MASTER OF SILENT DEATH -- FANTASY ILLUSTRATED'S THE DJINN !!!

The Djinn, a mysterious action adventure series, actually predates his appearance in Coyote, first appearing in a 15-page story, in what would turn out to be the only issue of Fantasy Illustrated #1, a fantastic, high quality black & white magazine published by New Media Publishing. Incredible Steve (Avengers) Englehart writes, fantastuc Steve Ditko pencils and Steve (Star Wars) Leialoha complementary inks. You've heard of the Three Tenors, here are the Three Steves.

Panels from Coyote #7

 

The story opens with Anthony Coyne bringing Ali Pasha to Cairo. We later find out Pasha is returning to Cairo to kill the Djinn, leader of a Cult of Hashishin, and allows himself to be captured. Coyne ends up embroiled in all this intrigue as well, and he and Pasha wind up in an elaborate death trap which they manage to escape by working together and then plan to work together against the Djinn and his secret society.

A The Djinn page from the black & white magazine, Fantasy Illustrated #1

Fantasy Illustrated #1
Editorial includes background on Fantasy Illustrated's beginnings and information on the strips and creators, including the development of Englehart and Ditko's The Djinn.
"The Djinn"
Reprinted in Coyote #7.
Also includes stories by Don (Sabre, Black Panther) McGregor & Tom (Starlord) Sutton, P. Craig (Killraven) Russell, Mark (Herculoids) Evanier & Mike (Justice League of America) Sekowsky, with a gorgeous cover by P. Craig Russell.

Coyote #3
"How Coyote Chased His Tail"
Enter the Djinn, Master of Silent Death.
Great Jackson "Butch" Guice cover & pencils with Bob Wiacek inks.

A favorite cover of mine by the talented Chas Truog!

 

Coyote #7 - #10
Introduction to the Djinn strip, in Coyote #7, includes art by Ditko/Wiacek. An alternate version appeared in Marvel/Epic house ads and possibly fanzines to promote the series.Ali Pasha, believing he's killed Tony Coyne, names himself the new Djinn and takes over the Hashishin. Tony kills Ali and is attacked by Sharaia and the original Djinn. Tony defeats Sharaia and kills the Djinn. He decides to take his mantle and declares war on the FBI.
Nice cover by Chas Truog.  

Panels from Coyote #7

Kind of an odd story, Englehart shows some imaginative stuff. Ditko does a great job on a lot of the settings and action scenes, and Leialoha is probably one of the best inkers Ditko ever had, so it's really nice to look at.

Terrific Jim Starlin cover for Adventure Illustrated #1

Robin Snyder & Steve Ditko The Mocker collected edition!

The magazine, Fantasy Illustrated, also has an advertisement for another magazine by the publisher, Adventure Illustrated, which shows off Ditko's Mocker character. However, that story would end up being published by Pacific Comics, the next year.

Coyote #7 The Djinn splash page

Coyote #8 The Djinn splash page

Coyote #9 The Djinn splash page

Coyote #10 The Djinn splash page

Live Large My Friends!

Thank You! 

Collected Coyote editions containing The Djinn stories!

 

JULES VERNE'S FANTASTIC -- JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH !!!

Science Fiction pioneer Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth novel was a fantastic journey indeed. A magnificent world lying below our feet, discovering strange secrets, hints of ancient civilizations, weird prehistoric creatures, and dangers undreamed of.

An impetuous German geologist discovers an encoded manuscript in which a sixteenth-century explorer claims to have found a passageway to the center of the earth. The intrepid Professor Lindenbrock embarks upon the strangest expedition of the nineteenth century: a journey down an extinct Icelandic volcano to the Earth's very core. In his quest to penetrate the planet's primordial secrets, the geologist, together with his quaking nephew Axel and their devoted guide, Hans, discovers an astonishing subterranean menagerie of prehistoric proportions.

Can the adventurers survive the dangers that await them?

Will they ever find their way home again?

Classics Illustrated #138 Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Illustrated by Norman (Golden Age Green Lantern) Nodell.
Text articles on Jules Verne & cave exploring.

