Maciste and The Saint by Dave Goode

 

Back in elementary school I traded a magazine about the U.F.O phenomena for a dozen coverless issues of Famous Monsters of Filmland. In one of those issues was a pic of a dark-haired beauty in a dungeon dressed like a "bride of Dracula " (only sexier) standing imperiously over a group of strangely garbed men stretched out on stone slabs. The caption that accompanied the photo said it was from a flick titled THE SAINT VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN. Hold the phone!!! I couldn't recall ever seeing George Sanders or Roger Moore ever taking on the Undead. Though decades later I found out about Simon Templar fighting Commie zombies in Avon's THE SAINT comic book back in the 1950s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later I was to find the pic was from the psychotronic flick Santo vs. Las Mujeres Vampiro (1962) , a flick I started to refer to as the " Gone With The Wind of Mexiluchahero movies ". When I first saw SANTO VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN it was in it's re-cut ,re-dubbed version distributed by legendary movie broker K.Gordon Murray. The movie was re-titled SAMSON VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN. For years I thought the movie was re-titled so no one would confuse the silver-masked hero with Simon Templar. In fact the flick was re-titled to have moviegoers believe they were going to see one of those peplum movies that were so popular at the time. It sort of made sense. On a superficial level el Santo and Maciste did somewhat resemble each other. Two seemingly immortal bare-chested champions of justice.

 

 

Maciste was the strength hero introduced into the cinema in the 1914 silent film epic CABIRIA. He was portrayed by dock worker and strongman Bartolomeo Pagano who played the character in over 20 films during the silent era. He was a Hercules-like hero who used his super-human strength in the cause of justice. The character was revived in the early 1960s following the success of the Steve Reeves' Hercules movie. Many of these 60s Maciste movies were re-titled giving the hero the more familiar (to Americans at least) names like Hercules ,Atlas , Samson and Goliath. In the Mark Forest flick SON OF SAMSON it's explained that Maciste is the son of the biblical strongman which explains his enormous strength. The character seems to be immortal appearing in different time periods. In THE WITCH'S CURSE starring Kirk Morris he shows up in Scotland in 1650. In SAMSON AND THE 7 MIRACLES OF THE WORLD starring Gordon Scott he fights injustice in 13th century China.

 

El Santo takes a page from the Phantom's book and the silver mask is passed down from father to son. But in the case of Santo it wasn't to create the illusion of immortality. So it's not to hard to imagine the immortal Maciste teaming up with one of the original Santo's descendants. I imagine a 60s movie where Maciste turns up in the 20th century and teams up with el Santo. Maybe the strongman takes up a job as a professional wrestler where the two heroes meet. This would have been a natural for Turkish cinema , that had no regard for copyright laws ,and gave us the infamous Captain America / el Santo team-up.

 

Idea by Dave Goode retro art by Vance Capley vancecapleyart.com

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THE ICONIC HERO by Dave Goode

Art by Vance Capley - 11x17 posters are available for $15 - Vance Capley Arts

 

"With his faithful Indian companion Tonto , the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice." I sometimes wonder if Fran Striker was creating The Lone Ranger for George W. Trendle and WXYZ Radio back in 1933 that he was creating one of America's iconic pop culture heroes.

 

The hero's origin is as much a part of Americana as real-life western legends of the Siege of the Alamo and the Gunfight at the OK Corral. Six Texas Rangers in pursuit of the Butch Cavendash gang are led into an ambush. Only one man survived. The younger brother of ranger captain Dan Reid. Found and nursed back to health by Tonto , a Native-American the surviving ranger makes a mask from his murdered brother's vest to hide his identity and the fact that one man had survived the massacre. He makes a vow to bring a hundred outlaws to justice for each one of his fallen comrades. As he begins his new life as a masked crime-fighter he adopts the silver bullet as his sign.The Lone Ranger is much like the masked wrestling heroes of Mexican cinema in that once he dons his mask he ceases to have any other identity than that of the Lone Ranger. No changing in phone booths for this character.

