Number 2041: I see by your outfit that you are a pirate

This shorty — four pages — was filler for The Phantom #18 (1966). After 17 issues from Gold Key, it was the first issue of King Features’ own attempt at publishing its own syndicate properties. I recently showed a story from Mandrake the Magician #1, which was also published by King. It probably sounded like a better idea than it turned out to be. The line only lasted a couple of years before King dropped out, and licensed their characters (again) to other publishers.

Wallace Wood is credited with drawing the story. I believe he was helped by his assistant and collaborator, Dan Adkins. I recognized at least one panel (page 2, panel 7) as having its origin in Wood’s classic Flash Gordon parody (“Flesh Garden,” the panel from that story”s appearance in The Mad Reader). Wood and Adkins were not averse to a swipe when they needed it.

I got a kick out of space pirate Straker, who carries a cutlass. He and his men wear costumes with the skull and crossbones on their chests. Only in comic books!

Posted in: Pappy Comics