Starting this December, a terrifying new series will once again pit the iconic Aliens and Predators against each other. From Dark Horse Comics comes Alien vs. Predator: Thicker Than Blood, written by Jeremy Barlow (Star Wars: Darth Maul, Kult), illustrated by Doug Wheatley (Star Wars: Dark Times, Conan: Road of Kings), and lettered by Michael Heisler (Halo: Escalation, Aliens: Dust To Dust) with the cover illustrated by Chun Lo!
Alien vs. Predator: Thicker Than Blood kicks off when Predators board a luxury charter spaceship, unleashing a path of terror and bloodshed. An adolescent girl and her younger "brother" are the last to survive, and begin a cat-and-mouse chase with the attackers. They hope for an escape, but they haven’t counted on the Alien...
Alien vs. Predator: Thicker Than Blood #1 (of four) goes on sale December 11, 2019, and is available for pre-order at your local comic shop.
DEJAH THORIS is back in a brand new ongoing series by sci-fi superstar Dan Abnett, launching this December!
Writer Dan Abnett (Guardians of the Galaxy, Aquaman) and his fellow creators are heading to Barsoom to chronicle the latest tales of Dejah. His co-pilot for this mission is artist Vasco Georgiev (Xena). The crew is rounded out by colorist Dearbhla Kelly (Red Sonja) and letterer Simon Bowland (James Bond Origin).
Barsoom has always been a dying world, teetering on disaster, but it may be closer to death these days. Dejah Thoris has been many things in life; a wife, a mother, royalty and an adventurer. Now her role as a scientist must take center stage, as she attempts to investigate why her homeworld is freezing. Other skills come into play when it’s discovered that political factions may be hiding the secrets of this global catastrophe. Glittering palace intrigue and visceral adventure abound in this new series, as Dejah joins her fellow Women of Dynamite “trinity” of Vampirella and Red Sonja.
“I’ve been a huge fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s Barsoom stories since I was a kid - without question a fundamental cornerstone of Science Fiction, and an inspiration for so much of the cosmic wonder that we love today,” said writer Dan Abnett. “I jumped at the chance to write a saga in that world. It’s a dynastic epic of intrigue, action and adventure, with Dejah at the heart of it, and we’ve got an amazing art team to bring it to life.”
Abnett is the perfect match for the world of Barsoom, based on his pedigree of work. With a career spanning three decades across countless publishers, his most influential work is arguably his tenure spearheading Marvel’s spacefaring heroes for over half a decade. This body of work, nearly universally beloved by fans and critics included creating the modern iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy and revamping several other characters. This cosmic epic provided the blueprint for Marvel Studios’ successful Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and the comics division will release a new sequel the same month as Dejah Thoris, with Abnett involved. While the intricacies of royal intrigue necessary for Barsoom can be found in his recently concluded Aquaman run. Readers may also be familiar with his sci-fi tales from a deep shelf’s worth of Warhammer 40,000 novels.
“The series’ protagonists are strong (mentally and physically), beautiful women and it is very important to me that their unique personalities be reflected in their character designs and actions. Dejah and her friends will be kicking lots of butt and will look great doing it,” said artist Vasco Georgiev. “Designing the Barsoom landscape and architecture is a dream as I also work as an architect. I try to give every city, building, and space a unique and instantly recognizable identity. The charm of Barsoom is that it combines futuristic technology and architecture with medieval design and customs. Imagining how to unify these concepts in every panel is a veritable treat.”
"We've wanted to work with Dan again for years, but he was tied up exclusively with DC for Rebirth, and he crafted some great stories adding to their mythos. When discussing a new Dejah Thoris series, we wanted to wait for Dan once we knew that was a possibility, and glad we did. His series is incredible, and I cannot wait for the fans to check it out!," said Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci. "Considering how great the scripts are, we wanted an artist who could complement them, and with Vasco coming off of his Xena run, he was the perfect fit. With some of our closest friends doing covers in Hughes, Parrillo, Tucci, Linsner and the fantastic cosplayer Mai, that's the cherry on top to excite new fans to pick up the series!"
