A Feature Presentation..The Black Tarantula
The Story:
Enter the Splash Page and we find Black Tarantula in a graveyard. He summons some recently deceased ghosts to tell them a tale of some 900 years before in the very same village of Minnerville where they now stand. The story within a story begins with the introduction of Princess Elthena who is in love with a commoner named Leopold, Black Tarantula manipulates Princess Elthena into allowing him to "Turn" her, Intending to take her for himself. Leopold, who himself is an ancestor of an earlier "Black Tarantula" is aware of the Tarantula's only weakness, being Blinded. The Black Tarantula conjures man-eating Monsters and displays a variety of powers while wrecking havoc on Minnerville. After much Destruction Leopold manages to blind the Black Tarantula and by doing so frees Princess Elthena from his Vampire like curse. The Tarantula is then bound and entombed so he never troubles Minnerville again. Leopold and Princess Elthena are married. As we return to the framing sequence Black Tarantula explains he had remained entombed for 25 years before again regaining his freedom, saying his farewells to his ghastly audience, he heads off in Tarantula Form to "Spread Evil and Wickedness!"
The Good:
A very cool standalone story with a one-of-kind monster lead. I LOVED this comic. Best Late Golden Age story i have read to date.
The Bad:
As far as Oddball comics go this one doesn't have much to dislike. The fact that there are no creator credits even 60 years later is a tragic situation since the next issue was illustrated by wally wood...
The Verdict: 5/5
For ten years I couldn't even confirm the publisher for my copy of this book. A search of the net' still brings up very little info. The Black Tarantula is an awesome character and a great concept and has been overlooked for far too long. Track down a reprint of this Public Domain Gem.
