cover by Ron Wilson and Frank Giacoia (no clue who either of these guys are)
Ron Wilson did a number of things for Marvel during the 70’s through the 80’s, but he was best known for having been the main artist on the Marvel Two-In-One books for a big percentage of its run. Frank Giacoa – where to start? He was one of the mainstay inkers on a lot of DC and Marvel books throughout the silver age, working on a lot of talented pencillers, from Carmine Infantino (a boyhood friend) to Jack Kirby.
The thing about Giacoia is that he would sometimes get behind in his work and bring in someone else to do the inking, either backgrounds or sometimes full jobs, for him—guys like Mike Esposito and Joe Giella. And they usually weren’t as good as Giacoia, so you can usually tell when he didn't do it himself.
Sorry, I meant to post this on Friday but was out all day... William West Anderson (born September 19, 1928), better known by his stage name Adam West, is an American actor. After six decades in television, he is perhaps best known for the title role in the 1960s ABC series Batman. He was born on the same day as me! Not the same year though.
Another motorcycle cover, this one is from Jack Kirby*
Jimmy Olsen #133, October 1970 Cover artists: Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta
* When Jack Kirby first left Marvel to work for DC Comics in the early 70s, his first work was on Jimmy Olsen, where Superman was obviously a regular cast member. IN spite of all the hype about Kirby coming to DC, the Distinguished Competition infamously re-drew all of Jack’s Superman faces using house artists like Al Plastino or Murphy Anderson.
For example:
Kirby historian Mark Evanier reports that Jack was royally pissed about the fact that someone at DC insisted that his drawings of Superman had to be retouched using an artist who wasn't working regularly on the Superman titles at the time (Plastino, who hadn't drawn Supes since the '40s), but like a good employee, he stuck it out for as long as he could.
Always loved Aparo's Batman work. He could draw the Bats forever and I would've been just fine with that.
One of my earliest Batman comics was this one from October 1977
Batman #292 (Volume 1)
The second in a 4 issue arc where some of Batman's greatest villains are on trial for being responsible for Batman’s death. The Riddler was featured in this issue and his tale of trickery involving clue-containing riddles was a treacherous one, but Harvey Dent sees right through the façade. Finally collecting all 4 of these issues later was a hoot. I also have the story in the tpb "The Many Deaths of Batman"
Kirby historian Mark Evanier reports that Jack was royally pissed about the fact that someone at DC insisted that his drawings of Superman had to be retouched using an artist who wasn't working regularly on the Superman titles at the time (Plastino, who hadn't drawn Supes since the '40s), but like a good employee, he stuck it out for as long as he could.
Actually, Plastino had been drawing Superman right up into the mid- to late-60’s, along with Curt Swan and Wayne Boring.
That’s one of my favorite Kirby covers from that period – it’s so iconic.
Kirby historian Mark Evanier reports that Jack was royally pissed about the fact that someone at DC insisted that his drawings of Superman had to be retouched using an artist who wasn't working regularly on the Superman titles at the time (Plastino, who hadn't drawn Supes since the '40s), but like a good employee, he stuck it out for as long as he could.
Actually, Plastino had been drawing Superman right up into the mid- to late-60’s, along with Curt Swan and Wayne Boring.
That’s one of my favorite Kirby covers from that period – it’s so iconic.
That should have read "had been drawing Supes since the '40's", sorry for the mistype.
Don't get me wrong. I loved the guy's characters, designs, etc ... just not the actual drawing of them. In particular, their faces are all terrible. I don't know if their eyes are too far apart or what. Look at Superman's face up above for instance. And to boot, it's like the face of pretty much every character he's ever drawn from Orion to Steve Rogers. I also hated the way he drew definition/shading. He used these kinda wavy lines that always looked metallic and silly to me.
All that having been said, his place with Stan Lee as the Lennon & McCartney / Ruth & Gehrig of the comics world is absolutely acknowledged. Their 4 or 5 year run of new characters in the early 60s is the stuff of legend.
