For some reason, the Phantom is more popular in Australia than in America.  Marvel used the Australian creators David De Vries and Glenn Lumsden for a pretty good miniseries, the Phantom: the Ghost Who Walks ,which was published just before Phantom 2040.  It featured a villain modelled on the Aussie fast bowler and fearsome sledger Merv "the Swerve" Hughes.

I believe Frank Giacoia inked the Destructor #3. Atlas seems to have been a bit lax in crediting some of their inkers. Jim Mooney was probably the uncredited inker of the Scorpion #3.

Some more Atlas/Seaboard: The Phoenix



This was another of the precious few that made it past issue 3. It was also part of the recent Atlas revival attempt. It was definitely one of the more unique offerings from Atlas, before the inevitable revamp issue.

The series was the brainchild of editor and writer Jeff Rovin and artist Sal Amendola. Rovin had come over from Warren, while Amendola had been doing some work at DC, on Detective Comics.

The first issue opens with the destruction of Earth space station Threshold I. An oxygen leak forces the crew to evacuate, witnessing the explosion of a liquid oxygen tank.



The crew must navigate debris and re-enter Earth's atmosphere. Unfortunately the heat shield is damaged and the ship crashes in the arctic. Only astronaut Ed Tyler survives. He is "rescued" by a group of aliens who have been hiding in the arctic! They have been observing their experiment. In ages past, they evolved the human race and have been studying it. They meet to decide Ed's fate and he is none too happy. his impulsiveness draws ire from the supposedly emotionless creatures. He doesn't like the idea of being a lab rat and decides to escape, somehow adapting their technology, while stealing one of their suits. Considering these guys can evolve entire species, their technology seems to be pretty easy for a 20th Century astronaut to adapt. He ends up creating weapons within his suit, which allow him to channel energy.



Ed escapes and makes his way to Iceland, where people have such Nordic names as Steve and Mitch! The aliens follow and cause lava to erupt from under the surface. Ed uses his cobbled together atomic transistors to create radiation beams and save some folks. he then fights the aliens and ends up unleashing a nuclear cataclysm.



Ed uses his abilities to save those he can, while the aliens decide their experiment is a failure and to put an end to it. They take off in their ship to do so.

In issue 2, The aliens begin with an attack on New York, while Ed is sitting on an Icelandic hill, lamenting. He is found by a man who recognizes him as the "Phoenix" that the papers and radio have talked about, who rose from the ashes of Reykjavik. he takes him back to his place to call the authorities when his daughter points out that he is the missing astronaut, Ed Tyler. Tyler explains about the aliens; but, none of the family believe him. That is, until the aliens attack, killing them all, except Ed. he fights one of the aliens, who turns out to be Nerei, one who had been friendly towards him and spoke for him at the tribunal. he has mortally wounded the alien, who warns him of the attack on New York. Ed goes and tries to fight but can't stop the destruction. he ends up saving a group at the water front by using his nuclear powers to part the seas so that people can escape to safety. he makes it back to his home, where he meets his wife, home from the funeral for the dead astronauts. She can't believe her eyes. he tells her of his story and the aliens' attack. he then goes off to become a savior for mankind.

Issue 3 sees Rovin ceding the writing duties to Gabe Levy. Yetis are attacking a village in Nepal (where everyone dresses in coolie hats, apparently). The Phoenix reads about it in the newspapers, while having breakfast in a diner (as people look on). he heads off to Nepal to help. There he finds the village destroyed and one lone survivor. The old man tells him of the yeti and Satan, the being who controlled them. Phoenix investigates and meets Satan; but, smells a rat. He discovers that Satan is another alien, their chief scientist, who was cast out for unauthorized experiments. His name is Lucifer, of course. He continued his experiments, including creating the Loch ness Monster. Phoenix hears all of this while chained to what almost looks like a cross. The monster attacks, he breaks loose, kicks its scaly backside and saves the other people. he has saved them from Satan, he is truly blessed, one says. Uh, hunh...

