To The Stars!-Classics Illustrated 165A (1961)

The last comic book for February is To The Stars! (don't forget the exclamation point). While it does not have very much space coverage, being mostly about the planets it does have a dynamite cover.

Classics Illustrated. Illustrated by Torres, Angelo, Kirby, Jack, and Glanzman, Sam. To the Stars! New York : Gilbert Company. (96 p.) 26 cm. Softcover.

 Covers the history of space flight and astronomy. Also has sections on the constellations and the conditions on the various planets of the solar system.  Has a great cover painting of a rocket launch. Classics Illustrated Special Issue (#165A) December 1961.

 The picture of the rocket leaving the Moon is almost screensaver material and the manned ships passing Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, show that manned flight (at least for the views) would be worth the trip :)

Rockets, Jets and Missiles-Classics Illustrated 159A (1960)

Yet another of these great non-fiction comics. This one especially concentrated on the developing manned space program and its many off-shoots.

Classics Illustrated. Illustrated by Evans, George, Glanzman, Sam and McCann, Gerald. Rockets, Jets and Missiles. New York : Gilberton. (96 p.) 26 cm. 

 Covers the history of rockets, a dictionary of "space" terms, called "Space Talk," descriptions of each of the planets, military rockets, and Project Mercury. Many illustrations of rockets and astronauts. "Classics Illustrated Special" (Issue #159A) December 1960.

I enjoyed the many "Space Talk" illustrated definitions. the terms are focuses more on military rockets than manned flight but are very interesting. These are relatively sophisticated terms to share with children.

I also like these depictions of atomic propulsion and ion propulsion. the rockets are futuristic but the technology is described reasonably clearly.

Still more "Space Talk." I couldn't resist sharing the whole "dictionary."

 "Seven for space" is a nice story about the prospective Mercury astronauts and their training.

 "Off into Orbit" describes what the first orbital flight might be like.

 "Doorway to tomorrow" is their futuristic story . It describes how spaceflight will change our daily lives.

The Illustrated Story of Space-The World Around Us #5, Classics Illustrated (1959)

Classics Illustrated. Illustrated by McCann, Gerald, Glanzman, Sam, and Tartaglione, John. The Illustrated Story of Space. Classics Illustrated. (80 p.) 26 cm. 

Contains illustrated stories on training for space, the first rocket to the Moon, the history and use of the rocket, the launch of Vanguard 1, and the construction of a space station. "The World Around Us" (#5) January 1959. Also UK edition World Illustrated #505.

So much to show, I wish I had the energy to scan all 80 pages of space goodness. Instead I have tried to take a deep sample of some of the articles inside.

This next story I am also lucky enough to have a couple of the pages from. Original art for this story is not valuable just really obscure, but I love these pen and ink drawings that are 19 inches tall in person.

 The last story in this book is slightly fictional but I think you will forgive me. It depicts the construction of a space station and then the launch from that station of a Moon expedition. Really nice set of illustrations of an adventure that was said to be just around the corner.