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| "Speed Carter, Spaceman" was an interesting character of the Atlas (later "Marvel") line; it had a whole comic book with its name, unfortunately short-lived for just 6 issues.I'm presenting one page from the first issue, in the Mexican version published under the general title "Fantástico" by Editora Sol. As stated elsewhere in this Gallery, "Fantástico" used comics from different American publishing houses, never naming them. In this case, however, I can give the exact data: "Fantástico" Nº49, dated 10 January 1961 (probably a reprint of the same title, originally printed in the middle '50s) is the version of the first Atlas's "Speed Carter, Spaceman", September 1953. The art is by the very remarkable artist Joe Maneely, one of the aces of the Atlas staff at the period. He excelled in various genres, and was much praised both by colleagues and bosses. Stan Lee referred at him as: "[...] the most versatile guy. Romance, western, war, comedy, horror, funny animals, you name it. He drew all..." And John Romita, another great artist for many years his coworker at Atlas, had to say: "[He was] blessed with tremendous speed and an uncanny gift for characterization [...]" All these qualities are present in the page shown here. I may add his art was dynamic, strong and... likable, which is more one could say of the present-day mainstream. It's, therefore, to be most lamented that his life and career were untimely interrupted in 1958, when he was killed in a railroad accident. He was in his thirties. | ||
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