Planet Comics, Continued

Originally published March 22, 1996, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1166

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we’re short on time this week. So, for a quickie, I’m running the following letter and illustration from Red Sonja creator Frank Thorne, whose Devil’s Angel is one of the comics named in the Oklahoma City debacle.

Indeed, it’s one of the most pivotal: The rendering contained therein prompted the DA to classify it as child pornography, the selling of which carries extreme penalties—this despite the fact that Devil’s Angel has no photographs of children engaged in sexual acts, which is the usual criterion for such a charge. Frank writes:

“Thank you for your outstanding support in the Planet Comics indictment. I have already sent a generous donation to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which is also doing splendid work.

Devil’s Angel #2 was the fifth of a series; I was well into the last issue when news of the bust reached me in October. The finished cover and many interior pages were set aside, and I began a new concept.

Brought together are all of my creations, plus several that I’ve drawn over the years. They perform, more or less, in my defense. I’m going on a vigorous counterattack. It should be the best, and funniest, issue of the six-issue series, although I will sacrifice my three foreign-language editions because of the numerous references to American political figures, etc. It’ll be worth it. Gary Groth also asked me to do the cover of the next Eros catalog. Susan Alston has requested, via Eric Reynolds of Fantagraphics, to use it in the CBLDF newsletter. Feel free to use it at will.

Finally, may I have permission to use your excellent parody of the song ‘Oklahoma’ (just the first stanza), printed in CBG #1161, in Devil’s Angel #6?”

Well, Frank, consider this official permission to use the requested stanza—or, for that matter, the entire song.

Accompanying this installment of BID is Frank’s aforementioned Eros illustration. Eye-catching, isn’t it?

(Peter David, writer of stuff, can be written to at Second Age, Inc., PO Box 239, Bayport, NY 11705. He just saw Broken Arrow, which rated a 37 on the Cokemeter. What that means is that it was 37 minutes until we saw product placement for Coca Cola. In this case, John Travolta asked a character if he wanted a Coke and pulled one out of a cooler. Keep your eyes peeled for further ratings on the Cokemeter.)