COMICS FROM OUTER SPACE (PART 3)

Beware! Aliens on Earth! This one-shot from Avon was first published in 1950 and then reprinted in 1952. The main attraction is a three-part feature-length story by Wallace Wood who took some time out from his work at EC to produce this gem. The issue is filled out with reprints from Avon's EERIE COMICS #1, recognized as the first all-original, all-horror comic book.

FLYING SAUCERS

Vol. 1 No. 1 (One-shot)

1950/1952

Avon Periodicals Inc. (Avon Comics)

Editor: Sol Cohen

Cover: Gene Fawcette

Pages: 36

Cover price: 10 cents

CONTENTS

"The Flying Saucers: Spawn of Terror"

Script: ?

Art: Wallace Wood

"Goofy Ghost" (reprinted from Eerie Comics #1, January 1947)

Script: ?

Art: ?

"The Eyes of the Tiger" (reprinted from Eerie Comics #1, January 1947)

Script: ?

Art: Bob Fujitani

A RECIPE FOR BLOOD

Have you ever wanted to make stage blood for your next DYI monster movie? I used to make it with Karo syrup and red food coloring; what a mess, but it tasted good!

Recipes vary widely, even among the pros. But back when budgets were tighter than a -- well, you know what, the makeup artist often had to come up with some cheap -- but realistic looking -- claret-colored plasma.

Makeup master Emile Lavigne not only made his own concoction but wrote it down and named it a "family recipe"! Lavigne was the makeup artist for over 100 movies and TV shows during his career, including THE WIZARD OF OZ, ABBOT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, WORLD WITHOUT END, THE DISEMBODIED, QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE, THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE and THE HYPNOTIC EYE.

Seen below are some sketches he did of a clown makeup and the blood recipe (he used Karo syrup, too!), along with a couple of snapshots of what appear to be the finished product (no blood added). A strange combination, but hey, when you're taking notes, you gotta write 'em down when the inspiration hits.

See more of Emile Lavigne's makeup work HERE.