Space Adventures No. 23 Cover by Nicholas & Alascia

July 14, 2014|In Charlton, Comics

In May 1958 the US was still reeling from the kick in the rockets Sputnik gave them in October 1957. Suddenly, space was the first priority.

Two years earlier, in Space Adventures No. 20, Charlton Comics published the story “First Trip to the Moon” with a cover which owed more to Jules Verne and movie serials than science (love the perfectly globe-clear Earth hanging in the sky and the fanciful colours).

In addition to bringing out new comics to cash in on the new interest in space and science, Charlton reprinted “First Trip to the Moon” with an updated cover by Charles Nicholas and Vincent Alascia in Space Adventures No. 23, May 1958.


Charlton Comics Space Adventures 20

Original cover from No. 20.

Charlton Comics Space Adventures 23

Reprint cover from No. 23.

Space Adventures 23 Cover by Charles Nicholas and Vince Alascia

Scan from Heritage Auctions.

Comic book art restoration by Scott Dutton

Restored art.

Comic book lettering by Scott Dutton

Trade dress re-created.

Comic book colouring by Scott Dutton

Original colour re-created.

Comic book colouring by Scott Dutton

New colour.

Comic book colouring by Scott Dutton

I thought the original type was overkill and a bit redundant in places. I stripped it back to something simpler so it would balance with the illustration. I also thought that Mars and Saturn were a little close to the Moon.


Bonus Page

Space Adventures 23 Inside Front Cover

The inside front cover, published page.

Space Adventures 23 Inside Front Cover

Scan from Heritage Auctions.

Comic book production by Scott Dutton

Cleaned-up art with type re-set.

Comic book colouring by Scott Dutton

New colour.