for Sludge to finish their fight. Prime goes to the sewer and once Sludge appears the two start fighting with Prime being the one kicking butt, the Witch is bale to bring her son back who turns out to be a giant and he by accident crushes his own mom to death and this breaks the spell she had on Sludge who tries to stop the fight but is punched really hard and knocked out by Prime who gets out of the sewer and finds the city is being attacked by Demons! As Prime is fighting demons above ground Sludge wakes up and starts fighting them in the sewers before finding the witches body and then breaking apart the stone tablet sending all the demons back into their dimension. Prime and Sludge meet again in the witch’s lab and part ways once they figure out that neither have the answers on what just happened and why Prime is drawn to Sludge who wanders off back into the dark sewer tunnels.

And with this issue so ends Sludge is his own solo series and while this issue kind of just ends and the character just gets no breaks as this time around and old witch mind controls him to steal a tablet from a museum in order to bring her son and his demonic friends back from another dimension, but all this causes is for the witch to be crushed to death and for Sludge to get into a big fist fight with Prime, who is the strongest of the UltraHeroes. So the quest to be cured must be over for Sludge as he seems to not like it but has came to terms with the fact that he will be a muck monster from here on, but most of the issue he finds himself under mind control and only in the last few pages is he able to talk to Prime and clear his name. Speaking of Prime he was a nice guest star as he is able to slug it out with Sludge as well as the freed demons, plus his skin does not grow tumors when touching Sludge making him the hardest opponent that our muck hero has ever fought. And the side story of Prime for some reason being drawn to Sludge and as well kind of loosing control of turning form normal teenager Michael Green to the massive hero, and sadly in this series we are left on that cliffhanger and we never do get any answers. Sludge throughout this series goes from being a human cop named Hoag, to being murdered and covered in a toxic chemical, to having his body dumped in a sewer, to turning into a muck monster called Sludge, is in involved in a gang war, wants to die to wanting to be cured, fights monsters and so much more in-between! While this issue is a fun read I do also have to say that it is kind of a letdown when it comes to being a final issue as it seems like its more of a set up from a Prime story than a finish for the Sludge story. The cover for this issue is cool and has Sludge and Prime fighting it out, the interior artist on this final issue was done by Aaron Lopresti and it is nice to see him return to finish the series. I should also say that for the final villain for Sludge to fight with in his series being The Old Witch is also kind of a letdown as she is creepy and powerful and all, but is also very silly and dies at the feet of her own large demon child…I would have rather seen him tangle with Mr. Yu and his men or even a crazed madman on Zuke! But while this was the final issue in the Sludge main series we have one Christmas Special still to go, so our look at Sludge is not over yet!

Sludge Red X-Mas # 1 ***
Released in 1994 Cover Price $2.50 Malibu Comics # 1 of 1

It’s Thanksgiving and Sludge is in the sewer with a muddled mind and is annoyed that heroes like Hardcase have floats in the parade, while people just fear him. While on the street Pistol stops a purse thief Shifty and almost gets a reword from the woman as he returns it, as Shifty gets arrested Pistol heads to a strip club to try and get work from it’s owner Cornwell to do collections…but no jobs are going on during the holidays. Sludge stops a criminal from beating a woman to death with a crowbar as the woman he saves is the lawyer that Lord Pumpkin hired when he was alive and running the streets of New York. While Pistol is watching after some of the homeless people who are being bullied as well as running small jobs to get cash for them all to eat. Meanwhile Shifty has placed a hit on the officer that arrested him for the purse theft, and Pistol ends up talking to Sludge and tells him that Zuke was from the same place Lord Pumpkin was from and then stops Shifty from shooting the police officer! Pistol makes it in the newspaper for being a hero but will not give his real name, but his father Mack a man leading a city wide strike is a scum bag who use to beat Pistol and his mother and now he wants his son dead before he can talk and tell his dirty secrets. Pistol gets kidnapped and the officer as well as the female lawyer get shot and hurt during the abduction. Sludge stops the attackers and even roughs up Pistol’s dad who was going to kill his own son, later Pistol along with his crazy homeless friends, the cop and the lawyer lady are all hanging out in a ally opening gifts as Pistol to himself sends a silent thank you to Sludge for saving his life.

For me this is the better way to end Sludge and should have been the final issue in the main series instead of a special issue as I feel we get a slightly better ending for Sludge as he is a hero and even helps turn a criminal onto a path of doing the right thing. The plot has young Pistol wondering the streets looking for work from the loan sharks, but he is also stopping others from doing petty crimes like purse snatching and bulling. But he becomes a hero when he stops an assassination attempt on a police officer, but this new fame brings Pistol’s abusive father out of the dark who is trying to lead a government strike and who wants his son’s life taken so that his past does not leak out, but thanks to Sludge this does not happen and Pistol finds himself on a good path and friends with the officer he saved. It is really cool to see the character of Pistol grow as he turns from a lackey of Lord Pumpkin who would steal and kill on his boss’s orders, but once away from the demonic pumpkin he finds the hold broken and him choosing to do the right thing. Sludge is back in the sewer with visions of his ex-girlfriend in his muddled head, and still helping the innocent from those trying to cause them harm. The sad thing for Sludge is that during the holidays he himself spends alone in the sewers, as it would have been nice to see him spending time with Shelley Rogers or even his homeless friends. Christmas Comics are lots of fun and I am glad to see Sludge get involved and have one as growing up I remember reading Holiday issues of Hulk, Spider-Man, Batman and Superman. And I am shocked on just how well the whole Sludge comic series held up for me as I still find the character interesting as well as his issues being entertaining and keeping the story moving along, and a major plus being that it barely had the crossover annoyance that plagued so many of the UltraVerse titles were they would force you to buy other characters issues in order to finish a story arch. The cover for this issue is a lot of fun as it has Pistol and Sludge who has a wreath around his neck standing in the snow. The interior artwork this time around is done by Mike Ploog and is great stuff as Ploog does a great job of drawing Sludge. Over all this X-Mas Special and the whole series is a very great Indie Superhero Comic reads and I feel Sludge just like Rune was Malibu Comics way of bringing in Horror themed characters to their UltraVerse universe. And have to say that if you have not read Sludge you should check it out! Take a look at the artwork below to see the style used throughout this comic series.

Sludge is such a cool indie superhero and is one that I wish was still around, as I really do not understand why Marvel Comics have never did anything with him or any other Ultraverse character they own. As I truly think Sludge would make a great character in the Incredible Hulk series as well as it would have been cool to see him battle with the likes of Man-Thing! But we all know that the Disney owned Marvel Comics at this point will never bring the characters back as they are so lazy even with their creative stories for their own big heroes and characters, let alone they lack the creative minds to bring the characters into the Marvel Universe or even bring the UltraVerse back in general…or maybe it’s Disney to blame…who knows. But our time with Sludge has come to an end and our next update will take us to the world of Sci-Fi Horror as we talking about the film “The Man From Planet X” and the comic book adaptation of it! So until next time, read a comic or three, watch a film or two and as always support your local Horror Host. I hope The Man From Planet X comes in peace!

That Giant Angry Dog Called Marmaduke

Posted on February 22, 2024 by bloodlinematt

Welcome back to Rotten Ink. As you can see, the Sunday newspaper has been delivered and that means it’s time to once more give the Rotten Funnies a read. For this update I have decided that it’s time we chat about that giant dog Marmaduke as this update is long overdue. Do you remember sitting at the table as breakfast was being made; your dad read the sports page as you kids were reading the funnies. I have good memories of that and then having breakfast of eggs, sausage and milk while talking about what Garfield or Charlie Brown were doing that morning. There’s just something very special about reading the funnies on Sunday Mornings, and I fear that this is a joy that has been lost to today’s youth as print newspapers themselves are not as common in households. But let’s not think about that, and let’s pour ourselves more milk, coffee or OJ and talk about the silly antics of the one and only Marmaduke!

