Though the subject of this post technically falls under the PPC's non-Marvel nods tag, it's hard to miss the telltale Marvel hallmarks on this comic book cover from industry newcomer Topps Comics:
Topps, a company founded in 1938, went on to become immensely profitable as a producer of sports-themed trading cards (primarily MLB) as well as other card collectibles (e.g., Star Wars, celebrities, films, etc.), in addition to chewing gum (Topps created the Bazooka comic-strip-in-the-package bubble gum introduced in 1947), candy, confectionery items, and, beginning in 1993, the Topps comic book division. It was here where the retired Jack Kirby licensed several designs and concepts he'd kept in his files which Topps came to collectively refer to as the "Kirbyverse," a series of eight titles published in April of 1993 which would culminate in Kirby's "Secret City Saga"--NightGlider being one of them.
As we can see, a sales pitch that would be right at home on a Marvel cover is in full swing for this issue, even featuring the familiar pet names of its creative team of Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, and Don Heck. Also now at Topps is former Marvel editor Jim Salicrup, who joined their comics division after departing Marvel in 1992 to become its Editor-In-Chief. Thomas, who had left Marvel in 1980, returned to the company in 1986 but was no longer exclusive, spreading his talent with work for DC and indie publishers (which included several titles for Topps Comics), while Gerry Conway's first and only work for the company would be the NightGlider title.
As for the character, we meet the young woman named (do I have to say it?) Glida as she awakens underneath the city of Chicago, 15,000 years from when she was placed into her slumber (which would have been approximately 13,000 BC).
There are understandably more confusing aspects of our civilization to bewilder Glida--but during her brief time in the public eye she becomes a pleasing curiosity to the populace and even saves the life of one man who lost his footing and would have otherwise plummeted to his death. In so doing, however, she becomes injured and requires hospital care--which is where she is met and retrieved by a woman named Dreena and her companion, Tomark, who surprise her by being able to speak and understand her language. But being a trained soldier, she soon realizes that they also have an agenda to be wary of.
Our ruthless pair of the faction of "Ninth Men" bent on conquest do their best to kill their escapee, but Glida evades their attack and actually turns the tables on them before Dreena's "aircraft" meets a fiery end by crashing into a boat below. Once again, however, Glida is quick to save the civilians at the scene, becoming a hit with the assembled crowd.
Afterward, she decides to take some time to get her bearings by returning to the underground "Secret City" to plan her next move and hopefully think of a way to deal with Roag and Ordiz, the "leaders" that Dreena spoke of. Arriving at her destination, however, Glida encounters a man she assumes is another of their evil minions, when, in fact, he is Bombast, another character who is part of Kirby's Secret City Saga--to be joined by an equally colorful third figure.
While Kirby's name heavily promotes this series of titles, his art would only be featured on the covers of the #1 NightGlider, Bombast, Satan's Six, and Captain Glory issues (in addition to the #0 Secret City Saga). Interior art for the SCS book (as well as the one-shot Captain Glory) would be handled by Steve Ditko, with John Cleary taking the Satan's Six installments. For the Bombast issue, Thomas would be joined by veteran Marvel artists Dick Ayers and John Severin. I've never pursued reading the Secret City saga, but I'd be curious as to whether any of you picked it up and what you might have thought of it overall.
Even the Don Heck artwork inside is looking straight out of the 1960s. As if his work hasn't evolved at all (in either a good or a bad way). It would be so easy for a homage to early Marvel to fall flat but this is looking like genius.
ReplyDeleteThe Bazooka bubble gum with the little comic-strips inside was sold here in the UK too which I'd completely forgotten about until today, CF!
ReplyDeleteDon Heck, Dick Ayers, Vince Colletta and other Marvel stalwarts may lack the flashy special effects of today's artists and their computers but they always gave sterling service and formed part of the foundation of Marvel Comics.
ReplyDeleteBazooka bubble gum was sold here in Australia as well and for a short time my school friends and I tried to collect the little comic strips , but then the next thing came along (probably that year's release of Rugby League trading cards with a stick of pink gum) and we forgot all about the Bazooka comics.
I will always be grateful to Topps for their release of The X-Files comics - the early issues by Stefan Petrucha and Charles Adlard with the arresting Miran Kim covers still make for fantastic reading and that creative team really understood the show and its characters.
dangermash, Heck's pencils and inks were quite good in the issue (and, as you say, apparently none the worse for wear in terms of his talent).
ReplyDeleteColin and Charliedogg, I wasn't much of a gum chewer, but I still picked up a Bazooka occasionally (they were like pennies a piece, if I recall correctly) just to unfold and get a look at that comic strip. I guess that was my inner collector trying to tell me something.