Month: October 2022

Fatal Attraction

Malcom makes the best of his situation.

Motivated by finding booze, the guards make some questionable decisions.

As previously mentioned, much of my comics collection was given to me by Kreigh Collins’ son Kevin. Uncle Kevin gave me tons of Sundays, plus numerous black and white bromide proofs. I have most of the bromides for this story arc, but one is missing—March 30. The episode was a favorite, and the framed proof hangs Kevins dining room.

The April 6 episode starts with a gorgeous silhouetted splash panel and includes a lovely closeup of the conniving Kay. In between, Kevin’s good nature lands him in a world of pain.

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.

The King’s New Armor

The following chapter is from the spring of 1958, and most its scans were provided by my friend Arnaud. The first several episodes introduce new characters, and while Kevin is mentioned at the end of the second, he doesn’t make an appearance until the fourth one.

With a name like Bruce Black, he is clearly the villain—yet the loutish thug certainly has a comely, yet conniving, lady friend.

To be continued…

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.

Big Horn No. 3

Published in late 1957, issue No. 3 of the French comic book Big Horn follows the same format as its two predecessors. In addition to Warren Tufts’ title comic, it also features John Wheeler’s KID COLORADO, a short story, and Kreigh Collins’ KEVIN LE HARDI (“Kevin the Bold“).

Because these comic books are so thick (132 pages), they don’t scan very well. These images are photos I took outside with the comic book spread flat beneath a piece of plexiglass. Sorry about the glare. First up is BIG HORN.

BIG HORN is followed by KID COLORADO.

A three-page short story, likely a space filler, buttresses the comic book’s non-titular features.

KEVIN LE HARDI brings up the rear of the book with the action picking up where it left off in BIG HORN No. 2. Originally published on November 25, 1951, the episode features someone I like to call the original Princess Lea.

The KEVIN LE HARDI episodes cover the second half of the chapter featuring Baron Von Blunt. That chapter begins here; the action in BIG HORN No. 3 begins here.

The final (complete) KEVIN THE BOLD episode covered in BIG HORN No. 3 is particularly dramatic.

Unlike the previous BIG HORN titles in which KEVIN LE HARDI appeared, the KEVIN sequence wraps up at the comic book’s ending, with the next chapter being featured in Big Horn No. 4.

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.

Sweet 116

I have a soft spot for comics from the Indianapolis Times—it is the newspaper from which the first six months of my MITZI McCOY collection originated. I also appreciate the paper’s solid reproductions.

The remaining two episodes are represented by third-page versions, which is a shame—for me the only bonus are the identifying labels. Initially thinking it was the handwriting of Kreigh’s wife Theresa, I was mistaken—it was written by Kreigh’s mother, Nora. Because Nora and Stephen Collins lived in a small cabin on Kreigh and Teddy’s property, all the mail was co-mingled, and since the cabin was closer to the mailbox than the house, Nora took charge of the mail. No doubt she felt enormous pride in her son’s career, and many of the saved copies of his comic strips include Nora’s handwritten labels. I have no memories of my great-grandmother—she died when I only two or three.

At any rate, today is the birthday of Nora’s daughter-in-law, Teddy—sweet 116. (She lived to be 101).

At her 99th birthday party with some of her sons and grandsons (L–R, Brian, Josh, Glen, Kevin, David, and Brett (absent are oldest son Erik, youngest grandson Wes, and granddaughters Karen and Lauren).

Meanwhile, Pedro is still in custody, and Carmine has an audience with the King.

As Carmine charms King Henry, the chapter quickly draws to a close…

…with the suddenly freed Pedro gaining both a job and a fiancée.

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.

Pushing Pedro’s Buttons

While Del Sarto gives orders to his goons, Pedro experiences love at first sight.

Del Sarto doesn’t realize how misguided his plan is…

…nonetheless, it is successful, and Pedro’s beloved and beautiful Carmine is in serious peril.

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.