Monday, February 23, 2015

Charlton space covers by Bill Molno!

For today's post, sixteen space covers by Bill Molno for Charlton Comics, most of them inked by Vince Alascia.  I'm using "space" as a catch-all for science fiction--hence, some of these images are Earth-based.  In posts to come, I'll be reviewing individual Molno-illustrated space stories, but I thought I'd start with some of his covers in/for that genre, with all but two wholly his.  Though many of these were taken from splash panels, they work superlatively as cover images.  I've put the date and issue number under each scan:


Space Adventures #46, July, 1962.  From splash panel.


Space War #11, June, 1962.  From splash panel.


Space War #15, March, 1962, from splash panel.


Out of This World #2, Dec., 1956.


Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #28, Jan., 1962, from splash panel.


Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #20, Sep., 1960.  Top panel; from interior art.


Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #17, March, 1960, from splash panel.


Out of This World #15, Oct., 1959, Molno/Alascia cover.  First image based on interior art.  Not sure about the other two!


Space Adventures #41, Aug., 1961.  First two images from interior Molno/Alascia panels.


Space Adventures #28, April, 1959.


Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #13, June, 1959.


Unusual Tales #2, Jan., 1956.


Strange Suspense Stories #58, April, 1962, from splash panel.


Space War #19, Sep., 1962, from splash panel.


Space War #13, Oct., 1961, from splash panel.


Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #27, Nov., 1961, from splash panel.


Lee

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2 comments:

  1. Nick CaputoFebruary 24, 2015 at 12:05 PM

    Hi Lee,

    Some very bizarre and offbeat images on these covers. Favorites include Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds # 17 and 28 and Space War # 15. The vegetable creature is very weird. I look forward to future posts.

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  2. Lee HartsfeldFebruary 25, 2015 at 4:36 PM

    The vegetable creature is one of my favorites, too--unfortunately, it doesn't look nearly as cool in the follow-up panels. I guess Bill was in his usual hurry. I think Molno's quirky art perfectly matched Gill's quirky scripts--I can't imagine a more conventional artist illustrating stories like "If You Believe!" or "The Green Star." More space art to come. Thanks for commenting!

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