WHAT IF...WEDNESDAY WITH THE WALLCRAWLER

The thing about most Marvel characters that have a lasting appeal, is that most of them really could be anybody. Unlike the mutants who are born with their powers, the unlikely accidents and circumstances that provide the origins of their popular characters could've happened to just about any other character at some point or another. Tony Stark could've experimented with gamma rays and became the Hulk, any other astronauts could've became the Fantastic Four, etc.
In a room full of people, any one of them could've gotten bit by that radioactive spider. What if it had bitten Betty Brant?

by Don Glut and Rick Hoberg
from WHAT IF #7, February 1978












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CASPER! As Seen On TV

Although he never had as many just flat out insane types of adventures as Hot Stuff, Casper did share in the Harvey weirdness from time to time.
This story has a television time machine which leads to the usual shenanigans.

from CASPER STRANGE GHOST STORIES #4, June 1975
















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Hedy And Nancy

In her heyday, Patsy Walker was carrying at least 3 titles under the Atlas brand, up to 5 titles if you count the books that she infrequently appeared in.
Hedy Wolfe on the other hand, got a solo title that was so popular it lasted for a whole of one issue.
Poor Hedy. A victim of circumstance. And I'm not being ironic, just check the date; '57-'58 was when Atlas Comics almost went bankrupt. I'm almost positive Hedy could've lasted for several dozen issues if it wasn't dropped by the publisher for financial reasons. Morris Weiss was doing really great art on the series at that point.
It's open for debate as to who was the definitive artist on the Patsy / Hedy series, but I'm going with Weiss over Hartley. Just my opinion.

by Morris Weiss
from HEDY WOLFE #1, August 1957








if he more than just looks like Rock Hudson, I think you're safe, Tubbs...




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Sunday Funnies: B. KLIBAN

Unless you are a cat lover or long term reader of Hugh Hefner's Playboy, chances are you may not even be aware of the work of B. Kliban. A shameful misjustice we're going to attempt to rectify today.
Kliban should rank up there with the very best of the 'gag' cartoonists like Charles Addams, Gahan Wilson, and of course Gary Larson. Yet whenever the topic does come up, I rarely hear his name mentioned.

"The reasons for Kliban's relative obscurity are unclear. There may exist a certain prejudice against single-panel cartoons among artists and critics in the field (evident in the dismissive label "gag" cartoons), not unlike the mainstream perception of comics as less legitimate, less "serious," than fine art. It’s true that the one-panel cartoon is a less innovative artistic form than the hybrid medium "sequential art," but it is also a purer one, less awkward in its conventions." - Tim Kreider

I couldn't have said it any better myself, and if you have a little time, click that link to read the whole essay. Just not before you check out this handful of samples by Kliban.

by B. Kliban
from NEVER EAT ANYTHING BIGGER THAN YOUR HEAD & OTHER DRAWINGS (ISBN: 0-911104-67-4) 1976

















That very last one I really don't get, and it's bothering me to death like that New Yorker cartoon that Elaine was obsessed with on the Seinfeld show. If anybody can figure out either part of it (the bad pun or the rhyme), PLEASE leave a comment. Guesses are also welcome.
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For more of B. Kliban's work, visit one of these sites:
DAVEY C'S B. KLIBAN PAGE
B. KLIBAN AT COLDBACON DOT COM

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