Corben Mail from Den [III] #1 (1988)

Den [III] #1 (June 1988). 10 issue series during 1988-1989. Fantagor Press. 6-3/4″x10-3/8″. $2.00. 36 pages. Covers: glossy color. Guts: glossy color on white. Entire contents, © 1988 (#1-#4), © 1989 (#5-#10): Richard Corben. [id]

Inside front cover

Infobox

Den 1. Den is published bimonthly by Fantagor Press, a division of Corben Studios: P.O. Box 8632, Kansas City, MO, 64114.
Den, Dreams and Alarums, is copyright © 1988 by Richard Corben and Simon Revelstroke.
The Martian Wars – Tank Command is copyright © 1988 by Stan Dresser.
[Actually the story was named as The Martian Wars – Tank-Command on it’s title frame.]
The entire contents is copyright © 1988 by Richard Corben. Any similarity between names, characters, persons or institutions in this comic book and those of any real persons or institutions is coincidental.

Welcome box

Welcome to the new Den!
For those who have never heard of Den, he first appeared in a 16mm animated film I did in 1968, and then in the underground comic Grimmwit in 1973 published by Last Gasp Funnies. His serialised adventures continued in Metal Hurlant, Heavy Metal and many other European magazines. The 1981 Columbia Pictures motion picture, Heavy Metal,featured a segment on Den. In the fantasy world, Neverwhere, he wandered around stark naked and had adventures with monsters, beautiful maidens and an evil Queen all similarly dressed. But now those carefree days are gone. Den and his world are different and though he may wish to return to his old existence (and perhaps we wish too). This series is about his future, not his past. If you haven’t read he old material, don’t worry about it. We’ll make a new start here, but there will be a few brief tasteful references to the old episodes.

This series also marks a change in the way Corben colors his comics. As I started earlier, the old overlay system was a drag, a burden on my time, ingenuity and patience. It’s only real value was the cost savings. Good riddance! The new Den is produced with a full color system that can reproduce any color effect I can do.

Simon Revelstroke has a large vocabulary which he will be lending to this series. I’m sure the pacing and clarity will benefit from his influence as well. But Corben will still impose his bizarre philosophies and visions at every stage of development.

Stan dresser is an old friend and has helped me on many of my publishing and film projects. The piece included in this issue was not intended for publication but was begged out of his sketch book. I admire his sense of graphic space and the many effects he achieves with simple line drawings.

Credits

Credits:
Den–Dormilon–Dreams and Alrums Written by Simon Revelsrtoke and Richard Corben, drawn and colored by Corben.

Tank Command Written, drawn and colored by Stan Dresser.

Ad designs by Eric Krough.

Mail order and general support by Dona Corben.

Mail [#1]

Here’s some letters we received about Children of Fire and Den.

Dear Rich,

I was thrilled to see that Den is returning. It was definitely time to see those mighty thews in action again. As for Children of Fire, I enjoyed it immensely. I disagreed with several of the comments people threw your way:

First, I really like when you have people talking in a language other than English… It lends a unique, exotic flavour to the work in question, and in this case it really served to set the mood (i.e. that they were alien to the world they’d landed on). A perfect example of this effect, I always think, is the Rowlf story where the monster men’s language (was that Esperanto???) made them seem that much more diabolical.

Second, I “got into” the story quite well… Perhaps it was not as linear a concept as Rip in Time, but I enjoyed its more atmospheric approach. It brought more attention to the artwork and there’s nothing boring of hard-to-follow about it, as far as I’m concerned. One of the things in it that intrigued me the most, interestingly enough, was the little epilogue recounting what happened to Kil, Mal and Pucca, etc. A thing someday, if you can, it would be fantastic if you could do a second C.o.F. series illustrating those future adventures.

As for reprints, Yay! I have many of the originals, but it’s always nice to see them again, and to know others who never would have known them can see them, as some readers affirmed.

I’m still looking for Bloodstar, Skull and The House of Usher comics you did. Oh!… What is the Vic an Blood thing you mentioned in the C.o.F. #3 editorial? And where might one obtain it?

I’m curious if the new color syle will make a difference in the quality of your work. I’ve always thought your colors were beautiful and otherworldly, but I can certainly understand why you’re sick of something so laborious.

Greg Fasolino
Middle Village, N.Y.

I still have plans for Kil, Mal and Pucca and I think they’ll show up again somewhere. The reprints will sitll be used but perhaps more occasionally than before.

Vic and Blood should be available at your comic shop, direct from Mad Dog Graphics or… from me. See the ad near the back of this issue.

Letters continued on inside back cover.

Inside back cover

Mail [#2]

Letters continued from inside front cover.

Mr. Corben,

I just finished reading your color series, Children of Fire. I wanted to tell you I really enjoyed the series very much. I read all 3 issues in one sitting (I like to read all mini-series like this – they’re much more interesting) and I thought I’d drop you a line with a couple comments.

The C.o.F. story was good, but the resolution was, well, a little shaky. A behemoth as the island? Come on! Everyone survived the hugh waves which ensued as the giant sank/swam away? Yea, right! It was still enjoyable however.

The main point in my writing is to comment on the back-up reprint stories. I agree with Rick Obermeyer in #3 that the back-up reprints are great for those of us who were too young (or whatever other reason) to be able to see your 60’s and 70’s work, and who do not have the time and mega-bucks necessary to find the back issues. I enjoyed each and every one of the reprints, especially the Kitten for Christian in the last issue.

I’m sorry to hear you’re having such a difficult time keeping Fantagor a profitable business. I wish you all the best of luck in the future; I will be there buying up your work as long as it remains in the highest quality.

Tony Adam
Stockton, CA.

I am committed to maintaing a certain level of quality and I appreciate your support.

Dear Richard,

I’ve been a fan of yours ever since the early 70’s when I discovered your work in the undergrounds. As an artist and art director, I can appreciate your talent and technique. I am especially impressed by your ability at rendering the human form. I for one love the way you draw and paint women. A Corben woman is as distinctive as a Frazetta woman. Draw what you must… Let the artist determine what and how to use his talent… Not an armchair critic.

Roy Comskey
Takoma Park, MD.

Thanks Roy. You’ll be seeing a lot more figure drawings in this series, though they won’t be quite as revealing as in the older Den.

Richard Corben,

I would like to thank you for the enjoyment your art, comics and stories have given me over the last fourteen years. No matter how many times I read and reread your work. It always seems fresh and exciting. No small feat in what is basically a throwaway medium. And while I am especially fond of your “adult” work, it by no means lessens my enjoyment of work that might be more financially rewarding to you. As far as color versus black and white that have been recolored at a later time so I can have the best of both worlds. I think they both can stand on their own. One thing I feel you do not get enough credit for is the stories you write yourself; the majority of my favourites have been ones that you wrote. Your sense of horror, fantasy and especially your sense of humor makes for the kind of stories I like.

Don Mishler
Kettering, OH.

You’re too kind, Don. Of course, I like my own stories; but, I’m weak in certain aspects of storytelling. This alliance with Simon Rvelstroke should be very fruitful once we get the bugs worked out.

Next issue

Next issue…
What kind of future can there be for Den if he was killed in this issue? Well if you can’t figure that one out, you must not keep up with the prime time soap opera cliff-hangers.

Nevertheless, Den is depressed. He loses his job promoting a wonder elixir and he reminisces about his earlier adventures. A former fan turned deadly.

Buy it in August! Or subscribe. Issues 2 through 5 for $7 postpaid.