Flash Gordon’s Balsa Wood Plane From Dell’s Four Color #247
Four Color Comics was printed by Dell between 1939 and 1962, with an irregular publishing sample, all over the place from one to 6 points a month, with every comedian e book that includes a distinct story, a distinct franchise, with little or no in widespread between them. The closing concern being concern #1354, it holds the report for many points produced of an American comedian e book title. The identify, Four Color, Four Color Comics or Dell Four Color, is a reference to the 4 colors used within the manufacture then of most comedian books, cyan, magenta, yellow and black. As a collection, it printed lots of the first licensed Disney comics, however would additionally soar to its rivals for subsequent points, with Mickey Mouse one week, and Bugs Bunny the following. The first concern was made up of Dick Tracy newspaper strips, and the final from 1962 was based mostly upon the then-airing TV collection Calvin and the Colonel. Indeed, the identify of the comedian was ultimately erased, changed by the identify of no matter story was being featured, even within the copyright indicia, the one widespread aspect being the Dell brand and the persevering with concern quantity.
You would get Westerns, science fiction, each severe and foolish tales, and the comedian has been seen as a direct reflection of tradition and popular culture on the time, given that each concern could possibly be something, attempting to mirror what was widespread and offered on the time. It additionally turned a spot for Dell to attempt to check out a doable enchantment for ongoing collection, with Tarzan and Little Lulu getting ongoing collection after proving widespread in Four Color.
Many of the primary problems with Four Color had been reprints of newspaper comedian strips, similar to Flash Gordon, however then it moved into commissioning authentic tales. Such as Four Color #247 from 1949, that includes an authentic Flash Gordon comedian e book story, one of many first advised outdoors of the unique newspaper strips. Featuring a narrative during which Flash, Dale, and Zarkov battle King Zero and his queen, each within the snow and underwater, to save lots of the planet Mongo, it additionally has a again cowl with plans to make a balsa wooden Flash Gordon Space Ship. There is a duplicate being auctioned from Heritage Auctions right this moment that seems to be a duplicate to be used by Dell and Western printing’s personal places of work. It has a present bid of two {dollars} however I count on shortly after this Bleeding Cool publish runs, it’s going to go up considerably. Why not pop by and watch the market response?
Four Color #247 Flash Gordon (Dell, 1949) Condition: Apparent GD. Flash Gordon. Paul Norris cowl. Back cowl has plans for a balsa wooden Flash Gordon Space Ship scale mannequin. Back cowl ripped from prime to backside and repaired on inside with tape. Small piece lacking from again cowl. Overstreet 2022 GD 2.0 worth = $18.
Affiliates of Bleeding Cool purchase from and/or consign to Heritage Auctions.
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