Everyone gets to have an opinion. I like a lot of variety in artists. Love Kirby, but if all the art was in his style, I'd read one or two books a month.
Born this day in 1936 - James Maury "Jim" Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990). Happy Birthday Jim - so sad that you're no longer with us. The Muppets will live on forever!
Born this day in 1936 - James Maury "Jim" Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990). Happy Birthday Jim - so sad that you're no longer with us. The Muppets will live on forever!
Pencils and inks (he wrote it, too) by Roger Langridge, who truly captured the spirit of the show.
Up to this point, Aparo had been doing Phantom Stranger and Brave and the Bold, both bi-monthlies. He was taken off of Phantom Stranger to start up a new “Spectre” feature in Adventure Comics. Here’s his first cover for the series, Adventure Comics #431 (Jan.-Feb. 1974).
Up to this point, Aparo had been doing Phantom Stranger and Brave and the Bold, both bi-monthlies. He was taken off of Phantom Stranger to start up a new “Spectre” feature in Adventure Comics. Here’s his first cover for the series, Adventure Comics #431 (Jan.-Feb. 1974).
Up to this point, Aparo had been doing Phantom Stranger and Brave and the Bold, both bi-monthlies. He was taken off of Phantom Stranger to start up a new “Spectre” feature in Adventure Comics. Here’s his first cover for the series, Adventure Comics #431 (Jan.-Feb. 1974).
This issue made my 12-year-old brain explode.
Ex.
Plode.
These were just a bit before my time, and my babysitter’s kids (whose comics—half of them anyway—I inherited) didn't have anything remotely approaching horror. I picked the whole run up in 1990, 1991, while I was working at the comic shop.
Comments
William West Anderson (born September 19, 1928), better known by his stage name Adam West, is an American actor. After six decades in television, he is perhaps best known for the title role in the 1960s ABC series Batman.
He was born on the same day as me! Not the same year though.
Cover artist: Michael Golden
Jimmy Olsen #133, October 1970
Cover artists: Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta
* When Jack Kirby first left Marvel to work for DC Comics in the early 70s, his first work was on Jimmy Olsen, where Superman was obviously a regular cast member. IN spite of all the hype about Kirby coming to DC, the Distinguished Competition infamously re-drew all of Jack’s Superman faces using house artists like Al Plastino or Murphy Anderson.
For example:
Kirby historian Mark Evanier reports that Jack was royally pissed about the fact that someone at DC insisted that his drawings of Superman had to be retouched using an artist who wasn't working regularly on the Superman titles at the time (Plastino, who hadn't drawn Supes since the '40s), but like a good employee, he stuck it out for as long as he could.
"Some people never learn"
Thor #285
"Deviants and Doormen!"
Cover Artists: Keith Pollard, Bob Layton, Gaspar Saladino
Here’s Jim Aparo’s first of many covers for The Brave and the Bold, issue #105 (Jan.-Feb. 1973).
One of my earliest Batman comics was this one from October 1977
Batman #292 (Volume 1)
The second in a 4 issue arc where some of Batman's greatest villains are on trial for being responsible for Batman’s death. The Riddler was featured in this issue and his tale of trickery involving clue-containing riddles was a treacherous one, but Harvey Dent sees right through the façade. Finally collecting all 4 of these issues later was a hoot. I also have the story in the tpb "The Many Deaths of Batman"
That’s one of my favorite Kirby covers from that period – it’s so iconic.
NOT.AMUSED.
All that having been said, his place with Stan Lee as the Lennon & McCartney / Ruth & Gehrig of the comics world is absolutely acknowledged. Their 4 or 5 year run of new characters in the early 60s is the stuff of legend.
But it wasn’t his usual inking approach. A lot more cross-hatching than he usually used.
cover by Ed Hannigan, Frank Giacoia, Danny Crespi
cover by Kirby
Ex.
Plode.