So, Rovin goes way overboard with the biblical allegory, trying to make Phoenix into a messianic figure, one part Moses, one part Jesus. It's all rather clumsy, somewhat violent, and rather disjointed. Sal Amendola's art is fine, with his style reminiscent of Neal Adams and Irv novick, which is part of why he worked on Detective Comics. The Phoenix runs around in the alien suit, looking somewhat superheroish, though the white booties make it look a bit like the Coyote, when he has on his Acme sneakers. The plot is hardly intricate and scenes are stolen from all kinds of sci-fi sources, with the tribunal mirroring Planet of the Apes and the saucer attack invoking Earth vs The Flying Saucers. The biblical stuff is about as subtle as Gilbert Gottfried screeching at you. There's a germ of an idea at the center; but, Rovin can't pull it off and Levy isn't an improvement.

Issue 3 also features a back-upstory, with a costumed vigilante called the Dark Avenger. The story is from John Albano and is fairly cliched; but, it does feature artwork from a young Pat Broderick.

Issue 4 brings the Atlas revamp and we start out with Phoenix no acting like a crybaby. he seems to think Earth is doomed and he carves a tombstone for it and turns up his atomic transistors and flies up into the stratosphere to commit suicide. he's zapped by a spaceship and wakes on board, finding a crew of beautiful women in helmets and bikinis. Very Frank r Paul. He finds out there are guys, to and gets zapped when he tries to escape. he is revived and brought to meet the Protectors, the humanoid aliens who sent the first batch (the Deiei) to Earth to monkey with genetics (so to speak). They would rather see Earth burnt to a cinder; but, their boss said give 'em a second chance. Ed gets one too. he's outfitted with a new costume and some nifty gadgets, in a scene out of a James Bond film (with worse jokes) and then sent to an asteroid to battle a four-armed psyclops. he barely beats the bruiser and earns the right to be called the Protector and be sent back to watch over the Earth.

Yep, gone is the biblical mess, now we are swiping from Green Lantern. Gary Friedrich is writing and his attempts at humor don't live up to his work on Sgt. Fury. It gets pretty whiney, as we see Ed bawling like a baby at the start, his wife bawling like a baby at his absence, and Ed's old NASA boss simpering about being fired. I don't think this is much of an improvement over Rovin's work. It doesn't matter as Atlas folded before we got an further issues.

Issue 4 is the only Atlas comic I encountered in the wild. A friend had it and lent it to me. It seemed okay when I was 9; and less experienced with comic stories; but, it reads horribly as an adult. Actually, the back story I imagined, based on dialogue was far better than what we got. It all sounded more epic. i did think the costume was cool, though now it looks like a bad rip-off of Raven, of the THUNDER Agents and Black Bolt. It all strikes me as wasted potential.

The Phoenix was part of the Atlas revival, which lasted about as long as the original experiment. I can't really recommend this, unless you are looking for the oddball; and, really, that description fits most of the Atlas line (which is why I collected them, starting in college). In some ways, it presaged Solar, at Valiant, thoguh you could say that was because it was a bit derivative of the old Gold Key Dr Solar, man of the Atom. They even refer to the Phoenix as the Man of the Atom. Amendola's artwork is the only thing that works for me and he avoids the hulking look that permeates most comics. All of his characters, from the aliens to Ed, are sleek and wiry.

The ironic thing is, for all of its faults, The phoenix was still more ambitious than most of the Atlas line. It just suffered in the execution.

It also features early inking by Terry Austin, who also pencilled most of the last 2 pages according to Pat Broderick (in Comic Book Artist #16). 

There's no such thing as too much!

This stuff is really fascinating and I regret not having a store in my area that didn't carry these books back then codystarbuck.

It's really packed a punch and I'm enjoying it.

Atlas/Seaboard War Comics:



This single issue of Blazing Battles Tales features Sgt Hawk, a hard-nosed tough infantry sergeant. he's been tasked to take two men and rescue a captured female French Maquis leader, before she can reveal names of French and Dutch partisans. It's a tough job and he's a tough sergeant, leading tough men. They like their steaks tough. Everything about these men is tough. They sneak into the German camp, killing sentries and a poor soldier on his way to the showers...