Brad Anderson was the artist and writer behind the comic strip Marmaduke that started in 1954 and was a syndicated strip that was sold to National Newspaper Syndicate which allowed it to be seen all over America in newspapers. Brad Anderson was born on May 14, 1924 in Jamestown, New York and served in the Navy allowing him to attend Syracuse University as well as work on cartoons for several Navy publications. In 1951 he graduated college with a B.F.A in Fine Arts and a major in advertising. After working a few years in advertising he found his true love and that was cartooning for magazines and papers and his career in that started in 1953 and from 1954 to 1966, he worked on his first big comic strip called “Grandpa’s Boy.” In 1954 his biggest and most iconic strip also started up and that was Marmaduke, about a big Great Dane and the family he belonged to. Anderson claims that his ideas for the strips would be based on some of his favorite antics from comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. Anderson would also work alongside Phil Leeming from 1955-1962, Dorothy Leeming from 1963-1969 and his own son Paul Anderson starting in 2015 on the comic strip that became very popular with readers. Over the years Brad Anderson would win a National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award in 1978 and a Pioneer Medal from Syracuse University in 1999. Sadly Brad Anderson would pass away on August 30, 2015 at the age of 91 from congestive heart failure, and while he is gone, his work lives on as his son Paul keeps Marmaduke alive and the comic strip still is printed in newspapers across America. I should also note that Marmaduke got a feature length movie in 2010 that starred Judy Greer, Lee Pace, Emma Stone, George Lopez, Kiefer Sutherland, Fergie and Owen Wilson as the voice of Marmaduke. Plus let’s not forget he also had a cartoon series alongside Heathcliff!

Now let’s talk about the characters that make up the Marmaduke universe! First let’s talk about the Winslow Family that has the father Phil, who is a good natured hard working man who loves his family as well as his pet dog, even if the latter can drive him crazy! The mother is Debbie, who is as well very loving and caring to her family and can even send Marmaduke on missions to get or protect the kids. Speaking of the Winslow kids, you have Barbie and Billy two good kids who like all kids get into mischief and much of the time Marmaduke is along for the ride keeping them safe. Marmaduke is a very large Great Dane. While his size and sometimes his attitude can be scary, he is really very lovable and loyal to the Winslow Family. Other major characters in the comic strip are The Snyders, the next door neighbors of the Winslow’s who are annoyed by the antics of Marmaduke, and King Tut, a Siamese cat who is often annoying and bugging Marmaduke, and acts as the dog’s enemy in the strips he appears.

Marmaduke is a truly iconic comic strip that is still going to this day and is one that I grew up reading both in the paper as well as owning many of the paperback book collections. In fact growing up when reading the Sunday Funnies, Maramduke was the fifth strip that I had to read just behind Peanuts, Garfield, Far Side, Andy Capp and Blondie. And that is the thing about Marmaduke, because he was a massive dog, it made him a must read strip for kids, because just like robots, animals in comics made us 80’s and 90’s kids flock like moths to a flame. I want to thank Half Price Books and an Etsy seller for having these paperbacks in stock and making this update possible. I also want to remind you readers that I grade this book on a standard 1-4 star system and am looking for how well the comic stays to the source material, its entertainment value and its art and story. Also keep in mind, I will only be picking 10 strips from the book to talk about, and they are my favorites in no real order. I am very much looking forward to reading this paperback again as I have not read a Marmaduke strip in decades, and I am looking forward to catching back up with this crazy dog again. Also they made several paperback books featuring Marmaduke, so I tracked down two of them to make this update a little more fuller and fun!

Marmaduke ***
Released in 1965 Cover Price NA Scholastic # ?? of ??

# 1) It’s Halloween and the neighbors are scared of Marmaduke so they are giving him steaks in his trick or treat bag. # 2) Marmaduke is running with a chunk of meat in his mouth as Phil asks Debbie to call the police and see if the meat market has reported a robbery. # 3) Barbie has a mop on the head of Marmaduke and tells him this is what he would look like if he was a member of the band The Beatles. # 4) Phil and Debbie are looking out the window and see Marmaduke and the new dog of the neighborhood having a stare down. # 5) Phil is annoyed as Marmaduke and his dog friends are blocking the TV, and he is telling Debbie that they should move to a apartment that does not allow animals. # 6) A thunderstorm is raging outside and Phil tells Debbie that nothing could get him to go out in it, that is till Marmaduke wants to go for his nightly walk. # 7) Barbie is in bed and Marmaduke is pointing to his teeth as she forgot to brush and she is annoyed he noticed. # 8) Marmaduke is running down the street and dragging poor Phil who is trying to remind his pet that it’s a walk not a run! # 9) Marmaduke is asleep and is counting poodles in his dream. # 10) The Winslow Family have Marmaduke outside with a For Sale sign around his neck.

What a fun flashback to my youth as I have not read a Marmaduke comic strip in well over a decade, and this was a fun one to read again as I had this book when I was a kid. And man are there lots of jokes about Marmaduke loving steak and how Phil would love to be able to get rid of his pet as he is large, in charge and bullies the town with his massive size. We also know that Marmaduke goes trick or treating with the kids and that’s pretty great as not only is he watching over them but he is also wearing a costume and getting treats himself. While I do think that the humor is very dated, I still feel that this can pack a few chuckles even for modern readers who did not grow up with this comic strip, as let’s be honest almost everyone loves jokey animals. While Marmaduke is a menace to people, he also is protective of his family as well as looks out for the dogs in town as he runs off the dogcatchers and frees the captured dogs. The Winslow family while annoyed with their pet love him and even give into his love for top cut meats showing that he truly is part of the family. The goofy faces of Marmaduke are also very funny and adds to the entertainment of this book. The artwork by Anderson is great stuff and is classic comic strip style that seems to bring joy to the faces of readers. Over all this was a great read that might not be for everyone, but those of use who grew up on comic strips in the Sunday Papers will surely enjoy it. Check out the artwork below to see the art of Anderson as well as the jokes used in this book.

So let’s go to the second Marmaduke paperback I have and see if it lives up like the first book did.

Marmaduke Rides Again ! ***
Released in 1968 Cover Price .85 Scholastic # ?? of ??

# 1) Marmaduke and Phil Winslow are at a sports game as the hotdog man is worried about passing someone’s dog to them as Marmaduke has a crazed look in his eye. # 2) Phil calls in Debbie to watch as Marmaduke is annoyed as he thinks that his image in the newly installed door mirror is another dog. # 3) Billy is hiding between the front legs of Maramduke who is giving a mean look to another boy who has been bulling Billy who is daring him to say it now. # 4) Phil is at the butcher’s shop with Marmaduke and the butcher is thanking Phil for help putting his son through college due to all the meat he has to buy to feed Marmaduke! # 5) The Winslow family is having a picnic at a park, and Marmaduke steals another family’s basket as they packed better food. # 6) Billy is holding up a magnifying glass to the eye of Marmaduke and they are looking at a Chihuahua and Billy is telling him that he told him he was a real dog. # 7) Phil has taken Marmaduke to the park and a group of hippies are walking in circles with their signs and Marmaduke is following them, and Phil is happy as it beats him having to walk around the block for the dog to get exercise. # 8) It’s late at night and Phil is looking out the window and Mr. Snyder is feeing Marmaduke lots of peanut butter in order to stop his barking. # 9) Phil and Billy are fishing on a lake but half the boat is sunk do to Marmaduke’s size, and Phil is telling his son this is why they should have not brought him. # 10) Billy and his friend are in a tent camping in the backyard, but Marmaduke is having to act as the tent pole as he chewed up the original one. And this is just 10 out of a 100 different comics to choose from!

The second revisit is just as fun as the first and delivers another fun comic strip read. This is classic stuff and while some of the humor is a little dated it is really cool to see this style of humor pulled off in one panel and style that is really hard to do, but Brad Anderson does a great job of also adding to the humor by the looks on Marmaduke’s face in many of the comics. This book has a great mixture of humor in it as well and much of the better ones are the ones of Marmaduke being weird and making funny faces, the hotdog one comes to mind and made me laugh out loud when I first saw it. And while the humor of Marmaduke might not be for everyone and sadly I feel is a little lost in these modern times, I do find him to be a very iconic comic strip character who has delivered laughs to many young and old readers over the decades. But even with that said I feel that animal based humor will never truly go out of fashion as most people love dogs, cats, mice, hamster, birds, fish, snakes, lizards, bunnies and all other types of pets that are found in households worldwide. Check out the artwork below to see they style used in this paperback by Anderson.

Marmaduke is one comic strip character that really has kept its charm for me as this was a blast reading both these paperback books, and in fact they kind of made me feel like a kid again and truly miss those days of a family breakfast on a Sunday Morning eating eggs, toast and sausage links while drinking a glass of milk and reading the Sunday Funnies along with my brother. And with that we have taken a look at two different comic dogs with Top Dog being the first update and Marmaduke being the second, but for out next update we will be leaving Comic Canines behind and will be heading to the West…The Wild West for another Round Up so you readers know that means talking about a classic western film as well as chili with the film being Lucky Boots! So until next update, read a comic of three, watch a film or two and as always support your local horror host. See you next update at the Rotten Ink Ranch as the chili is cooking on the campfire and the western film is in the DVD player.

