Rocket's Blast

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Zine
Title: Rocket's Blast (aka RB)
Publisher: Science Fiction and Comics Association
Editor(s): G.B. Love
Organizer(s):
Author(s):
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s):
Type: adzine
Date(s): 1961-1964
Topic:
Medium: print
Size: 18/2 x 11" (magazine)
Frequency:
Fandom: comics, science fiction
Rating(s):
Warning(s):
Language: English
External Links: Rocket's Blast at the Poopsheet Foundation
RB11.jpeg
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The Rocket's Blast was a 1961 science fiction and comics fanzine published by G.B. Love from 1961 until 1964, when it merged with The Comicollector to become the Rocket's Blast Comicollector or RBCC, one of the most popular adzines of the 60s and 70s. It was one of the earliest comic zines, printed via mimeograph, and featured collecting advice, news about new releases, fiction, and collector profiles among other things.

History

The Rocket's Blast was initially the newsletter for the SFCA (Science Fiction and Comics Association) and the first 10 issues, from December 1961 to September 1962 were very basic - no cover art, usually six typed pages printed only on one side. It was issued monthly, and included a Feature (a short profile of one of the SFCA members); We Suggest (suggestions for comics and other media to try); and a To The Members note from Love. Short - very short! - fiction was also included, as well as a regular piece called The Science Shop about various curious scientific or supernatural tales and the Rocket Roll, which listed the new members for the month. Letters of comment were also added after the first issue.

Issue #11 introduced a longer format and a front cover, as well as classified ads for those wanting to buy and sell comics. This set the scene for RB to make the transition to adzine, as well as adding a number of regular features that would carry onwards to the RBCC after the merger: the "Rocketeer Gossip" comic news, the "Best of SF" reviews and more opportunities for fan artists. This continued until March 1964 / Issue #28, when Love announced that the zine was going to merge with Jerry Bails' adzine, The Comicollector, with issue #29 being the first issue of the new combined zine. At this point, the zine had a print run of 200-350, reflecting the growth in popularity.

Issue 1

Issue #1, front page (1961)
Issue #1, page 2

December 1961. Editor: G.B. Love. There were several versions made, all with the same content but with different layout. Page count varies, depending on the size of the sheet - 2 pages for legal size, 3 pages for A4. 7 copies only, one for each subscriber: Rick Weingroff, Rusty Clapsaddle, Buddy Saunders, Charles Donthitt, Jerry Snipes, Bernie Bubnis, Jr.

Contents:

From the front page, a note from G.B. Love:

In this space that you are now gazing upon was suppose [sic] to be our Feature, an article about one of the members. But the information I asked for from one of the members did not reach me in time to be included in this issue. However, starting with the next issue, The Feature will be included.

 [1]

  • "TO THE MEMBERS" message from GB Love.  
  • "Dividing Line" very short story (one paragraph) by Bernie Bubnis.  
  • "THE COLLECTOR'S CORNER" column by GB Love (recommending Flash #123 and Green Lantern #8).  
  • "WE SUGGEST" comic suggestion column (GB suggests Amazing Adult Fantasy #9).  
  • "THE SCIENCE SHOP" column discusses The Abominable Snowman (Part I). 
  • “Special Announcement" by Love announces there will be classified ads in next issue.

Issue 2

Issue #2 front page (1962)

January 1962. Editor: G.B. Love. 4 single-sided pages on carbon paper.  Page count varies as some copies were 8.5 x 14 inches, and some were 8.5 x 11. 9 copies only, one for each subscriber: Rick Weingroff, Rusty Clapsaddle, Buddy Saunders, Charles Donthitt, Jerry Snipes, Bernie Bubnis Jr, Edward Sheehy, and Paul Seydor.

  • Contents:
    “WE SUGGEST" comic suggestion column (Showcase #36) by G.B. Love
  • "THE COLLECTOR'S CORNER" column (Batman Annual #2 and John Force - Magic Agent #1) by G.B. Love
  • "THE SCIENCE SHOP" column discusses The Abominable Snowman (Part II) by G.B. Love
  • "THE FEATURE" profiles 14-year-old fan Rusty Clapsaddle. 
  • “LETTERS TO THE EDITOR” from Bernie Bubnis Jr., Rusty Clapsaddle, Edward Sheehy and a long one from Buddy Saunders stating, among other things, that he currently has 1,2000 comics in his collection, the oldest being from 1951.
  • Comics Classifieds: small buying and selling ads by Buddy Saunders

Issue 3

Issue #3 front page (1962)

February 1962. Editor: G.B. Love. 5 single-sided pages on carbon paper.  

