1978: MAN FROM ATLANTIS in PIZZAZZ MAGAZINE (Marvel)

Marvel didn't just publish the (short-lived) MAN FROM ATLANTIS comic book, they also (briefly) covered the making of the show in the second issue of PIZZAZZ MAGAZINE (November 1977).  

1978: LOOK-IN TV ADVERT

Here's a rarity from 1978: a British TV spot promoting the comics'n'features weekly LOOK-IN, an essential read for a generation.

This particular spot mentions both MAN FROM ATLANTIS and Universal's Bionic shows.

If you're wondering how a comic could afford a national TV advert (when Marvel plugged the likes of G.I. JOE or THE TRANSFORMERS in the states they were using Hasbro marketing money to circumvent strict rules on TV toy advertising) for anything other than the launch issue, the answer is simple!

LOOK-IN was published by ITV PUBLICATIONS which - as the name suggests - was a spin-off from the ITV network.  Created primarily to publish the ITV listings magazine TV TIMES, ITVP (which was owned by the fifteen regional companies that made up the ITV network) created LOOK-IN as a TV Times spin-off (officially: the junior TV Times).  ITVP were free to advertise their wares every week on the ITV network.  The BBC did exactly the same with their listings magazine RADIO TIMES and other commercial ventures.  Changes in legislation, and ownership, now prevent such obvious cross-promotional synergy.  

1978: MAN FROM ATLANTIS COMICS (Marvel US)

Here's the other six issues of Marvel's short-lived MAN FROM ATLANTIS book, published through 1978.  

Needless to say, Patrick Duffy's four-colour adventures - unrestrained by TV budgets and shooting schedules - are a lot more exciting than the boob-tube incarnation.

These have never been reprinted or collected and - because of licensing reasons and (frankly) lack of reader interest - are unlikely to ever be seen again.  So be prepared to dive into the bargain boxes (which is where I found a complete run a few years ago).

1978: MAN FROM ATLANTIS COMIC - ISSUE 1 (Marvel US)

This is a minor moment from the depths (ahem) of Marvel's Back Issue boxes: The MAN FROM ATLANTIS tie-in comic.

This always seemed an odd choice for Marvel to publish considering the TV show was so similar to their own SUB MARINER character.  I can only assume that Marvel either felt THEY should be doing a book that ripped-off one of their own characters OR gaining the publishing rights was some sort of out-of-court deal between the East and West Coasts to appease Marvel's lawyers.

The TV show began, in March 1977, as a series of four TV movies starring Patrick Duffy as the stranger with the odd swimming style.  The tele-flicks led to a short-lived weekly series from that September.  In a sure sign of ratings meltdown, nine episodes aired before the end of the year with the final four scattered through May and June the following year.  

Marvel's comic book version appeared at the beginning of 1978, just as the TV show was spluttering.  As the cover above indicates, the first issue was a weighty whopper although the remaining seven issues were in Marvel's standard format and page count.  

Once again, Marvel turned to the prolific penmanship of Master Media Adaptor Bill Mantlo to helm the four colour incarnation.  

MFA, as was often the case way-back-when, made a greater impression on international audiences.  But - for some reason (presumably licensing exclusivity), Marvel UK didn't pick up his trunks for a British audience.  ITVP's LOOK-IN did run a double-page tie-in strip during 1978.

A recent article in the always stupendous BACK ISSUE magazine covered the life (and death) of the comic book version and - as always - it's well worth a read.

The MFA has been released (finally!) on DVD in the United States.  As the pilot movies and series are sold separately, if you have to make a choice, opt for the superior tele-flicks four-pack than the lacklustre weekly series.