Let us correct that imbalance.
Have you met Munson Paddock?
Munson Paddock is both artist and writer on our odd little wonder above. Yes, it says Martin Nye, but that's just one of the names behind which you can find Munson.
We'll get to Mars Mason (and Firetop - maybe his oddest) in a bit. But let's do this the way i did. I believe this was the story wherein i first encountered Paddock's work -
His mix of classic comic style and kind of wild free-styling look comes from many years of experience. Munson was an early comic artist, and before that a newspaper comic artist, creating strips like Angelic Angelina way back in 1909. (Perhaps earlier? The strips i have are from 1909) By the time the '40s rolled around he was apparently feeling the need to break out and do something new. And so he did - strangely and beautifully.
Mars Mason is one of the best examples. Even the concept is just a bit odd. Decades before David Brin made The Postman* into a science fiction hero, Munson brought us the adventures of an Interplanet Mail Carrier, and bizarre alien life forms that would have been at home warring with some of Basil Wolverton's creations.
Here's the debut chapter -
Munson drew a total of only five episode of Mars Mason - just 30 pages. Join us next time as we follow along, and we'll take a peek at a few other odd bits as we go.
page art by Munson Paddock for Spook Comics #1 and Speed Comics #s 7 & 11 (1940, 1946)
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*(If you've only seen the movie, or perhaps wisely avoided it, the book The Postman is actually terrific.)