Belvedere: The K-9 That Comic Strips Forgot

Posted on February 12, 2024 by bloodlinematt

It’s time to grab that glass of milk and open up the Rotten Ink Daily News and find the Rotten Funnies as we once more take a look at a classic comic strip that made the newspapers worth opening! Don’t get me wrong, I have a very soft spot in my heart for the newspaper but after the Virus Crisis of 2020 I feel like almost all news is bad news…well that is being a little dramatic. While looking through my paperback books that are compilations of comic strips I decided that I wanted to take a look at one that I did not grow up reading and one that I knew very little about, as I am sure I am like many of you readers as I love to learn about things and characters and that’s why I choose that comical dog Belvedere as this update’s topic. Bratty animal comic strips are ones that I enjoyed in my youth and even still somewhat to this day as Garfield is fantastic and Snoopy of Peanuts is a true icon of comic strip history. So I am pretty excited to see what Belvedere brings to the table when it comes to comic strips. So sit back, drink that milk and maybe have some ham and eggs and let’s take a look at that dog named Belvedere.

The creator of Belvedere is George Webster Crenshaw, who was born on October 23, 1917 in Los Angeles, California. He was a student of UCLA as well as Harvard and made an impact in the world of animation as he worked on such Disney films as “Fantasia” and “Pinocchio” as well as several “Donald Duck” cartoons. He also worked with MGM on many “Tom and Jerry” toons. He also had his hand in the world of newspaper and magazine comic strips with much of his work being published in publications like The New Yorker, Reader’s Digest, Woman’s World and The National Enquirer. Plus he did some comic book writing for characters like Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse and Woody Woodpecker. But much of his comic strip work was not a major hit with most lasting less than two years. He did such titles as “The Muffins” that lasted from 1957-1959; his next was “Nubbin” that would go from 1958-1972. His shortest lived strip was “McGirk’s Works” that started and ended in 1959! “Sompkins” was from 1971-1978 and his only major hit was Belvedere that was from 1962 all the way to 1995. George Webster Crenshaw would pass away on September 6, 2007 and while he is no longer with us, he has left behind many comic strips that bring laughter and delight to readers all over the world.

The characters that make up this single panel comic strip universe are the following: Orville and Emma are a married couple who have a good house, good neighbors and a great relationship that includes home cooked meals and fun vacations and getaways. Emma likes to cook and go on hikes, while Orville is a man who likes to fish and hunt. The couple owns three very odd pets with their talking and sarcastic bird being named Chi-Chi. He is a handful as he is also very honest and at times mean in his words to Orville. The cat is Jezebel, a sweet black kitty who struts around the house and town. And lastly is the dog Belvedere who has white fur with black spots and is a canine with attitude as he does what he wants and throws fits like a spoiled child if he doesn’t get his way. He also has a feud with the local dog catchers as well as the butcher who he tries and steal meat from. Also around are the townspeople, co-workers as neighbors, and let us not forget the other animals that are part of this comic strip universe.

So as you can tell, Belvedere is a comic strip that had a decent run in papers and while long gone from being printed and showing up in the Sunday Funnies, many of his comic strip humorous adventures can be found in paperback books and one of them is what we will be using for this super quick update. I want to thank a seller on Etsy for having this book as part of a lot that I was able to get for a really good price. Also want to remind you readers that I grade this book on a standard 1-4 star system and am looking for how well the comic stays to the source material, its entertainment value and its art and story. So lets get to the one and only Belvedere!

Belvedere: The Odds Are **
Released in 1982 Cover Price $1.75 Tor Books #? of ?

Much like all these comic strip paperback books they feature one page jokes and stories so it makes it very hard to cover for these reviews. So like always, I will pick 10 of my favorite gags from this book and give you a taste of the style of humor used in Belvedere and again in no real order. # 1 has Orville and Emma on vacation and has Orville looking shocked as King Kong has grabbed a young woman, and he is seconding guessing if they should have chosen this spot. # 2 has Emma and Orville eating a hot dog from a stand on a peer and Belvedere is throwing a fit like a toddler as Emma tells Orville just to buy him another hot dog. # 3 has that sneaky Belvedere stealing a UFO from aliens who are confused to where their spacecraft went! # 4 has Orville sticking out of the floor and Belvedere is in a fighting stance as Emma tells her husband that he should give up, as you cannot teach judo to a dog. # 5 has Belvedere making a Bubble Gum Pizza and it’s a massive bubble as Orville looks on. # 6 has Orville and Belvedere at a secret fishing hole and are about to be eaten by a massive water monster. # 7 has Belvedere using boomerangs to knock out dogcatchers who laugh as they think they are toys! # 8 has Belvedere using voodoo to turn a dogcatcher into a frog! # 9 has Orville showing off a wild hog mounted on his wall to his friend, the hog is wearing a party hat and he tells how wild the hunt was. And # 10 has Orville and Belvedere looking for bones in a dig and the pet doghouse found the skeleton of a Centaur!

Let me start off by saying that Belvedere is a good kid friendly read and has the fun and mischief adventures of a pet dog with attitude, but I also want to say that George Crenshaw milks the same jokes several times in different strips and follows that same formula of a sassy animal much like Garfield and Heathcliff do. Now I am sure many of these jokes that he recycled over and over were spread out over months and maybe even years…but when put into this book, they stand out at being reused like the jokes of Belvedere telling someone to look one way as he steal meat and even jokes of him having fits over not getting his way when it comes to food. I also 100% think that the comic strip only can be funny in the visuals as the jokes that are told rely on them to work. I must say I do like the friendship between Belvedere and Orville. It’s one of the best things about this comic strip as the pair have fights and such but also spend time hunting, fishing and having adventures. And I would say that the friendship reminded me of Charlie Brown and Snoopy as far as they are not just owner and pet but also best friends. Sadly while Chi-Chi and Jezebel are around and do offer some laughs, they definitely take a back seat in this book. Emma is pretty funny and plays well off her husband as well as Belvedere. The cover for this paperback is pretty eye catching and has a vet making the mistake of thinking she is going to give Belvedere a shot! The interior art style of George Webster Crenshaw is good Sunday comic strip look that reminds me of slightly of Reg Smythe (Andy Capp) meets Dik Browne (Hagar The Horrible). To sum up Belvedere, while it is a fun and silly comic strip it is one that I found myself losing interest in the more the creator reused the jokes and gags. But with that said, I also say you readers should not only check out the art style of George Webster Crenshaw below, but also check out Belvedere as you might enjoy his style of humor.

For you readers who enjoy funny animal comic strips I would say that you might enjoy Belvedere as he does have some pretty funny gags and has a classic strip charm to him. I really do hope that you enjoy these updates that are all about comic strip characters and the paperback books that bring collections together as I have been having fun reading them and writing these updates about them! For our next update, we will be sticking with the Dog theme as well as the comic strip one as well as we will be taking a look at that massive Marmaduke! So until next time, read a comic strip or three, watch a dog movie or two and as always support your local horror host. See you next update as it will be for the dogs……you get it? As this month has turned into comics about dogs.

Comic Strip Funnies: Ziggy

Posted on August 6, 2021 by bloodlinematt

The Sunday paper for many youngsters of my generation meant looking at the ads from stores like Toys R Us, Hills Department Stores and Children’s Palace, allowing us to see all the new action figures, board games, dolls and video games that were awaiting us on the shelves, and it would also alert us to toys that were on sale that we could alert our parents to. The other major part of the Sunday paper was the Funnies, you know those classic comic strips that brought joy to your Sunday mornings as the antics of Garfield, Peanuts, Family Circus, Dennis The Menace, Andy Capp, Far Side, Blondie, and Marmaduke brought the entertainment as you ate your breakfast of cereal or bacon & eggs. Here in Ohio where I grew up, the paper is Dayton Daily News and my must read strips consisted of Peanuts, Andy Capp, Garfield, Blondie and for some reason Ziggy…yep Ziggy was a comic strip that I loved, and it’s odd as I had always seen Ziggy more as an old person comic strip but something about the little guy who always seemed like the world was out to get him made me a fan. So let’s get a cup of coffee or maybe a glass of milk and open up the good old Rotten Ink Daily News Paper and find the Rotten Funnies and see what silly humor Ziggy has for us.

Ziggy is a short balding man who lives along with his dog Fuzz, cat Sid, his pet Rock, a fish, duck named Wack and Parrot in a small house with a garden. He is a likable guy who seems to always have things go wrong for him and people around him are super rude and treat him badly…but Ziggy, while down and depressed at times, takes it all in stride and will in the end always look at the brighter side of life. Ziggy is single and loves his animals and enjoys his days off and spending time outdoors or even reading a good book. One of his best friends is a seagull that he hangs out with at the beach and it’s clear as day he cares about his animals a lot! Ziggy is also a sucker and easily tricked by people and is often taken advantage of. Ziggy is a hard worker who is a lovable character who is truly a classic Sunday Comic Strip Character.

