Mighty Samson

Mighty Samson Gold Key Comics''''

Mighty Samson was an original comic book series from Gold Key Comics. Similar to other 'earth after disaster' titles like Kamandi,published years later by DC Comics and their own Atomic Knights or the like, it was set the area around "N'Yark", in an Earth devastated by a nuclear war.This is also similar to material Andre Norton's Daybreak 2250,also known as Starmate's Son,movies Roger Corman's Teenage Caveman,.The good is Gold Key stayed away from your standard superhero format,with the exception of Doctor Solar and Magnus Robot Fighter,which also more science fiction,than current day crimefighter,that all rest were and still are.Too bad Gold Key isn't a trend others follow today,than the big two dinosaurs.Myghty Samson is somewhat like the later made tv movie pilot for a possable series Genesis II,about Dilan Hunt being frozen and waking up in year 2395.And strangely enough there a big,blond giant Isia,in the story,working for PAX-the organization that found Dilan Hunt.We can only guess Gold Key comics desided create this book because of the success of other similar heroes like Tarzan,Karak,Turok-Son of Stone,The Jungle Twines,

Real Name:Samson

Identity/Class:Mutant human

Occupation:Barbaric hero

Sharmaine and her father Mindor

Enemies:

Known Relatives:

Aliases:Thundarr the Barbarian

Base of Operations: N'Yark

First Appearance: (Gold Key)

Powers/Abilities:Strenth,

History:

Comments:

CLARIFICATIONS:

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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Samson grabs a typical foe in an atypical way. Artist: Morris Gollub.

MIGHTY SAMSON Medium: Comic books Published by: Gold Key Comics First Appeared: 1964 Creators: Otto Binder (writer) and Frank Thorne (artist) If this site is enjoyable or useful to you, reading comic books in the 1960s had known since birth that it was possible for an all-out war to destroy civilization — but the comics they were reading were slow to respond to … continued below … the fact. DC Comics' Atomic Knights series, set in a post-Catastrophe future, began a full 15 years after Hiroshima and lasted only 15 quarterly episodes.

Gold Key's Mighty Samson started when the Knights had been gone a year (July, 1964, to be exact), but lasted much longer. The 1970s brought DC's Kamandi, Marvel's War of the Worlds and others set after the Collapse, but for the rest of the '60s, Mighty Samson was the only one.

Samson (no relation) was first seen as a solitary barbarian-style adventurer in a region known as N'Yark-somehow after the nuclear war people forgot how pronounce and spell New York City, where jungle was reclaiming a landscape that consisted mostly of ruined skyscrapers. Radiation-spawned mutants, beast and man, littered the landscape, and these mutants were more like the grotesqueries of Judge Dredd's world than the "nice" mutants found in Marvel Comics' X-Men.

Samson himself was a mutant, one of the few whose mutation was relatively benign — he was amazingly large and strong, hence the name. But he used his strength only for good, having promised his mother, on her deathbed, to help others rather than dominate them. In the first issue, Samson lost an eye to a liobear, one of the large carnivores inhabiting N'Yark. A young woman named Sharmaine nursed him back to health, aided by the 20th century knowledge her father, Mindor, had managed to reconstruct from surviving artifacts. Samson repaid their kindness by protecting them from raiding savages, and from then on, Samson and Sharmaine were an "item". He cut quite a dashing figure, with a fur patch over one eye and wearing a liobear skin. Samson and his entourage were created by writer Otto Binder (best remembered for Captain Marvel, but also known for such oddities as Space Cabby and Fatman the Human Flying Saucer) and artist Frank Thorne (Red Sonja, Ghita of Alizarr). Most covers were fully painted by Morris Gollub, who had

done dozens of covers for Dell and Gold Key. Those not painted by Gollub were generally by George Wilson, another Dell/Gold Key regular.

