Customer Reviews

Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Strange Tales - Volume 1 (Marvel Masterworks (Numbered))

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Atlas Era: Strange Tales Vol.1 is one of the earliest horror
mags from Timely/Atlas/Marvel and is slighty inferior to
his sister publication Journey into Mystery, partly because
Atlas staff didn't know exactly how to sell and promote
such a strange beast like a horror comic (remember that we
are on early fifties!!!)and partly because the majority of the
early scripts really stinks.
The first four or five issues have some highlights but
the overall quality is not good. Later issues are much better
plotted and drawn,despite some clunkers. Atlas horror is
not distinguished for scripting sophisticated stories but
some of them are very fun and enganging and the level of art
is remarkable high.
If you don't know the fascinating horror comics from the
fifties I strongly recommend the comics from E.C. like
Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror and the Atlas
as a second option.

Here are my personal ratings:

Atlas Era: Strange Tales Vol. 1:

Strange Tales #1:

Strange Men ===================== **1/2
The Beast ======================= *
The Room That Didn't Exist ====== *1/2
A Call in the Night ============= **


Strange Tales #2:

The Egg! ======================== *****
Trapped in the Tomb! ============ ****1/2
The Pin! ======================== **1/2
The Island of Madness =========== **




Strange Tales #3:

The Shadow ======================= ****
The man Who Never Was ============ *****
The Invisible Death ============== **
The Madman ======================= *1/2
Voodoo =========================== **1/2



Strange Tales #4:

The Evil Eye! ===================== ****
Dial... City Morgue =============== ***1/2
It ================================ **
The Man on the Beach ============== **



Strange Tales #5:

The Room Without Door ============ ****
The Little Man Who was There ===== ****1/2
The Trap ========================= *****
My Brother Harry ================= ****1/2


Strange Tales #6:

The Unihabited ==================== *****
The Eyes of March ================= ****
The Back Door ==================== **1/2
The Killers ======================= ****1/2
The Ugly Man ==================== ***


Strange Tales #7:

My Brother Talks to Bats ============== ****1/2
He Wished He was a Vampire ========== ***1/2
Tap!Tap!Tap! ======================= ****
Who Stands in the Shadow ============ ***1/2
The Horrible Man ==================== ****

Strange Tales #8:

The Old Mill =========== ****1/2
Fame =================== ***1/2
The Storm ============== ****
Something in the Fog === ***
If the Shoe Fits ======= ****

Strange Tales #9:

Blind Date ============== **
Strange Game =========== *
The Man from Mars ======= **
Drink Deep Vampire ====== **1/2
The Voice of Doom ======= ***1/2

Strange Tales #10

The Boy Who Was Afraid ====== ****1/2
The Monster's Son =========== ****1/2
The Frightful Feet! =========== *****
The Hidden Head =========== ****1/2
Keep Out! ================= *****

This volume is actually a mix of precode horror and sci fi. The sci fi stories become lass evident as each issue of Strange Tales was published.
The art is great in this volume with great artists like Bill Everet, Joe Maneely, Gene Colan and many others lending a story or two in the series first ten issues. Thankfully Marvel decided to release these in this format so that you can affordably read them. These tales were not overly gory but they are entertaining; in full color, and they look better in this volume than they ever did in their original comic books. The book has the first ten issues of Strange Tales (including cool cover reprints) and it is a very enjoyable read as the magazine launches itself along into the Horror field of it's day. And the good news is that more comics from the marvel's 1950 output are making their way to us. Hopefully some of their great war comics; which were among the best of the entire 1950's will also see a Masterworks along side these other well done reprints.

WONDERFUL. VERY NICE AND CLEAN. WAITING FOR NEXT ONE. THIS IS JUST WHAT I EXPECTED IT WOULD BE. CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE.

collecting all the masterworks some are very hard to find, it is nice to know i can come to amazon to find the missing ones, this is a wonderful book and series worth collecting for reading or saving for your kids which is what i intend to do.