Dr. Strangelove Covers

[Lone Ranger]

If you've read my latest blog entry, you know what I'm talking about.

Apparently, long before Julie Schwartz decided that gorillas help sell comic books, someone thought that having a superhero straddle a bomb would bring in the big bucks.

These may have some other name out there, but I kind of like the term 'Dr. Strangelove cover' so that's what I'm calling 'em. Since I posted my blog, another one came to mind, this classic cover featuring a bomb with room for two.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/scottandkat/National30.jpg

Can you guys thing of any others?

[scratchie]

Love the Capt. Marvel one in your blog.

This isn't really the same, because she's tied down and not riding the bomb voluntarily:

http://www.agitators.com/foto/album33/ww205.jpg

But it is the greatest comic book cover ever!

[Sir Tim Drake]

Codename: Stryke Force #3.

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/7137/400/7137_4_003.jpg

The cover blurb ("In This Issue...") is kind of unusual for an early '90s comic, so I wonder if this cover might be a homage to something or other.

[MWGallaher]

I was pretty sure that Charlton would have done one of these for Captain Atom. Sure enough, Space Adventures #40.
http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/1316/400/1316_4_V3-40.jpg

[benday-dot]

Superman rode the odd missile

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/116/400/116_4_018.jpg

[benday-dot]

And so did Freddie Freeman

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/306/400/306_4_019.jpg

Edit: And I just checked LR's blog... he's already got this one covered, as well as lots of interesting things to say about this sort of cover.

[benday-dot]

But he liked to ride lots of strange objects...

giant keys

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/306/400/306_4_044.jpg

swordfish

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/306/400/306_4_048.jpg

and small meteors

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/306/400/306_4_091.jpg

[benday-dot]

double post deleted

[benday-dot]

He also did it like this

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/185/400/185_4_039.jpg

[scratchie]

Speaking of themed covers, did you see this recent blog entry?

http://bullyscomics.blogspot.com/2007/05/ten-of-kind-to-infinity-and-beyond.html

[Lone Ranger]

Scratchie
I agree that the Wonder Woman cover isn't exactly the same - it's a big more like the cover to Atom #10, where he's strapped to a grenade. That's a whole other theme I'll likely explore on my blog soon.

I hadn't seen that blog with those infinity covers - I have most of those, but there are some recent ones I wasn't even aware of - thanks.

Aaron
That one is particularly interesting as it's not the type of cover that you see these days - perhaps it is a sort of swipe, order perhaps just a general homage to a kindler, gentler era.

MWG
Great find - slightly tucked away in the corner, but CA is definitely doing the Slim Pickens routine.

b-d
Good covers - some of those are sufficiently different that I'm planning of using as separate themes (Riding on aquatic life, Superhero Surfing) - I've got the CM Jr #19 one on my blog.

I wonder if there are any more - especially from Silver or Bronze Ages.

[Lone Ranger]

Yikes - Herbie will bop me with a lollipop for forgetting this one:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/scottandkat/Herbie10.jpg

[Lone Ranger]

Just spotted another one while flipping through Weird War Tales covers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/scottandkat/WWT109.jpg

[prince hal]

Have fun, bomb boys!

http://blogzarro.com/?p=227

[matt levin]

very cool collection; glad to've found your blogs!

thanks!

Matt

[benday-dot]

Though not the most impressive composition, here's another to add to the great gallery you have going in your thread LR. Given it's Doll Man, maybe that's more of a mere bullet than a bomb he's straddling ;)

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/122/400/122_4_050.jpg

[Jeff O.]

From the Oddball Comics files:

GEORGE PAL'S PUPPETOONS Vol. 3, No. 14 (http://www.oddballcomics.com/article.php?story=archive2003-04-18) has a rocket (and not specifically a rocket bomb intended as a weapon), but it's still dangerous riding -- and it is from Fawcett.


Also, the cover of CAPTAIN MARVEL PRESENTS THE TERRIBLE 5 Vol. 2, No. 5 (http://www.oddballcomics.com/article.php?story=archive2003-08-15), not from Fawcett, is like the WONDER WOMAN cover that scratchie posted, with hero tied to a bomb as it descends.

[Jeff O.]

This is not a comic book cover, but it's related to this topic.

Inspired by Walt Disney's decorations on American planes and other fighting vehicles in World War II, it seems the Royal New Zealand Air Force also put Disney characters on their own aircraft of the day.

Here is a painting on a RNZAF 30 Squadron Avenger -- of Dumbo riding a bomb down. I take it he used those big ears of his to fly out of harm's way at the last moment, each time.

http://www.skylighters.org/disney/nzaf7.jpg

I haven't done a survey of how often "nose art" images on aircraft had characters on bombs, but I wonder if any of these World War II covers took a cue from "nose art."



Image from

http://www.skylighters.org/disney/index.html (http://www.skylighters.org/disney/index.html)

[Jeff O.]

I couldn't find a scan of the scene online, but there is a two-page spread of The Fighting American riding a bomb which can be found inside FIGHTING AMERICAN No. 2 -- (1997 series) (http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=fullsize&issue=31862866698%202).