Thomas Albert Wilson was born on August 1, 1931 in Grant Town, West Virginia and later his parents moved him to Uniontown, Pennsylvania and that’s were he spent his childhood. In 1950 he started doing advertising layouts for the Uniontown newspaper for a short time. Wilson then joined the U.S. Army from 1953-1955 and also went to the Art Institute Of Pittsburgh where he graduated from also in 1955. Also in 1955, he got a job at American Greetings as a designer and by 1958 he was Creative Director. He became an instructor for a year at Cooper Union and Art and Science institute from 1961-1962. In 1968 he created the character Ziggy, and by 1971 it was a syndicated comic strip thanks to Universal Press Syndicate and started out in only 15 newspapers but quickly grew to over 600 papers running the comic strip. In 1978 Wilson became Vice-President Of Creative for American Greetings, showing that the company knew they had a talented and creative mind on staff and needed to promote him to tap his ideas. During his time at American Greetings he also was responsible for being the head of teams that created the likes of Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake. In 1982 Wilson won an Emmy for the “Ziggy’s Gift” animated Christmas Special that aired on ABC, a true classic special that was later released on VHS and DVD for home media collectors. By 1987 Tom Wilson turned the Ziggy comic strip over to his son Tom Wilson Jr. who is still working on the strip to this day for both papers as well as online. Wilson got and beat lung cancer, but sadly died of pneumonia on September 16, 2011 at the age of 80 in Cincinnati Ohio. While Thomas Wilson is gone his legacy of creative projects including Ziggy will live on forever! Below is a picture of Thomas Sr., Ziggy and Thomas Jr.

Ziggy became such a lovable and popular character that in 1982 a TV Special was made called “Ziggy’s Gift” that was an animated short that played on ABC on December 1^st as one of their Christmas Specials. The cartoon as Ziggy as a street Santa collecting money and the world around him is filled with crooked people who are lying and stealing from everyone as Ziggy is the only honest person who really wants to help. The Special won an Emmy Award in 1983 for Outstanding Animated Program. The film was released on VHS and DVD but sadly is now out of print. You can find the special on YouTube from time to time. Very cool animated special that features one of the best comic strip characters in a truly heartwarming Christmas animated tale.

Ziggy was a true icon of early American Greetings as his image was used on so many other items besides greeting cards and the comic strip. Ziggy has been on T-Shirts, Drinking Glasses, Board Games, Paperback Books, Stuff Dolls, Mini Figures, Stickers, Buttons, Penny Banks, Home Media, Posters, Christmas Ornaments, Wrapping Paper and so much more! Ziggy was and still is somewhat of a true icon of Comic Strips! And over the years I know myself I have had the books, dolls and even a mini figure. And for some reason when I think of Ziggy I think of my Grandparents on my mom’s side.

Real quick I want to also share a picture of a cool mini figure of Ziggy that I got from Game Swap in Kettering that is Ziggy with an ice cream cone and the ice cream has fallen off the cone and onto his foot! These little PVC figures are really cool and I can remember by Aunt Donna having some of them when I was a kid. So if you like Ziggy make sure to get yourself one of these little figures that you can find on Ebay and Etsy most of the time pretty cheap.

So let’s crack open some of these Paperback Books that features Ziggy for this update about this classic comic strip character. I want to thank Game Swap Kettering and an Etsy seller for having these books in stock. I want to remind you all that I grade this book on a standard 1-4 star system and am looking for how well the comic stays to the source material, it’s entertainment value and it’s art and story. So if you are ready, let’s see what Ziggy has in store for us in these books.

Ziggys Of The World Unite! ***
Released in 1976 Cover Price $1.50 Signet # ? of ?

This book is tons of one-page stories featuring the one and only Ziggy having silly and lovable adventures! So while I cannot cover each one I will select 10 of my favorite strips in no real order. First I would pick were Ziggy is going to pop some popcorn over the stove and because nothing can go right for him the popcorn gets out of control and buries him under a mountain of the tasty snack. The second has Ziggy at a restaurant called Mom’s Place and is having to stand up for himself as Mom wants him to eat all he can eat! Lucky third has Ziggy at a palm reader who is having a hard time finding his lifeline! The fourth has Ziggy wearing sunglasses and claims that celebrities wear them so people don’t know who they are, and he wears them so people don’t know what he is not. The halfway point is this fifth choice that has Ziggy standing in front of an antique shop looking at toys that he had as a child and how depressing it is that the toys of his youth are called antiques now. Number six has Ziggy’s car missing it’s wheels after it ran out of gas and he is returning from the gas station with gas…some one robbed Ziggy! Seventh has Ziggy taking out the trash and right before be can drop the bag it busts and the trash is all over the ground. I picked for eight has Ziggy being held up at gunpoint by the teller at the teller desk at a bank! Number nine has Ziggy being bullied by an ice cream truck driver as he is forcing Ziggy to eat chocolate ice cream and like it! And the last pick aka ten has Ziggy running from the movie theater watching JAWS as he was way to scared of the shark!

When reading “Ziggys Of The World Unite!” I found myself feeling like a kid again sitting reading the Sunday Funnies and seeing what Ziggy was up to or should I say lack of up to. Many of these jokes and situations got a chuckle out of me, but to be honest many of them also fell flat and were very dated…like the talking margarine that was based on the now outdated and modern forgotten Parkay commercials, but some things that would be looked at as dated worked and still holds an impact like Ziggy being scared out of his mind by JAWS as still to this day many people are terrified of this film. The odd thing about this paperback is that none of Ziggy’s animals are shown and most of the humor really does come at Ziggy’s expense as he is treated poorly by everyone around him, it makes you really feel bad for him as he is the worlds doormat! This is a great quick read and does a great job of showcasing who Ziggy is and what this comic strip is about. But I am not done and would like to at least cover one more Ziggy paperback for this update!

This Book Is For The Birds ***
Released in 1978 Cover Price $1.25 Signet # ? of ?

This book is tons of one-page stories featuring the one and only Ziggy having silly and lovable adventures! So while I cannot cover each one I will select 10 of my favorite strips in no real order. First: has Ziggy sitting with a bird watching book by his side starring blankly at his pet bird that alerts him that this is not what they mean by bird watching. Two: a line is at the doctor’s office for shots to protect your family from the swine flu and Ziggy has all his animals with him, as the Doctor with the needle looks shocked and disheveled. Three: Ziggy is walking his pet duck as a construction worker is shouting at him to DUCK as a wrecking ball is heading toward Ziggy who alerts him that his duck is nice. Four: Has Ziggy sitting on a beach asking the a seagull where all the people are, and the bird alerts him they have stopped coming after Jaws was released in theaters. Five: Ziggy is walking under a branch and a bird poops on his head, and he says some people are lucky and the birds sing for them! Six: Ziggy is on the phone with his duck calling a radio station and asking them to play the song Disco Duck again. Seven: Ziggy is in a towel and is standing among turkeys and says he thought the sign said Turkish Bath! Eight: It’s snowing outside and a bird is in a nest and is cold as Ziggy is bringing the bird a hot water bottle to keep it warm. Nine: Ziggy has birdseed and is feeding birds and reminds us all to be kind to all the birds. Ten: Has Ziggy playing cards with his friends and his parrot is telling them what cards he has in his hand!

This paperback features Ziggy and all his animal family and friends as he tries to make it through life with them by his side. This is very heavy on Ziggy with birds and shows his friendship with a Seagull as well as his life with a pet parrot and duck and is all pretty funny and lighthearted stuff. I will say that in this book Ziggy gets pooped on several times by birds and those are funny and yet also very sad as he gets it a lot even though he is super friendly to birds and feeds them and takes care of them. His pet duck is pretty funny and seems to be a goofball just like him and just enjoys his little life. I also like how the Seagull at the beach and Ziggy seem to share deep talks, but also have time to talks silly topics. This paperback book is really good and showcases the more warm side of Ziggy as he is a true lover of animals as they besides pooping birds at least treat him well. If you like Ziggy and more heartwarming loser humor this one is for you! Check out some artwork below to see the style of Wilson and the humor of Ziggy.

