Harvey Thriller
Encyclopedia
Harvey Thriller was a comic book
imprint used by Harvey Comics
for their brief foray into publishing super heroes and other non-'kiddie' comics in the mid 1960s.
While Harvey Comics has for decades been known for their many kids' comics, such as Casper the Friendly Ghost
, Richie Rich, etc., they have published other kinds of comics over the years. From 1955 to 1962, most of their non-kid comic output was done under the "Thrill Adventure" line, under the editorship of Joe Simon
, after which they stopped publishing any non-kid comics.
In the mid-1960s, with the camp
craze created by the Batman television series
, Harvey approached Joe Simon again to oversee a new line of comics, mainly superhero
es, but with science fiction
/fantasy
stories thrown in as well. All were short-lived.
The line started off with one-shots Unearthly Spectaculars #1, Thrill-O-Rama #1, Blast-Off #1, and Warfront #36 in October, 1965, using work that was apparently done for the 1950s Thrill Adventure line. The next issues would not come out until almost a year in September, 1966! Along with the new titles were two reprint titles for Fighting American
and The Spirit
, which did include new stories for these characters. All the titles ended by March 1967, however, unpublished work for Jigsaw #3 and Thrill-O-Rama #3 may exist.
All titles feature work by many well known creators, including Jack Kirby
, Bob Powell
, Wally Wood
, Otto Binder
, and the earliest known work by Jim Steranko
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
imprint used by Harvey Comics
Harvey Comics
Harvey Comics was an American comic book publisher, founded in New York City by Alfred Harvey in 1941, after buying out the small publisher Brookwood Publications. His brothers Robert B...
for their brief foray into publishing super heroes and other non-'kiddie' comics in the mid 1960s.
While Harvey Comics has for decades been known for their many kids' comics, such as Casper the Friendly Ghost
Casper the Friendly Ghost
Casper the Friendly Ghost is the protagonist of the Famous Studios theatrical animated cartoon series of the same name. As his name indicates, he is a ghost, but is quite personable...
, Richie Rich, etc., they have published other kinds of comics over the years. From 1955 to 1962, most of their non-kid comic output was done under the "Thrill Adventure" line, under the editorship of Joe Simon
Joe Simon
Joseph Henry "Joe" Simon is an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.With his...
, after which they stopped publishing any non-kid comics.
In the mid-1960s, with the camp
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
craze created by the Batman television series
Batman (TV series)
Batman is an American television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin — two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City. It aired on the American Broadcasting Company network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to...
, Harvey approached Joe Simon again to oversee a new line of comics, mainly superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
es, but with science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
stories thrown in as well. All were short-lived.
The line started off with one-shots Unearthly Spectaculars #1, Thrill-O-Rama #1, Blast-Off #1, and Warfront #36 in October, 1965, using work that was apparently done for the 1950s Thrill Adventure line. The next issues would not come out until almost a year in September, 1966! Along with the new titles were two reprint titles for Fighting American
Fighting American
Fighting American is a patriotic comic book character created in 1954 by writer Joe Simon and artist Jack Kirby, published by Crestwood Publication / Prize Comics and, against normal industry practices of the time, creator-owned...
and The Spirit
The Spirit
The Spirit is a crime-fighting fictional character created by writer-artist Will Eisner. He first appeared June 2, 1940 in "The Spirit Section", the colloquial name given to a 16-page Sunday supplement, distributed to 20 newspapers by the Register and Tribune Syndicate and reaching five million...
, which did include new stories for these characters. All the titles ended by March 1967, however, unpublished work for Jigsaw #3 and Thrill-O-Rama #3 may exist.
All titles feature work by many well known creators, including Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
, Bob Powell
Bob Powell (comics)
Bob Powell né Stanislav Robert Pawlowski was an American comic book artist known for his work during the 1930-40s Golden Age of comic books, including on the features "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle" and "Mr. Mystic". He received a belated credit in 1999 for co-writing the debut of the popular...
