In the 80s, before the multiplicity of comic book companies and imprints, my corner store comics stand was a pretty simple thing, much like network television. You had three major guns, DC/CBS, Marvel/NBC and Archie/ABC, and you had the black sheep of the bunch who might've been a contender, Charlton/Fox. While Fox had a couple of outside-the-box-type hits, like The Simpsons and X-Files, it mostly aired cheap'n'crappy reality TV, such as When Animals Attack IV! Similarly, Charlton had a couple of potable properties, like Blue Beetle and Captain Atom, but a lot of forgettable EC-lite stuff and eventually, a reduced cheapo size.
Far-fetched? Here's proof-positive:
How close is this to Desperate Housewives? Now that you're convinced, let me go on...
Charlton didn't share Fox's fate, and the company stopped publishing in 1986, with many of its best properties being bought and incorporated into the DC universe. So... are Charlton's comics just not as good? Were they victims of an imploding market? Mismanaged? I've got a theory, and I'll share it with you:
Charlton simply didn't want to make money.
That's right. They didn't want our cash. Just look at some of their ideas for comics:
Charlton's answer to DC's Rex the Wonder Dog is Black Fury. He's a Wonder HORSE. How exciting is that? There's nothing wrong with a horse per se, but 69 issues over 11 years? Really?!? From the covers alone, it never really got more exciting than this:
Do I pick this up for the horse vs. puma battle royale for the attentions of that sexy mare in the background? Or for the 8000-prize giveaway? Now, just for comparison's sake, let's see what a Wonder DOG would be doing in the meantime:
Uh-huh. Fighting a dinosaur while the world is being destroyed in a storm of atomic fire. See, you gotta EARN that "Wonder" in your nickname.
Or how about Brenda Starr, Reporter?
Charlton's rip-off Lois Lane isn't unpretty, but let me show you how to really sell Brenda Starr...
Ahhhh yes, that's the way. Thanks, Four Star Publications!
Or how about Johnny Dynamite? Sounds exciting, right?
I don't know about Exciting or Adult, unless there's something happening with that girl behind Johnny.
I just know I'm gonna revisit this idea as many times as it takes to beat it into the ground, but for now, it's quite apparent that...
CHARLTON DOESN'T NEED YER STINKIN' MONEY!
Far-fetched? Here's proof-positive:
How close is this to Desperate Housewives? Now that you're convinced, let me go on...Charlton didn't share Fox's fate, and the company stopped publishing in 1986, with many of its best properties being bought and incorporated into the DC universe. So... are Charlton's comics just not as good? Were they victims of an imploding market? Mismanaged? I've got a theory, and I'll share it with you:
Charlton simply didn't want to make money.
That's right. They didn't want our cash. Just look at some of their ideas for comics:
Charlton's answer to DC's Rex the Wonder Dog is Black Fury. He's a Wonder HORSE. How exciting is that? There's nothing wrong with a horse per se, but 69 issues over 11 years? Really?!? From the covers alone, it never really got more exciting than this:
Do I pick this up for the horse vs. puma battle royale for the attentions of that sexy mare in the background? Or for the 8000-prize giveaway? Now, just for comparison's sake, let's see what a Wonder DOG would be doing in the meantime:
Uh-huh. Fighting a dinosaur while the world is being destroyed in a storm of atomic fire. See, you gotta EARN that "Wonder" in your nickname.Or how about Brenda Starr, Reporter?
Charlton's rip-off Lois Lane isn't unpretty, but let me show you how to really sell Brenda Starr...
Ahhhh yes, that's the way. Thanks, Four Star Publications!Or how about Johnny Dynamite? Sounds exciting, right?
I don't know about Exciting or Adult, unless there's something happening with that girl behind Johnny. I just know I'm gonna revisit this idea as many times as it takes to beat it into the ground, but for now, it's quite apparent that...
CHARLTON DOESN'T NEED YER STINKIN' MONEY!
Comments
I used to buy Charlton comics when I was a kid, however I was fully aware back then ( I was around 10) that they were of inferior quality. I still own those books today more than 20 years later.