I cannot help it for some reason I really enjoy Ziggy and his life is out to get him humor, I think the thing that works for Ziggy is the fact that he really is just a likable guy who always seems to be on the wrong side of the world. Well I think its time we put away the Rotten Funnies and I tell you what the next update will be about and it’s a good one in my opinion as we will be leaving the world of comics books and head into the world of sports as I will do a countdown of the best main active mascots of MLB! That’s right a countdown that will feature the sport of baseball’s best of the best, well in my opinion! So until next time read a comic strip or three, watch a movie or two and as always support your local Horror Host! See you next update as I take you all out to the ballgame.

Spider-Man Has The Power To Slay Dragon Man!

Posted on March 2, 2019 by bloodlinematt

Who doesn’t like listening to music on vinyl? Growing up I have fond memories of listing to the likes of Weird Al Yankovic, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Motley Crue and the WWF Wrestling Album to name a very few. But I also have some good memories of listening to comic books on vinyl…I am sure you long time comic readers remember Power Records released by Peter Pan Records as kids of the 70’s and 80’s grew up with these. I for one checked them out all the time from the library in Waynesville and most of the time the vinyl was missing, but my brother and I did have some of our own that we got from garage sales. One of my favorites from this series is the one featuring Incredible Hulk called “At Bay” that had old jade jaw taking on Abomination and Rhino at the Hulk Buster Base, a very fun listen and a good adventure for one of my favorite superheroes. Plus thanks to Power Records, I first discovered Holo-Man, an original superhero that I have covered here on Rotten Ink before. For this update, we are going to have some fun and not only chat about Power Records but also just some fun stuff going on in my life as well as in comics! So grab your record player and crank it to 11 as it’s time to power out with Spider-Man!

Synthetic Plastics Company was a plastic manufacturer that was founded by Daniel Kasen that opened in the 1920’s in New Jersey. Their main products were buttons and game pieces like poker chips, and they made a good living at making this stuff. But they would get into making vinyl records after World War II when Daniel’s brother entered the picture and they opened Peter Pan Records, that would spawn many other side labels like Power Records, Diplomat Records and Parade Records to name a few and would push for cheaper made vinyl records so the could sell them at cheap prices. These labels would mostly focus on children releases based on popular properties like Bugs Bunny, Sesame Street and Batman as well as Gospel, Comedy and budget releases and would crank out releases as they owned the press that made them. But while many listeners had these cheap made releases, they also knew that the sound quality was very poor and this was something that stuck with this company all during their time in business. Over the years and with many name changes, many of you might be shocked to know that Synthetic Plastics Company is still around and switched their home base from New Jersey to Florida and are now called Inspired Studios and are just shell of what they used to be, but it’s still very cool knowing they are still out there.

So with us talking about record companies and music, let’s take a look at the newest CD release of Dee Snider of the 80’s band Twisted Sister that was released in July 2018 and a release that I have wanted to check out for some time. Growing up, I was fan of Twisted Sister as well as Dee Snider’s other band Widowmaker, not to mention a big fan of his Horror Movie Strangeland and loved watching him out class the PMRC at the infamous 1985 Senate hearings. The release is called “For The Love Of Metal” and was released by Napalm Records and has 12 tracks. So let’s sit back, relax and get talking about this release shall we? When popping in this CD, the first thing I noticed is that Dee Snider has not missed a step when it comes to delivering amazing rock n roll vocals to heavy songs. And I must also say it blew me away just how heavy and rocking this release was. I also noticed that Dee also sounded a little bit like Alice Cooper in some of these songs and to be honest some of the songs even sound like they could have been song by him and released on “Brutal Planet”. I would say that my favorite track on this release would be “I Am The Hurricane” followed by “For The Love Of Metal” as both tracks I think really do capture the attitude and singing talent of Dee. Over all if you enjoyed Twisted Sister and like the singing style of Dee Snider this is a release that you should check out as one thing is for sure Dee Snider is a true icon of Rock N Roll!

What’s really crazy is to think that here in the Dayton area we have very little music shops left as places like Armadillo Records, Renaissance Music, CD Connection, Trader Vics, Gem City Records, Dingleberry’s and NRM Music are all shops of the past and all we have left is Omega Music, Toxic Beauty and Skeleton Dust and a few other mix media stores like Second Time Around, Game Swap Kettering and Buybacks to name a few who have solid and good music selections. I have so many great memories and moments at many of those long gone record shops and pretty much grew up visiting Renaissance Music and even to this day Geoff Burkman, who was the owner of the shop remains one of my close friends. Renaissance was a very cool place and one that I always felt at home at. The store had an amazing selection of music on vinyl, cassettes and CDs and was my go to store to get my 80’s hairbands. It was also the place I would get Horror Movies on VHS and later DVD as well as get posters, buttons, fanzines and Horror Indie Comics. It was a place over the years I would sit and chat with Geoff for hours about music, movies and comics. Even in school for one of my classes, I job shadowed Geoff for a class report and we watched Dawn of the Dead together that day on Laserdisc. I can still see and hear the old Renaissance Music TV commercials in my mind from time to time as they would have Geoff wearing a Godzilla mask and talking like Mr. T and calling himself Mr. G…classic. In fact many years later, Geoff would play Mr. G again in episodes of Baron Von Porkchop’s Terrifying Tales Of The Macabre. Geoff Burkman and Renaissance Music also appear in the Independent B Movie film Wolf Hunter directed by Matt Hoffman as well. NRM is another place I used to love to go as it was in the Town And Country Shopping Center that was near the High School in Kettering I went to for a short time, and I can remember cutting class and going their to pick up music to listen to on my Sony Walkman. And that’s just the two stores as I have great memories of all the stores I mentioned above and miss the atmosphere of a good classic music store and searching for the next album of a band I liked or even discovering new music. No matter how the world changes, you just cannot sell me on digital media and that goes for music, movies, comics, video games and books. For this blogger, physical will always be the way to go. Below are some of the closed music shops that brought lots of tunes to this metal heads ears when growing up.

So as you can see, in my opinion music and comic books go hand and hand as both have been a main source of entertainment for me growing up. And I am going to say this, I really wish an indie comic company would return and make classic style Rock N Roll Comics like Revolutionary Comics headed by Todd Loren did back in 1989-1994, and yeah, I know companies like Blue Water tried but failed and I am talking about comics done by fans of the bands doing unauthorized comic issues on bands like Cinderella, W.A.S.P., Danzig and Billy Idol to name a few. But let’s move past a dream I am sure will never be made true and let’s focus on Spider-Man and this adventure made just for Power Records. I want to remind you all that I grade this comic on a 1-4 star scale and am looking for how well the comic stays to the source material, its entertainment value and its art and story. So let’s see what Spidey has in store for us as he takes on a massive Dragon Man!

Spider-Man Power Record # 0 **
Released in 1974 Cover Price $1.49 Marvel/Power Records # 1 of 1

A group of college students and their teacher are out looking at the stars. Two students sneak away to make out while stars fall from the sky that turn out to be Dragon Men lead by the massive Draco King Of The Dragon-Men, who have came to earth with the plan to take it over. At the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson is mad as the story of the Dragon-Men has broke and none of his reporters have covered it yet. He sends Peter Parker to get some photos of the aliens or lose his job! Peter Parker turns into Spider-Man when his Spidey Sense goes crazy when he passes sewer manholes, and this leads him to travel around the sewer system where he finds Draco and his Dragon-Men who have a giant laser gun they plan on using in New York that will leave all machines and humans paralyzed! Spider-Man is able to trick Draco and the Dragon-Men and use his webbing on the guns controls and floods the sewer, washing away them and their fancy massive gun. Spider-Man later is back on the streets of New York and finds in the newspaper that the bodies of the Dragon-Men had been found and are robots and not aliens at all. To clear his mind and gaze at the stars above, Spider-Man sits on top of the Empire State Building and is lost in thoughts when Draco appears and shares that he is no alien but is really a missing scientist who fused his own blood with that of a giant iguana and has transformed into a massive fire breathing dragon humanoid. As Draco attacks, Spider-Man uses his fast speed to dodge him and Draco falls 20 feet onto a roof below. As Spider-Man rushes down to check on his foe, he only finds a small iguana there that crawls away into a crack in the wall.

