In May of 2009 I wrote about the repository of comic books on the Internet Archive, and in various other places around the web (see Warning: A Graphic Post).
As I explained back then, I gave up my comic book collection at the age of 11, because I’d discovered more . . . ahem, `adult’ reading material.
With great regret, I must admit that I gave away (and threw away) a small fortune in collectable comics in 1965.
Today, graphic novels are all the rage . . . and while generally of considerably higher quality than the 10 cent Dell comics of my youth . . . they owe a good deal of their pedigree to the `Classic Comics’ and TV & Movie spin off comics of the 1950s.
So today, a look back at some more of those movie-connection comics that were part of practically every major theatrical release’s publicity campaign.
This first collection runs the gamut from 1950’s The Eagle and the Hawk to Indiana Jones in the 1980’s.
1. The Eagle and the Hawk - John Payne
2. Captain China - John Payne
3. Riding High - Bing Crosby
4. Fancy Pants - Bob Hope and Lucille Ball
5. Star Trek - The Motion Picture
6. Raiders of the Lost Ark
7. Conan the Barbarian
Comic Books Based on the Movies 2
1. Last of the Fast Guns - Jock Mahoney # 925
2. Last Train From Gun Hill - Kirk Douglas # 1012
3. Light In the Forest - Fess Parker # 891
4. Rio Bravo - John Wayne # 1018
5. Santiago - Alan Ladd # 723
6. The Big Country - Gregory Peck # 946
7. The Big Land - Alan Ladd # 812
8. The Buccaneer - Yul Brynner # 148
Comic Books Based on the Movies 3
1. The Conqueror - John Wayne # 690
2. The Great Locomotive Chase - Fess Parker # 712
3. The Last Hunt - Robert Taylor # 678
4. The Left Handed Gun - Paul Newman # 913
5. The Searchers - John Wayne # 709
6. Tonka - Sal Mineo # 966
7. Yellowstone Kelly - Clint Walker # 1056
(There’s a pretty good chance that this last comic is better than the movie was. Of course, that wouldn’t be hard!)
Two searches on the Internet Archive will bring up most of the comic books they have. One on the .cbz format, and one on .cbr format.
In order to view/read these files you’ll need to install a special reader. A page with readers for a variety of operating systems can be found at:
http://en.softonic.com/s/cbr-reader
On the Internet Archive you’ll find the download links on the upper left side of each page delivered by your search, listed as All Files: HTTP
There are other Internet sites with FREELY available comic books, including The Comic Books Archive, which has over 900 (mostly Dell) comics available.
Whether reliving your childhood, or introducing a young person to some classic movies (and TV shows) of the past, these comics reek of nostalgia and 1950’s Americana.
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