Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction Special #1 - Marvel

This was the final issue of Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction, a giant-sized special.

It was typical in that Marvel frequently ended some of their b/w mags in oversized annuals or specials(they did it for Dracula Lives! and Monsters Unleashed!, for example). It was atypical in that almost all of the material in this special was new, not reprinted from earlier issues.

As editor Roy Thomas explains in his introduction, they had enough material built-up for several more new issues, so when word came down the book was cancelled, they could go out with a bang of fresh stuff. And to make it even more special, this book ran 10-12 pages longer than the other specials/annuals, but for no extra money. Squa-tront!

First off, we have this gorgeous painted cover by the late, great Don Newton. You didn't see much painted work from Newton in DC or Marvel books, which is a damn shame--as you can see, this one's a beaut!

First up is "A Martian Odyssey", adapted from the story by Stanley Weinbaum, by Don Glut and Yandoc. A story of one man's life-or-death trek across Mars, as he befriends one creature by saving his(its?) life from the other inhabitants of the red planet. Fun and inventive.

Next Alan Brennert(my fav!) interviews Theodore Sturgeon, and then is "Journey's End" by Bruce Jones and Alex Nino, a great story filled with twists and turns about we what we "know" to be reality, which is of course the perfect kind of story for Nino.

Next is "The Forest For the Trees!" by Jones and Vincente Alcazar, about three space explorers fighting the creatures they find on a new planet. But that's not what eventually doomes them...

Don and Maggie Thompson contribute a text piece about their dual love for sci-fi, called "Fantastic Worlds", and then next is "Clete", this time with story and art by Bruce Jones(Jones was to Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction what Archie Goodwinw as to Creepy and Eerie--indispensible). "Clete" is an excellent tale of an alien race who comes to catalog Earth long after most of civilization as we know it has died off, but comes to care for something he finds left behind. One of my favorite tales the magazine ever ran.

Next is "Preservation of the Species" by Jones(!!) and Redondo, a really goofy, gruesome tale of a future society, featuring lots of sex, violence, alien births, and a woman whose innermost feelings display themselves as words written across her forehead. After reading this tale, take a sip of water and lie down.

What could follow that? Well, something even more unusual--"Sinner", a quick tale of religious fanaticism, written and drawn by Archie Goodwin! We've all seen Archie's cartoons in various magazines, but this is the first time I've ever seen him illustrate a story. And you know what? It ain't half bad! Archie had a definitely dynamic and unusual style:
...man, I would've loved to have seen more of this!

Next is "Arena", from the story by Frederic Brown, adapted by Gerry Conway, John Buscema, and Dick Giordano. This is the only story that previously ran in the color comic Worlds Unknown(issue #4)--still cool though, since its a great story well told, and its neat to see a story so familiar from the Star Trek episode done a different way.

Last is "Threads" by Mat Warrick and Gonzales, an unrelentingly grim(thank god its only three pages!) tale of a family dealing with the End of the World. As the table of contents page says, if the world can go out with a whimper, why not a magazine?

One odd side note: Near the end of the issue, there's a little blurb about Alex Nino's promised story "Man-Gods." Apparently the story was completed by Nino, and then lost by the Post Office! Yee-ikes! So to fill space they ran the Goodwin piece and "Arena"--as last-minute replacements go, pretty darn good. ("Man-Gods" was later found, and ran in Marvel Preview #1)

...and so we come to the end of Unknown Worlds of Science-Fiction. On the contrary to Mr. Thomas, I thought this mag went out on a bang--with a solid collection of fantastic stories and some of the best comic art around.

Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #6 - Marvel

Frank Brunner contributes the cover to this, the last regular issue of Marvel's other b/w magazine experiment, Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction. (I haven't seen it, but apparently Frank's original--already pushing the envelope with the Christ imagery--was changed a bit for printing)

Pat Broderick offers a weird, hippy-dippy frontspiece, and then editor Roy Thomas delivers the bad news that sales just weren't enough to keep the magazine going. I've heard this many times--that sci-fi fans just don't read comics that much, which never made any sense to me until I realize that I read a lot of comics but don't read a lot(er, any) of sci-fi. Hmm.

Anyway, the issue opens with, as it always does, with the "Slow Glass" framing sequence, this time by Thomas and artists Gene Colan and Dan Adkins, who make a nice pair. I've seen a lot of incompatible inkers on Colan, but Adkins smooth lines work out quite nicely.

