Friday, March 23, 2007

Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds Planet Series 1 No. 12

I promised a few days ago to detail the other Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds issue I have, and I looked forward to identifying a few more gems from bygone years. But I have to concede this is not a particularly exciting issue.

On the plus side it does include a Jim Aparo cover story, and Pat Boyette is usually good value. There’s even some Rocke Mastroserio to top things off, and a few more Space Adventures reprints to add to the tally.

But to tell the truth, this issue has too much art by the likes of Bill Molno and Charles Nicholas and Vincent Alascia to get really excited about it. It’s like reheated low-fat vegetable lasagne. It’s not the worst comics you’ll find, but it is just about the last resort.

So, in this case, anything without a hit on the GCD, I’m not really motivated to chase up any further.

I recommend just enjoying the cover for a few moments, spare a thought for how Aparo blossomed as an adventure comics artist in the following few years (and don’t resist the urge to pick up that special issue of Brave and the Bold by Haney and Aparo for a quick browse – you know you want to!), update your Planet Series index if you’re so inclined, and tune in again for more interesting Australian reprint comics later.

Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds, Planet Series 1 No. 12, cover price $0.75

The Imitation People
Jim Aparo
(Space Adventures #4, November 1968)

The Roman Gods on Mount Olympus
Charles Nicholas
(Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #46, May 1965)

The Miniatures
Rocke Mastroserio
(Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #46, May 1965)

The Fugitives
(Original unidentified, 9 pages)

The Exterminators
(Space Adventures #5, January 1969)

Surrender Earth!
Joe Gill/Pat Boyette
(Space Adventures #4, November 1968)

The Captive
(Space Adventures #5, January 1969)

The Ambassador From Earth
Rocke Mastroserio
(Space Adventures #48, November 1962)

lsland Earth
(Original unidentified, 6 pages)

When The Air Froze
(Original unidentified, 6 pages)

The Space Dreamer
Charles Nicholas/Vincent Alascia
(Original unidentified, 8 pages)

Watchdogs of the Deep
Bill Molno
(Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #46, May 1965)

Strange Galaxy
Rocke Mastroserio
(Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #47, July 1965)

Specimen Earth
Charles Nicholas/Vincent Alascia
(Space Adventures #3, September 1968)

No comments: