Old-fashioned Comics: September 2024

Wednesday 18 September 2024

THE PHANTOM BLOT - A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION. Part 2

The funny animal world has always had its share of bad guys — the hunter who tries to shoot Bugs Bunny, the fox who tries to eat Baby Huey, the Coyote who tries to catch the Road Runner … but for the first few decades of their prominence, the true super villain — that larger-than-life world beater who attempts grand crimes — the equivalent of Doctor Doom or Lex Luthor rare in that genre. It was only when funny animals started having quasi-serious adventure stories, like Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse did in his newspaper comic, that super villains began invading their world.

The Blot, who first appeared in the story that started May 20, 1939, was not the first super villain to menace Mickey. That would probably be Professors Ecks, Doublex and Triplex, whom he encountered in 1933. But he's quite possibly the most-reprinted one, the one who has returned most often, and other than The Brain, the most famous funny animal super villain ever. His story was written by Merrill de Maris (whose other writing credits include the Snow White comics adaptation) and drawn by Floyd Gottfredson (whose fame rests almost exclusively on the Mouse comic). An important supporting character, Police Chief O'Hara, was also introduced in this story.

The Blot's crimes were grander than they looked at first, but not nearly as grand as they later became. But not for a while, at least in America. In Europe, however, especially in stories by cartoonist Romano Scarpa (Uncle Scrooge), he returned frequently. In the U.S., however, he was confined to that one story, which was redone in Dell comic books often enough to become familiar to long-time readers.

First it was reprinted in 1941, as part of the first series of Four Color Comics, the title with rotating stars such as Don Winslow of the Navy and Myra North, Special Nurse. It appeared in the 16th issue, between Tillie the Toiler and Dumbo. Next, the story was re-worked as a serial in Walt Disney's Comics & Stories, again written by De Maris but this time drawn by Dick Moores (Gasoline Alley). It ran from #101 (February, 1949) to #106 (July, 1949). The original version was again reprinted in Mickey Mouse Club Parade #1 (December, 1955), with a new framing sequence by Al Hubbard (Mary Jane & Sniffles).

There have been several latter-day reprints, such as deluxe album editions and hardcover collections of Mickey strips, but those came after The Blot became a recurring villain in America as well as Europe. Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #284 (May, 1964) began a four-part serial titled "The Return of the Phantom Blot" in which he — well, returned. The writer isn't known (but a good guess is Carl Fallberg, co-creator of Space Mouse) and it was drawn by Paul Murry (another who is most famous for Mickey, but who has also done Brer Rabbit and Pluto comics).

Before the year was out, he had his own title. Gold Key's The New Adventures of the Phantom Blot #1 was dated October, 1964. It was part of a minor flurry of Disney villains in their own comics. The Beagle Boys #1 (starring Uncle Scrooge's bad guys) was dated November of that year, and their first issue co-starred Mad Madame Mim. Like other villains in their own comics (such as The Secret Society of Super Villains, which had Captain Comet as a resident hero), The Blot spawned a superhero of his own. In the second issue (April, 1965) long-time Disney star Goofy became Super Goof, in the first of his origin stories (he had several, mutually contradictory).

The Phantom Blot ran seven issues in his own comic, the last one dated November, 1966. By that time, he was firmly established as a recurring villain, and his crimes were quite grand enough to merit his status as a super villain. Since then, he's been back over and over. He's become no less familiar to readers than Spider-Man's Doctor Octopus or Batman's The Joker.

By the way, it's a running schtick that he's never, ever captured and unmasked. He can get killed off, and frequently is (as long as the body isn't recovered), but unmasked, never. He's even been seen with younger relatives, who resemble smaller versions of his cloaked self. But at the very beginning, that trait hadn't been established yet, and, one time only, he was seen without his mask.

