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Sunday, October 29, 2023

A Sense of Doubt blog post #3176 - Comic book cover gallery pt 7: COMIC BOOK SUNDAY for 2310.29 form PENCIL INK



A Sense of Doubt blog post #3176 - Comic book cover gallery pt 7: COMIC BOOK SUNDAY for 2310.29 form PENCIL INK

Just this cover gallery today from the great blog Pencil Ink.

Some great comic art here.

Happy Comic Book Sunday.

Thanks for tuning in.


http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2017/02/man-bat-v2-1-neal-adams-cover-reprint.html

Man-Bat v2 #1, 1984 - Collected here for the first time, this issue reprints Man-Bat's first appearance and subsequent appearances. All drawn by Neal Adams, these stories were first published in Detective Comics #400, #402 and #407.



Epic Illustrated v1 #12, 1982 - Frank Brunner's mermaid underwater graces the cover of this Marvel magazine from the 1980s. The background, comprised of rich grays, allows the brightly colored elements to surface. Unlike some of his brasher earlier works, this image is both subtle and haunting. Other artists in this copper age science fiction magazine include John Bolton. This is 1 of 1 Epic Illustrated issues by Brunner.




Unusual Tales v1 #23, 1960 - A meekly accountant is suddenly transported to the 23rd planet of Lotan, where aliens introduce him to an imaginative new world. Colorful and textural, Steve Ditko's drawings are imaginative and almost playful. Alien citizens, spaceships and architecture are all visually engaging (see interior page below). While Ditko seems to spare no effort inside, the cover appropriates two of his story panels to save publishing costs. Other artists in this silver age science fiction comic include Rocco Mastroserio. This is 13 of 18 Unusual Tales issues by Ditko.




Star Wars v1 #39, 1980 - First published in Marvel Super Special #16, this series begins reprinting the comic book adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. This specific issue reprints the first chapter and two illustrations to serve as the cover and opening splash. Printed on regular newsprint, Al Williamson's artwork is muted as a result. His drawings maintain their sophistication despite the more somber colors. The cover is reprinted pin-up from the earlier magazine. Note that new Williamson art appears in seven other issues of Star Wars. /// Williamson gallery


1984 (magazine) v1 #5, 1979 - Alex Nino's textural drawings create an inter-dimensional world that engulfs a lone rider from the frontier era. Though well drawn, it lacks some of the inventiveness of his previous work on this series. Wally Wood helps illustrate a tale of a man suspicious of his wife's infidelity. Rife with nudity, the theme could have benefited from more subtlety. Still, Wood's inks add the intended effects beautifully (see interior page below). Other artists in this bronze age science fiction magazine include Rudy Nebres, Mike Nassar, Alfredo Alcala, Herb Arnold, Abel Laxamana, Jose Ortiz and Esteban Maroto. Cover by Patrick Woodroffe. This is 5 of 10 1984 issues by Nino and 3 of 3 1984 issues by Wood. /// Nino gallery


Weapon X trade paperback, 1993 - Barry Smith's origin of Wolverine is collected from the first time. First serialized in Marvel Comics Presents #72-84, this graphic novel re-uses the opening splash from Marvel Comics Presents #81 for the cover. While this book is a convenient read, I suggest buying the originals instead.




http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2017/03/alpha-flight-5-john-byrne-art-cover.html

Alpha Flight v1 #5, 1983 - Introduced in the first issue, the mutant dwarf Puck stars in his first solo adventure. The exuberant cover gives a glimpse into his abilities and personality. John Byrne does a capable job with depicting ordinary people in mundane settings (in this case, a hospital and a warehouse). His artistry come to fore on the action scenes (see interior page below), using the same multi-figure approach on the cover. Byrne also includes a back-up tale chronicling the early days of Michael Twoyoungmen, before he becomes Alpha Flight's Shaman. This is 5 of 30 Alpha Flight issues by Byrne.



