Unfortunately, it was not to be. The series only lasted three bimonthly issues in 1967, a victim of the end of the camp craze, and a corresponding slump in comic book sales. As a fan of C.C. Beck's immaculate cartooning, I really think it's a shame that Beck and Binder couldn't make a go of this, because it becomes obvious as I page through the yellowed pages, reading the text pages touting the reunion of Beck and Binder, that Fatman: The Human Flying Saucer was a hopeful labor of love for the two creators. Fortunately, I have a (signed!) copy of the first issue of this forgotten classic to share! The first story in this 64-page first issue, titled simply "The Big Introduction" recounts the origin of our corpulent champion:
Click images to enlarge
"The Big Introduction"
Originally printed in Fatman, the Human Flying Saucer #1
April 1967
Script: Otto Binder
Art: C.C. Beck
7 comments:
That is some nice looking art there...
Stupidity afoot: Why does that logo on his shirt look like the international sign for female genitelia?
Despite also being a fan of Beck, I really had no idea I'd enjoy this so much. It may not be Binder's shining hour...but making Van Crawford brave, resourceful, and sympathetic instead of only being comic relief definitely elevates the story. And he's drawn well too: given today's neurotic attitudes about weight, you can't find artists who know how to draw stout or portly characters; Van is immediately recognizable as drawn from life. (I guess "realistic" would be the wrong word, but you know what I mean.) After seeing this, I'd happily read the rest of the issue...and the next two as well.
I had Fatman #2! Long gone, of course, but I've never forgotten it. And since I lost it right after buying it (on family vacation on Cape Cod in '67), it made a real impression on me. Glad to see that it really was great, and not just some fuzzy, golden-years-of-childhood memory.
I'm with RAB.
I'd love to see more of Fatman!
Yes, what would it take to get you to post more FATMAN? I'm working on something that's partly inspired by this concept, but I'd really like to read all three issues to do it. This much was great!
Hey! You can read all three issues here:
http://www.goldenagecomics.co.uk/index.php?cid=729
You've got to download them (which requires registering) and then get a program like CDisplayEx to read them, but they are there!!!
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