Monday, May 5, 2008

Mark of the Witch

Bill Everett Tribute: Day Five! This is one of my favorite Everett tales, featuring a fantastically illustrated witch and a neat time-travel twist. Two more days of Everett tales to go!

From the June 1952 issue of Men’s Adventures #22






10 comments:

Unknown said...

Why didn't he just go back to 1691?

The Vicar of VHS said...

Say it with me...

HOLY CRAP.

This is...wow, I hardly know where to begin! Should I start with Bridget Hobbs' hot red dress? Or with the Dad from the Future's gold disco short-shorts? With the distopia hinted at in the first few panels by the phrase "conditioned from birth not to do evil"? (I picture babies in rows of wire cages going through a regimen of government-sponsored aversion therapy every time they so much as whimper...) The writer's prescient belief that no matter how advanced we get, red tape will always prevent anything substantive getting done? (Surely the bylaws required him to go back precisely the number of weeks AFTER the original infraction that it took to get the permit...)

With the very idea of a WITCHES' PLAY KIT? I'd love to see this kids at playtime, changing into old crones and cats and melting their classmates for fun. Sounds like a real hoot.

Great story again, Karswell!

Anonymous said...

YOU POST ALOT OF GREAT STUFF BUT THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST FUN AND FUNNY POST I'VE SEEN YET! I AGREE WITH THE VICAR, THERES ALOT OF ADDITIONAL STORY TO BE HAD HERE THAT UNFORTUNANTLY WE ONLY GET SCANT TID BITS OF, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT STORY TO EXPAND UPON.

AND EVERETTS ART IS JUST AMAZING AS ALWAYS.

Anthony said...

You are doing a great job selling me on Everett- the way he renders the witch-crone's face is terrific. And when Bridget is scowling evilly she is positively adorable (hmm, maybe thats just my personal fetish).

Anonymous said...

that is a great looking witch, make a cool halloween decoration or mask

Mr. Karswell said...

Great comments today, a couple of you are already working hard for the best "no prize" comment for the week (awarded on Friday.) I think I might actually give something away this time too, but only if everyone is REALLY REALLY good... and if soda shoots an extra foot further out of my nose than last week.

Anonymous said...

Face aside,Bridget kept a nice figure in her crone form....and i agree that her evil smile is great!.i also agree the subplot about it just being a kid's toy is fascinating,did it start the stereotype of witches as green,or was it already there?.weird how stories about people physically becoming witches have made some of your best posts(like "The Wishing Hour" from last Halloween).

Patrick said...

Best line here has to be "What in the name of satan is a witch's playkit?"

That's classic dialogue right there!

I also love the texture Everett achieved with the details in the witch's face. The panel where she is flying on her broom near the log cabin is excellent!

Nothing comes close to capturing the oddball humor and feeling of these classic comic book pieces!!

Anonymous said...

LIke Zombie Elf has stated, my appreciation for Everett is sound now!
This is a gorgeously drawn story. Thanks for posting it!

Anonymous said...

Great, fun little story -- and an interesting variant on the classic sci-fi short story "Little Black Bag" in which a doctor's kit from the future makes it into the past.