Dejah Thoris #0 Cover A January 2018 Dynamite Entertainment
Written by Amy Chu. Art by Pasquale Qualano. Cover by Jay Anacleto.
The untold story of the Red Martian princess! After learning of the legendary Gardens of Mars from her grandfather, Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, sets off on a dangerous scientific expedition to save her dying planet. But things don't go the way she planned when she encounters a mysterious Green Martian prisoner... A prequel to Edgar Rice Burroughs' beloved book A Princess of Mars. 32 pages
Cover by Bill Everett. Stories by John Romita, Vic Carabotta, Jack Abel, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, and Joe Sinnott.
"The Werewolf Was Afraid!"; "Too Human to Live!" with art by Carabotta/Abel; "On the Trail of the Witch!" with pencils by Jack Kirby; and "Behind the Door" with art by Joe Sinnott. Beware of these fear-filled suspense stories fill with action, intrigue and, best of all, monsters! All reprints from Menace, Spellbound, and Tales of Suspense.
An English sports hunter journeys to Austria with the intention of hunting werewolves. Since his sense of fair play doesn't allow him to kill any animal in cold blood without first provoking it to attack, he is mortified when he comes upon a werewolf in a clearing sitting upon a stone reading a poetry book while sniffing flowers. The Englishman thinks that this just won't do and calls the werewolf all sorts of nasty names but the werewolf just tells him to leave him alone and stop bothering him. Finally the Englishman thinks of what the boys back home will say about his failure and this makes his blood boil with rage. Suddenly, the werewolf springs forward and knocks his gun away. "Not so brave without your gun, are you?" The werewolf devours the hunter explaining that the English are so droll he has to work them into a froth as they are better-tasting meals hot-blooded then cold.
"Too Human to Live!"
A human-looking robot employed to work in a factory of mechanical robots resents the conditions of his employment as he doesn't know he's a robot. When he meets a pretty young lady and makes a date with her, he tries to escape the factory, but the other robots take him back to his workstation. He makes a dash for the fire escape but the other robots pursue him and he falls from an open window to smash to pieces on the ground below. The robot supervisor says that it is unfortunate when robots come to think of themselves as different from other robots merely because they look different.
"Behind the Door"
A wealthy old man builds a viewing device so powerful that it even displays Death approaching him. He hires bodyguards and builds a vault to hold Death once the beam reveal its presence. The bodyguards can't see what the beam reveals but they manage to wrestle it into the vault nonetheless, and the old man dismisses them, joyful that he can spend all his money and never die. He gets a call from the hospital that his niece, whom he loves dearly, has been in a terrible auto accident and is suffering greatly. She should be dead, the doctors say, but it is almost as though something is preventing Death from coming. The old man realizes that he cannot allow his niece to go on suffering so he releases Death and Death claims him.
Beware #3 July 1973 Marvel Comics
Cover by Rich Buckler and Joe Sinnott. Stories by Al Luster, Joe Maneely, and George Tuska
Beware of these fear-filled suspense stories fill with action, intrigue and, best of all, monsters! All reprints from Mystery Tales and Adventures into Terror. "Don't Ever Gyp a Gypsy" (art by Al Luster), "The Man Who Ran Away" (art by Luster), "Today I am a Man" (art by Joe Maneely), "Marion's Murderer." Ad for Foom! (Friends of Ol Marvel).
A man and his girlfriend attempt to buy the secret of immortality from a Gypsy for 100,000 dollars. He gets the money through robbery and buys the secret from the Gypsy. At first, he is glad because he can walk through bank guard's bullets and only be tickled, but when his flesh rots off, he realizes his girlfriend held out on the Gypsy and he returns to their apartment to kill her.
"The Man Who Ran Away"
A scientist who resents his fellows as inferior builds a time machine to travel to the year 4024, where he is eliminated as a misfit because he can answer none of their I.Q. questions.
"Today I Am a Man!"
