Charlton Bullseye featuring The Blue Beetle

February 5, 2015|In Charlton, Comics

Charlton Bullseye was a late entry with new content from Charlton Comics. Unlike the previous Bullseye – started as a fanzine in the 1970s – the second volume was an anthology which gave new talent a chance to be published. It ran for 10 issues before it was cancelled.

However, the unpublished cover below by the late Rik Levins – who went on to draw Captain America, The Avengers and his own Dragonfly – was prepared for another issue. With a bit of clean up, we can see how it might have looked on the newsstands.


Charlton Blue Beetle Rik Levins

Levins’ original art from 1982.

Comic book art restoration by Scott Dutton

Cleaned-up art.

Comic book logos by Scott Dutton

Charlton Comics silver-age trade dress.

Comic book colouring by Scott Dutton

Charlton Comics Blue Beetle cover for 1967.

Comic book colouring by Scott Dutton

Charlton Bullseye trade dress for 1982.

Comic book colouring by Scott Dutton

DC Comics Blue Beetle trade dress for 2015.


Americomics No. 3

After Charlton Comics folded, Bill Black’s Americomics tried their hand with the Action Heroes by publishing Levins’ story in Americomics No. 3. AC would also publish Americomics Special No. 1 featuring the Charlton-oriented Sentinels of Liberty. However, AC was forced to abandon any further plans they may have had for the Charlton Action Heroes as DC Comics purchased those characters shortly thereafter.

Americomics 3 Blue Beetle Pat Broderick

Pat Broderick’s cover for Americomics No. 3, 1983.

Americomics 3 Blue Beetle Rik Levins

The back cover to Americomics No. 3 by Rik Levins and Bill Black.