[Quirky Quokka]

I used to own the VHS of this movie from the early 1950s, so was interested to see what the comic adaptation was like. Always difficult to adapt a whole movie in a 32-page comic. So many character names were thrown in at the beginning, that I had a bit of trouble keeping track of them. The story-telling is a bit pedestrian, but the overall story is okay. Lots of completely far-fetched aspects. Apparently if you can fly planes and helicopters, you can fly a rocket ship with no training. Also, when sending the remnants of humankind and some animals to a new planet, it's not important to check the atmosphere first. Just step out of the ship and hope for the best. The romance was also a bit contrived. But it's an interesting example from the times. The art is good. Sci-fi fans probably would have loved this one. I would have loved to see comic book adaptations of 'Forbidden Planet' and 'The Day the Earth Stood Still'.

Link to the book: Motion Picture Comics 110 When Worlds Collide

[Captain Audio]

Also, when sending the remnants of humankind and some animals to a new planet, it's not important to check the atmosphere first. Just step out of the ship and hope for the best.

As they said in the film, there was no place else they could go if the atmosphere could not support life so they might as well get it over with quick.

As for the piloting. Once the craft reached the atmosphere it was a glider. A very large but not too ungainly glider, so a highly skilled experienced pilot of conventional aircraft could play it by ear, flying by the seat of his pants as it were. The Space Shuttles were gliders on their landing runs. The main pilot also helped design and build the space ship, so he knew what he was doing.
This ship was built like a tank, literally, so it handled landing stresses that would crumple a conventional aircraft like a candy wrapper.

[Quirky Quokka]

As they said in the film, there was no place else they could go if the atmosphere could not support life so they might as well get it over with quick.

As for the piloting. Once the craft reached the atmosphere it was a glider. A very large but not too ungainly glider, so a highly skilled experienced pilot of conventional aircraft could play it by ear, flying by the seat of his pants as it were. The Space Shuttles were gliders on their landing runs. The main pilot also helped design and build the space ship, so he knew what he was doing.
This ship was built like a tank, literally, so it handled landing stresses that would crumple a conventional aircraft like a candy wrapper.
[/quote]

Thanks for that. I needed to suspend disbelief a bit more  It's probably 20 years since I saw the movie, and it wasn't bad, but I didn't like it as much as some other sci-fi movies of the 50s like 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' and 'Forbidden Planet'. The comic reinforced that belief, though the art was good. If I'd seen the comic in a store back then, I would have bought it.