The first story is "Behold the Man", adapted from the Michael Moorcock story by Doug Moench and Alex Nino, so you know you're in for a head-trippy time. Running twenty-three pages, the story is about a man who thought he was a messiah, and the story travels through various eras and confronts different religions--something in here to offend everybody! Took guts for Marvel even to cover this, and it makes for an effective, memorable tale.

Next is a text article by and about "Slow Glass" author Bob Shaw, complete with diagrams detailing how refracted light works in relation to the "Slow Glass" concept. I think we can see why regular comic readers, more used to the Hulk smashin' stuff, didn't buy this magazine.

Third is "Old Soldier" with story and art by Bruce Jones, a cool story of a man who explores space and what it does to his soul. Effectively told and involving.

Next is "Mind Games" by John Allison, a really out-there story of a solider who dies in WW III, and that's only the beginning of his problems. Like Allison's previous work for the magazine, I think this story works best while you're high and have on a Pink Floyd album in the background.

"Visitation" is by Don Glut and Reuben Yandoc, about some alien visitors who land and find themselves in the middle of a superstitious town about to burn a witch at the stake! You can imagine they don't take too well to that. Very fun morality play, in the classic EC tradition, nicely done by Glut and Yandoc.

It ends with one last "Slow Glass" page; a melancholy moment for both the characters and the readers. UWOSF would be granted one lone special edition after this, which we'll talk about soon. But a moment of silence for a solid, entertaining magazine that brought some of the best sci-fi tales around together with some of comic's top talents.

Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction Ad - Marvel

I found this ad while reviewing an issue of Doc Savage--I had forgotten that this Special had ever come out, so after a quick trip to ebay, I found a copy for a good price, and ordered it!

...wow--this ad is still working, thirty + years later!

Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #5 - Marvel

A very atypical Marvel cover--more like something you'd see on a Warren mag--graces this issue of Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction. The cover is credited to "Puigdomenech"...?

The inside cover is a really neat piece by Howard Chaykin, of an astronaut/space explorer of some sort, ray-gun in hand, sitting on the ground, dead with an arrow in the chest. Chaykin's comment on the magazine? The genre? The limits of technology? Am I overthinking this?

First up, as usual, is an adaptation of the "Slow Glass" concept by Bob Shaw, this time by Roy Thomas, with art by Gene Colan and Frank Chiaramonte--an unusual combination, to be sure.

The first story is "Paradise Found" by Bruce Jones and Gray Morrow, about a group of space explorers who have moved to a new world that at first seems like a paradise. At first. A more gentle type of tale, perfectly suited to Morrow's style.

Next is a text feature called "The Many Many Worlds of Larry Niven", and then is "All The Myriad Ways" by Howard Chaykin. A tale examining the concept of multiple worlds, all variations of the other, and how it leads to one man to examine the idea of endless variables. Grimly funny ending; very Chaykin.

There's another article, about sci-fi novels, by Don and Maggie Thompson, called "Fantastic Worlds", and then is "Addict" by Don Glut and Virgilio Redondo. The drug in this case is the ability to dream, and one man's addiction to it in a future world that has eradicated it. Fun, paranoid(?) sci-fi tale.

Last is "Half Life" by John Allison, a very 2001-ish tale set aboard the deep-space ship the USS Agamemnon. Some very inventive layouts help with the very psychedelic, reality-bending tone of the tale. Might've worked better had I dropped acid before reading it, perhaps. Oh well.

The issue wraps up with a "Slow Glass" closer and a letters page, wrapping up a fine issue. Unfortunately, most comics fans didn't agree apparently, since the next issue would end up being the last regular issue...

Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #4 - Marvel

A fun and weird cover by Frank Brunner kicks off the fourth issue of Marvel's excellent Unknown World of Science Fiction series, and like the previous issues we start off with another chapter in the "Slow Glass" story, adapted by Tony Isabella with art this time by Don Heck and Frank Chiaramonte, where the story starts getting really crazy.

The first story proper is "The Enchanted Village" by Don and Maggie Thompson and Dick Giordano, adapting the A.E. Van Vogt story. It's about the only man on Mars and his attempts to survive; featuring a typically beautiful art job by Giordano.

Afterwards there's an interview with Van Vogt, and then is "A Vision of Venus" by Tim Conrad, adapting the story by Otis Kline, a John Carter-esque tale of danger and adventure on Venus.

Next is "Good News From the Vatican" by Gerry Conway and Ading Gonzales, from the story by Robert Silverberg. A robot is elected Pope. Discuss.

"Encounter at War" is by Jan Strnad and Rich Corben, a grim tale of an alien invasion. You didn't see much Corben at Marvel(at least until fairly recently), so his whole approach to telling a story really makes it stand out.