Contents:

  • "You Are Too Old To Be Reading Comic Books" by GB Love - article.  
  • "WE SUGGEST" (Fantastic Four #3) by Love.   
  • "THE FEATURE" profiles GB Love.  
  • "Shon O'Shay, the God-Fearing Man," a short text story by Buddy Saunders.  
  • "THE SCIENCE SHOP: Mystery Ships Over San Francisco" by Buddy Saunders. 
  • "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" from Rick Weingroff and Buddy Saunders.


Issue 4

Issue #4 front page (1962)

March 1962. Editor: G.B. Love. 5 single-sided carbon paper and mimeo pages.  One page is 8.5 x 14 inches.

Contents:

  • "THE FEATURE" profiles Rick Weingroff. 
  • "ROCKETEER GOSSIP" by Weingroff - comics news
  • ”Forged of Fire," fiction by Weingroff.  
  • "WE SUGGEST” comic suggestion column by G.B. Love
  • "TO THE MEMBERS" by GB Love.  
  • "THE COLLECTOR'S CORNER" by Love.  
  • "The Revenge of Mentin, Part I" fiction by Edward Sheehy.  
  • "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" from Greg DeZiel.
  • The Rocket Roll - new members Dave Bibby, Larry Tucker, Doug Storer and Dennis Budd.
  • Comics Classified: want ad by Ed Sheehy.

Issue 5

Issue #5 front page (1962)

April 1962. Editor: G.B. Love. 5 single-sided 8.5"x14" mimeo pages.

Contents:

  • "The Fantastic-Lee Four" by Rick Weingroff.  
  • "ROCKETEER GOSSIP" by Rick Weingroff.  
  • "THE COLLECTOR'S CORNER" by Rick Weingroff.    
  • THE BEST OF S-F by Bob Harner 3rd.  
  • "THE FEATURE" profiles Jerry Snipes. 
  • "THE SCIENCE SHOP, Sorcery, Fact or Fable" by Greg DeZiel.  
  • "The Revenge of Mentin, Part II" fiction by Edward Sheehy. 
  • Drawing contest by S.F.C.A. to find an artist.  
  • "THE ROCKET ROLL": new member Michael Maginnis.  
  • LETTERS TO THE EDITOR from Edward Sheehy and Buddy Saunders. Saunders suggests a drive to get membership up to 100 fans.


Issue 6

Issue #6 front page

May 1962. Editor: G.B. Love. 4 single-sided 8.5"x14" mimeo pages.

Contents:

Issue 7

Issue #7 front page

June 1962. Editor: G.B. Love. 10 pages.


Issue 8

Issue #8 front page

July 1962. Editor: G.B. Love. 6 pages.

Contents:


Issue 9

Issue #9 front cover

August 1962. Editor: G.B. Love. 7 pages.

Contents:



Issue 10

Issue #10 front page

September 1962. Editor: G.B. Love. 5 pages.

Contents:

Issue 11

Issue #11 by G.B. Love - the Avenger

October 1962. Editor: G.B. Love. 13 one-sided mimeo pages. Issue #11 has the same cover as issue #12; intended to be the permanent cover of the RB but popular opinion decided against it.  

Contents:

Issue 12

Issue #12 by G.B. Love - the Avenger

November 1962. Editor: G.B. Love. 15 one-sided mimeograph/ditto pages. Issue #12 has the same cover as issue #11; intended to be the permanent cover of the RB but popular opinion decided against it.  

Contents:

Issue 13

Issue #13, cover by Buddy Saunders - Adam Strange

December 1962. Editor: G.B. Love. 16 one-sided mimeograph/ditto pages.

Contents

Issue 14

Issue #14, cover art by Buddy Saunders of Captain America

January 1963. Editor: G.B. Love. 21 one-sided mimeograph/ditto pages.

Contents:

Issue 15

Issue #15 cover by Buddy Saunders - Spider-Man

February 1963. Editor: G.B. Love. 22 one-sided mimeograph/ditto pages (plus one additional page printed on 2 sides).

Contents:

Issue 16

Issue #16 cover art by Buddy Saunders - The Shield

March 1963. Editor: G.B. Love. 40 mimeograph/ditto pages.  (11 pages blank).

Contents:

Issue 17

Issue #17 cover art by Howard Keltner - Captain Atom

April 1963. Editor: G.B. Love. 40 mimeograph/ditto pages.  (9 pages blank).

Contents:

Issue 18

Issue #18 cover art by Buddy Saunders - Green Lantern

May 1963. Editor: G.B. Love. 42 all-ditto pages.  (5 pages blank).

Contents:

Issue 19

Issue #19 cover art by Buddy Saunders - Miss Liberty

June 1963. Editor: G.B. Love. 36 all-ditto pages.  (6 pages blank).