, Wally Wood
Wally Wood
Wallace Allan Wood was an American comic book writer, artist and independent publisher, best known for his work in EC Comics and Mad. He was one of Mads founding cartoonists in 1952. Although much of his early professional artwork is signed Wallace Wood, he became known as Wally Wood, a name he...
, Otto Binder
Otto Binder
Otto Oscar Binder was an American author of science fiction and non-fiction books and stories, and comic books...
, and the earliest known work by Jim Steranko
Jim Steranko
James F. Steranko is an American graphic artist, comic book writer-artist-historian, magician, publisher and film production illustrator....
.
Thrill Adventure titles
- Alarming Adventures (1962–63) 3 issues (sf/fantasy)
- Alarming Tales (1957–58) 6 issues (sf/suspense)
- Black Cat Western (1955) #54-56
- Black Cat Mystery (1956) #57
- Black Cat Mystic (1956–58) #58-62
- Chamber of Clues (1955) #27-28 (detective)
- Man in Black (1957–58) 4 issues
- Race for the Moon (1958) 3 issues (intro 3 Rocketeers in #3)
- Thrills of Tomorrow (1955) #19 (Stuntman, Boy Explorers reprints)
- Warfront (1955-?) #26-35
- Western Tales (1955–56) #31-33
- Witches Western Tales (1955) #29-30
Harvey Thriller titles
- Blast Off (1965) #1 (3 Rocketeers, stuff intended for Race for the Moon #4)
- Double-Dare Adventures (1966–67) 2 issues (Bee-man, Glowing Gladiator, Magic Master)
- Fighting American (1966) 1 issue
- Jigsaw (1966) 2 issues
- Spirit (1966–67) 2 issues
- Spyman (1966–67) 3 issues
- Thrill-O-rama (1965–66) 3 issues (Man in Black-Fate, Pirana #2-on)
- Unearthly Spectaculars (1965–67) 3 issues (Tiger Boy, Jack Q Frost, 3 Rocketeers, Miracles, Inc, Earthman)
- Warfront (1965–67) #36-39 (Dynamite Joe, Lone Tiger in 2nd issue)
Harvey Thriller characters
- Bee-Man
- Captain 3-DCaptain 3-DCaptain 3-D was a Harvey Comics character who appeared in one issue of his own eponymous title, dated December 1953, a few years before the beginning of the Silver Age of Comic Books...
(owned by Simon and Kirby) - Dynamite Joe the Blast Crazy Marine (owned by Joe SimonJoe SimonJoseph Henry "Joe" Simon is an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.With his...
) - Fighting AmericanFighting AmericanFighting American is a patriotic comic book character created in 1954 by writer Joe Simon and artist Jack Kirby, published by Crestwood Publication / Prize Comics and, against normal industry practices of the time, creator-owned...
(owned by Joe SimonJoe SimonJoseph Henry "Joe" Simon is an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.With his...
) - Glowing Gladiator
- Jack Q. Frost
- JigsawJigsaw (Harvey Comics)Jigsaw was a Joe Simon-created character and two-issue comic series published by Harvey Comics from September to December 1966.Developed for Harvey's short-lived superhero line, Harvey Thriller, Jigsaw was the disconnectable "Man of a Thousand Parts". The feature was drawn by Tony Tallarico, with...
(owned by Joe SimonJoe SimonJoseph Henry "Joe" Simon is an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.With his...
) - Magicmaster
- Man in Black
- Miracles, Inc
- Pirana (owned by Joe SimonJoe SimonJoseph Henry "Joe" Simon is an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.With his...
) - SpymanSpymanSpyman was a short-lived comic book superhero published by Harvey Comics's Harvey Thriller line in the late 1960s. Three issues were published, from September, 1966 to February, 1967....
(owned by Joe SimonJoe SimonJoseph Henry "Joe" Simon is an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.With his...
) - Tiger Boy (owned by Joe SimonJoe SimonJoseph Henry "Joe" Simon is an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.With his...
) - 3 Rocketeers (owned by Joe SimonJoe SimonJoseph Henry "Joe" Simon is an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.With his...
)
External links
- Comic Book Artist #13 Issue devoted to Harvey Comics, including Harvey Thriller.