NEW COMICS REVIEW:
ACP Comics' FORBIDDEN GALLERY #6

Cover art by Portaveritas (pencils) Jeff Austin (inks) Omi Remalante (colors)

The new wave of small-press comics publishers has many offerings that mostly range from mediocre to 'meh'.
Yet, discerning comics collectors and industry insiders realize that one name stands above the rest, and that name is ACP COMICS.
Remember the name, and take care to pick up their issues of superior caliber publications whenever you find them available. It would behoove you to click the links that accompany this article.
ACP COMICS publisher William Mull brings an adult savoir fare to the formerly 'kiddie' genre regarded as the comic book, and his creative writing is reminiscent of the best-known names in days long bygone. With a wisdom that belies his tender years Mr. Mull sorrounds himself with a mass multitude of accomplished and gifted virtuosos, and what emerges from this symphony of inventive and precocious experts are comics fit only for the most discriminating modern readers, which preeminant ilk I assume you are one of.

Welcome to this NEW COMIC BOOK Review!
Today we get a first glimpse at the newest and finest so-far in rising star
ACP COMICS' line of Horror/Sci-Fi/Suspense titles, the
FORBIDDEN GALLERY #6.

Before we review this new issue, I want to share the fact that gone are the days of flimsy comic books and cheap newsprint. Nowhere is this more apparent than wth ACP COMICS! Every issue of ACP COMICS that I own are of the highest quality; beautifully printed, heavy stock high-gloss paper, with absolutely zero printing imperfections such as were common in the olden days when we were children (at least when this reviewer was a child). You will not find any over-inked offsetting, no smears, and no out of register colorations. Just bright colors, clear definition, and great reading.

Art by Craig Hamilton / Colors by Omi Remalante

Fans of classic Horror/Sci-Fi/Suspense will love the new
FORBIDDEN GALLERY #6.
From cover to cover, it is a thing of beauty. On the outstanding cover we get our first glimpse of the series' new co-host of Terror, VICTORIANA. Not since the days of Warren's Vampirella have we witnessed such a Femme Fatale extraordinaire as the lovely but dangerous Victoriana. She will join the original curator and conservator of the FORBIDDEN GALLERY, the dark and mischievous ARCHIMEDES, in presenting each harrowing opus of forbidding and dreadful delight.

Art by Mike Mongomery / Jeff Austin / Kevin J. Frear

There are five caliginous chronicles presented within this macabre volume, beginning with the introduction of the aforementioned vixen Victoriana, in a tale entitled
ARCHIE LOVES VICKIE!

WRITER - William Mull
ART (PENCILS) - Mike Montgomery
ART(INKS) - Jeff Austin

COLORS - Kevin J. Frear

_______________________

Tale number two is a timeless epic entitled
BLOOD OF THE MUMMY!

WRITER - Martin Powell
ART - Karl Comendador
COLORS - Maggie Lopez & Kevin J. Frear

____________________________

The third saga to unfold for your pleasure is a grim and ghastly story known as
BLEEDING THIS TOWN DRY!

WRITER - Dan Johnson
ART (PENCILS) - Dan Day
ART(INKS) - Jeff Austin

COLORS - Kevin J. Frear

___________________________

The fourth narrative recounted is a dark fable of mystery revealed as
ON THE ROCKS!

WRITER - Ed DeVore
ART (PENCILS) - Dan Day
ART(INKS) - Jeff Austin

COLORS - Kevin J. Frear

_________________________

Last, but not least, FORBIDDEN GALLERY #6 final foray into fear features not one but TWO crepuscular creations, glistering characters that emanate from the coruscating cerebration and scintillating subconscious of writer William Mull, characters who have both previously appeared with bravura in several earlier issues of FORBIDDEN GALLERY. Here we will encounter
SCATTERCROW & PARTICLE MAN!

WRITER - William Mull
ART - Karl Comendador
COLORS - Maggie Lopez & Kevin J. Frear

I highly recommend acquiring all previous issues of FORBIDDEN GALLERY comics, if for no other reason than discovering the origins and backstories of the mysterious forces known as
SCATTERCROW and PARTICLE MAN.