In the 1970s a man becomes paranoid that androids are out to kill and replace him so he kills everyone around him until he is apprehended and it is revealed that he, too, is an android.
"Marion's Murder!"
A husband is bored with his wife so he kills her and intends to bury her in the cellar, but he forgets that today is their wedding anniversary and when he carries her body down the stairs and turns on the lights, the neighbors are gathered there for a surprise party the wife had arranged.
Beware #8 May 1974 Marvel Comics
Final issue of the series, title continues as Tomb of Darkness. Cover by John Romita. Stories by Ed Winiarski, Mike Sekowsky, Mort Lawrence, and Paul Reinman.
Beware of these fear-filled suspense stories fill with action, intrigue and, best of all, monsters! All reprints from Marvel Tales, Mystic, and Astonishing!: "The Helping Hand!" (from Marvel Tales 129); "The Black Dungeon" (from Mystic 2); "The Thing That Stalks Skull Valley!" (from Mystic 37); and "They Walk Thru Walls!" with art by Paul Reinman (from Astonishing Tales 56).
Big city crooks move out to a small town in order to avoid the law but are undone by snoopy neighbors.
"The Black Dungeon"
A woman befriends an ugly man who works for her as a servant. The town tailor wants her as his wife and so the ugly servant resolves to protect her from his evil, but the tailor succeeds in leaving Otto to die in the black dungeon. As he is leaving the cemetery, he still hears Otto's voice trailing after him promising to protect the young lady...always. The woman is forced into an unwanted marriage with the brutish tailor who keeps her prisoner in her own home. To cheer herself up, she clothes one of the ugly tailor's dummies and refers to it as "Otto". One day, her husband becomes violent with her and the dummy gets up and strangles him.
"The Strange Valley"
White tourists scoff at legends of Indian gods at play in the strange valley...until they see one.
"They Walk Through Walls"
A man with aspirations of overthrowing the U.S. government is apprehended by men who walk through walls. They explain to him that they are a secret society dedicated to guarding the people from men like him. He escapes the house where they wish to confine him and, after several days of exposure, flags down a passing motorist. While recovering in the hospital, he tells a fake story to a psychiatrist about the guardians plotting a government takeover, figuring that the police will remove them from being an obstacle in his path. What he is unaware of, is that the psychiatrist is one of the guardians and has him committed as insane.
"When most people hear the word idolatry, they think of pagans worshiping statues and assume, "That's one subject that can't apply to me." Oh, yes it can.
You don't have to keep a carved, wooden tiki idol in your backyard to be an idolater. You don't have to visit a Buddhist shrine. Any time you worship the thing God created as a god, that's idolatry.
We can get so caught up in the things of this world - jobs, money, people, material things - that we forget our purpose here on earth. We should live in the world but not of the world. Spend some time analyzing your walk with the Lord. Are there things that you are placing above your relationship with God? Ask Him to reveal things in your life that are being placed above God." - Tony Evans
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Out of his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you the mighty inner strengthening of his Holy Spirit.
—Ephesians 3:16 (TLB)
"Horace Pitkin, the son of a wealthy merchant, was converted and went to China as a missionary. He wrote to his friends in America, saying, “It will be but a short time till we know definitely whether we can serve Him better above or here.” Shortly afterward, a mob stormed the gate of the compound where Pitkin defended the women and children. He was beheaded and his head was offered at the shrine of a heathen god, while his body was thrown into a pit with the bodies of nine Chinese Christians.
Sherwood Eddy, writing about him, said, “Pitkin won more men by his death than he ever could have won by his life.” Christ needs people today who are made of martyr stuff! Dare to take a strong, uncompromising stand for Him." - Billy Graham
Some might think that the rebirth of the super heroes at Marvel with FANTASTIC FOUR #1 rang an immediate death knell for the giant monsters who had ruled the roost for the previous few years, but that’s not quite the case. In fact, the two carried on side by side for a while.
FANTASTIC FOUR #1 marks an interesting merging of the two genres as Stan Lee and Jack Kirby pitted their brand new first family of comics up against, you guessed it, giant monsters. Just look at the cover if you don’t believe us!
