TIGER MASK record sleeve art
Great illos from licensed kids records from 1969/70.
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Neutron vs. Caronte vs. aging pulp
Great white-masked mad doctor vs. black masked barrel-chested hero action from the 72nd issue of the Neutrón comic by José Herrera. Herrera may not have been as big a name as Jose G. Cruz in the history of fotonovela, but he sure knew how to deliver the goods in a fight scene!
These poor, poor Golden Age comics from Mexico… largely owner-less in both an intellectual and physical sense, no-one lined up to produced hardcover reprints or digital archives, not seen as a pool for new media development. They have none of the generational legs and continual championing our comics do here.
But, I am starting to see folks scan and file-share their collections of these rotting treasures online, and I hope this continues.
WE ARE THE ARCHIVES people!
Beelzebunny by Brian Ralph
The superb Brian Ralph did this pin-up of the buxom ring bunny for us, published in the all-too-rare HOODWINK #1 in 2003.
LA MANO DEL DESTINO
Do yourselves a favor and pick-up J. Gonzo‘s La Mano del Destino, from Castle & Key.
For its dynamic layouts, genuine love of lucha libre, attention to costuming detail and mask design, and a unique color palate that evokes old Third Eye blacklight posters and vintage Mexican pulp at the same time, I’m ranking this right alongside Sonambulo, Whoa! Nellie and the work of Jesse Justice on the short list of must-have comics.
Major bonus points for having characters at their peak of in-ring glory, too, and not leaning on the beyond-weary ‘down-and-out-masked-wrestler’ slumming it thing, too!
Creator Jason Gonzales is a veteran tattoo artist, and currently splits time between graphic design and illustration – and that’s an excellent skill pedigree for doing lucha comics. Puts him in similar company with Mitch O’Connell and Alexis Ziritt.
Seriously, this is the best $3.50 you’ll spend this summer!
Gallery of comic covers
There’s a nice set of latter (aka ‘fake’) Santo cover and some other Mexiluchahero goodness here.
Azteckaiser puzzle
The combination of pro wrestling and the Japanese manga/anime aesthetic is unbeatable. Tiger Mask, Jushin Thunder Liger, 90s Michinoku Pro – the evidence abounds.
Go Nagai‘s bat-shit crazy Azteckaiser is no exception. Here’s a weird kids puzzle:
I’m particularly fond of the live action TV version of this property:
Watch Azteckaiser (1976) #1 (English subtitled) in SciFi & Fantasy | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
Santo vs. Gangsters
It’s Hoodtown author Christa Faust‘s birthday, so I thought I’d throw up some imagery more in her film noir realm.
El Santo often took on supernatural menaces and rampaging monsters in the pages of the prolific Jose G. Cruz photo comics, but here’s a more down-to-earth encounter with a mob of gangsters. Don’t know what issue(s) or year these scans are from, but can assume early-to-mid 60s.
But man do they look 40s…
See, there’s the problem right there – everyone else is in nice suits and hats, and Santo’s walking around all shirtless and nipply. No good can come of this.
Scrap long enough with an angry, fashion-concious mob, and eventually the best of us breaks down and joins the crowd. How cool are these images of an incognito Santo in London Fog!!!
WANTED!
I’m quite happy with my collection of lucha-inspired fotonovella, having scored Golden Age Santo, Agentine Blue Demon, a bunch of Neutrons, etc.
However, the Jose G. Cruz Black Shadow series still evades me.
Anyone wanting to sell or trade, drop me a line!
Shadow was super popular as a ring personality, but from a comic book hero standpoint there's nowhere near the dynamic visual compared to costumed characters like Santo.
Hence guest appearances by his long-time tag team partner Blue Demon, albeit in this weird sprit-world observer role. Tag-in the hand of god Shadow!!!
