"M-G-M's Knights of the Round Table" comes from Four Color No. 540, March 1954. This comic is an adaptation of the 1954 movie starring Robert Talyor as Sir Lancalot (cover). This post goes out to Four Color expert, Gary Brown, who remembers this great comic as being the first he ever read (more about Gary after the story). Download THIS POST!
"Knights" has a very fine script by Paul S. Newman as well as spectacular art by long time Milton Caniff collaborator and Steve Canyon artist, Dick Rockwell. Rockwell's artwork is stunning throughout; and his layouts achieve a beautifully formal structure appropriate to this romantic take on England's emergence from the Dark Ages. "Knights" is also a fine example of the kind of exquisite coloring seen in Four Color during the title's heyday.
Comic collector and Four Color expert, Gary Brown, has been publishing and distributing the comic book fanzine, Ibid, since 1967. I've been reading every issue for a while now and recommend it highly. Recently, Gary and frequent cohort and comic expert, Alan Hutchinson, have undertaken the publication of the Four-Color Four Color Index - a beautiful, multi-volume effort cataloging cover and contents of every, single issue of Dell's Four-Color. The volumes also contain articles about Four Color comics and artists. Volume I is available now. I have it and love it. Please click on flyer thumbnail for contact and purchase information.
The orange/brown color palette here really grounds this story to a certain reality, fitting of the Arthurian Legend, rising above the comic medium. I wonder, was this adaptation based on a Film from the same time period ? Nice scans, Mykal !
ReplyDeleteLysedexicuss: yes, as mentioned in the intro, this adaptation was based on the film of the same name from the same year.
ReplyDeleteI think your're right about the color pallete. It gives it a classic look.
oops ! I was so anxious to jump back in time I skipped your intro (not my normal routine). A pox upon me ! I am a film buff & never heard/saw this MGM movie !
ReplyDeleteLysdexicuss: I've never seen it, either. I'm sort of curious about it, though.
ReplyDeleteMykal, this comic is drawn by Dick Rockwell, who was the longtime assistant to Milton Caniff. (He was also nephew of Norman Rockwell.) Rockwell did some comic book work in the '40s and '50s, but I particularly like his drawing for this adaptation.
ReplyDeleteI tried watching Knights of the Round Table a couple of months ago on Turner Classic Movies. I couldn't get with Robert Taylor's monotone American accent, especially since he's supposed to be a Frenchman. In this case I like the comic a lot more than the movie.
Pappy: Mykal, this comic is drawn by Dick Rockwell, who was the longtime assistant to Milton Caniff."
ReplyDeleteI mention that in my introduction as well (second paragraph). The art is amazing.
Thanks for the plug, Mykal. I appreciate it. By the way, in the first Four Color volume, this was the first FC I could remember owning. Nice art.
ReplyDeleteGary: I know! Vol. I is where I read that this was your first Four Color! I mentioned that in my intro! Can't wait for Volume II!
ReplyDeleteI know that I say this alot, but I wish that I had this issue.
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