The issue from 1961 began with each member of the team already equipped with their powers out in New York City until a mysterious figure sent out a Fantastic Four flare that grabbed their attention. Upon the group getting together the reader discovered that Reed Richards called the meeting. After recounting their cosmic ray-filled trip to outer space that granted them amazing powers, the quartet focused on the task at hand: stopping The Mole Man from sending his enormous monsters surface-side to destroy nuclear plants.
Franklin and Valeria Richards may have traveled through space and time, but in this week's FANTASTIC FOUR #11 by Dan Slott, Paco Medina, Kevin Libranda, Paolo Villanelli, and Juanan Ramirez, they face a new force of nature: the Department of Extra-Normal Motor Vehicles!
The very first version of the iconic vehicle debuted on the cover to FANTASTIC FOUR #3 in 1962 thanks to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby!
The team flew in the bathtub-like craft home from Miracle Man's performance before readers saw it split into four platforms that each team member could fly around in. Over the years, the team has returned to this version more than a few times, including immediately after making their way home after HEROES REBORN! More recently, Thing and Torch used this version to ride around when they starred in MARVEL 2-IN-ONE (2018)!
The Complete Fantastic Four #5 October 26, 1977 Marvel UK
Written by Gerry Conway. Cover art by John Busecma and art by Joe Sinnott.
Rumble On Planet 3; The Thing; The Fantastic Four Fight Back
The Complete Fantastic Four was a weekly title launched by Marvel UK on 28th September 1977, and ran for 37 issues until 8th June 1978. The first 36 page issue gave away a free gift of a plastic snap together model of a Boeing 747, while the second gave away a free Boeing Clipper boat plane model. Early issues contained just two reprint strips; early '70s Fantastic Four reprints continuing from their run in Super Spider-Man and 'classic' '60s reprints beginning with Fantastic Four #1 in the backup slot. In later issues, a third strip was included, 'The Invaders'. Following the title's cancellation, both the Fantastic Four and the Invaders moved into the pages of Mighty World of Marvel Vol 1.
Reed Richards and Susan Storm had been romantically linked for most of the FF’s early years. Still, it was a surprise when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby actually let them get married. However, the ceremony wasn’t without its complications. Doctor Doom wanted to get his revenge on Reed and the team by sending nearly every villain on Earth to break up the wedding. Fortunately, the X-Men, Doctor Strange, and the Avengers were all on the guest list, with Spider-Man also swinging by for an assist.
In terms of spectacle, none of the subsequent Fantastic Four weddings have outdone the first one. Lee and Kirby also couldn’t resist including themselves among the well-wishers for the happy couple, even if they couldn’t get past Nick Fury to attend the reception.
While they stand among Marvel Comics' most historic figures, the Fantastic Four's ideology has proven them to be the most forward-looking and aspirational unit at the House of Ideas.
They mean so much to the Marvel Universe; the First Family have personally introduced 8% of all Marvel characters into existence. But they’re not only heroes in the conventional sense, they’re also explorers, inventors, and pioneers. And in a major way, they’re fashion icons.
The Fantastic Four has been around for 50 years, and over the course of that time, they've tweaked and changed their look to adapt to the times and reflect the state of the world that they are so instrumental in building. The team’s had so many iterations and compositions over the years that it’s important to remember that despite the Four’s status as the rock upon which Marvel was built, they’ve always been changing and adapting and growing.
Script by Stan Lee. Pencils by Jack Kirby. Inks by Joe Sinnott. Cover by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott.
"A House There Was!":
A jubilant Fantastic Four reunite with baby Franklin and Alicia after their episode in Latveria ended last issue! Reed, Sue, Ben, Johnny, and Crystal are ready for some rest, relaxation, and house-hunting! Following a realtor's tip, the Invisible Girl leads the team to a contemporary house located in a secluded forest. Seems like a strange place for a modern house. But everything goes smooth as Reed and Sue move in and then sit down for their first meal with Johnny and Crystal. However, shortly thereafter everything goes dark! The foursome are suddenly blind! Who owns this house?! Could there be a mole inside? Or perhaps more specifically…a mole man? Last 12¢ issue. (Notes: This issue is the third appearance of (the still unnamed baby) Franklin Richards. The Mole Man previously appeared in Uncanny X-Men 34.)