Next is "Kick the Can" by Bruce Jones, channeling the best of the EC sci-fi comics, about two hunters facing off on a barren planet.

Then we wrap up returning to the "Slow Glass" story, which ends with a nice, sorta-twist ending. I wish the original artist on the earlier "Slow Glass" stories, Gene Colan, could've done this one, too. This installment is the most comic book-y and Marvelish, and while Don Heck is a fine artist, his alien designs don't exactly fit the more spacey, reserved tone of the "Slow Glass" stories.

Still, not a bad issue. There isn't one out-of-the-park home run like "War Toy" or "A View From Without" from previous issues, but a solid collection of sci-fi tales.

Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #2 - Marvel

Since I reviewed Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #3 back in June, I thought I'd use yesterday and today to catch up!

When TwoMorrrows' Back Issue! ran an article on this series, this second issue was frequently mentioned as featuring the series best story, "War Toy", by Tony Isabella, George Perez, and Rico Rival, with the cover being by Michael Kaluta. And indeed, it is an excellent tale, firmly in the sci-fi-as-social-commentary tradition, about a robot built to fight in war and the varying reactions to its existence. A great tale, told with wit and well executed by Perez.

Next is an interview with sci-fi author Alfred Bester, and then is "Adam...and No Eve" by Denny O'Neil, Frank Robbins, and Jim Mooney, adapted from an original story by Bester. A man seeks redemption for his destroying of the Earth...

Next is "The Hunter and the Hunted" by Mike Kaluta, a brief, freaky tale of one side being a little too cocky about their victory over their enemy. Following that is another text piece, "Science Fiction, Fans, and the Hugo", all about sci-fi fandom by Don Thompson.

Bruce Jones contributes "Specimen", an EC-esque tale about a long space voyage and one man trying to resist giving in to the pleasures of the flesh. Good story, but nice art by Jones, too, again in a very EC-esque style.

The final story is the second and concluding chapter of Gerry Conway and Rico Rival's adaptation of "The Day of the Triffids", a fairly decent combo of the classic tale told in the Mighty Marvel Manner.

Like all the issues of UW, this contained an intro and outro of Bob Shaw's "Slow Glass", written by Isabella but this time with artwork by Frank Brunner and Klaus Janson, which make for a really attractive combo.

Another fine issue, led off by the excellent "War Toy", and well worth seeking out!

Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #1 - Marvel

I haven't talked about Marvel's Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction nearly enough--a great, all-too short-lived labor of love from editor Roy Thomas and a host of talented artists and writers.

The movie poster-ish cover is the once-in-a-lifetime combo of Kelly Freas and John Romita. Apparently, the powers-that-be thought that the cowering couple needed to be more "Marvelized" so who better to do that than Jazzy John Romita? (In some weird way, I think the cover neatly summarizes the underlying concept of the magazine--the world of sci-fi(Freas) invading the world of Marvel(Romita). Am I reading too much into this?)

Note: A lot of the material in this first issue were taken from sci-fi/comic fanzines, on the idea that most readers had never seen this material before. And as you'll see, Marvel was able to cull material from some of the best in the biz at the time.

After an editorial/mission statement by Roy, we open with UW's setting--an adaptation of Bob Shaw's "Slow Glass" concept where via mysterious pieces of glass people can see alternate worlds and maybe their future. These wraparounds were by Tony "The Tiger" Isabella and the unbeatable art team of Gene Colan and Tom Palmer. A young couple comes in to the antique shop of one Mr. Sandson O Tyme(!) and sees...

"The Day of the Triffids", an adaptation of the book by John Wyndham, by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru, and Ernie Chua. Mysterious, malevolent, plant-like creatures start taking over the Earth! This is part one of a multi-part story, continued into future issues.

Next is the head-trippin' "A View From Without..." by Neal Adams. Reprinted from Phase #1, A young man comes across an old, beaten-up data recorder which plays for him a tale of the brutal war that once took place in a country called "Vietnam." The tale is told via art and photos, featuring a talking head played by Adams himself! Neal doesn't pull any punches on this story, as it features a scene of a young Vietnamese baby getting its hand blown off. I wonder how long it would take for Neal and the editors to get thrown into jail if they had done this story today?

Next is a text feature, an all-new interview with the legendary(to say the least) Ray Bradbury! He talks about his work, his influences, and his enduring love for dinosaurs.

After that is "Smash Gordon", Frank Brunner's goofy parody combining Flash Gordon, a nekkid Dale Arden(in a Marvel mag!), and the crew of the Enterprise! This piece was originally done for a fanzine called Heritage. Very fun, and a nice counterpoint after the gut-punch of the Adams story.