Dell Four Color Comics #1060 Journey to the Center of the Earth
Inside front cover; black and white. Five photos from the movie and partial list of cast and credits.
Written by Robert Schaefer and illustrated by John (Swiss Family Robinson) Ushler with a photo cover from the motion picture.
Adapted from the 1959 movie "Journey to the Center of the Earth" based on the novel of the same name by Jules Verne.
After finding a mysterious message inscribed on a plumb bob found inside a piece of lava, Prof. Lindenbrook and his student Alec McEwen mount an expedition to descend into the Snaeffel-Jokull, an extinct volcano in Iceland. They are joined by Hans, a native guide, and Mrs. Goetaborg, the widow of Lindenbrook's rival. In addition to the natural menaces of the trip into the Earth's interior, they must also contend with another explorer, Count Saknussemm, who is determined to be the only one to return. 
Pat Boone back cover, black and white photo, with background cropped out and replaced by color triangles in abstract design.

Acclaim Comics published Classics Illustrated #25 Journey to the Center of the Earth.
It sported a terrific Lou (Around the World in 80 Days, Fury) Harrison painted cover.

Nice cover illustration to the Pendulum Press edition!

Journey to the Center of the Earth was also published by Pendulum Press
Get ready for an adventure where a group of explorers seek a passage to the center of the Earth and discover a subterranean fantasy world, filled with prehistoric life forms and mythical monsters!

America's Best TV Comics #1 from Marvel Comics
Paul (The Fly, The Web) Reinman illustrated an adaption from the Journey to the Center of the Earth cartoon which took liberties from the source material.
Still looking to reacquire this Marvel Comics gem. Always loved the cover! And it included The Beatles as well! 

Wally Wood cover for Journey to the Center of the Earth record album advertized in Warren Publications for sale!

One of my favorites is Wally Wood's illustrations for a cover to the Journey to the Center of the Earth record album.

Map of the Journey to the Center of the Earth

Journey to the Center of the Earth Book art

 Live Large My Friends!

Thank You! 

From Marvel's America's Best TV Comics #1

Ad from America's Best TV Comics #1

THEY THOUGHT WRONG -- VOID INDIGO !!!

Marvel Comics published Steve Gerber & Val Mayerik's groundbreaking Void Indigo. First a graphic novel, then an all too short lived comic book series, Void Indigo was truly groundbreaking. Hard to believe, the psychologically complex, morally dark story was originally a revamping of DC Comics Golden & Silver Age Hawkman.

By the way, these are the terrific creators of the incredible Howard the Duck, recently revived after a cameo in the outstanding  Guardians of the Galaxy movie! Unfortunately, we lost Steve Gerber far too soon.

First appearance of Howard the Duck in Adventure into Fear #19 with Man-Thing!

In a savage before the dawn of history, four sorcerers committed a heinous crime of torture and murder - and thought got away with it!

They're about to find out they thought wrong! 

Marvel Graphic Novel #11 Void Indigo
Peaceful extraterrestrial Jaghur had been a human in his previous incarnation, and he returns to Earth with a spirit of vengeance against the seven demons who had tortured and killed him in his previous life. He makes his way to Los Angeles.
Continued in Void Indigo #1.

Void Indigo #1
"Spikes and Demons Part One: Killing to be Clever"
Jaghur's adventures in Los Angeles. 
Continued from Marvel Graphic Novel #11. The series had a storyline for six issues but was cancelled early due to very bad reviews. Due to the comic's extreme portrayal of violence, however, distributor reaction to the first issue of the limited series was negative.

Void Indigo #2
"Spikes and Demons Part Two: Rapture and Violence"
Page 27 is a full text page.

Marvel Age #21
Val Mayerik Void Indigo cover.
Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik discuss Void Indigo.

Surprise! For the completest -you can find the Steve Gerber's great outline for the completion of the six issue series @  http://www.hoboes.com/pub/Comics/Comics%20as%20a%20Career/Steve%20Gerber/Void%20Indigo%20Issues%203-6/  (highlight & click on Open Link.) Now we can know how Gerber planned to complete the six issue series, for all of us that didn't like being left hanging.

Val Mayerik has also said he'd like to complete the project, with another talented comic book writer. Now, wouldn't that be the topping on the cake.  

Gerber had also said "By the way, the "message" of Void Indigo wasn't really revenge. What the book said – and people found this disturbing, too – is that the evils, both profound and petty, that we all commit must eventually extract a price. We may think we've gotten away with it, but sooner or later, even if it's 11,000 years and countless incarnations later, the cosmos will bite back."

Original page 38 of Void Indigo GN.

Original page 45 of Void Indigo GN.

 I hope you've read this, or will soon. You're in for a treat.

Recommended Val Mayerik comic book, The Master, written by Chuck Dixon!

Another recommended Val Mayerik comic book, Young Master, written by Larry Hama!

Live Large My Friends!

Thank You!