Except for his funny-animal dog nose, he looks just like Walt Disney.

https://www.toonopedia.com/phanblot.htm

Jens Terje offers us the following files:

The Blot´s Double Mystery, German (2013), Italian (1955), English (1988)

3 files

First Blot story - Mickey Mouse Outwits the Phantom Blot (FFC, 1941) & Reprints,

redrawn and other languages

7 files

One-shots, single editions etc.

33 files

There are 43 issues

We thank Jens Terje for this generous contribution

Sick (#109 - #134) 1976-1980 Complete Series [Charlton Comics Collection]

Charlton, 1976 Series

Publication Dates:

April 1976 - Fall 1980

Number of Issues Published:

26 (#109 - #134)

Color: Full Color Cover; Black & White Interior

Dimensions:

Standard Modern Age US

Paper Stock:

Glossy cover; Newsprint interior

Binding:

Saddle-stitched

Publishing Format: Was ongoing

Publication Type: magazine

Tracking:

numbering continues from Sick (Pyramid Books, 1974 series) #v15#7 (108)

Note:

Indicia titles for issues #126, 131, and 134 say "Sick Special", all others say "Sick".

Authors:

Script:

Fred Wolfe, Frank Roberge, Bill Quidort,

Pencils:

Frank Roberge (signed), Jerry Grandenetti (signed), Fran Matera,

Don Orehek (signed), Jack Sparling,

Inks:

Frank Roberge (signed), Jerry Grandenetti (signed), Fran Matera,

Don Orehek (signed), Jack Sparling, Don Heck,

Letters: typeset,

Sick Special 02 Charlton

#120, #129-132 & #134 Courtesy of Jens Terje

THE PHANTOM BLOT - A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION. Part 1

The Phantom Blot

The Phantom Blot is a mysterious enemy of Mickey Mouse who wears a body-length black sheet. Created in 1939 in Floyd Gottfredson's comic strip, the Phantom Blot became a very recurring character in European comics where he is one of Mickey's archenemies, second only to Pete. He was also reused, to a lesser extent, in American stories.

The Phantom Blot prefers being an ominous mastermind in the background, pulling strings and organising schemes, to engaging in physical criminal jobs.

The Phantom Blot is a master of disguise. He uses disguises to fool Mickey Mouse and the police, sometimes even appearing right in front of them without being noticed. When escaping the scene, the Phantom Blot often leaves a trademark "business card" - a sheet of white paper with a black splodge of ink on it.

When unmasked, the Phantom Blot is an anthropomorphic dog. He has a gaunt face with a long nose and a long, thin moustache. Phantom Blot's unmasked look was reportedly based on the features of Walt Disney himself.

The Phantom Blot and Pete are often bitter rivals, as both want to be recognised as the city's greatest criminal mastermind, and to get the most money out of the deal. However, some stories have shown them teaming up with each other.

The Phantom Blot made his animated debut in the DuckTales episode "All Ducks on Deck" voiced by Frank Welker. He is shown to be an agent of F.O.W.L.

The Phantom Blot appears as an antagonist in the TV series Mickey Mouse Works and its spinoff House of Mouse voiced by John O'Hurley.

An altered, monstrous version of the Phantom Blot, known as the "Shadow Blot", serves as the antagonist of the first Epic Mickey game. The Phantom Blot seemingly meets this creature in the city's museum when unlocking a dimensional portal, in the story The Blot and The Blob.

The Phantom Blot made a cameo appearance in the episode "Sock Burglar" from the TV series Mickey Mouse.

The Phantom Blot is a recurring antagonist during the third season of the DuckTales reboot, voiced by Giancarlo Esposito. While his history as a member of F.O.W.L. remains intact, this version came from a village that Magica De Spell attacked.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mouse_universe#The_Phantom_Blot

https://ripjaggerdojo.blogspot.com/2023/11/mickey-and-phantom-blot.html

https://www.tebeosfera.com/sagas/phantom_blot_the_1939_gottfredson.html

https://www.toonopedia.com/phanblot.htm

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Phantom_Blot