Marvel’s First Family may be the Fantastic Four, but while there are four core members -- Reed and Sue Richards, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm -- there have been numerous close friends and associates that have filled in as one of the official Four, usually on a temporary basis, and sometimes a more permanent one. In FANTASTIC FOUR #3, available now, it looks like there will be one big family reunion!
Though the team always eventually returns to those four family members (plus Franklin and Valeria Richards), here are some of the heroes (and villains!) that have been members of the Fantastic Four over the years.
When Sue first became pregnant with her and Reed’s son, Crystal, of the Inhuman Royal Family, joined in Sue’s stead for a time. As the Fantastic Four aided this mysterious and secretive race of superhumans on numerous occasions, the FF and the Inhumans were very close. And none were closer than Johnny and Crystal, who had crushes on one another. Naturally, Johnny was quite enthusiastic about Crystal filling in for Sue. This wouldn’t be the last time Crystal would join the FF -- she joined the team again in FANTASTIC FOUR #305, when Reed and Sue took a leave of absence to take care of their powerful and unstable son, Franklin.
Charlton's Gorgo comic book series based on the 1961 British-American giant monster film Gorgo, which ran from 1961 to 1965 with 23 issues. The first issue is an adaptation of the film, while the rest are original stories pitting Gorgo and his mother Ogra against various monsters, aliens, and human armies.
The comic book series has two sequels, Gorgo's Revenge with one issue and Return of Gorgo with two issues. Every issue of Gorgo was written by Joe Gill. Steve Ditko, the co-creator of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, illustrated eight issues (1-3, 11, and 13-16). - From Wikipedia
After a seaquake, a huge lizard-like creature walked out of the ocean and almost destroyed a fishing village in Ireland. Fortunately for the village, the same quake that brought the 65 foot monster to land has also grounded a salvage ship, the crew of which proved up to the task of capturing the beast.
Instead of killing it, or turning it over to the government, they decided to take it to London and put it on display for profit.
Looking to be a huge success, things became more complicated when it was discovered the monster, dubbed Gorgo, was really just a youngster and it’s 200 foot tall mother was coming for him.
After a pitched battle with the British army, Gorga’s mother, Ogra, was able to free her child and they both went lumbering back to the sea.
That, however, was not the last the world heard of Gorgo. Apparently having found a taste for the land, the young monster began to make regular visits there.
At the same time, governments, scientists, and even would-be world conquerors pursued Gorgo and his mother for their own ends.
This led Gorgo to finding himself in a succession of dangerous situations, from battling other giant primitive monsters, to control by mad scientists, to even at one point inadvertently preventing World War III. - From Fandom
Gorgo #12 April 1963 Charlton Comics Group
Script: Joe Gill Pencils: Joe Sinnott Inks: Vince Colletta Art: Steve Ditko
"Monsters' Rendezvous"
"Strange Beasts, Past and Present"
"A Second or an Eon?"
"Deep Water Dream!"
Gorgo teams up with another B-movie monster, Reptilicus, to battle squid creatures from outer space who want to take over the Earth.
Cover by Ernie Bache with art by Steve Ditko and Bill Montes.
Gorgo's curiosity brings him to the waters off Cuba, right at the height of the 1962 missile crisis. Steve Ditko's drawings are tamer than usual, even with this relevantly timed story. More than midway through, his enthusiasm returns, depicting Gorgo's attack on the Russians with gusto. Ditko also enlarges panels to better show the creature's massive scale. This is number 7 of 9 Gorgo issues with Ditko art and/or covers.
Not since "King Kong"...has the screen exploded with such mighty fury and spectacle!