Mighty Samson was published on a regular basis until 1969, then again in the mid-1970s. The final issue, and the only one with a line-drawn cover, staggered to the stands in 1982, six years after its immediate predecessor. 32 issues were published altogether. Samson also starred in one issue of Gold Key Champion, which came out in 1978. There doesn't seem to have been any attempt to license him to other media, so he's never appeared on TV, in theatres, or even on a pair of Underoos. Western Printing and Lithographing, which owns Gold Key, got out of the comic book business in 1984.

A few years later some of its properties, such as Doctor Solar and Turok, Son of Stone, were picked up by Valiant Comics, but Samson wasn't one of them. — DDM BACK to Don Markstein's Toonopedia™ Home Page Today in Toons: Every day's an anniversary! Google Web www.toonopedia.com Purchase Toon-related Merchandise Online Text ©2002-08 Donald D. Markstein. Art © Western Printing.

Mighty Samson lasted 32 issues between 1964-82. The first issue was published in July 1964. The title was cancelled with #20 (1969). Issues 7-20 each had a back-up story with the large-headed character Tom Morrow. Mighty Samson was brought back in 1972 (probably due to the popularity of Star Trek), and lasted until #31 in 1976. The first two new issues were reprints; issue #21 (reprinting #7), and issue #22 (reprinting #2). A final new story was published in Gold

Key Champion #2 in 1978. #32 (a reprint of #3, but with a line-art version of #4's cover) was published under the "Whitman Comics" line in 1982, and sold in a bag with Turok #130 and Dagar the Invincible #18.

Mighty Samson was created by writer Otto Binder and artist Frank Thorne. Artist Jack Sparling tookover the artwork with #6, and Otto and Jack did the title through #20. In the new issues beginning with #23, art was by Jose Delbo, and later by Jack Abel.

Samson was a wandering barbarian adventurer. An apparent mutant, due to his size and strength, but one who did only good. In the first issue, he loses an eye to a liobear, who he kills and skins (and whose hide he would wear). He is nursed back to health by Sharmaine, whose father Mindor had figured out some 20th Century knowledge from artifacts from the past.

Project Superpowers, a comic book from Alex Ross and Dynamite Entertainment announced in 2007,<ref>Newsarama (July 24, 2007): "SUPERPOWERS PREVIEW BOOK ", by Matt Brady</ref> reviving many golden-age comic book characters will feature a Samson that is ostensibly the golden age Fox Features Samson, though the visual design seems to have been inspired by the Gold Key character.

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==References==

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==External links==

*Toonopedia entry
*International Superheroes entry

==== First Story "Mighty Samson" ====

Cover: ??? Writer: Otto Binder Artist: Frank Thorne 32 pages 12¢

Characters: Mighty Samson, Samson's mother, tribespeople, Sharmaine, Mindor

Synopsis: "Samson uses his stupendous strength to battle fantastic creatures in a primitive world of the future!"

"A once-great city lies in ruins..." This is New York, a jungle-choked ruin, long after the great atomic wars of the 20th Century.

One day a piece of the jungle, "the Plant-That-Eats", reaches for a child. The boy's mother is snared too. "We can't escape now!" But "the boy's tiny hands, tugging curiously at the noose, snap the tough fiber like string.

de:Mighty Samson

NB: There are a few minor errors in Don's summary of the comic (e.g., it was never published by Dell, only Gold Key from issue #1; the final issue was a reprint issued under the Whitman logo ONLY, and featured a re-drawn line version of the painted cover of #4) but your question about Samson's fate after his brief heyday is addressed here:

Mighty Samson was published on a regular basis until 1969, then again in the mid-1970s. The final issue, and the only one with a line-drawn cover, staggered to the stands in 1982, six years after its immediate predecessor. 32 issues were published altogether. Samson also starred in one issue of Gold Key Champion, which came out in 1978. There doesn't seem to have been any attempt to license him to other media, so he's never appeared on TV, in theatres, or even on a pair of Underoos.

