Showing posts with label GOLD KEY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GOLD KEY. Show all posts
Friday, March 28, 2025
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
ITEM # Brothers of the Spear #1 – 18 (1972-1982)
Brothers of the Spear was a long-running backup feature in Tarzan #25 (1951) through #156 (1966). Writer Gaylord DuBois and artist Jesse Marsh created this series for Western Publishing.
ITEM # Dagar the Invincible #1 – 19 (1972-1982)
Dagar was a sword and sorcery series, set in a mythical past of warriors and wizards. There were a few secondary characters (Durak in #7, 12, 13; Torgus in #9, 10, 13). Don Glut also tied in his other Gold Key characters such as Tragg and Doctor Spektor. In #5, Jarn, Tragg’s Neanderthal brother appeared. Tragg cameoed in issue #11. In issue #13, the story actually crossed over into and was concluded in issue #15 of The Occult Files of Dr. Spektor.
Friday, March 21, 2025
ITEM # The Man from U.N.C.L.E (Collection) (1965-2016)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an American spy-fiction television series produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television and first broadcast on NBC. It follows secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who work for a secret international counter-espionage and law-enforcement agency called U.N.C.L.E.
Thursday, March 13, 2025
ITEM # 1332 UFO Flying Saucers # 1 – 25 (1968-1980)
Gold Key's UFO Flying Saucers comic series, launched in October 1968, ran for 25 issues until February 1980, with a title change to UFO & Outer Space starting from issue #14 in June 1978. This series was notable for its captivating cover art and stories inspired by real-life UFO sightings and encounters, appealing to the imaginations of young readers during a time of heightened interest in extraterrestrial phenomena.
Cover Art and Style
The covers of UFO Flying Saucers are particularly renowned for their vibrant and imaginative artwork. They featured dynamic scenes such as giant spaceships emerging from oceans, explorers finding ancient astronaut remains, and dramatic alien encounters. The artwork was primarily created by artists like George Wilson and Luis Dominguez, among others, and is often described as colorful and cartoon-friendly, appealing to children while incorporating elements of horror and suspense[1][3].
### Story Themes
The stories within the comic were characterized by their blend of science fiction and horror, often depicting humans in peril from alien beings. This thematic choice contributed to a sense of excitement and fear, making the comics memorable for their young audience. The narratives included a variety of alien types, ranging from humanoid figures to insect-like creatures, reflecting the diverse descriptions found in contemporary UFO reports[1][3].
### Legacy and Cultural Impact
**UFO Flying Saucers** served not only as entertainment but also as a cultural artifact reflecting the era's fascination with UFOs and the supernatural. It captured the imaginations of many children who grew up during this time, fostering a sense of wonder about the universe and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The series has since been recognized for its contribution to the comic book landscape of the late 1960s through the 1970s, standing out against competitors like Marvel and DC due to its unique artistic style and engaging stories[2][3].
Overall, Gold Key's **UFO Flying Saucers** remains a nostalgic piece of comic history, remembered for its compelling visuals and imaginative storytelling that resonated with a generation curious about the mysteries of outer space.
ITEM # 1326 Twilight Zone Vol. 1 # 1 – 92
The comic series "The Twilight Zone" published by Gold Key ran from 1962 to 1982, encompassing a total of 92 issues. This series was adapted from the iconic CBS television show created by Rod Serling, which originally aired from 1959 to 1964.
Overview of the Series
- Publisher: Gold Key Comics, an imprint of Western Publishing.
- Publication Dates: November 1962 to May 1982.
- Total Issues: 92 issues, starting with #1 and concluding with #92.
- Format: The comics were published in color, featuring saddle-stitched binding and glossy covers with newsprint interiors.
The series began as a continuation of earlier adaptations under Dell Comics, which included four issues in the early 1960s. Gold Key's version was notable for its distinct storytelling and art styles, with contributions from various artists such as Jack Sparling, Reed Crandall, and Frank Miller, who made his first published comic work in issue #84
Content and Themes
Each issue typically featured a mix of suspenseful, mysterious, and supernatural stories that echoed the themes of the television series. The anthology format allowed for a variety of narratives, often exploring moral dilemmas and unexpected twists—hallmarks of the original TV show
Notable Features
- The first eight issues included pin-up back covers featuring the same artwork as the front cover.
- There was a notable gap between issues #91 (June 1979) and #92 (May 1982), marking the end of the series.
- The series also saw Canadian price variants during its run, reflecting different pricing strategies in various markets.
Overall, Gold Key's "The Twilight Zone" comic series remains a significant part of comic book history, celebrated for its adaptation of one of television's most beloved anthology series.
ITEM # 1301 The Occult Files of Dr. Spektor # 1 – 25
Gold Key Comics was originally an imprint of American company Western Publishing, created for comic books distributed to newsstands. Also known as Whitman Comics, Gold Key operated this way from 1962 to 1984. Currently, Gold Key Comics is owned by Gold Key Entertainment LLC, which consists of business partners and comic book enthusiasts Lance Linderman, Adam Brooks, Mike Dynes, and Arnold Guerrero.
