Tales of Evil #2
Published and © by Atlas (Seaboard), April 1975
Title: “The Fifty Dollar Body!”
Synopsis: A hideous-looking bog beast escapes from the La Brea Tar Pits to explore and study the human condition.
Writer: John Albano
Artist: Jack Sparling
Review: While the rest of this Tales of Evil lurks in EC’s shadow, the lead feature has more in common with Man-Thing and its ilk. John Albano’s script has a hint – just a hint, mind you – of potential, and Jack Sparkling’s Bog Beast design is truly heinous (in a good way).
•••
Title: “The Last Train”
Synopsis: On a cold, winter night, a man catching a late-night train in Boston discovers its destination: death!
Writer: Russ Jones
Artist: Jerry Grandenetti
Review: This three-page tale doesn’t offer much in the way of story, but Jerry Grandenetti’s art is oddly striking.
•••
Title: “Requiem for a Werewolf!”
Synopsis: A jilted Puerto Rican turns to lycanthropy to get his revenge on his betrothed – and the world!
Writer: Marv Channing
Artist: Tom Sutton
Review: A weak revenge tale with a weaker twist ending. Worse, Tom Sutton’s art shows none of its usual flair.
Grade (for the entire issue): B-
Second opinion: “Bog Beast is a self-explanatory rip off. … Not recommended.” – Frank Plowright, FantaCo’s Chronicle’s Series Annual #1, 1983
Cool factor: Jack Sparling’s Bog Beast is actually pretty cool looking. Looks more like a skinned corpse than a bog beast, but still.
Character quotable: “He is without life! … and that causes me great sorrow …” – Bog Beast, from the internal monologue of a sensitive monster
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Oct. 5, 2012.
nice