SPACE ADVENTURES #9, Winter 1954

SPACE ADVENTURES was consistently a well written and well drawn title, in fact I would rank it as one of Charlton's finest not just in the space/sci fi mold, but overall in their their entire output, this one really stood out.
This issue is no exception, and behind what is one the more pedestrian covers in the series, lies some truly great stories.

Dick Giordano offers up the cover,a story with his pencils and inks, and inks on another with Art Capello pencils. Tony Tallarico shows off his stuff with a gross-out page, and an entry in the silly talking dog trope. For those that only know his work from his Hanna Barbera stuff or his turn as the much maligned inker on Blue Beetle, these pages may pleasantly surprise you.
The real gem here is the story "The Good Old Days" by Frank Frollo and Vince Alascia. The surprise ending must have been a real shocker back in 1954, and even today it packs a whallop. Certainly something Dr. Wertham must have had a field day with!

GUNMASTER #85 September 1965

GUNMASTER had a dual run in 1964 and 65. First as a run of issues 1-4, then for some reason taking up numbering from SIX GUN HEROES at issue #84 and running through to issue #89. After it's cancellation the number continued at #90, with the title change to the much more well known series JUDOMASTER.
This particular issue , with it's Giordano cover, has some of my personal favorite Morisi western art of the time period in it, including two suberb splash pages. Also of note is his page layout designs with alternating circle corner panels through-out the issue.
Rounding out the book is a three-pager by Bill Molno and Vince Alascia.

Gunmaster is typical of Charlton's carefree, and even apathetic at times, attitude towards copyrighting their properties. The indicia is short, no-nonsense and simply states "GUNMASTER Vol. 5, No. 85, Sept, 1965, published bimonthly by Charlton Comics Group,Charlton Building, Derby, Conn. Second Class postage paid at Derby, Conn."
It would be interesting to see these character revived in some fashion, as there appears to be no legal roadblocks from some aspiring writer and artist from dong so.