BRONZE AGE FANTASTIC FIRST: Weird Tales of the Macabre #1
Seaboard Periodicals; January 1975
Cover by Jeff Jones
Title: “The Demon is Dying!”
Synopsis: A demon’s human host is dying, and the village bishop hopes to end the creature’s five-year reign of terror.
Writer: Pat Boyette
Penciler: Boyette
Inker: Boyette
Review: This B&W white horror mag from Atlas (Seaboard) wants to be Eerie and Creepy so bad it hurts. That said, it’s a reasonably decent knockoff. This leadoff tale by Pat Boyette is a solid effort. The story isn’t anything special, but Boyette’s distinct style looks great in gray-toned B&W.
Title: “Time Lapse”
Synopsis: A strange clock traps a man in a time loop — where he seems unable to escape his own death!
Writer: Uncredited (probably Augustine Funnell)
Penciler: Leo Duranona
Inker: Duranona
Review: This time-loop story is both confusing and not that original, but the stark art of Leo Duranona is quite striking.
Title: “A Second Life”
Synopsis: A man steps out on his wife with a dead girl, resulting is his own grim murder.
Writer: Uncredited (probably Ramon Torrents)
Penciler: Uncredited (probably Torrents)
Inker: Uncredited (probably Torrents)
Review: This creepy little story is the best of the lot, thanks largely to gorgeous art (most likely by Ramon Torrents)
Title: “The Cheese is for Rats”
Synopsis: Two wanderers steal cheese from a man obsessed with killing rats. Needless to say, things end poorly.
Writer: Uncredited (probably Villanova)
Penciler: Uncredited (probably Villanova)
Inker: Uncredited (probably Villanova)
Review: This issue’s creepiest story is followed by its silliest tale. The art is cartoony, but appropriate for the script.
Title: “Tour de Force”
Synopsis: A washed-up actor’s comeback bid playing a werewolf takes a macabre turn when he’s bitten by a real wolf.
Writer: Uncredited (probably Martin Pasko)
Penciler: Uncredited (probably Leo Summers)
Inker: Uncredited (probably Summers)
Review: The story stretches for poignant but doesn’t quite get there. And the art, likely by Leo Summers, isn’t the best.
Title: “Speed Demon”
Synopsis: Race-car driver Neal Evers attacks the course with no regard to human life — ultimately including his own!
Writer: Ernie Colón
Penciler: Colón
Inker: Colón
Review: This auto-racing story is a little uneven, but Ernie Colón’s crisp, stylish art looks great in B&W.
Grade (for the whole issue): B
Cool factor: Some really nice art here, beginning with the moody cover by Jeff Jones.
Notable: Also includes a seven-page text essay on “The Many Horrors of Dan Curtis.”
Character quotable: “Phew, That’s as dead a man as I’ve ever seen.” — An unnamed ambulance paramedic.
Copyright ©2014 Off the Wahl Productions, all rights reserved. Each week, T. Andrew Wahl takes a look at a Bronze Age Fantastic First.
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BRONZE AGE FANTASTIC FIRST: Weird Tales of the Macabre #1
Seaboard Periodicals; January 1975
Cover by Jeff Jones
Title: “The Demon is Dying!”
Synopsis: A demon’s human host is dying, and the village bishop hopes to end the creature’s five-year reign of terror.
Writer: Pat Boyette
Penciler: Boyette
Inker: Boyette
Review: This B&W white horror mag from Atlas (Seaboard) wants to be Eerie and Creepy so bad it hurts. That said, it’s a reasonably decent knockoff. This leadoff tale by Pat Boyette is a solid effort. The story isn’t anything special, but Boyette’s distinct style looks great in gray-toned B&W.
Title: “Time Lapse”
Synopsis: A strange clock traps a man in a time loop — where he seems unable to escape his own death!
Writer: Uncredited (probably Augustine Funnell)
Penciler: Leo Duranona
Inker: Duranona
Review: This time-loop story is both confusing and not that original, but the stark art of Leo Duranona is quite striking.
Title: “A Second Life”
Synopsis: A man steps out on his wife with a dead girl, resulting is his own grim murder.
Writer: Uncredited (probably Ramon Torrents)
Penciler: Uncredited (probably Torrents)
Inker: Uncredited (probably Torrents)
Review: This creepy little story is the best of the lot, thanks largely to gorgeous art (most likely by Ramon Torrents)
Title: “The Cheese is for Rats”
Synopsis: Two wanderers steal cheese from a man obsessed with killing rats. Needless to say, things end poorly.
Writer: Uncredited (probably Villanova)
Penciler: Uncredited (probably Villanova)
Inker: Uncredited (probably Villanova)
Review: This issue’s creepiest story is followed by its silliest tale. The art is cartoony, but appropriate for the script.
Title: “Tour de Force”
Synopsis: A washed-up actor’s comeback bid playing a werewolf takes a macabre turn when he’s bitten by a real wolf.
Writer: Uncredited (probably Martin Pasko)
Penciler: Uncredited (probably Leo Summers)
Inker: Uncredited (probably Summers)
Review: The story stretches for poignant but doesn’t quite get there. And the art, likely by Leo Summers, isn’t the best.
Title: “Speed Demon”
Synopsis: Race-car driver Neal Evers attacks the course with no regard to human life — ultimately including his own!
Writer: Ernie Colón
Penciler: Colón
Inker: Colón
Review: This auto-racing story is a little uneven, but Ernie Colón’s crisp, stylish art looks great in B&W.
Grade (for the whole issue): B
Cool factor: Some really nice art here, beginning with the moody cover by Jeff Jones.
Notable: Also includes a seven-page text essay on “The Many Horrors of Dan Curtis.”
Character quotable: “Phew, That’s as dead a man as I’ve ever seen.” — An unnamed ambulance paramedic.
Copyright ©2014 Off the Wahl Productions, all rights reserved. Each week, T. Andrew Wahl takes a look at a Bronze Age Fantastic First.
Popular Topics
Overstreet Access Quick Links