Western Printing and Lithographing, which owns Gold Key, got out of the comic book business in 1984. A few years later some of its properties, such as Doctor Solar and Turok, Son of Stone, were picked up by Valiant Comics, but Samson wasn't one of them

The writer, Otto Binder, obviously had a lot of fun populating "N'Yark" with all kinds of mutated monstrosities, and even though the characters are just plain dumb and the stories hopelessly juvenile, the comic undeniably held a certain charm that still attracts. Frank Thorne's art is uniformly excellent, and I recall poring over the painted covers for hours!

"The young mother... recalls a legendary hero still known among the N'Yarks... 'My baby! You have the strength of a Samson!'"

Radiation is the reason. A belt of glowing mist still circles the Earth. Mutant animals and plants spring up everywhere - and a few mutant humans such as Samson.

Teen Samson can outpull all the other boys at tug-of-war. He can rip up a tree for firewood. Heave a car aside. And can kill a buffalo-rhino single-handed. He helps the tribe survive - and thrive.

One day, "after Samson reached manhood", a warlike tribe attacks. Samson's mother yells for him to help, so he snaps off an iron lamppost. With one swipe he bowls over the enemy tribesmen, and spanks them into the jungle

"But triumph turns to tragedy..." Samson's mother was struck down in battle. Her dying words are, "Samson... use your strength... to help those in peril... and to fight evil... Goodbye, my son...." Samson promises.

Weeks later, "the most fearsome of the mutant monsters" shambles up. The liobear! (Half lion, half bear, as seen on the cover.)

Another nifty Dell and Gold Key feature were the pinups on the back. It was the original gorgeous PAINTED cover without any words except a small title. Lovely.

Mighty Samson - "The Renegade Robot"

Comic sample on the right-my right

Samson was a giant, blond mutant roaming the post-apocalyptic landscape of North America. He served as protector/guide to Sharmaine (who nursed him after a battle with an irradiated monster) and her father, Mindor, archivist of the new world. The title follows the three as they struggle to survive in a shattered world of ruins and mutated monsters.

In this tale Samson struggles with an ex Secret Service robot gone blinky and Queen Terra – who certainly has a royal temper. The cover was painted by Morris Gollub, and the writer and artist team for the story was Otto Binder and Jack Sparling, respectively. Sparling was very good at action panels and a gifted caricaturist - as our trio’s visit to the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials will attest. This is from Mighty Samson No. 9, March, 1967. All scans are of my own comic. Just click the image for the big picture.