Backstory:
Konga is a 1961 British/American international co-production science fiction horror film directed by John Lemont and starring Michael Gough, Margo Johns and Austin Trevor. It was shot at Merton Park Studios and in Croydon for Anglo Amalgamated, then distributed in the United States by American International Pictures (AIP) as a double feature with Master of the World. Anglo Amalgamated and AIP each provided half the funding for the US$500,000 film, with each studio receiving distribution rights in their respective hemispheres.
Konga was the basis for a comic book series published by Charlton Comics and initially drawn by Steve Ditko (prior to Ditko's co-creation of Spider-Man) in the 1960s. From Wikipedia
The comic book version, adapting the movie into that medium. It was written by Joe Gill (The Blue Beetle, Peacemaker) and drawn by Steve Ditko (Doctor Strange, The Creeper). The comic was dated June, 1960.
Even if the comic did appear first, being a comic book adaptation of a live-action movie would make Konga (no relation, by the way) no more a toon than The Magic Sword (1962), Operation Bikini (1963), Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) or any other Hollywood property that got turned into a Dell "Movie Classic". What made it different was that Charlton put out a second issue, and continued it bimonthly afterward. This put it in a class with Charlton's Gorgo and Reptilicus, rather than that of Gold Key's Fantastic Voyage or Fawcett's When Worlds Collide. As it is, Konga is better known as a comic book character than for his role in an American International Pictures production.
Konga started out as a chimpanzee in the possession of Professor Charles Decker (Michael Gough, who played Alfred in 1990s Batman films). Decker had acquired cute li'l Konga during an African adventure in which he'd also acquired a chemical way to make living things grow to enormous size. Needless to say, the chimp and the chemical got together before too much screen time had gone by (or before too many comics pages had been turned) as Decker attempted to use Konga in a typical mad scientist scheme. The transformation seems to have had the unexpected side effect of turning Konga into a gorilla. Poor guy — the only reason he committed murder was because he was under Decker's mind control, and they treated him the way they always treat giant apes, i.e., killed him. His only consolation was, Decker got it in the neck before he did.
But Konga, at least, got better. He was de-killed in Konga #2 (August, 1961), also by Gill and Ditko, then got involved in a new adventure with each new issue. Later issues were drawn by the team of Bill Montes, pencils and Ernie Bache, inks (Fightin' Five, Sarge Steel). The series lasted 23 issues, ending in November, 1965. With #24 (September, 1966), it was re-titled Fantastic Giants, which lasted one issue, reprinting early Ditko Gorgo and Konga stories. Along the way, he appeared in two issues of Konga's Revenge; and in 1968, that title was also used for a one-issue revival, which reprinted a 1964 story. - From Toonopedia
Konga #12 May 1963 Charlton Comics Group
Cover by Dick Giordano, written by Joe Gill, with art and pencils and inks by Steve Ditko
"The Lonely One" "Vince Vanne Vanishes" "Kobi the Hunter"
Konga's Revenge #1 December 1968 Charlton Comics Group
Cover and art by Montes and Mastroserio.
"The Trojan Queen" :
Featuring the huge primate who is doomed to wander the earth lonely and feared by all save a few. Stated on cover is "Popular Request Second Printing." This is the only printing of Konga's Revenge (1968 series) number 1. The second printing refers to this issue being a reprint of Konga's Revenge (1963 series) number 3.
Fantastic Giants #24 September 1966 Charlton Comics Group
Steve Ditko cover, art, and stories.
Steve Ditko's work is showcased in this special one-shot issue. Two landmark reprints from Gorgo #1 and Konga #1 accompany two new stories. In the first, an African witch doctor sculpts an idol from a giant meteorite and claims leadership over his tribe. Otherworldly images are the artist's specialty and this one is no exception. The drawings culminate in an outstanding splash page (see interior page below). Ditko's second feature tells of a village terrorized by an indestructible brute. While not as impressive as the first tale, it still displays plenty of skill and effort. Similarly, Ditko's busy new cover is visually compelling with a touch of humor. This is number 1 of 1 Fantastic Giants issues with Ditko art and/or covers.