This Spider-Man adventure was an original story made just for Power Records, and while entertaining, you can tell it was rushed and was not a priority to Marvel who did not bring their A-Game. This comic’s plot has Spider-Man on the hunt for Dragon-Men who are said to be from space and are now in New York and have a sinister plan to take over thanks to their massive fire-breathing leader Draco. Spidey, being the hero he is, not only tracks them down but also exposes that the Dragon-Men are robots and not aliens, destroys their massive destructive weapon and as well figures out that Draco is a mutated missing scientist! Spider-Man in this issue is the friendly neighborhood web head we all love and is filled with one liners as well as the fighting skills to back up his mouth. I also have always liked that Spidey uses his mind to also figure out how to stop the baddies and not just his fists. Peter Parker even in this issue has some pressure as his boss J. Jonah Jameson threatens to fire him if he doesn’t get pictures of the Dragon Men for the paper, and he also has to blow off the attention of Mary Jane Watson in order to get said pictures and this upsets his red headed love interest. Draco is a massive fire breathing dragon man who has a massive ego and wants to rule the world as he feels his superior mind puts him above normal humans…even if he started out as one. The Dragon Men are just robots who do what their creator asks, and while threats, they are by no means as threatening as such super villains as Green Goblin, Rhino or Shocker. While I am thinking about it, this story almost feels like it could have been an issue in the “Spidey Super Stories” comic series as it’s fast paced and the villain is over the top in appearance. The cover is pretty great and eye catching as it also reminds me of a cheesy b-movie poster. The interior art is also good and is done by an unknown artist as no credits are given. Over all this is a fun read and is a must for fans of classic 70’s Spider-Man adventures, but keep in mind the story is not mind blowing and is just a middle of the road adventure that feels like a back up story. Check out the artwork below to see what you get in this book and record set.

The Book and Record Sets should make a comeback in the world of comics as they were a fun way to bring in younger readers as well as add a new level of fun for older readers. In our modern world with digital, CD and Vinyl all still being around for us to listen to audio on, I am going to guess it’s only a matter of time before a company does it again…heck, maybe Sparkle Comics will bring this trend back! Now it’s time for us to leave New York and let Spider-Man do what he does best and that’s stop crimes. For our next update we will be heading to the world of snack food to take a look at Jell-O Man! So until next time, read a comic or three, listen to a CD or two and as always support your local Horror Host! So let’s get ready to meet next time and talk about a mascot for snack food.

The Ghost Who Walks Among Us And Can Never Die…The Phantom

Posted on January 13, 2017 by bloodlinematt

In the world of comic books, crime doesn’t pay thanks to the Superheroes who protect the innocent and punish the guilty. I mean Gothom City has Batman, The City has Dick Tracy and New York has many like Spider-Man, Daredevil and Fantastic Four, to name a few. But while the big cities have their protectors, so does the jungles of Bangalla in Africa who has the one and only The Phantom! What is really cool about The Phantom is that he is much like Batman and Dick Tracy as he has no superhuman powers and is just a man who is a vigilante and dedicates his life to defending the weak and beating evil down. If you think about it as well, The Phantom, who was created in 1936, is a character who bridged the comic strip hero and the comic book superhero and is the first hero to really walk that line. So let’s kick 2017 off right and spend some time in Bangalla and see what The Phantom is all about and how DC brought him back to comic books in 1988.

First, we must take a look at the life of the creator of The Phantom, the one and only Leon Harrison Gross aka Lee Falk, who was born on April 28, 1911 in St. Louis Missouri and had a decent childhood growing up Jewish. Things would take a slight turn for the bad when his father passed away when Lee was still young, but his mother remarried sometime later and this gave Lee a stepfather he loved and respected and looked up to. The older he got, he began making comic strips and made up a fake bio story for himself as he claimed to be a world traveler who experienced so much out in the world which lead him to create the characters Mandrake The Magician and later The Phantom who were both picked up by King Feature Syndicate. He created The Phantom as he grew up loving the stories of Tarzan and The Jungle Book and decided to also add in pirates and thugs from around the world as it was a topic that also interested him. Originally he wanted to call the character The Grey Ghost and wanted his costume and all to be grey but things changed when he liked the name The Phantom better and the news printer screwed up and made the costume purple, and the color stuck with readers. Weirdly enough, Falk did not have faith in his characters and thought they would only last a few weeks and was shocked that they lasted his whole lifetime, During World War II Falk worked for KMOX radio and was the chief of propaganda. Also, the older he got the more world traveling he did in order to not have to lie about his background stories. Lee Falk was married three times and had three children with two daughters and one son. Lee Folk also loved the theater and over the years wrote 12 plays, directed 100 of them and produced over 300 others! Not to mention over his lifetime he even ran five theaters! His plays would have such Hollywood actors as Basil Rathbone, Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, Shelley Winters, Chico Marx and Charlton Heston acting in them! As you can see Lee Falk was a very creative man who did lots of very cool things. Lee Falk passed away from heart failure on March 13, 1999 at the age of 87 and up to his death he was still working on his comic strips…a true man who loved his characters and creations. It’s amazing to think about just how many comic strip creators worked on their strips all the way up until their deaths showing that unlike the comic book world, the creators loved their creations and got joy of bringing them to life for the readers. This update is dedicated to you, Lee Falk, a true icon of comic strip artists and a man who lived for what he loved to do.

The Phantom is a hero who has no super powers and uses his wits, fists and guns to right the wrongs and protect his friends and tribes around his home in Africa. His costume is the following: a black eye mask, a skull ring and a purple costume that was based on an old African idol. The look is used to scare criminals and pirates, who are his main targets. The Phantom is a costume and legacy that is passed down from generation to generation within the Walker family who do this in order to give the appearance that The Phantom is not human and immortal to strike even more fear into the hearts of those who do evil. The Phantom is a trained fighter with his fists, and I would guess that he has the punch of a heavy weight boxer! He is also skilled with a gun and while not a full dead shot, he hits his target when it’s needed. The Phantom is very smart and has the same kind of mind for solving crimes as Batman, The Shadow and Dick Tracy as he is also quick to get out of a bad situation. The Phantom’s main weapon is fear as legends spread of him being a ghost and not able to be killed, using superstition of the unknown to his advantage of just passing on the title to the next in the family bloodline. The 21^st Phantom also has a pet wolf named Devil who helps him uphold justice and has his white horse Hero to get him places faster. Say what you will, The Phantom is a kick butt hero who might not be super but sure knows how to get the job done!

On June 7, 1996, thanks to Paramount Pictures, a film based on The Phantom was released to theaters and was directed by Simon Wincer and had Billy Zane as The Phantom himself. Also in the cast were Catherine Zeta-Jones, Treat Williams and Kristy Swanson with the score being done by David Newman. Before it was made The Phantom had many different directors attached to it including big names like Sergio Leone, Joe Dante and Joel Schumacher who all left the project at one point or another for reasons of their own. Paramount picked the relativity unknown Simon Wincer, who had directed a few films before it like Quigley Down Under, Free Willy, Lightning Jack and Operation Dumbo Drop to name a few and they gave him a $45 million budget. He is the one who hired Zane to play the title role as they both were fans of the character since childhood. The film’s production went smooth, and the hype was high for the film’s release as Paramount was wishing for the same kind of success as Warner Brothers had with Batman in 1989 and Touchstone had with Dick Tracy in 1990…but the box office and critics were not nice to this film as it only brought in $17,323,326.00 in the US and didn’t even get released in theaters overseas! The film came in at #93 of the year and beat out such films as The Frighteners, Trainspotting, Thinner and Mulholland Falls to name a few. While the film bombed at the theater, it developed a cult following when it was released on VHS and DVD, making the film turn in a small profit for Paramount. While I am a fan of The Phantom character, I skipped this film at the theater and waited for home video. I found it to be a fun dumb popcorn movie that, while it didn’t 100% capture the magic of the comic strip, it at least delivered some fun action and adventure. And I must say that the outfit for The Phantom that actor Billy Zane wears was pretty well done and looked like a modern version of the classic suit and brought out elements to make it stand out on the big screen.

But the 1996 film was not the first time The Phantom made the jump from comic strip to media on the big and small screen as the first was the 1943 Columbia Pictures serial simple called “The Phantom” that had a total of 15 chapters and had Tom Tyler as The Phantom. A serial sequel for The Phantom was in the works in 1955 with actor John Hart in the role of The Phantom and as production was chugging along they soon found that they no longer owned the rights to use The Phantom and quickly changed it over to calling it “The Adventures Of Captain Africa.” This was followed by the cartoon “Defenders Of The Earth” that aired on TV in 1986 and had Peter Mark Richman voicing the character for a total of 65 episodes, only lasting one season. In 1994, a cartoon called “Phantom 2040” was released as a series that lasted for 35 episodes and a total of 2 seasons with Family Ties actor Scott Valentine lending his pipes to make the character speak. And in 2009 they made a TV mini series based on the character and called it “The Phantom” that had two feature length movies to tell this new version of the character. This time around actor Ryan Carnes landed the role of the character. So as you can see, Hollywood has had many plans for this character to be the next comic character to be on every kid’s t-shirt and have toys on every chain store shelf…while they tried, it just was not meant to be as it was clear the youth was just not biting at The Phantom to replace their Batman toys and comics. I can proudly say that as a youngster I did my part, as I owned The Phantom action figure from the Defenders Of The Earth toy line.