http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2011/01/unexpected-138-wally-wood-art.html

The Unexpected v1 #138, 1972 - Stumbling upon an oriental curio shop, a power-hungry man is tasked to find an ancient object. Unlike his previous stories on this title, Wally Wood inks his own pencils, resulting in one of his most stunning works of the bronze age. Large spacious panels begin and conclude the tale, but the pages in between are far superior. The underground settings allow for dramatically lit faces and textured backgrounds. On page two and elsewhere, the Wood's detailing of various Asian objects is exquisite, suggesting a knowledge of Eastern culture. Other artists in this bronze age comic include Art Saaf and Alfredo Alcala. Cover by Nick Cardy. This is 3 of 3 Unexpected issues by Wood.



http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2017/03/young-love-v3-79-alex-toth-art.html

Young Love v3 #79, 1970 - Continued from Secret Hearts #142,"20 Miles to Heartbreak" reaches its 4-part conclusion. Melanie must finally comes to terms with her mother's anger and racial prejudice, while her sister Monica enters a new phase in her life. Once again, Alex Toth's supple pencils and Vince Colletta's dominant inks emphasize pacing and composition. Although lacking in detail, the graphic nature of the artwork is striking. This story was later reprinted in Young Love #125. Other artists in this bronze age romance comic include Liz Berube. Cover by Dick Giordano. This is 4 of 4 Young Love issues by Toth.



http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2011/02/mister-miracle-8-jack-kirby-art-cover.html

Mister Miracle v1 #8, 1972 - Fighting the grotesquely pliable Lump, Mr. Miracle must defeat him on a mental battlefield created by Granny Goodness. The last of the 52 pagers in this series, Jack Kirby's art continues to entertain and delight. His two full page splashes and roomy panels are this time overshadowed by one of his best double page spreads. Upon entering the barracks of the Female Fury Battalion, Big Barda witnesses a chaotic array of woman warriors. Kirby's complex layout is perfectly balanced with a clear hierarchy of figures, each creatively and individually costumed. An added bonus this issue is the reprinting of the first appearance of the Boy Commandos, created by Simon & Kirby and first presented in Detective Comics #64. This is 8 of 18 Mister Miracle issues by Kirby. /// key 1st appearance Lump / Kirby gallery



Walt Disney's Comics and Stories v1 #68, 1946 - Impeding by his nephews' kite-flying antics, Donald Duck does them one better by building a kite as big as a house. The majority of pages fit eight same-sized panels. Carl Barks varies the widths, but the layouts still seem repetitive. Scenes showing scale and height could have benefited from larger panels as well. Despite this, the artist still maintains a high level of quality. Other artists in this golden age comic include Al Taliaferro. Cover by Walt Kelly. This is 37 of 280 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories issues by Barks.


http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2017/02/teen-age-romances-25-matt-baker-art.html

Teen-age Romances v1 #25, 1952 - Although titled "I Was a Child Bride", the story reveals the main character's age as 20 years old. The title seems especially odd since women married earlier during this era. On page three, when a doctor notifies her of her pregnancy, she responds "aren't I too young to have a baby?". I suspect censors may have increased the character's age just before publication. Regardless, Matt Baker draws a competent cover and even better lead feature. The figure drawing is lithe and graceful throughout. His best work occurs on the opening panel's wedding scene and the wife's teen-age cavorting on page 4. This story was later reprinted in Teen-age Romances #44. Another Baker tale, "Caught in a Triangle at a Resort Hotel", was first printed in Teen-Age Diary Secrets #7 (originally titled “Too Busy For Kisses”). Other artists in this golden age comic include Lily Renee. This is 25 of 45 Teen-age Romances issues by Baker.


http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2017/02/marvel-super-special-3-close-encounters.html

