More from the exploits of Stardust the Super-Wizard (and further proof that when both Kevin Church and Matt Fraction recommend something, it’s probably a good idea to buy it immediately) can be found in Fantagraphics’ recent I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets
I’m reading, and you just sold a copy of this book. Not that I wasn’t seriously considering buying it anyway, what with it having THE GREATEST TITLE IN THE HISTORY OF LITERATURE.
De Structo’s verbal responses to the head-enlarging/body-shrinking/space-pocket-throwing could be more … proportionate. “Ow-w,” “Stop it,” and “Oofh” were my responses when my brother and I played “Slug Bug” in the back seat of the car.
So we have Stardust to thank for those Big Head codes?
Or did Fletcher Hanks beat Japan to Super Deformed characters?
Thanks for the kind words about my book.
Evidently many others feel the same way because we sold out of copies early yesterday afternoon at the Fantagraphics booth at the San Diego Comic Con…and there are no more left in the warehouse. A 2nd edition is being printed but may take another month to get into stores, so good luck tracking it down!
In the meantime you can slide over to my website and see a slideshow of a Fantomah story that does NOT appear in the book:
http://www.fletcherhanks.com
Later, Stardust would enjoy a brief career at BALCO, where he applied his transforming ray to one Barry Lamar Bonds.
Jesus, my space pocket “siezed” just looking at that.
A highlight from the bonus story on Paul’s site (which is just as batshit crazy as the rest of the book clearly is):
“Then she destroys gravity under the moonstone.” (and proceeds to send it to crash into Mars)
No, it doesn’t make any more sense if you know the context.
What the HELL ASS kind of drugs was this guy on? Because I really want some.
Aren’t “space pockets” commonly known as black holes? So he was messing with the guy before he completely unmade him from reality?
No, according to the Amazon publisher’s review, the space pocket has a headless headhunter in it.
One Giant head into the space Pocket.
His training complete, Stardust challenges Minnesota Fats for all or nothing.
I am completely bereft of witty commentary.
I see now why Stardust was turned into a Herald of Galactus. Awesome.
As crazy as Stardust the Super Wizard is, Fantomah–the beautiful blonde who turns into a skull-faced monster so that she can protect Africa, which appears to be entirely covered by jungle and skirted natives–is way, way crazier.
And Paul, thanks for stopping by. I love the book, so much that I actually bought it from Amazon without the benefit of my store’s employee discount. Diamond, of course, was all sold out by the time I was hip to it.
For God’s sake, don’t let Dan Didio see this! Though come to think of it, replacing arms being ripped off and the rolling head of Pantha with giant body-absorbing heads being tossed into space pockets would probably be an improvement….
That, by the way, was the exact plot of a Dexter’s Laboratory episode.
“Our wild moon is leaving. That means death!”
Uh… Okay?
Remember, friends: elephants, pythons, and “tiger-hating lions” won’t hesitate to attack amazons riding circus-style on tigers rampaging through the jungle, but if they cover themselves with glow-in-the-dark paint they’ll be safe. Because elephants, snakes, and lions are AFRAID OF GHOSTS.
Or glow in the dark paint.
Wow… malevolent women in leopard-print mini-skirts, surfing around on tigers.
And only Fay Wray as the Ghost Rider (sans flame) can stop them.
I… I have nothing.
Apparently he was a raging alcoholic. This explains a lot.
I must know what his booze of choice was! If I could attain that level of drunken mastery I would create awesome work.
Whether it would be awesomely good or awesomely bad is debatable….
Gee, I didn’t know that if your head got too big it would absorb your body. The stuff they don’t teach us in health class, I tell you.
Does the book at least cover some of the less desirable qualities of Mr. Hanks? Such as a penchant for throwing his four year old son down the stairs?
Some people really should not be celebrated, and I hope this book paints the whole picture.
“Then the enlarged head begins to absorb the body” … and I will never stop having nightmares about this. Seriously, there’s enough going on in these panels to inspire at least eight David Cronenberg films.
This reminded me of the Miracle Man (Alan Moore/Eclipse Comics) scene where MM throws the evil doctor from the edge of space To the Earth and evil doc burns up in re-entry except for a bit of skull that bounces off the ground.
This was a A very weird bit of comic book past.
In reponse toMr. O’Brian:
“Does the book at least cover some of the less desirable qualities of Mr. Hanks? Such as a penchant for throwing his four year old son down the stairs?
Some people really should not be celebrated, and I hope this book paints the whole picture.”
The book, “I Shall Destory All the Civilized Planets” contains 15 stories by Fletcher Hanks, followed by a 16 page comics story by myself that explains, “Whatever Happened to Fletcher Hanks”.
My discovery of what kind of man he was is exactly what prompted me to compile the book. Don’t worry, all is reavealed and you might even get a bit of satisfaction to learn that Hanks received a poetically just end befitting his work and wretched life.
***Gee, I didn’t know that if your head got too big it would absorb your body. The stuff they don’t teach us in health class, I tell you.***
I guess it’s comforting to know it doesn’t really hurt much.
Y’know, it’s funny, but as insane as the Hanks stories are, the thing that immediately makes my suspension-of-disbelief seize up is ol’ Stardust’s outfit. Specifically, the lovingly-precise pinking at neck and waist. Was he supposed to be a circus strongman who got the barbell dropped on his head once too many, or what?
Does the book at least cover some of the less desirable qualities of Mr. Hanks? Such as a penchant for throwing his four year old son down the stairs?
Some people really should not be celebrated, and I hope this book paints the whole picture.
Karasik’s story at the end does just that, in a way that’s entertaining enough that it’s almost worth the price of admission alone. That might seem like an odd choice of adjective, but it’s true, and it’s a really well-done epilogue to the stories themselves.
But beyond that, I think that I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets is one of those instances where it’s very, very easy to separate the work from the artist. It’s not a matter of reading it and showering Fletcher Hanks with laurels for his contributions to the medium; it’s way more about looking at the stories themselves and marveling at how amazingly crazy they are.
Or at least it was for me.
“Then the enlarged head begins to absorb the body†… and I will never stop having nightmares about this. Seriously, there’s enough going on in these panels to inspire at least eight David Cronenberg films.
I’m glad that I’m not the only person who noticed this aspect.
I was wondering when you were going to get to Stardust the Super-Wizard, my man.
These things are frickin’ insane. You notice, after a while, that this guy has a ray for EVERYTHING. “Hm, Stardust is in trouble… Surrounded by the Furious Badger People. He’s the most remarkable man that ever lived, so I’m sure he had something thought out even though I, Fletcher Hanks, the author, am like TOTALLY stumped. How about a… um… what’s the opposite of badgers? Terriers! He has a Terrier Ray! Hanks, yer a genius.”
I did one of these on my own blog a while ago; it must be what it feels like to drop acid.
I wonder if this guy’s work was the inspiration for “Vincent tbe Vulture” from the Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis Movie “Artists and Models”, perhaps one of the few contemporary films to address the Wertham controversy. Jerry Lewis’s character has vivid nightmares fueled by his comic book obsession. When artist Dean Martin realized Jerry’s dreams are original and Jerry has no memory of them he sells them to a comic book company. Jerry dreams of “Vincent the Vulture” a space-based mutant coverd with feathers who battles the evil but gorgeous three-eyed Zuma (one eye in back of her head.) A comic inspired by this movie might be more interesting than the MAD DOG series inspired by the Newhart sitcom BOB.
The other comic book character mentioned is the “Bat-lady”, not doubt inspired by the golden-age Batwoman, and the finale involves Shirley McLaine and Eva Gabor running around in Bat-Lady costumes.