Besides the movies and cartoons getting released on VHS and DVD, some other really cool stuff based on The Phantom has been released over the years from action figures, t-shirts, posters, statues, comic books, novels, card game, video game, Halloween costumes, replica skull rings, bobble heads, lunch box and so much more! The Phantom has had his fair share of collectibles for his fans to collect and enjoy, not to mention, besides DC, other comic book companies like Pacific Comics Club, Gold Key, Whitman, King, Pioneer, Dynomite, Marvel and Moonstone among others have printed adventures of this character. Besides some of the comics and the Defenders action figure, one thing I had in my teens was a skull ring replica that a fellow classmate gave me, and I can remember wearing it around school and feeling super cool…yeah, I know – I was young and didn’t know any better. I wonder if that ring is still someplace in my parent’s basement, also know as Independent B Movie Studios. So in closing, if you enjoy The Phantom, the world is filled with collectibles for you!

Speaking of Independent B Movie, the old shot on video company that my friends and I use to make films together under that brought you such shot on video classics as The Wolf Hunter, Farmer Joe and Who Keeps Feeding Grandpa to name a small few. For a small time we toyed with the idea of doing fan films based on some of our favorite movies and characters with lots of things being written and talked about at our annual company meetings. Characters like Superman, Lone Ranger, Leatherface, Spider-Man and Neo from The Matrix all had fan scripts written or talked about, and one of the characters I was developing a fan film for was The Phantom! The idea for my film would have had Matt Hoffman or Jason Gilmore playing The Phantom who was sent on a mission to stop Dr. Frankenstein from creating a monster for the Nazi’s who needed this super solider to turn the tide of the war. The setting was Frankenstein’s Castle in Kettering and the woods around it would have acted as the jungle with all the typical friends taking on roles like Josh Weinberg who I wanted to play Dr. Frankenstein. Garrison Kane would have played The Monster and Dave Wean, Patrick Neeley, Mike Ritchie and Jason Young would have made up the supporting cast. If memory serves me right, I think the title of it would have been called “The Phantom vs. Frankenstein,” real original right? The costume was going to be ordered offline and The Frankenstein’s Monster mask was something we would have gotten from Foy’s in Fairborn. But the film idea went nowhere and a script was never written as only scraps of paper with notes was all I had taken down for my idea for this flick, and sadly that are long gone by now. I could have only imagined if we were to have filmed this just how cheesy and terrible the action fights would have been, but I am sure much like all the films we made, it would have had a small cult following for being so bad it’s good. Below is a mock-up poster for this movie done by my friend Jason Young who I’m sure would have been cast in this could-have-been fan made film. Check it out!

Speaking of Jason Young – before we get into the reviews of DC Comics first run of The Phantom, I want to share something very cool with you: my good friend Jason has started a comic review blog called “The Bewildering” for independent comics issue # 1’s he finds in .25 and $1.00 boxes at stores as well as conventions! And with his reviews, he breaks down the issues’ plots really well and will update about once a month. It’s worth checking out if you enjoy your comics on the moldy side of the comic racks. Jason Young is a super talented dude as he is the owner of “Buyer Beware Comics” that puts out his bio comic called “Veggie Dog Saturn” among other titles. He is the co-owner of “Sparkle Comics” and its horror comic branch “Blood Scream Comics” and is working on a very cool comic called “Defenders Of The Planets” based on knock off He-Man toys from the 80’s! He also is co-host on the comic podcast called “Gutter Trash” with artist Eric Shonborn, not to mention he works at Mavericks Cards And Comics, a local shop that helps hook me up with comics for this blog! So in other words you are for sure in for a high quality good read with his blog, and I recommend that you check it out and show him some love.

So now that we have taken a look at The Phantom from comic strip to an old never made fan made film that would have been directed by me, lets get to the main attraction here at Rotten Ink and that’s the comic book reviews! When choosing The Phantom as this update I had to think long and hard about what comic company I wanted to choose as many have tackled releases for The Phantom. Most of the time I would just gone with Marvel Comics but decided to go with DC as the covers caught my attention more and looked like it could be a fun mini series. Plus I feel like sometimes poor DC gets the short end of the stick here as I cover Marvel way more often. I want to thank Game Swap Kettering and Lone Star Comics for having these issues in stock to make this update possible and want to also say thank you again to the late great Lee Falk for creating this iconic character for all us comic readers to enjoy! And as always, I need to remind you that I grade these issues on a standard 1-4 star scale rating and am looking for how well the comic stays to the source material, its entertainment value and its art and story. So with that, let’s enter the Skull Cave and see what kind of adventure we can share with The Phantom!

The Phantom # 1 ***
Released in 1988 Cover Price $1.25 DC Comics # 1 of 4

A young boy named Kit Walker is writing in the journal in the Skull Cave as he is the next in line to be The Phantom, the ghost who cannot die. He is talking about his fears and reads back to the first Phantom who watched as his father was killed by pirates and he himself washed ashore in Bangalla, Africa near death. He was taken in by its tribe and found that if the world was going to get justice, it was by him becoming justice itself and becoming the first Phantom who wanted to protect his new home and get revenge on the pirates! Now Kit Walker is an adult and the 21st Phantom who along with his step-nephew Rex, wolf Devil and white horse Hero are called upon by the tribes people as some drug smugglers have kidnapped two of the patrol men and are waiting for the big drug transaction. As The Phantom rushes off to save his friends the patrol men, one who even is under his protection for saving his life some time back, Rex starts to read the history of The Phantom journal and learns that the 13^th Phantom was tricked onto a pirate ship by a evil men named Chessmen and captured! In modern times, The Phantom arrives too late as one of the patrolmen is shot dead, and as he frees the other, he soon finds himself looking down the barrel of a gun of a hired gun of one of the original Chessmen who has always been told to kill The Phantom and his supporters!

Three Phantoms’ tales are woven together into this issue’s plot as we take a look at what sparked the 1^st Phantom to take on the mantel of being the ghost of justice as well as follow the 13^thon a set up mission and are in present day with the 21^st who is battling relatives of enemies from the past! And while this might sound confusing, it’s really not and by all accounts is really well done and gives each of The Phantoms their own characters and own traits letting you get the feel that this is truly a mantel that is handed down from father to son over the decades. All three of the Phantoms are very strong-willed people who understand that evil in the world will prey and destroy the weak if someone does not watch out for them. Each puts his life on the line to rescue the innocent and stomp out the evil that is running loose. Rex is a young man who while is not blood to current The Phantom, he is adopted into the legacy and feels very much connected to it all and wants to learn the history and family secrets to prepare for the day he is called upon to wear the purple costume of good. The pirates and captain are the villains of the story thus far and when they are not stealing or selling drugs, they are killing and have zero remorse for ending lives too soon. One of them shoots a man in the head without a care all because he had the mark of The Phantom on him! And what’s really shocking is they show the aftermath of the gunshot with a body on the deck in a pool of blood; that’s pretty crazy for a comic based on a comic strip character. The only thing that kind of made this comic a hard read was that some of the lettering for the journal was written in cursive and at times it was hard to read as it felt piled up and a little sloppy. The cover is well done and has The Phantom doing what he does best and that’s beating up pirates! The art is great and is done by Joe Orlando who I think did a fantastic job of mixing the normal 80’s DC Comics style with a touch of Sunday Comics appeal. Over all I am very impressed with this first issue and really kick myself for waiting until 2017 to read this comic as younger me would have really enjoyed this back in 1988!

The Phantom # 2 ***
Released in 1988 Cover Price $1.25 DC Comics # 2 of 4

Rex is reading the history of The Phantom in the Skull Cave as The Phantom kicks into high gear and saves the remaining officer and takes down the captain and his men, but all he could get from the captain as who is his boss is the name Chessman because his own shipmate shoots and kills him before turning the gun on himself. The officer calls the colonel on the ship’s radio for back up and help as The Phantom slips into the jungle with anger and revenge on his mind as the name Chessman is attached to those who did his father wrong many moons back. After a few hours The Phantom contacts the colonel and finds that a man named Charles Chessman from New York is the prime suspect of being the head of the drug smugglers, so alongside Devil, The Phantom as Kit Walker boards a plane for New York to get his answers and justice…but soon finds that his American girlfriend Diana’s family are long time friends with Chessman! The Phantom heads to the office of Charles Chessman only to find himself under arrest! All the while young Rex is reading about the 13^th Phantom and his struggle to break free from the pirates who sold him into slavery.