Marvel (Comics) Super Special v1 #3 / Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 1978 - Based on the Steven Spielberg film of the same name, the story is adapted in comics for the first time. No stranger to movie adaptations, Walt Simonson delivers a lengthy forty-four page effort. The artist makes no attempt to match the likenesses of the actors, but opts to use similar characters. His pencils are adequate, but sometimes buckle under Klaus Janson's harsh inking style. Simonson's main contributions are excellent pacing and layouts. His trademark typographic effects are also evident. The lengthy page count allows for many large panels throughout, including a climactic two-page spread toward the end. Other artists in this bronze age comic include Bob Larkin. This is number 1 of 1 Marvel Super Special issues by Simonson.




http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2017/02/tales-to-astonish-11-jack-kirby-art.html

Tales to Astonish v1 #11, 1960 - Moving to rural Louisiana, a writer and his son awaken a gargantuan creature hidden in the swamps. Jack Kirby's story art is marginally better than his corresponding cover. Three large panels more effectively convey the creature's size relative to his environment. Kirby joins Steve Ditko in a second tale, about a scientist who aspires to travel into the future. Their respective styles mesh together nicely, though their combined efforts are less than impressive. The issue's best story by far is "I Wore The Mask Of Drothar", a solo Ditko work (see interior page below). Its mystical theme allows for more interesting symbolism. Ditko's lively imagination is on full display. This story was later reprinted in Chamber of Darkness #7. Other artists in this silver age comic include Don Heck. This is 10 of 81 Tales to Astonish issues by Kirby and 11 of 57 Tales to Astonish issues by Ditko.



http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2007/12/howard-duck-2-frank-brunner-art-cover.html

Howard the Duck v1 #2, 1975 - Howard the Duck goes up against the villainous Space Turnip in this satirical second issue. Frank Brunner's cover combines the superhero and humor genres in a way that's both appealing and entertaining. Credited at the end of the interior story, artist Jim Starlin assists with most of the page layouts. Brunner adheres to them faithfully but both styles are clearly evident on almost every page. Much of the credit goes to the consistent inking of Steve Leialoha. This is 2 of 2 Howard the Duck issues by Brunner and 1 of 1 Howard the Duck issues by Starlin. /// Brunner gallery


http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2008/10/nick-fury-10-barry-smith-art.html

Nick Fury, Agent of S.h.i.e.l.d. v1 #10, 1969 - The opening splash is similar to Jim Steranko's earlier efforts, no doubt attempting a consistent look and feel for the series. Barry Smith provides uncredited pencils and/or rough layouts that appear sporadically throughout the story. With the exception of the action scenes on pages 2-3, his drawings appear strained and often unrecognizable. Smith would redeem himself by pencilling a complete story in Nick Fury #12. Other artists in this silver age comic include Frank Springer and Johnny Craig. This is 1 of 3 Nick Fury issues by Smith. 



http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2017/02/teen-age-romances-18-matt-baker-art.html

Teen-age Romances v1 #18, 1951 - Matt Baker's artwork fills the entire issue, starting with his festive and playful cover. In the lead story, a farm girl aspires to date only city boys from a higher economic strata. "I Scorned Love" tells of a delivery boy who inadvertently meets a girl at a penthouse party, while "Deceitful" chronicles the manipulations of a pretty young redhead. Matt Baker's drawings on all three features are comparable in skill and sensitivity. Captions and dialogue take up much of the space, but a handful of panels stand out here and there. Filling out the rest of the book is a brief two-pager (new) and a reprint from Teen-Age Diary Secrets #4 ("I Carried Things Too Far", originally titled "I Was Tired of Being Good"). Among the new stories, "I Scorned Love" was later reprinted in Teen-Age Romances #45. "I Played Hard-to-Get" and "Deceitful" both later appeared in Going Steady #14. This is 18 of 42 Teen-age Romances issues by Baker.



http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2009/03/john-carter-warlord-of-mars-v2-15-walt.html

John Carter Warlord of Mars v1 #15, 1978 - Unfortunately for this issue, Walt Simonson's pencils become completely buried beyond recognition. The title's regular artist, Rudy Nebres, has a distinctive style that tends to dominate most pencillers. This is painfully evident in this case. That aside, Simonson also struggles with the layouts and general pacing of the story. The final results are disappointing and lackluster. Other artists in this bronze age comic include cover illustrator Gil Kane. This is 1 of 1 John Carter Warlord of Mars issues by Simonson.




