World of Fantasy

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title = World of Fantasy


caption = "World of Fantasy" #17 (April 1959). Cover art by Jack Kirby and Christopher Rule.
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format = Anthology
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publisher = Atlas Comics
date = May 1956 to August 1959
issues = 19
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"World of Fantasy" was a science fiction/fantasy comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics' 1950s predecessor company, Atlas Comics. Lasting from 1956 to 1959, it included the work of several notable comics artists, including industry legends Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Bill Everett.

The Marvel Comics antagonist Shrunken Bones (Dr. Jerry Morgan), of the supervillain team the Headmen, first appeared as a supporting character in a standalone science-fiction story, "Prisoner of the Fantastic Fog", by then-unknown writer-artist Angelo Torres, in issue #11 (April 1958). [ [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix4/shrunkenbonesmorgan.htm Jeff Christiansen's "The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe": Shrunken Bones] ]

Publication history

"World of Fantasy" ran 19 issues, cover-dated May 1956 to August 1959, and was published bi-monthly for all but two issues, #8 and #9 (Aug. & Dec. 1957). It was edited by Stan Lee and written by himself and Atlas staff writers, the latter uncredited except for Carl Wessler.

Bill Everett, creator of the Sub-Mariner during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books, was the title's most frequent cover artist, producing seven. The covers of #15 and #17-19 (Dec. 1958 and April-Aug. 1959) and a story each in #16 and #18 (Feb. and June 1959) marked some of the earliest work of Jack Kirby upon his return to Marvel Comics, after having co-created Captain America in 1940 and leaving the company a year later.

Other notable artists who contributed at least one story include Golden Age greats Carl Burgos, Kurt Schaffenberger, and Bob Powell; popular artists of the time including Bernard Krigstein, Joe Maneely, Joe Orlando, and Al Williamson; and future Marvel superhero pencilers of the 1960s Silver Age of Comics, including Ross Andru, Dick Ayers, Gene Colan, Don Heck, and Jim Mooney, and inkers Joe Sinnott and Jack Abel.

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.comics.org Grand Comics Database]
* [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/ The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators]
* [http://www.atlastales.com/sT/306 Atlas Tales: "World of Fantasy"]

External links

* [http://www.comicartville.com/kweskinatatlas.htm Comicartville Library: "Sam Kweskin at Timely/Atlas", by Dr. Michael J. Vassallo]