History
Gold Key Comics was created in 1962, when its parent, Western Publishing Company, switched to in-house publishing rather than packaging content for branding and distribution by its business partner, Dell Comics.] Hoping to make their comics more like traditional children's books, they initially eliminated panel line-borders, using just the panel, with its ink and artwork evenly edged, but not bordered by a "container" line. Within a year, they had reverted to using inked panel borders and oval balloons. They experimented with new formats, including Whitman Comic Book, a black-and-white, 136-page, hardcover series consisting of reprints,[3] and Golden Picture Story Book, a tabloid-sized, 52-page, hardcover containing new material.In 1967, Gold Key reprinted a number of selected issues of their comics under the title Top Comics. They were packaged in plastic bags containing five comics each and were sold at gas stations and various eateries. Like Dell, Gold Key was one of the few major American comic book publishers never to display the Comics Code Authority seal on its covers.
ITEM # 1298 Bullwinkle #1 – 23 (1962-1979)
Gold Key Comics was originally an imprint of American company Western Publishing, created for comic books distributed to newsstands. Also known as Whitman Comics, Gold Key operated this way from 1962 to 1984. Currently, Gold Key Comics is owned by Gold Key Entertainment LLC, which consists of business partners and comic book enthusiasts Lance Linderman, Adam Brooks, Mike Dynes, and Arnold Guerrero.
History
Gold Key Comics was created in 1962, when its parent, Western Publishing Company, switched to in-house publishing rather than packaging content for branding and distribution by its business partner, Dell Comics.[2] Hoping to make their comics more like traditional children's books, they initially eliminated panel line-borders, using just the panel, with its ink and artwork evenly edged, but not bordered by a "container" line. Within a year, they had reverted to using inked panel borders and oval balloons. They experimented with new formats, including Whitman Comic Book, a black-and-white, 136-page, hardcover series consisting of reprints, and Golden Picture Story Book, a tabloid-sized, 52-page, hardcover containing new material.[ In 1967, Gold Key reprinted a number of selected issues of their comics under the title Top Comics. They were packaged in plastic bags containing five comics each and were sold at gas stations and various eateries. Like Dell, Gold Key was one of the few major American comic book publishers never to display the Comics Code Authority seal on its covers.
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
ITEM # 1119 Phantom #1 – 74
The Phantom is a long-running American adventure comic strip, first published by Mandrake the Magician creator Lee Falk in February 1936. The main character, the Phantom, is a fictional costumed crime-fighter who operates from the fictional African country of Bangalla. The character has been adapted for television, film and video games.
Saturday, March 1, 2025
ITEM # 0985 Korak – Son of Tarzan + Tarzan Family #1 – 66 (1964-1976)
Korak is the son of Tarzan. Korak is the ape word for Killer, for which he was named because of the beserker way he kills. In the comics, Korak has his own adventures in Africa, occasionally teaming up with Tarzan but more often doing Tarzan-like things on his own
ITEM # 0984 Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery # 1 – 97
Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery is a comic book review published by Gold Key Comics from 1962 to 1980. Boris Karloff only appears as a presenter of the stories offered, but not always, and also occasionally offers a conclusion. The name of the actor, synonymous with chills, is therefore only a marketing tool.
Beginnings
When Western Publishing breaks its distribution contract with Dell Comics , the Gold Key company is immediately formed to continue this booming business. Remember that in the early 1960s, Dell Comics was the most powerful American comic book publisher 1 . A certain number of series, Bonanza , Twilight Zone or Tarzan for example, switched to the new publisher, but not all of them, but Dell published a comic magazine which had some success, Ghost Stories . Gold Key replicates by creating inoctober 1962 Boris Karloff Thriller , a second issue of which comes out inJanuary 1963. Compared to the usual 36-page format, it is a large book (84 pages) but the price is commensurate, at 25 cents 2 .
The test is considered conclusive; it is therefore decided to continue the series, with some minor modifications however (see below) .
Tales of Mystery
The pagination is reduced to 36 pages and the price reduced to 12 cents. So we go to three stories on average per issue instead of seven during the tests.
The formula is already largely marked out thanks to the experience of the Twilight Zone magazine : no stories to follow but stories that are about ten pages, hardly more and in which no monsters appear. Unlike Marvel, which at the same time stuffed its horror magazines with repulsive monsters, there are hardly any in Tales of Mystery . A cohort of dangerous animals, ghosts galore, but no real monsters.
Gold Key, like Dell Comics before it, was one of the few houses not to seek Comics Code Authority approval (along with Classics Illustrated and, but the case is technically different, EC Comics ). His implicit promise to parents was therefore never to offend young readers, on the understanding that scary stories are an integral part of Anglo-Saxon culture - Charles Dickens' famous Christmas Carol is just that . 'an example.
The success was such that Ripley's Believe It or Not magazine , which Gold Key had also published since 1966, devoted itself only to horror stories from its number 6, alternating between True Ghost Stories and True Demons and Monsters
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Sunday, January 26, 2025
Saturday, January 25, 2025
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