FATMAN THE HUMAN FLYING SAUCER!

Holy Bacon! Holy Strawberry Shortcake! It's Fatman, the Human Flying Saucer, and he's kicking off Weird Comics Week here at WoM! While not a monster himself (except for maybe his size), he does meet up with a sea creature in one of the stories here, his first of not one, but three issues if you can believe that. Described as "completely insane and absolutely amazing", Fatman was promoted as the only super-hero with three identities.

The brainchild of C.C. Beck and Otto Binder, who created the popular character Captain Marvel for Fawcett in 1939, the first issue was cover-dated April 1967 and was published by the short-lived Lightning Comics, whose only other title was the equally-absurd SUPER GREEN BERET (who'll be making an appearance right here later this week}. The book was edited by Wendell Crowley, who was employed by the Beck-Costanza (C.C. Beck/Pete Costanza) Studio in the 1940's.

"Fan-Man Feedback" is an editorial (presumably by Crowley) who writes about Beck and Binder and their careers up to the moment and "Fatmanfan Speaks!" is a letters page by those who received advanced copies of the marvelously kooky comic that's fat with fun. The comic itself is over-sized, coming in at 68 pages.

Lightning Comics appeared to be optimistic about the longevity of their titles as they advertised six-issue subscriptions for a buck-and-a-half. One wonders what happened to those who subscribe when both comics ended up folding.

When these Lightning Comics came out I was oddly attracted to them, even though I had both feet set firmly in the super-heroes (the serious ones) and horror camps at the time. I found most of them on the stands, due in large part, I suppose, because I was in Los Angeles, a huge magazine distribution hub and then a finished out my collection later with one or two from used comic shops.

ANOTHER WEIRD COMIC TOMORROW!