COMICS HISTORY | 13th Dimension, Comics, Creators, Culture

Apr20

50 YEARS LATER: The Kitschy Greatness of THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD

Posted by Dan Greenfield on Apr 20, 2024

50 YEARS LATER: The Kitschy Greatness of THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD

REEL RETRO CINEMA: The Harryhausen classic was released in America five decades ago! — UPDATED 4/20/24: The Golden Voyage of Sinbad was released in the U.S. 50 years ago this month, on April 5, 1974! Perfect time to “reprint” this piece from 2016! Dig it! — Dan — OK, so there’s a special reason Rob Kelly’s latest REEL RETRO CINEMA column is focused on this Sunday-matinee staple. See, over the last year or so, ever since Sir Christopher Lee died, he and Caroline Munro have become minor obsessions of mine. It’s because I’m convinced that the two of them should have been Ra’s al Ghul and Talia in a ’70s Batman movie that should have been made but wasn’t. (Read about that here.) This is an idea that goes back to childhood. (Read about that here.) Anyway, we’re right now in the thick of NEAL ADAMS MONTH (again, click here) in which the legendary artist provides us with daily commentary on every variant cover he’s done for DC in February, each one based on one of his Bronze or Silver Age classics. But during our lengthy discussions, I made sure to ask him about the Lee-Munro idea — and he was really into it. (You can read about that here.) So the timing seemed right to revisit The Golden Voyage of Sinbad in all its Munrovian glory… — Dan — By ROB KELLY “Trust in Allah, but tie up your camel.” 1973’s “The Golden Voyage of Sinbad” was producer Charles H. Schneer and Ray Harryhausen’s second Sinbad film, following 1958’s The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. This time around, John Phillip Law (Diabolik himself!) plays the world-traveling, sword-wielding adventurer. Let’s set sail! Directed by Gordon Hessler (who helmed many fine films, plus KISS Meets The Phantom of the Park), the movie opens aboard Sinbad’s ship as it cruises the high seas. A small winged homunculus flies above, dropping a golden tablet. Sinbad wears it around his neck, and that night has a strange vision of a mysterious woman with an eye tattooed on her hand. A strange storm blows the ship off course, and Sinbad and his crew find themselves at a coastal town in the country of Marabia. While on land, Sinbad is accosted by a stranger in black who demands the tablet, showing off his sword for emphasis....

Apr19

ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS to Get 50th Anniversary Re-Release — Including a DELUXE EDITION

Posted by Dan Greenfield on Apr 19, 2024

ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS to Get 50th Anniversary Re-Release — Including a DELUXE EDITION

The seminal ’70s book will be back in print later in 2024… Origins of Marvel Comics, the 1974 book that was among the earliest trade collections of major comics stories, is getting a 50th anniversary reissue in September. Not just that, there will be two versions to choose from, a paperback and a deluxe hardcover, both coming out the same day, according to online sales listings. The cover (or covers) have not been released but here’s the original one by John Romita, along with the official description: ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS Originally published in 1974, Origins of Marvel Comics features the first appearance of characters who have dominated the pantheon of Marvel’s modern storytelling mythology—Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Thor, and Doctor Strange—along with a second Silver Age tale featuring these special heroes, all hand-picked and introduced by the one and only Stan Lee, and serving as an essential showcase for writers and artists such as Stan himself, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Romita, and Marie Severin. Whether viewed as a historical artifact that launched an industry of presenting Marvel Comics to a broad audience of fans or a collection of the best in Silver Age comics by many of the greatest creators to ever put pencil to paper, Origins of Marvel Comics highlights both the lasting greatness of these iconic characters as well as the monumental contributions of the talented creators who launched an entire storytelling universe. — A few thoughts: — Here’s the additional description of the hardcover edition: “A deluxe, collector’s edition of the original Origins of Marvel Comics including a new cover, essays, and more.” It’s edited by our pal Chris Ryall but that guy ain’t spillin’ any details. — New cover, huh? That implies the paperback will have the original cover. I have zero to base this on, but I’d lay odds that the deluxe cover will mimic the original but with art by Alex Ross. Total guesswork on my part, but you can see that happening, am I right? I mean, it’s a natural. — Both versions are due Sept. 3, 2024. The paperback lists for $21.99, the hardcover lists for $50. — That Stan Lee solo byline has chafed fans for five decades. Curious how/whether that will be addressed. — Abrams ComicArts generally corners the market on these kinds of projects...

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