They are surprised by the Krauts, but these are tough men and they blast their way out, with the sexy Frenchwoman, who is tough and didn't spill the beans. The escape and lay low in the tough woods beyond the camp, with the Germans missing them at every turn. They clean up the woman's wounds and Sgt Hawk turns psychotic, especially since he conveniently witnesses a burial detail, with mutilated American corpses. he knows it's the work of the same one-armed German commander. He goes beserk and launches a one-man assault, with one of his guys trailing behind. He's too late, though, as a bomber already hit the camp and killed everyone, except the one-armed man. Hawk kills him, toughly!

This thing is violent and sadistic as all hell and was still, somehow, approved by the Comics Code. The characters are ciphers and it is all about brutality and sadism. This is not a Joe Kubert tale. It features art from Pat Broderick; but, you wouldn't recognize it, under Jack Sparling inks.

The second feature, called Sky Demon, is about a P-51 pilot with a 6th Sense. He is seen attacking a German ship, solo. It just so happens that it is carrying high explosives and he destroys it, before German destroyers can rescue it. back at base he is told by the new base commander that his solo flying days are over. he is needed with the rest of the squadron and the general isn't buying the 6th sense nonsense. The squadron meets up with some Luftwaffe boys and blow them out of the skies. On the way back, Sky Demon has a sense about a railroad train and requests permission to strafe. he is denied and flies on. back at base, the commander tells him he is back on solo hunting duty. That train was carrying Adolf Hitler!

This features art from Al McWilliams. McWilliams had done work for several companies, including Dell, Gold Key, Lev Gleason, Marvel, Quality, and DC; but, he is best known for the comic strip DateLine: Danger!. His art is great here, as he gets to draw P-51 Mustangs, German ships, Messerschmitts and all kinds of stuff. The story is rather lightweight and one of those "irony of war" tales. Fairly forgettable, though competent.

The last feature is a salute to Pvt William Swanson, of the 1st Infantry Division, who won the Bronze Star at Normandy. While his unit was pinned down, he bellycrawled, inch by inch, to a hedge row. From there, he outflanked a German machine gun nest and shot dead the three-man crew. He then used the same tactics to take out two more nests and a sniper.

The tale is typical of the historical stories often seen in war comics and features the always fabulous art of John Severin.

Our other entry from the Atlas war comics line is Savage Combat Tales, Featuring Sgt Stryker's Death Squad.



Issue one introduces us to Ben Stryker, son of a doctor and the best shot in the outfit. However, he is reluctant to kill. He also has to look out for the kid brother of his girl; which of course means the kids is dogmeat. They get caught in a German counterattack, near the Kaserine Pass, and their unit is all but wiped out. Stryker releases 4 prisoners who were being held for court martial and they agrre to help. The consist of Nisei Lee Shigeta, a judo expert, Turk Ankrum, pro wrestler (which is great if the Germans will sell for him), Duke Ripley, circus acrobat and Ice Marko, gangster. they form the Death Squad and take out a tank crew, then use the tank to kill Krauts. The story ends with Stryker shooting a sniper, taking his first life.

Al McWilliams is on art here and it's pretty good:



The story is from Archie Goodwin, who is legendary for his stories on Warren's Blazing Combat. He also took over some of DC's war books (where he gave Walt Simonson an early assignment). here, he gets to indulge in the same tradition he set at Warren, very anti-war war comics. Ben Stryker believe's in the sanctity of life and is horrified by what he sees. He has enemy soldiers in his sights several times; but, can't pull the trigger. he's a natural leader and is able to rally the 4 prisoners to his cause. In the end, he reacts and takes a life. Now he has to live with it. Goodwin tells a heck of a tale, filled with action and humanity. McWilliams excels at it and the comic stands out because of it.

