Thrilling Adventure Stories #1
Atlas; February 1975
Cover by Ernie Colón

Title: “Tigerman and the Flesh Peddlers”
Synopsis: When a young girl plunges to her death, Tigerman tracks down those who traffic in ranaways and extracts bloody revenge.

Writer: John Albano
Penciler: Ernie Colón
Inker: Colón

Review: Thrilling Adventure Stories #2 has a reputation of being the best comic from long-defunct publisher Atlas (Seaboard Periodicals), but this debut issue isn’t bad, either. The anthology kicks off with the first appearance of Tigerman. The art is by the underrated Ernie Colón, whose unique style looks even better in B&W.

Title: “The Sting of Death”
Synopsis: When a plane explodes over Africa, six survivors must make their way through a dangerous jungle inhabited by cannibals.

Writer: John Albano
Penciler: Leo Summers
Inker: Summers

Review: Dated racial sensibilities might make this story a bit uncomfortable for today’s reader. Leo Summers’ shadowy art shows promise.

Title: “Kromag the Killer”
Synopsis: Kromag the Killer protects his tribe of topless women from wooly mammoths, giant snakes, dinosaurs and saber-toothed tigers.

Writer: Jack Sparling and Gabriel Levy
Penciler: Sparling
Inker: Sparling
Review: Less of a story than an excuse for Jack Sparling to draw man-vs.-nature action and topless women. Adequate, at best.

Title: “Lawrence of Arabia”
Synopsis: A “quiet archaeologist from Oxford” becomes a hero helping the Arabian people fend off Turkish invaders.

Writer: Jeff Rovin
Penciler: Frank Throne
Inker: Thorne

Review: Jeff Rovin’s story is a bit tough to follow, but Frank Thorne’s stylish art is the nicest in this issue.
Title: “Escape From Nine By 1”

Synopsis: An American prisoner of war must outsmart both a spy and the stalag commander to escape alive.

Writer: Russ Heath
Penciler: Heath
Inker: Heath

Review: Another solid-but-unspectacular story, this one by the legendary Russ Heath. It’s not vintage Heath, but his storytelling chops are strong.

Grade (for the whole issue): B

Cool factor: It’s Atlas-Seaboard trying their hand at the B&W magazine format that was popular in the ’70s.
Not-so-cool factor: Actually, this one is pretty cool.
Notable: First appearance of Tigerman. … Includes text features on the films of Alistair MacLean and Doc Savage. … Also features two one-page pinups of the Atlas (Seaborad) characters, illustrated by Ernie Colón.
Character quotable: “Black — like the color of your heart, whore!” — the thoroughly unpleasant Erich, “hero” of  “The Sting of Death.”

Each week, Andrew Wahl takes a look at a Bronze Age Fantastic First. This month, he’s focusing on some of the era’s smaller publishers. For more reviews like this one, check out Wahl’s website, ComicsBronzeAge.com. Bronze Age Fantastic First reviews © 2013 Off the Wahl Productions. All rights reserved.