Let's take an introductory look at one of them, Kona. Here's a second look at Tom Beecham's painted cover to "Kona #1" (actually Four Colour #1256)
Before we proceed, a quick bit on the term 'Cavemen' is in order. I use the word as a cultural touchstone. It has precisely zero scientific value and is used to refer to a wide variety of hominids, ranging from neanderthal to nomadic homo-sapiens, depending on the situation. Very rarely does the term apply to actual cave dwellers. After all, most locations don't readily offer caves, as you might have already noticed in your day-to-day lives. The term is also used in the same way that 'Man' is used to refer to human beings in general, without regard to individual gender.
Okay, moving right along...
The first thing that sets Kona apart from most caveman comics is the time frame. Our story begins in the 20th century. Not that this is completely original or anything, just ask Marshall, Will & Holly. (Actually, the original Land Of The Lost is on our posting topic list; both the book and the 1940s comic)
The expedition proceeds until a massive storm assaults the craft, tearing it apart as it pushes them into an unseen island. The family works together to salvage as much as they can -
While Grandpa and the kids seem fairly well suited to adventure, Mom - not so much. She flees the bats and has to be rescued by Mason clubbing a bat away with the butt of his rifle. As things settle down, the family suddenly find themselves inundated with water again -
The dai kaiju wrestle until the snake crushes the breath from tyrannosaur, but as they collapse...
The pithecanthropes behead the serpent, taking their prize with them and leaving the family staring in wonder at what just happened...
A short march later...
And there you have the setup for Kona.
By the way - his tribe have domesticated triceratops, much as the others had their tyranosaurs.
Not surprisingly, their first battle goes supremely well, and the tribesmen get brutally wild in their victory. Grandpa gets disgusted and declares no more guns. A nice sentiment, but the reality of their new world rapidly reverses that decision.
It didn't take long for things to begin to get wonderfully odd. In the 2nd issue...
"Though the tyranasaurus-rex is at the bullfrog's throat the croaking beast still manages to lash out with his powerful legs kill two charging triceratops!"
"Kona's .45 makes short work of the dragonfly and he turns to face an enraged bee..."
You're going to have to work hard to find more awesome oddness packed into two sentences and one panel.
He was called Monarch Of Monster Isle, not Dean Of Dinosaur Island, y'know.
page art by Sam Glanzman for Dell Four Color #1256 and Kona #2 (1962)
As a 7-year-old boy, Kona was one of those comics that was ALWAYS to be purchased on sight when it appeared in the drugstore comic book shelves. Sam Glanzman's distinctive artwork I knew well even at that young age. I read those treasured comics until the covers literally wore out. His VOYAGE TO THE DEEP mini-series is another memorable Sam Glanzman comic series, too. In 1962, a comic costing 15 cents wasn't common - most were still 12 cents. Years later I obtained a mint copy of the first Kona, Dell Four Color #1256 that had cost me 15 cents - now appraised at $150. But it's priceless to me. Thanks for showcasing one of the early 1960's best monster\sci-fi comic book series.
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