The Phantom once more shows why he is the man who cannot die when he beats up a boat full of pirates and heads to America to settle a score with a person connected with the torture of his father. While he is dealing with his want for revenge, his adopted nephew is learning the history of The Phantom. This issue feels like a great classic hero tale and adds in just enough violence, drama and modern settings to give it an appeal to readers who enjoy Batman, Superman and classic stuff like Dick Tracy and Flash Gordon. The Phantom is as heroic as he can be in this issue and saves not only the life of an officer but also a whole plane full of passengers and crew when a man tries to take it over and with one quick punch that threat comes to an end. Rex, like any young man, is wanting to learn all he can and prove that he could be very worthy of The Phantom legacy someday. The pirates and the captain are such scum that they even turn on each other when the odds are out of their favor. The Captain has no spine and is about to squeal like a pig on who hired them before his own right hand man put a bullet to good use. Diana Palmer is a woman who clearly cares about her boyfriend The Phantom and understands his odd way of life, but her mother doesn’t like the relationship and thinks The Phantom is too creepy. Something that is working really well for this comic mini series is that like his father The Phantom is trying to get the revenge that his father was unable to dish out all those years back and this adds to not only the drama but also the action. The cover is pretty slick and holds a classic look and the interior art is done by Joe Orlando again and is fantastic. Again, the only complaint I have is that some of the cursive lettering is hard to read in spots but that’s very minor and didn’t take away any of the enjoyment of the issue. So with issue two being as good as issue one, I cannot wait to see what issue three has in store for us the readers, and I wish I would have bought this series when I was a kid as I would have enjoyed it a lot.

The Phantom # 3 ***
Released in 1988 Cover Price $1.25 DC Comics # 3 of 4

The Phantom and Devil outsmart and out-maneuver the officers and as they go on a wild goose chase to track him down he slips back into the office of Chessman and beats him up and tells him he has a short time to turn himself over to the police and tell them the truth about his drug selling and stolen good ways or that he himself will be the judge, jury and executioner. After taking his leave, Diana comes to see Chessman and is upset over the fact that he beat up one of her friends who she thinks is truly a nice guy and decides to go on a dinner date with Chessman and has a terrible argument with The Phantom leaving the couple at odds and even possibly broken up. The Phantom goes out the night of the date and gets information on all of Chessman’s thugs. Meanwhile, during dinner Chessman hires a hitman named Stryker to hunt down and kill The Phantom who is in turn now hunting down Chessman’s right hand man! All the while, we get flashbacks to the 13^th Phantom who escapes his chains and goes on a hunt and kills the first of The Chessman brothers to send a message to the others that no one crosses justice and The Phantom.

This third issue ushers in the idea that The Phantom is now onto the man who has not only killed his friend and is pushing drugs but also is a relative of the evil men who pushed his father, the 13^th Phantom near death’s door. And while trying to put a stop to the evil of this man he might lose his girlfriend as well as his life as now the hunter might just very well become the hunted. The Phantom is a man alone in New York as his own lady thinks he is on the wrong track, and this leaves him trying to fight this fight without her knowledge of the target, but at least he has Devil by his side and is kind enough to give Chessman a choice of turning himself in or become a body in the morgue. Diana is making a big mistake by thinking that her longtime family friend is a nice guy and not scum. This leaves her also at the madman’s mercy as she is now at his house for dinner and he is desperate to rid the world of The Phantom. I would not put it past him to use her as a human meat shield when the action goes down. Chessman is just so slimy and plays the role of a nice guy who really has a black selfish heart, and I can’t wait for him to get served some cold justice. Stryker is a mystery and looks like your typical mafia style hitman, and he could be a challenge for The Phantom once they meet! The story of the 13^th Phantom from the past and the 21^st Phantom’s paths are one in the same dealing with the same evil and crappy people The Chessman family is good story telling and writer Peter David is doing some amazing things to make The Phantom cool for comic readers of 1988 and beyond. The cover once more holds a classic look and captures the adventure style of the character and his legacy as again the art by Joe Orlando is top notch and amazing stuff. Once more this issue is as good as the other two so far and leaves the reader wanting more and wanting to see how the story ends in the next issue. So like The Phantom, let’s lurk into the shadows of your favorite place to read comics and see what happens next.

The Phantom # 4 ***
Released in 1988 Cover Price $1.25 DC Comics # 4 of 4

At dinner Diana overhears Chessman telling Stryker about his right hand man being busted by the cops thanks to The Phantom and that this spoiled a major drug deal for him. Before she can get away, Chessman and Stryker take Diana hostage and want to use her as bait when they find out she knows him! The Phantom spends the next nights breaking up Chessman’s illegal operations but finally finds a message that Diana is in trouble and heads to Chessman’s house and into a trap. The Phantom sets Diana free but she is soon recaptured by Chessman who throws her into his car and hits the streets to get to his private plane. While The Phantom and Devil make short work of Stryker, who, armed with a sniper rifle, hardly put up hardly before being knocked out. The Phantom watches as his enemy takes his true love away and borrows a police horse and tracks them down to bridge where traffic has come to a standstill and with a gun to her head Diana is forced to watch as Chessman and The Phantom have a showdown that leaves them both falling off the bridge. Chessman is in bad shape and rushed to the hospital but is suspected to live and will face charges for his drug empire. The Phantom is thought to be dead until he shows up with Devil to Diana’s house and they patch things up and all ends well. We also see that the 13^th Phantom also had an epic fight with the pirate Chessman brother that as well left them both falling off a mountain that they both died from, but this once more proved that the legacy of The Phantom would live forever.

This four issue mini series took us on an adventure that had us in the past and modern times as well as in the jungles of Africa and the slums of New York and pitted good vs. evil and justice against law breaker. The Phantom in this issue not only brings down many drug and gambling rings but also takes down a hitman as well as defeats a rich business man who is the ring leader of smugglers and has lived his life as a lie and gotten the support of many with his phony good guy persona. And most importantly, he also wins his girl’s heart back as well as keeps the legacy of The Phantom going and intact. The best part about The Phantom is that while he is super talented in hand to hand combat, he also uses his mind to really bring down those who are doing bad and wicked things. Devil is a loyal wolf and is a big help when it comes to fighting crime and is the best ally as he is threat with his razor sharp teeth! Rex learns lots about The Phantom legacy by going into the records, a place he is not meant to be, but a place it is known he would enter as all future Phantoms have interest in the past adventures. Diana Palmer is a woman who stands by her man…well that is until he beats up and points the figure at a rich family friend and then you turn on him and try and send him home until everything he said turns out to be true and he saves your life and then you fall back in love with him. Diana should have had faith in her superhero boyfriend as she clearly has a brain in her head. Stryker is all talk as he acts as if it would be easy to kill off The Phantom and when he gets his chance, he crumbles faster than a house of cards in a hurricane! The 13^th Phantom in this series is a hero who is beaten, sold and near death but finds his inner power to get his revenge and to prove that his family legacy is not to be taken lightly. Charles Chessman is a man who has no morals and only cares about making money and getting his own fat out of the fire and would kill an innocent woman to get away, even after being given the chance to turn himself in he decides that he would rather not and try to kill his nemesis. He is much like the Chessman Pirate Brothers as his ego is what causes his downfall and leads him to a life in jail. The one thing that shocked me about this comic series was the fact that it shows not only blood but also a suicide and shows them both very gritty and this brings a more raw and natural feeling to it. The cover on this issue also is very well done and captures the heroic nature of The Phantom and adds the touch of mobsters and gritty city life to its appeal. The art is again done by the talented Joe Orlando and his work helped make this comic series even better of a read and added to the enjoyment of the sold story written by Peter David. Over all, if you enjoy classic hero tales that are filled with drama, action and a more realistic hero, then I suggest checking out this 4 issue mini series as I am glad that I did all these years after its newsstand run. Check out below to get a taste of the artwork from Joe Orlando and see just how good it is.

Being a fan of The Phantom since a young age, it really is shocking that it took this long for me to read this mini series as to be honest I remember seeing it at comic shops in my teens and never pulled the trigger on buying the issues. I really think fans of such characters, as Batman, Dick Tracy, The Unknown Solider and Moon Knight should check out The Phantom if you have not already. With our next update, we are staying with DC and taking a look at one of the biggest events in comic history in my life time and one that some say brought the beginning of the end for the comic boom and I am of course talking about Doomsday: The Death Of Superman! So until next time, make sure to read a comic or three, read a novel or two and as always support your local Horror Host, and I will see you next update for Superman’s deadliest fight ever.