Outer Space – The Covers
2013 saw the beginning of another series of Charlton Comics science fiction covers remastered by me.
As with the Out of This World covers, homage colour versions were produced as well as new versions.
JFK called space The New Frontier, and Charlton like many other media companies was quick to embrace this voyage of the imagination in storytelling. The USA was about to enter its golden age – as brief as it was – and outer space would be its crowning achievement.
This omnibus post was created in 2025 to replace the individual posts for each cover.
Colour and re-created trade dress by me.
No. 17, May 1958 – Rocco Mastroserio
The debut of Outer Space with the company’s consistently-odd numbering.
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
Homage colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
Title Page
The first page had this editorial. Onward, upward, forever! Until Nixon, that is.
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
Homage colour version.
Re-created text added.
New colour version.
Re-created text added.
No. 18, Aug 1958 – Pat Masulli & Rocco Mastroserio
A great example of the fear prevalent in pop science fiction of the day. There you are steering your way through interstellar space, and all of a sudden, a big freaking hand. All aboard!
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
Homage colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
No. 19, Oct 1958 – Rocco Mastroserio
Mastroserio illustrates a more aggressive idea of what space exploration can be. Thrusting into the void, vapourising a threat and worshipping the glowing bean stalk. All hail the bean stalk!
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
Homage colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
No. 20, Dec 1958 – Dick Giordano
One of my favourite Giordano Charlton covers. The machinery is lifted directly from Wally Wood, and the astronaut figure is classic Giordano. I sometimes think the alien is saying, “I will name him George, and I will hug him, and pet him…”
As published.
A scan of the original art was found on Heritage Auctions. Unfortunately, some jackass whited out the top of the art sloppily, requiring some production work to restore it.
Art cleaned up as far as I could take it.
The cover was reprinted on Ghost Manor No. 77, Nov 1984, near the end of Charlton Comics.
Taking a high-res scan of the Ghost Manor cover, I was able to drop out the colour and create a patch of the lineart.
With the patch pasted in, the remaining missing pieces of art were re-created.
Homage colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
No. 21, Mar 1959 – Steve Ditko
Even in the frontier of outer space, law and order will be maintained.
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
Homage colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
No. 22, May 1959 – Charles Nicholas & Vince Alascia
Tourism in the solar system is about to boom.
As published.
Original art scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art made production ready.
Homage colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
New colour version.
Re-created trade dress added.
Related
Out of This World – The Covers
2011 was the beginning of me getting serious about remastering covers. Art restoration, new colour and trade dress by Scott Dutton.
Outlaws of the West – The Covers
Outlaws of the West was typical of the books companies like Charlton put out to satisfy readers’ passion for the old west.
Valley of the Dinosaurs – The Covers by Fred Himes
With the popularity of prehistoric times, the Hanna-Barbera animated series played well against The Land of the Lost. Colour and trade dress by Scott Dutton.
The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman – The Covers
Two of the most-popular shows and stars in the mid-70s with young people meant that their shows were heavily licensed, including comics from Charlton publications. Colour and packaging by Scott Dutton.