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Comics  : Comic News Last Updated: Dec 27, 2009 - 23:19:16 PM Dark Horse Comics Revives Gold Key Comics Superheroes By The Editor Aug 6, 2009 - 9:47:09 AM Email this Article Printer Friendly Page Mobile Friendly Page document.write("<a href='http://del.icio.us/post?url="+document.location.href+"&title="+document.title+"' >Del.icio.us")Del.icio.us document.write("<a href='http://reddit.com/submit?url="+document.location.href+"&title="+document.title+"' >Reddit")Reddit document.write("<a href='http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url="+document.location.href+"&title="+document.title+"' >Digg")Digg document.write("<a href='http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url="+document.location.href+"&title="+document.title+"' >StumbleUpon")StumbleUpon document.write("<a href='http://technorati.com/faves?add="+document.location.href+"' >Technorati")Technorati document.write("<a href='http://myjeeves.ask.com/mysearch/BookmarkIt?v=1.2&t=webpages&url="+document.title.href+"&title="+document.title+"' >Ask")Ask AFTER MUCH SPECULATION, DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF TUROK®, DOCTOR SOLAR, MAGNUS, AND MIGHTY SAMSON DARK HORSE TEAMS WITH COMICS LEGEND, JIM SHOOTER, TO EXPAND GOLD KEY COMICS’ SUPERHEROES In a packed panel during Comic Con, Dark Horse president, Mike Richardson called a surprise guest to announce Dark Horse’s plans to develop new comics and graphic novels for the Gold Key Comics’ superheroes. Fans were shocked to see Jim Shooter enter the room; the man recently named the “Steve Jobs of Comics” by Comic Book Bin. http://tinyurl.com/ku9o3w Shooter is perhaps best known for his nine year tenure at Marvel Comics, beginning in 1982, with highlights including Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s run on the Uncanny X-Men, and Frank Miller's run on Daredevil. Also under Shooter's editorial reign, Walt Simonsen revamped The Mighty Thor and made it again a bestseller. Following his successful run at Marvel, Shooter launched the well-received Valiant comics imprint in the early 90s, bringing many of Marvel’s creators with him. Now, Jim Shooter comes to Dark Horse as head writer for the re-launch of the Gold Key Comics characters: Turok, Son of Stone®, Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom, Magnus, Robot Fighter, and Mighty Samson, with further characters and new comic writers to be announced shortly. “It's great to be at Dark Horse, working with Mike Richardson, world-class creator, honorable gentleman and industry powerhouse” said Jim Shooter. “It's great to be reunited with Magnus, Solar, Turok, Samson and the other wonderful Gold Key properties. The opportunity is tremendous and the time is ripe. Let's do it.” “Jim and I share a great affection for these terrific characters. We have some very exciting ideas on how to introduce them to a whole new generation of fans.” said Mike Richardson, president of Dark Horse Comics. Turok®An original comic book hero, Turok is best known today for a successful video game franchise boasting more than five million units sold since the first game was introduced in the 1990s. The legend of the brave and ruthless dinosaur-hunter has lived on for more than thirty years in comic book series from Dell Comics, Gold Key Comics and Valiant. Anthologies of the original classic comics are now available from Dark Horse Comics. Doctor Solar, Man of the AtomDoctor Solar must find a way to become normal again after surviving an explosion that leaves him with the power to control atomic energy. When danger and disaster threaten the innocent, Solar leaps into action as the “Man of the Atom.” One of Gold Key Comics’ most popular titles in the 1960s, the original nuclear-powered superhero reached legendary status by the 1990s in new comics from Valiant. The original classic comics now appear in hardcover anthologies published by Dark Horse Comics. Magnus, Robot FighterHaling from the year 4,000 A.D. is the stalwart hero of humanity, Magnus, Robot Fighter. These gripping adventure stories, in which a human who battles evil robots in the sprawling futuristic city of North Am, elevated the comic book medium when they debuted in the 1960s from Gold Key Comics, and captured the imagination of millions in new comics published thirty years later by Valiant. The original science-fiction classics now appear in hardcover anthologies published by Dark Horse Comics. Mighty SamsonA popular Gold Key Comics character from the 1960s and 70s, the post-apocalyptic adventures of Mighty Samson are set in the land of N’Yark, an earth devastated by nuclear war. Amazingly large and strong, Samson uses his mutant strength only for good—and to protect his friends, Sharmain and Mindor, responsible for saving his life. Turok, Son of Stone; Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom; Magnus, Robot Fighter and Mighty Samson are part of the Classic Media portfolio of properties. For more information, please go to: www.classicmedia.tv. About Dark Horse Comics: Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way and comics legend Will Eisner, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as The Mask, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Additionally, their highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, and Serenity. Today Dark Horse Comics is the third largest comic-book publisher in the U.S. and is recognized as one of the world's leading publisher of licensed comics material. Nothing stays dead in the world comics for too long.Marvel Comics brought the nearly forgotten Monank Starstalker and now Dark Horse is reviving much of Gold Key Comics.Lets hope Space Family Robinson isn't far behind.It was like the later half of Irwin Allen 's Lost in Space.No silly Doctor Smith.Doc Thompson Related Articles:Dark Horse Comics On-Sale 12/23/2009Dark Horse Comics On-Sale 12/16/2009Dark Horse Comics On-Sale 12/09/2009Dark Horse Comics On-Sale 12/03/2009Dark Horse Announces New Terminator Creative TeamDark Horse Comics On-Sale 11/25/2009Dark Horse Releases Tim Burton SkinsDark Horse Puts Deadlocke on ShelvesDark Horse Comics On-Sale 11/18/2009Dark Horse Celebrates Usagi Yojimbo Anniversary

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