Contents:

Issue 20

Issue #20 cover by Howard Keltner - Captain Marvel

July 1963. Editor: G.B. Love. 42 all-ditto pages.  (8 pages blank). Print run: 200

Contents:


Issue 21

Issue #21 cover by Raymond Miller - The Shield and Dusty the Boy Detective

August 1963. Editor: G.B. Love. 42 all-ditto pages.  (4 pages blank). Print run: 200.

Contents:


Issue 22

Issue #22 cover by Buddy Saunders - Mr. Scarlet and Pinky the Whiz Kid

September 1963. Editor: G.B. Love. 48 all-ditto pages.  (5 pages blank). Print run 200.

Contents:

Issue 23

Issue #23 cover by Buddy Saunders - Captain Commando

October 1963. Editor: G.B. Love. 34 all-ditto pages.  (3 pages blank). Print run: 200.

Contents:

Issue 24

Issue #24 cover by Buddy Saunders - Atoman

November 1963. Editor: G.B. Love. 48 all-ditto pages.  (4 pages blank). Print run: 200.

Contents:

Issue 25

Issue #25 cover by Alan Weiss - Hawkman

December 1963. Editor: G.B. Love. 46 all-ditto pages.  (4 pages blank). Print run: 200.

Contents:

Issue 26

Issue #26 cover by Buddy Saunders - The Spectre

January 1964. Editor: G.B. Love. 46 all-ditto pages.  (4 pages blank). Print run: 225.

Contents:

Issue 27

Issue #27 cover by Howard Keltner - The Web

February 1964. Editor: G.B. Love. 54 all-ditto pages (5 pages blank). Print run: 225.

Contents:

Issue 28

Issue #28 cover by Buddy Saunders - Air Wave

March 1964. Editor: G.B. Love. 68 all-ditto pages. Print run: 350. Last issue as Rocket's Blast, merges with The Comicollector and changes name to Rocket's Blast and the Comicollector (RBCC) with #29.

Contents:

Rocket's Blast Specials[2]

Special #1

The first Special was released in 1963 and had two further printings (1964 and 1967). The cover art was by Buddy Saunders, featuring the original Human Torch, Captain America and Namor the Sub-Mariner. This Special's focus was "11 Years with the Timely-Marvel Comics Group" which was written and illustrated by Raymond Miller.

Special #2

The second Special was released in September 1963 and had 19 one-sided pages produced on ditto. Cover art by Buddy Saunders, featuring the Fantastic Four's Human Torch. This issue features recreations from old Captain America comics by Buddy Saunders and Howard Waldrop. Also in this issue, an article on Dell's Naza; comic industry predictions for the far-off year of 1988; reproduced art from Golden Age comics (Captain America, Black Cat, All Winners, Marvel Family, etc.). Artists include: Buddy Saunders, Howard Waldrop, Raymond Miller. Writers include: Margaret Gemingnani, Alan Simons, Edward Simpson.

Special #3

Released in June 1964; 15 pages, ditto. Cover by Buddy Saunders of Dr. Mid-Nite (DC Comics). This issue features "The Story of All American Comics" written by Paul Gambaccini and illustrated by Raymond Miller.

Special #4

Published in September 1964, with 11 pages.; ditto. Cover by Howard Keltner of "The Commie Bashers": The Fighting American, The Shield, and The Avenger. This Special focused on "3 Plus 1", highlighting communism fighting heroes like The Fighting American, The Shield, and The Avenger; written and illustrated by Raymond Miller .

Special #5

Released in December 1964, with 14 pages, ditto. Cover by John Fantucchio of the Golden Age DC Comics character, The Guardian. This Special contains "The Stars of Star Spangled" written by Don Foote and illustrated by Raymond Miller. An article about DC Comics' Star Spangled Comics anthology.

Special #6

Released in September 1965, with 45 pages.; ditto. Cover by Raymond Miller with a Quality Comics title collage. It features a lengthy article on the Quality Comics Group (Police Comics, National Comics, Smash Comics, etc.) by Raymond Miller and Dave Bibby

Special #7

Published in 1967 by the SFCA, 8 pages; black and white. Cover by John Fantucchio. The article is "End of an Era" by William Parente looks at the demise of EC Comics. Back cover by Buddy Saunders.

Special #8

Published in 1968 by the SFCA. 16 b&w pages plus colour covers. Wraparound cover by Don Newton. This was the Captain Marvel special, covering the history of the comic and its publication, with a 2-page retelling of the origin by Don Newton, with a double-page centerspread by Robert Kline. Two pin-ups (Dr. Sivana and Mr. Mind) by Newton.

Gallery

References

  1. ^ Rocket's Blast #1 (December 1961)
  2. ^ MyComicShop.com
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