The back-up tale is also by Goodman, with art by Jack Sparling, and is called "Bounty." It tells of Jessup, a pilot for Claire Chennault's Flying Tigers, in China. Jessup is hungry for the bounty that the Chinese government pays for downed Japanese planes, but they require proof. jessup goes low to pinpoint where his kill crashed, leaving his fellow pilots vulnerable. This puts him on the outs with the other men and his commander. He doesn't care about anything but the money. he finds himself and his wingman on escort duty, when the Japanese attack. he shoots one down and goes to confirm, leaving his wingman, who is shot down. he himself gets hit and hits the silk. He meets up with the Chinese and shows them his "blood chit" (a patch sewn on the backs of the fliers' jackets, offering a reward for their safe return) and shoot him dead. the Japanese have offered a reward of 500 yen for downed pilots.

Goodwin is masterful with this ironic tale, of a type common in war comics and films. Pilots fly in pairs and help defend one another, When one lets glory cloud judgement, it is usually someone else who pays. This time, the pilot pays, as well.

Issue 2 finds Ben and his misfits saving a General from being killed by a Messerschmitt and then helping him get to his HQ. They have to scrounge up a truck and get it running, while dodging the Germans. A leaking radiator forces them to seek an oasis, where they have to outflank the Germans. They escape; but, their vehicle has had it and the Germans close in. Stryker is able to destroy the German half-track by shooting gas cans, buried in the road, setting off a fireball. his men finish the job.

Again, a great tale from Archie and Al McWilliams, as Sgt Stryker is a mixture of The Dirty Dozen and Rat Patrol. However, it's the back-up feature that really stands out. It's called "Chennault Must Die." and features ALEX TOTH on art. Our story, again, involves the Flying Tiers and a Chinese pilot, known as Warhawk.

An American pilot, Dixie, has his bacon saved by Warhawk and squawks a thank-you, when his fuel injector cuts out. He is forced to land and spots a jungle strip. Only it is held by the Japanese. It turns out he was herded there so they could capture his plane, load it with explosives, and turn it into a bomb to destroy Chennault. Dixie tries to fight, but is overcome. however, guerrillas attack, lef by the mysterious Warhawk; but, not before the plane gets in the air. Warhawk and Dixie head out and the American is led to a secret hanger, where Warhawk's black P-40 is housed. they take off and pursue the stolen plane, shooting it down. Dixie is taken over his home field and bails out, so Warhawk can head back to his base.

This is an awesome tale, something out of Blackhawk, in its glory days. And Toth goes to town on the art.



You can't beat a combo like that. We are promised more, next issue.

Our third issue finds Stryker and his newly pardoned men (after helping the general in the previous issue) tasked to link up with a French spy and kill Rommel at a command bunker! They parachute in and meet up with their French ally, who is far from noble, surviving and air attack that killed an arab family that sheltered him. It turns out he is a Vichy turncoat, who switched sides when rommel showed contempt for the traitor. Meanwhile, a german officer from an old family, who resents Rommels status, decides he is going to settle the score and goes to kill him, with an American Thompson machine gun. The commandos steal a tank and make their way to the base and fight their way in. The French man conks Stryker on the head to prevent him from stopping the Frenchman from killing Rommel, personally. He throws a knife as he enters the room and is taken down by a burst of smg fire. it turns out he has killed the jealous officer and paid with his own life. Rommel had already escaped.

A nice action tale, with characters who are less than noble, highlighting the myth of honor in war.

The last back-up tale is not the promised follow up from last issue; but, a new tale about a young soldier and a black man, in the Solomons, defending a ridge from the Japanese. The black man was a servant to a general, in the Philippines and escaped the Japanese attack. he saves the general and is able to get his wish to fight the Japanese, though he is treated like garbage by the rest of the outfit. he and the green soldier are tasked to hold the ridge, rather than risk more experienced white men. The pair do just that.

The story is uncredited and the art is far from the level of McWilliams or Toth. It's a standard post-Civil rights look at a black man in combat, ignoring the segregated army, though acknowledging the prejudices. I suspect it is Arche, as the writing is good; but, the art lets it down.

Blazing Battle Tales is only for those who like their war comics violent or just plain gonzo. Savage Combat Tales is one of the best series that Atlas did, with Goodwin's scripts elevating them, matched by McWilliams art, and the Toth story is a masterpiece.