Back in the mid-1970s Marvel Comics former owner, Martin Goodman, decided to
get back into comic books and compete with his former company.
Goodman
had always been a wheeler dealer and over the decades developed the uncanny knack
for taking chances and cashing in on current crazes.
After
having sold Marvel Comics he realized that Marvel Comics growing popularity also
meant that lots of cash could be made from merchandizing, etc.
Never
one to let an opportunity pass him but he decided to start his own comic book
company dubbed Atlas Comics. An interesting
note is that Marvel Comics original name was atlas Comics.
Goodman
decided to go head-to-head with Marvel Comics even going so far as to hire many
of its current and former artists and writers, offer a higher page rate and attempt
to copy Marvel Comics look and style.
Unfortunately
Atlas Comics was doomed from the start.
Missed
deadlines, small profit margins, poor circulation and other problems plagued
the company.
Artists
and writers were not being paid on time and many of the company’s titles were
poor imitations of Marvel Comics ideas and characters.
Although
the company only published for a year before closing its doors it did manage to
publish a few gems.
One
of my favorites was Tales Of Evil Featuring
Man-Monster #3 that introduced the origin of Man-Monster as created by Gary
Friedrich, Tony Isabella and Rich Buckler.
The
story centers around rich playboy and former Olympic swimming champion Paul
Sanders who in a show of macho to impress two female reporters swims into a strange
ocean phenomenon that transforms him into the Man-Monster.
A
Bog Beast story was also included in the anthology.
Both
series had promise but unfortunately no one will ever know what either series
had in store.
Although
Atlas Comics no longer exists fans
of comic books are starting to take notice of the titles published and a strong
cult following has developed.