 Many actors have portrayed the Lone Ranger over the years. On the radio the most notable were George Seaton ,Earle Graser and Brace Beemer. Lee Powell played the character in Republic's 1938 serial THE LONE RANGER. Republic followed that up with the 1939 serial THE LONE RANGER RIDES AGAIN starring Robert Livingston. On television from 1949 to1957 the character was portrayed by two actors. Clayton Moore began playing the role in 1949. John Hart took over the role for one season while Moore sat out the year in a contract dispute. On television Tonto, the Ranger's faithful Indian companion was portrayed by Jay Silverheels, a Mohawk Indian born in Ontario, Canada. Moore is considered by many to be the definitive Lone Ranger. And aside from his playing the character on television he portrayed him in two feature movies THE LONE RANGER (1956) and THE LONE RANGER AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD (1958). Both of these movies are pretty entertaining B-westerns. And if you haven't seen them you should search them out.

Sinew & Sandal Comics by Dave Goode

I'm a huge fan of " sinew & sandal " flicks. Or if you prefer "sword and sandal " movies. It's just that in my favorites from the genre the heroes rarely use swords. Just their muscles. Or like Steve Reeves in HERCULES (1957) the very chains the villain thought to bind him with. I'm talking about the movies starring the strength heroes Hercules, Maciste, Ursus, Samson and Goliath.

It was during the muscleman movie cycle (1957-1967) that the urban myth that George Reeves and Steve Reeves were brothers sprung up. After all George played Superman and Steve played Hercules. It seemed believable to anyone incapable of searching for facts. In any case during this period Superman met both Hercules and Samson on several occasions in DC Comics. Over at Marvel Comics Hercules became a supporting character in the Thor and Avengers features.

Charlton Comics published a Hercules comic book beginning in 1967 by Joe Gill and Sam Glanzman. The comic ran for 13 issues and focused on the hero's legendary twelve labors.

Dell Comics had previously published adaptations of the Steve Reeves' movies HERCULES and HERCULES UNCHAINED illustrated respectively by comic book legends John Buscema and Reed Crandall. For the latter they used the poster art from the movie for the comic's cover. One of the coolest things about the sinew & sandal genre was the poster art for the movies. They could have easily been used as covers for comic book adaptations of the movies.

Faux cover idea by Dave Goode art by Vance Capley

One of those things that I don't understand, and there are many, is why no American publisher looked at how popular these flicks were and thought to put out a Maciste comic book. Nope. Nothing. More's the pity.*

*Maciste has appeared in various Italian comic books for many years but sadly never in the U.S. He appeared in a Turkish comic adaptation of of the film Cabiria (1914).

A version of Maciste more accurate to the 1914 film from Albi of Audacia no. 28, 1938

 

The Bartolomeo Pagano silent Maciste films established the character as someone who could appear at any place and at any time. A series of comics in the 1940s presented a version much like these films.

   During the mid 60s, the grandson of Maciste, Kolosso who is "Kolosso nipote di Maciste più forte di Ercole" ( grandson of Maciste stronger than Hercules - most U.S. websites mistranslates it to "nephew to Maciste and nephew to Hercules"), and like the silent era films, Kolosso's stories could take place anytime and pretty much anywhere.

The Cave of Slaves with Maciste from  Albi of Audacia no. 38 1938

There's Only One Race Bannon by Dave Goode

Actor Jeff Chandler...the perfect Race Bannon

TV Guide ad

I was seven years old when JONNY QUEST premiered in prime time on September 18 , 1964. At the time I thought it was the coolest cartoon I had ever seen. And there has been nothing in the ensuing decades to challenge that opinion. Sure SPACE GHOST was cool. But it wasn't Jonny Quest cool. After all ,as any fan-boy will tell you ,the real star of JONNY QUEST was Race Bannon. Much in the same way Pat Ryan was the true star in the early days of Milton Caniff's classic adventure comic strip TERRY & THE PIRATES.

