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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Human Time Capsules (Carmine Infantino, 1953)

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Strange Adventures #31, DC Comics, April, 1953 Script: John Broome; Pencils: Carmine Infantino; Inks: Sy Barry

Another unsettling Sci-Fi story by Broome and Infantino. I'm surprised that "The Sleepers" have never turned up again in the DC Universe. They would have been a natural inclusion in the 'One Million' storyline, or for a guest appearance in the LSH.

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Pencils: Gil Kane; Inks: Joe Giella

Atomic Surgery in Action: left (before); right (after)

Thursday, March 15, 2012

The Giant Eyes of Giant Squid


All art by Gary Gianni. Get Gary's 20,000 Leagues book HERE
It's no surprise that giant and colossal squid are big, but it's their eyes that are the real standouts when it comes to size, with diameters measuring two or three times that of any other animal. Now, researchers report that the giant squids' 10-inch eyes allow them to see very large and hungry sperm whales from a distance in the pitch darkness of their deep-sea home.

According to the researchers' calculations, animals living underwater would have no use for such large eyes if the goal were to see an average object, such as prey smaller than themselves. That's why even the eyes of large whales aren't much more than 3.5 inches across.

Giant squid may also be unique in that they are powerful enough to escape a sperm whale once they've spotted one, Nilsson says. But how can giant squid see a sperm whale at depths beyond daylight's reach?

"The answer is bioluminescence—light produced by small gelatinous animals when they are disturbed by the whale moving through the water," Nilsson says. "It is well known that bioluminescence can reveal submarines at night, and diving sperm whales will become visible for the same reason."


Prince Valiant by Mark Schultz and Gary Gianni; © King Features Syndicate.
The findings may also explain the large eyes of prehistoric ichthyosaurs, giant marine reptiles that looked something like dolphins, the researchers say. Although ichthyosaurs lived long before whales came along, they would have had to contend with giant predatory pliosaurs. link
Ref.: A Unique Advantage for Giant Eyes in Giant Squid. 2012. D.-E. Nilsson, et al. Current Biology.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Wally Wood LP Covers


Some great scans of old comic book-related viynl lps from the '60 Here. These are all by Wally Wood.










Friday, March 2, 2012

Discovered This Day (1896): Radioactivity


In 1896, Henri Becquerel reported his discovery of the penetrating rays of a uranium compound to the French Academy of Sciences. The photographic plate, fogged by these rays, showing the outline of a metal cross lying between the compound and the plate, is the first recognition of the effects later known as radioactivity. link


FF © Marvel Comics

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Joker's Utility Belt (Dick Sprang, 1940)


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From Batman #176, reprinted from Batman #73 (1940). DC Comics
Script David Vern; Art Dick Sprang
Those 25 cent annuals were treasure chests!



Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Famous Explorers of Space No. 5 (Spaceman #5, 1954)


Spaceman #5, 1954, Marvel Comics
Script: Hank Chapman; Pencils: Bill Savage



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Where's my Michael Bay movie, Robot With An Axe?

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Famous Explorers of Space No. 4 (Joe Maneely, 1954)


Spaceman #4; Marvel Comics, 1954
Script: Hank Chapman; Pencils: Joe Maneely



Art by the great Joe Maneely, who would have undoubtedly gone on to be one of the architects of the 1960s Marvel "House of Ideas" if not for his untimely death in 1958.