________________________

BONUS!
For more
SCATTERCROW -

Read more of the dark and ominous SCATTERCROW who first appeared in

FORBIDDEN GALLERY #2

(click here for link)

and FORBIDDEN GALLERY #3

(click here for link)

BONUS!
For more
PARTICLE MAN -

You also will want to read of the incredible PARTICLE MAN in
FORBIDDEN GALLERY #4

(click here for link)

__________________________

MY FINAL REVIEW JUDGMENT:

I have had the pleasure of reading ACP COMICS'
FORBIDDEN GALLERY #6

and my review grade would be 4 1/2 stars out of 5.
I guarantee you will enjoy this comic book!

(It only fell short of a full 5 stars because I really wanted to see even more pages and attention given to the SCATTERCROW & PARTICLE MAN story, in order to give it the grandeur due, that it be fully fleshed out even more. Perhaps in the future ACP COMICS will publish a BEST OF issue including all of the previous stories and an even fuller, more fitting tableau befitting the majestic meeting of these two fantastic original characters.
Two of the most intriguing characters in recent comics!

If they did a BEST OF issue I'd certainly enjoy that one, as well!)
_________________________

A final seductive glimpse of
the dark and mysterious VICTORIANA!

Artwork by Portaveritas (pencils) Jeff Austin (inks) Omi Remalante (colors)

To learn more about
ACP COMICS
and how to order any of these great comics,
click this link
HERE!

PS:
Now, before you start to think that ACP COMICS is only for grown-ups, or isn't child friendly, I guess I must remind you that they have produced the friendliest, most child AND adult suitable comic book title found on the internet today, namely the wonderful
CAVALCADE #1

(click here for link)

HEY, MOM! ACP COMICS is KID FRIENDLY, TOO!

Thank you!
See you all next time!

Russ Heath's 1st Comic Book Art - "HAMMERHEAD HAWLEY"!

Welcome, comic fan!

I am

THE

APOCOLYTE!

Russ Heath is certainly one of the most well respected and talented artists ever to draw comics.

Even the greatest artists have to start somewhere, and today we will look at the first comic book art ever created by Russ Heath!

The year is 1942, and Russ heath is only 16 years old, still in high school!

He manages to get a freelance job working for Holyoke Comics, drawing a character called "Hammerhead" Hawley. The feature appeared in CAPTAIN AERO COMICS #8, 9, 10,11, 13, and 14 between 1942 and 1944. According to russheath.com and wikipedia sometimes Heath would be inking over the pencils of artist Charles Quinlan, but at least 2 or 3 times Heath did the art chores entirely by himself. Those are the stories we will look at here today, from issues #8, 13, and 14. The artwork in the other "Hammerhead" Hawley stories is likely Heath on inks, and does not quite match up to these Heath solo ventures, especially the last two stories which are clearly signed by Heath.

The art in these stories give a glimpse of the future greatness that is to come.

Heath went into the Air Force at the end of high school and in 1947 began his career in earnest at Atlas/Marvel Comics, and would later become one of DC Comics highest esteemed war comics artists.

(Warning! These comics present racial stereotypes that may now be considered "politically incorrect")

_____________________

-click to enlarge-

From CAPTAIN AERO COMICS #8, 1942

The above story marked the initial appearance of "Hammerhead" Hawley, and according to wikipedia and the GCD (which may or may not be accurate) was entirely by Heath. There does appear to be the initials R.H. on the last page, and we can presume that Heath did ink the story at the very least. If not entirely representing the familiar Heath art style, there are certainly elements to suggest that his hand, however young and inexperienced, was involved.

The following two stories mark the final two appearances of "Hammerhead", and seem to be clearly identified on the splash page(s) as being illustrated by Heath alone. This same conclusion can also be drawn by the trained artistic eye, as the familiar Heath style is becoming more strongly evident. These last two stories do show a definite improvement in the young artists abilities beyond those shown the first story.

From CAPTAIN AERO COMICS # 13, 1944