(Son of) Tomahawk v1 #139, 1972 - Joe Kubert does a less than satisfactory job on the cover, presenting an ominous warning to those entering a remote town. What makes this issue special is a rare Frank Frazetta reprint, originally published in Star Spangled Comics #113. Other artists in this bronze age comic include Frank Thorne. This is 9 of 10 Tomahawk issues by Kubert.



The Champions v1 #6, 1976 - No novice to superhero team books, Jack Kirby seems to cram every member onto this layout. As with many Champions covers, Hercules tends to be the dominant figure but the Ghost Rider is noticeably absent. Why the villain would go on the attack while carrying the unconscious Black Widow also seems a stretch. Kirby's clunky style is more prominent than usual, adding an undesirable stiffness to the figures and the cover in general. Other artists in this bronze age comic include George Tuska. This is 1 of 1 Champions issues by Kirby.




Tarzan of the Apes v1 #221, 1972 - In this third installment of The Return of Tarzan, our hero boards a ship to Cape Town, where he encounters his archenemy Nikolas Rokoff. In recollecting past events, Joe Kubert employs visual montages to keep readers up to date and relevant (see interior page below). His most appealing work occurs on pages 2-3, where he melds past and present into a cohesive layout. The artist's cover depict Tarzan at his primitive best. This bronze age story was later reprinted in Limited Collectors' Edition #C-29. This is 15 of 44 Tarzan issues by Kubert.




http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2017/03/justice-league-of-america-178-jim.html

Justice League of America v1 #178, 1980 - A chess game between Despero and Martian Manhunter determines the fate of the JLA. To be frank, Jim Starlin's cover is sloppily executed. The drawing is marred by elements of out of proportion and poor foreshortening. The crowded layout jams every character into too small a space. The good news is that Starlin would improve with subsequent issues. Other artists in this copper age comic include Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin. This is 1 of 5 Justice League of America issues by Starlin.



Batman and the Outsiders annual v1 #1, 1984 - Series artist Jim Aparo inks this first issue's cover by Frank Miller. Although his pencils are mostly repressed, the strength of his composition and individual figures still come forward. The heroes' diminishing sizes increase depth is a commonly used motif. The American flag in the background is decorative yet appropriate, obscuring the masthead but much less than I would have expected. Other artists in this copper age comic include Jerome Moore and Rick Hoberg. This is 1 of 1 Batman and the Outsiders issues by Miller. /// key 1st issu



Captain America v1 #112, 1969 - Continuing from the previous issue, Captain America appears to have died at the hands of Hydra. The authorities contact his fellow Avenger Iron Man, who narrates the hero's past exploits (for new readers presumably). From his initial disappearance in World War II to his reappearance in the Arctic, Jack Kirby chronicles these flashbacks quickly and efficiently. Even the past eleven issues are briefly recapped, contributing to the story's frenetic pace. While not the same caliber as some of his previous issues, Kirby does deliver four exciting splash pages. It's a fitting end to his first run on the series. He would later return during the mid-1970s, just in time for the American Bicentennial. This is 11 of 34 Captain America issues by Kirby.


http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2017/03/gi-combat-116-joe-kubert-cover.html

G.I. Combat v1 #116, 1966 - Spotlighting the Haunted Tank, Joe Kubert captures the brute force of colliding armory. The inset on the left somewhat detracts from the action, but re-acquaints readers with the central characters. Note how the tumbling rocks below reinforce the scene's precipitousness. Other artists in this silver age comic include Russ Heath. This is 45 of 190 G.I. Combat issues by Kubert.



