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Mighty Samson was a Gold Key comic that ran from 1964 to 1982 for 32-issues. It was created by writer Otto Binder and artist Frank Thorne.

Premise: Samson is a heroic adventurer who is endowed with superhuman strength and size living in a future dystopian Earth. The world has undergone a nuclear war that has created a second Stone Age. From the radiation fallout, deadly mutated monstrosities have arisen. Humans exist as primitive tribes, some are friendly while others are not.

Samson is badly wounded in a fierce battle with a mutated creature, he is found by the beautiful Sharmaine and her scientist father Mindor. They nurse Samson back to health, in gratitude, Samson joins in their quest to restore the benefits of civilization to mankind and protect them from the bizarre mutated creatures that now inhabit the Earth and the hostile and savage tribes of humans.

The three of them scour N'Yark (New York City) for technology that Mindor can put to positive use for all.

Queen Terra of Jerz (New Jersey) is a ruthlessly ambitious and highly competent scientist in her own right who attempts to use her advanced technology that she uncovers to expand her kingdom and win Samson.

This was a terrific Gold Key series with wonderful artwork and compelling stories.

I always thought that it would have made excellent source material for a Ray Harryhausen movie. Ray could created mutated hybrid creatures that have never been seen before. The setting for Samson, while tragic, still gives hope to humanity that they can arise once again but be truly humane to one another and the Earth and all its lifeforms. In Samson we have a muscular superhero that would appeal to audiences, as well as the compassionate Sharmaine, and the intelligent Mindor. Queen Terra provides a worthy foe for the intrepid trio.

Even now this entertaining comic book could be adapted to film using sophisticated CGI that is now available. We continue to see Marvel & DC comic books made into feature films and television shows, for which this lifelong comic book fan is profoundly grateful. However, it would be fantastic to see some of the splendid Gold Key properties also brought to film & TV.