« … so I’d work on it until three or four o’ clock in the morning — that is the time to do Loevecraftian machinations. » — Tom Sutton (2001)
If you ask me, Marvel’s attempts at humour never came off*, being both strained and generally directed at superheroes, who are ridiculous in the first place. It’s like mocking pro wrestling — What’s the point?
Marvel did half-try its clammy hand at a horror humour comic book midway through the 70s, and while much of it looked decent, it was consistently unfunny. You can give it your best Will Elder, but it won’t stick if you don’t have that rare magic comical gene.
And while I’d love to say that Tom Sutton (1937-2002) had it, I’m afraid he didn’t. But Gerald’s World was a story close to his heart, to the point where he actually remembered creating it and having fun doing so.
« Right, and I did “Gerald”, who stayed up all night watching Fay Wray or something like that. I had fun with those! You know there were people who really didn’t like those things? » (Comic Book Artist no. 12, 2001)
It’s overstuffed, but it’s brimming with mood and solid craft. Take it away, Tom!
For a dose of real-life, depressing horror, read the definitive, late-in-life Tom Sutton interview, ‘An Odd Man Out‘. I’m afraid it’s unlikely to leave you swooning with affection and goodwill for the comic book industry.
-RG
*there’s always an exception, isn’t there? I’ll proudly vouch for Scott Gray and Roger Langridge‘s Fin Fang Four stories, circa the late Oughties. Recommended? You bet.
Who's Out There? 
Funny, I have never heard of Argghh! but I do vaguely recall the story. Maybe it was re-printed elsewhere, or perhaps the artist did something similar in Plop! Anyway, cheers to both of you for this blog.
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I’m surprised, George — Arrgh! sounds like it would have right been up your alley — it certainly was up mine, despite its uneven quality. The GCD doesn’t record any reprints of the story, and Sutton never worked for Plop!, so we have a mystery. Perhaps you encountered a coverless copy, or some other kid’s… and it stayed with you on some level. That said, thanks for the kind works — your steadfast support has meant a lot to both of us, and continues to do so — you’re a great audience!
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Interesting post, though clearly a bit off-brand for Sutton. He seems to be channeling EC here, particularly Kurtzman.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the guy: my parents bought me a page of Sutton’s original art when I was a teenage aspiring comic artist in the late 70s. The page was from the issue of Creepy where each story responds to the cover painting of a zombified spaceman. It’s gorgeous, and shows Sutton at his freewheeling best, elegantly scribbled lines spilling off the page, sensuous brushwork, velvety black ink.
They bought it at what was Cambridge’s – maybe Boston’s – first and only comic store at the time, The Million Year Picnic.
Reading the interview with Groth was very sad; Sutton comes across as a bright light who was continually squelched by the ugly, mercantilist comics industry of the 60s – 80s. Where a Jim Steranko or a Bernie Wrightson might thrive, Sutton clearly didn’t have the toolkit, and apparently few took it upon themselves to help. Probably he was a difficult guy to help!
A fascinating, vivid glimpse into that remarkable time, and one of its casualties.
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