http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2011/11/opus-2-barry-windsor-smith-art-cover.html

Opus v1 #2, 1999 - Like the previous volume, Opus 2 contains some of Barry Smith's finest paintings, drawings and sketches over the course of a long career. The artist shares more about his history and philosophy, leaving a tad less room for artwork than before. Regardless, the body of work shown is magnificent in its scope and execution. Smith shares a few insights with his early comic book work, notably his "Red Nails" saga in the magazine-formatted Savage Tales. For me, some of the most fascinating parts of the book are the rough sketches, revealing the artist's thought processes and approach. See also Opus #1. 


http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2008/04/spectre-3-neal-adams-art-cover.html

The Spectre v1 #3, 1968 - The Spectre is joined by his Justice Society teammate from the golden age, Wildcat. Neal Adams' rendition of the character is one of the best, showing off the hero's pugilistic skills for lack of a super-power. The movement and power of the figures is evident in many scenes, especially page six. Diagonal borders on many panels keep the layouts varied and the pacing fresh. Interestingly, the Spectre only enters the storyline on page fourteen, giving the supporting character equal prominence in this silver age comic. This is 2 of 4 Spectre issues by Adams.


http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2017/03/incredible-hulk-v2-359-john-byrne-cover.html

Incredible Hulk v2 #359, 1989 - Wolverine and the Thing burst onto the scene, just as the Hulk battles with the Abomination. John Byrne puts equal emphasis (more or less) on the four figures while they jockey for position. While the scene is frenetic, the composition has balance and clarity. Byrne's final work on the series elicits the same excitement as his earlier issues. Other artists in this copper age comic include Jeff Purves and Marie Severin. This is 7 of 7 Incredible Hulk v2 issues by Byrne.


The Mighty Isis v1 #1, 1976 - Based on the CBS Saturday morning kid's show, this first issue features the second comic book appearance of Isis (see Shazam #25 for the first). Wally Wood would ink numerous DC books during the mid 1970s, but does a slightly less than impressive job here. The characters' figures and faces are not clearly delineated and backgrounds lack detail. Ric Estrada's pencils seem to be quickly applied without much regard to pacing and layout. The two artists have teamed up before on other titles with noticeably better results. This is 1 of 1 Isis issues by Wood. /// key 1st cover Isis, 1st issue


http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2007/11/jonah-hex-9-berni-wrightson-cover.html

Jonah Hex v1 #9, 1978 - Bernie Wrightson tries his hand at the western genre with this early Jonah Hex cover. The bandit El Papagayo looks on while the hero suffers a slow death from hungry ants. Devoid of background details, the illustration emphasizes the various figures starting with the title character. Note how the artist places gunmen at various distances to increase the sense of depth. The scene is unusually bright and saturated for Wrightson, but works better than I expected. Other artists in this bronze age comic include Jose Luis Garcia Lopez. This is 1 of 1 Jonah Hex issues by Wrightson. /// Wrightson gallery




http://pencilink.blogspot.com/2017/03/strange-tales-72-jack-kirby-cover-steve.html

Strange Tales v1 #72, 1959 - Built by a brilliant scientist, an advanced computer solves all the world's problems. Secretly, it decides to build a towering robot for some unknown purpose. Jack Kirby's artwork is dependably drawn and laid out, despite Steve Ditko's minimal inking (see interior page below). It differs little from Chris Rule's inks on the cover. His solo work is far better, chronicling a poor Siberian farmer and his discovery of war-like inter-dimensional beings. Splendidly rendered, Ditko opens with a gripping splash of the aliens, held at bay by a thin steel door (this story was later reprinted in Giant-size Man-Thing #4). Other artists in this golden age comic include Don Heck. This is 5 of 74 Strange Tales issues by Kirby and 8 of 82 Strange Tales issues by Ditko. 

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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2310.29 - 10:10

- Days ago = 3039 days ago

- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I plan to continue Hey Mom posts at least twice per week but will continue to post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.
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