Next is "Savage World!" by Wally Wood and Al Williamson, which was also a reprint, this time from Wood's Witzend magazine. A nuclear bomb goes off and then an entire underworld civilization is discovered in the crater! Classic Flash Gordon-esque art by Williamson and a host of uncredited all-star inkers, like Angelo Torres, Roy Krenkel, and Frank Frazetta!

Up next is another interview, this time with cover artist Kelly Freas, and then "Hey Buddy, Can You Lend Me A..." by Mike Kaluta, reprinted from Scream Door #1. It's about four space travelers who land on a world populated with giant, murderous insects, and has a classic, EC-esque twist ending. Save your dimes, everybody!

The couple and Sandson have time for one more tale, "Light of Other Days", also by Isabella and Colan, with inks by Mike Esposito. We get to see the sad events surrounding the creation of the "slow glass." It freaks our young couple out, and they split, leaving Sandson to marvel about how "They all want to know about slow glass. But they never seem to make any purchases."

A really great first issue, filled with varied themes, approaches, and tones. One of the best attempts at merging comics and sci-fi, and as we'll see, more good material was in the wings...

Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #3 - Marvel

This was the last b/w mag I bought at Wizard World Philadelphia. I had managed to buy every issue of Marvel's pretty-good Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction magazine, except for this one, so when I found it for a mere four bucks I was thrilled!

Although the cover by Mike Whelan is fairly dull(a rarity for UWOSF), this issue's contents are anything but. Starting off with a fanciful frontspiece by Gray Morrow is a intro text piece "A Night at the Space Opera" by editor Roy Thomas, whose guiding hand and love of sci-fi is felt in every issue of this series.

As with the other issues, there's a wrap-around sequence that starts things off, adapting the "Snow Glass" concept by Bob Shaw, about a humble antiques dealer named Sandson O.Tyme(!), in whose crystal balls these stories reside. This segment, like the others, is written by our pal Tony "The Tiger" Isabella, and drawn by Gene Colan with inks by Frank Chiaramonte. This time Sandson is visited by a being from space, who has a great interest in his crystal ball.

The first story told is "Occupation Force", adapted from a Frank Herbert story, by Gerry Conway, George Perez, and Klaus Janson, a fun, Twilight Zone-ish tale about alien vistiors and the accompanying panic by our leaders. In just five pages it has time for a twist ending, plus cameos by President Gerald Ford and Henry Kissinger!

The next tale, "...Not Long Before the End", adapted by a story by Larry Niven, is by Doug Moench and a great art job by Vicente Alcazar. It's about a brutal barbarian(seems redundant)--he kills a sleeping woman in the first few pages--and his fight with a sorcerer over time, and how their battle--magic vs. brute force--predicts the future of the world's civilization.

Next is a text interview with "Dune" creator Frank Herbert, who talks at length about his process and work. "Gestation" is written and drawn by Bruce Jones, with the whole tale--about some space explorers visiting a new world--being revealed via journal entries. The sheer amount of wordage in this story is almost overwheling, especially since its written all in cursive! As you might guess, things start out wonderfully but it doesn't stay that way.

The final tale is the infamous adaptation of Harlan Ellison's "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said The Tick-Tock Man" by Roy Thomas an Alex Nino. I say "infamous" because Ellison himself critiqued Nino's work on the tale, saying something to the effect that Nino's loose, free-flowing(to say the least!) style didn't work on a tale about horrfying societal rigidity(I'm just paraphrasing, Harlan! Don't sue!). Thomas later defended Nino's work in the pages of Back Issue!, and while I'm not sure either one of them is 100% right, Nino's work in this story is breathtaking. The sheer amount of detail and action he puts into this seventeen-page tale is astounding.

The issue wraps up back in Sandson's shop, and we find out why this mysterious alien stranger is here. I won't reveal the ending here, but when the "Space Magi" is visited by another from his home world, the result is genuinely touching. It's only three pages, but it provides a fine wrap-up to the issue. Nice job, Isabella and Colan!

We end with the letters page with comments on the debut issue. While the result is mostly positive, I'm constantly amazed at the rudeness by some of the letters sent in. I guess these readers grew up, had kids, and then those kids continued that slash-and-burn tradition on the internet. Sure, the first issue of UWOSF may not have been your cup of tea; but no need to write in acting as though Roy Thomas and his team are a bunch of no-talent hacks. Sheesh!

All told, not a bad issue, but I think my favorite tale was the wraparound. I'm glad I finally got to complete this series!