Race Bannon

JONNY QUEST followed the pulp-like adventures of 11 year-old Jonny who travelled the world with his scientist father Dr.Benton Quest , adopted brother Hadji and bodyguard Roger "Race" Bannon. Because of the nature of Dr. Quest's work and it's importance to world security Bannon was assigned by " Intelligence I " as a permanent bodyguard to the Quests as well as a tutor for Jonny and Hadji. By the way publicity material claimed that Hadji was adopted by the Quests. But this was never mentioned in any of the original 26 episodes.

Race Bannon's "voice" Mike Road

EAST OF SUMATRA 1953 Universal

As far as Race Bannon he was a secret agent , expert pilot , and expert with firearms. He is also a martial arts expert with a third degree black belt in judo. He was voiced on the series by actor Mike Road. And his physical design was based on Hollywood he-man actor Jeff Chandler. I can't watch a Jeff Chandler movie like EAST OF SUMATRA without imagining it's a Race Bannon adventure prior to his assignment with the Quests.

THE LADY TAKES A FLYER 1958 Universal-International

Chandler was born Ira Grossel in Brooklyn NY where he attended Eramus Hall High School. After the U.S. entered WW Two Chandler entered the army and served for four years earning the rank of lieutenant. After being discharged from the army and began a notable film career. He was even nominated for the Academy Award for portraying the Apache chief Cochise in BROKEN ARROW (1950) . When fan-boys think of casting a JONNY QUEST movie their first choice is Jeff Chandler as Race. Unfortunately Chandler would die tragically young at age 42 three years before JONNY QUEST first aired. I suppose Peter Graves might have been a good second choice. But as Race's love interest on the cartoon, Jezebal Jade, said "There's only one Race Bannon."

JONNY QUEST is available on DVD

 

Faux book cover idea by Dave Goode - graphics by Vance Capley

What was your favorite episode of Jonny Quest? Let us know in the comments below. Also, don't forget to click the "Link" to see our books and comics.

The Incredible Hulk Movie '62 by Dave Goode

Incredible Hulk #1 art by Jack Kirby

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like super-heroes as much as any fan-boy.But that doesn't mean I think every comic book flick has to be about men in tights and capes. For instance I think a Challengers of the Unknown movie from the teams purple jumpsuits days would have made a great sci-fi movie. Or a Nick Fury , Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D movie made during the secret agent film cycle of the '60s would have been very cool. And another cool movie made in the 60s would have been an adaptation of The Incredible Hulk No.1 cover dated May 1962.

 

 

 

From the Incredible Hulk #1 Lee & Kirby

 

In the early 60s when Marvel Comics was transitioning from "monster of the month" stories found in titles like Tales to Astonish , Tales of Suspense and Journey to Mystery to super-heroes Stan Lee & Jack Kirby created the Hulk,a Jekyll & Hyde like anti-hero. As the cover blurb for that first issue read " Is he man or monster or is he both?

 

The first story was like so many sci-fi flicks of the period with the monster created by radiation. Think The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) or The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961). And there was the threat of the "Red Menace" that turned up in so many early Marvel comic books.

 

Anthony Perkins

Rereading the story recently I couldn't help but notice that Kirby's pages looked almost like storyboards. This got me to thinking about a Hulk movie made in 1962 starring Anthony Perkins as Bruce Banner , Carolyn Craig as Betty Ross , John Ashley as Rick Jones and Morris Ankrum as General Thunderbolt Ross. As for the Hulk I picture pro wrestling great Richard Afflis a.k.a Dick the Bruiser.

 

Carolyn Craig from House On Haunted Hill

 

Morris Ankrum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dick the Bruiser

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Known as the "one-man riot squad " and the " world's most dangerous wrestler " Afflis had been an offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers in the 1950s. It was as a football player that he earned the name the Bruiser. As well as a reputation as being one of the strongest men in the NFL. An avid weightlifting enthusiast since his youth Afflis' steak & potatoes built physique was a perfect match for the early Hulk. He would have been great as a pre-CGI " Gray (soon to be green ) Goliath ".

 

 

Faux movie poster idea by Dave Goode art Vance Capley

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