Classic Illustrated Special Issue: Moses and the Ten Commandments

I stumbled across this early silver age beauty last weekend during my biannual visit to the flea market at the Fairgrounds in Raleigh, NC. Actually, my wife found it. She knew that I like to collect Gilberton's Classics Illustrated and while this wasn't an official entry in their lineup, it is a spin-off. 

I didn't even know that this book existed. But it was in amazing condition. The price was very nice. And with Passover/Easter coming up, I was thrilled to have a Spring holiday comic read.

This retelling of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt wasn't produced to celebrate Passover or Easter. It was actually a tie-in to Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 Biblical epic The Ten Commandments; although you don't find that out until you get to the inside back cover where there is a full page ad along with photos of Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Pharaoh. 

The movie advertisement claims to have extra material not found in the modern Bible. That would explain some extra material to the Exodus story that seemed unfamiliar to me. I understand artistic license adding scenes and dialogue to the movie. DeMille's epic is over 3 hours long and from what I remember there was a side plot about an Israelite in love with an Egyptian girl. But to claim that the extra material is from newly released documents just seems not to be Gilberton's style. 

A couple of years ago, I read a book about the history of Classics Illustrated. I don't remember reading anything about the publisher releasing movie tie-ins. Was this a one time experiment? Or did they capitalize on other epic films being based on classics of world literature? 

A very appropriate read for Passover with awesome art. But above all, I think the use of a Leroy Lettering Machine in lieu of a human letterer actually works well here. The more formal font in bigger, bolder typeface really exudes the forceful commands of God to Moses and his people.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars. 

Classics Illustrated Junior #531: Rapunzel (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

In 1953, Gilberton began a spin-off of its vastly popular Classics Illustrated series of comics. Titled Classics Illustrated Junior, this new line was aimed at readers younger than 8. Issues featured fairy tales, nursery rhymes and fables. To distinguish itself from the sister line, Classic Illustrated Junior began its numbering at #501. This makes  #501, 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' the first issue in the series that lasted until 1971, when new owners Twin Circle Publishing discontinued all of its former Gilberton holdings.

In this issue, the story of 'Rapunzel' is explored. The fairy tale of the maiden with the lengthy tresses, locked away in a very tall tower is popularly attributed to the German folklorists, the Brothers Grimm, in their 1812 fairy tale collection Children's and Household Tales. However, modern researchers trace origins of the story to a couple of 17th century French fairy tales as well as the classical myth of the Greek hero Perseus, whose mother was confined to a bronze tower by her father. Regardless of the origins of the story, Gilberton focused on the Brothers Grimm as the primary source material.

The tale begins before the main character is even born. Her mother is having cravings for a salad made of rampion, a flowering plant with edible blossoms and roots. The nearest source of the plant is in the next door garden which belongs to an evil witch. Refusing to eat anything else except for the tantalizing rampions, the expecting mother sends her husband to gather some of the plants. 

Afraid of the witch, the husband sneaks into the garden and steals some of the rampion. He's caught by the crone. But since the plants are for the wife, the witch allows her rampions to be harvested- for a price! In return for the edibles, the old woman gets ownership of the couple's daughter; to which the very afraid husband willingly agrees.

After the birth of the child, the witch takes the infant girl into her custody. The babe is named Rapunzel, which is another name for rampion. Over the years, Rapunzel's hair grows ridiculously long. At around age 10, the conjurer imprisons Rapunzel in a tower that has no entrance way except for a lone widow at the very top. After destroying the ladder that gained the witch entrance into the tower, the hag checks on Rapunzel each morning by ordering the girl to lower her lengthy tresses. The witch then climbs up the hair to provide nourishment.

One day, a travelling prince hears Rapunzel singing in her tower and becomes immediately enamored. Hidden in a thicket, he witnesses the witch commanding Rapunzel to lower her hair. When the sorceress leaves, the prince makes the same request of Rapunzel and after making his climb, asks the girl to become his bride. But first, they've got to get rid of Rapunzel's jailer!

While Classics Illustrated Junior has a lessened page count than its older sibling series, there are several added features to the issue. Also included is a one-page recital of the nursery rhyme 'Little Miss Muffet', the Aesop Fable of the belling of the cat (titled 'The Mice in Council') as well as a 'The Animal World', a small nature strip about the abilities and  attributes of the Arctic reindeer. A connect the dot activity which reveals a kangaroo and a coloring page depicting Rapunzel in her tower bedroom round out the offerings. 

While it was not industry standards to attribute credits to the writers and artists who contributed to these pre-bronze age issues, devoted fans and comic book historians did exhaustive research in order to learn just who to admire for their work. From what I could look up, Lin Streeter painted the cover. He's also credited as the illustrator of both the title story as well as the Aesop Fable and the color page in the inside back cover. Alex A. Blum is ascribed for drawing the art for the 'Little Miss Muffet' page. William A. Walsh drew the reindeer lesson. 

No writer information was readily available. The Brothers Grimm are not even given credit for inspiring this tale whereas other issues, such as #525 'The Little Mermaid', bestows cover credit to Hans Christian Andersen.

Completing this review completes Task #28 (An issue of Classics Illustrated Jr) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.