This is the spin-off of a short-lived TV series about the captain of a sailing ship that plies the South Seas. Gardner McKay was the star. Artwork is by Jack Sparling, and the story by an unknown author almost ties FC #1409, "87th Precinct," for Weirdest Comic Story in History. Found on the Net; scanner unknown. There is more information about this book at the bottom of the page
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The 87th Precinct issue mentioned in the notes above is #1309, not 1409, in case you go looking for it. It is true that there are many extremely odd aspects to this story, not the least of which is the fact that the artist has apparently never acquainted himself with what birds look like. If it had been produced some years later, one might speculate that drugs were involved, especially those wild illustrations of the shark legend.
By Andrew999
This was a pleasant surprise. I’d never heard of this TV series – I’m pretty sure it was never broadcast in the UK, though I may be wrong about that? Odd that it was produced by ABC who also made Hawaiian Eye at the same time. (Now, THAT was a great TV series). A few episodes of Adventures in Paradise are available on a well-known video sharing platform for those interested – I’ve watched one of them so far and it was worth it – high production values, decent cast.
(Whilst we are talking about TV, I’m probably late to the party but I’ve just binge-watched the Star Trek Continues series. Once you get past the shock in the first episode of seeing different actors in familiar roles and settings, the series is absolutely brain-warping (at warp five, Mister Scott). It’s a true work of genius – an extraordinary case of historical futurist re-enactment. Breath-taking!)
Meanwhile, this Dell comic book is breath-taking in its own way – a great addition to the AiP canon. Expert pencils and ink present an eye-grabbing opening frame (complete with blonde in a red dress) and launches straight into the MacGuffin of a magic dagger and the King Shark. Already, I want to know more!
By page 11, five years ahead of schedule (if this is 1962), the drugs kick in and from there it gets crazier and crazier. – Page 20 is a gem – portholes of punitive pain - and pages 22-24, a deadly dance of death that lead to a titanic tussle between a British professor (naturally) and King Moby Shark of the Wild Seas. What will happen next and will Captain Troy finally get the girl? Phew! Pull in the lifeline fellas, I need to come up for air!
By The Australian Panther
Just revisited this book.
Two years later an amendment to my original post which read, 'I have to wonder if the writer was [Don Segall] who wrote the 'Kona - monarch of mystery isle' series, illustrated by Sam Glantzman and also published by Dell which is one of the craziest rides of the early 60's. You strap yourself in and hang on tight with that series. [most on CB+) "
And I agree with Crash about the art. Jack
Sparling pulled out all the stops here.
Cheers!
Genre: Adventure | Characters: Adam Troy (photo of Gardner McKay)
Text Article
Magic Daggers (1 page)
Synopsis
Facts about the "Magic daggers" of native cultures, especially those of Tibet.
Credits
Letters: typeset
Content
Genre: Non-fiction
Notes
Inside front cover; black and white. Text and illustrations.
Comic Story
Circle of Fire (32 pages)
Synopsis
Capt. Troy takes a professor to South Sea islands in search of a "magic dagger". After the crazed professor steals the dagger and takes the native chief hostage, he forces Troy to sail to the area where the "King Shark" resides.
Featuring
Adventures in Paradise
Content
Genre: Adventure | Characters: Adam Troy
Text Article
Sharks (1 page)
Synopsis
Facts about sharks.
Credits
Letters: typeset
Content
Genre: Non-fiction; Animal
Notes
Inside back cover; black and white. Text and illustrations.
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