Comics
Marvel Preview No. 4 : Star-Lord by Gan and Wrightson
Star-Lord first appeared in Marvel Preview No. 4, cover dated January 1976. The character was named by Marv Wolfman, and Steve Englehart created the character from there. Steve Gan was the artist.
Wonder Woman No. 108 Cover by Andru & Esposito
For my money, one of the best Wonder Woman covers ever. From early in the Silver Age, cover dated August 1959 and drawn by long-time WW art team Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.
Doctor Strange (1978) DVD Cover
You have to feel for the folks over at Shout Factory. They got the rights to re-release the 1978 Doctor Strange TV movie to tie in with the release of the new feature film starring Benedict Cumberbatch. And they went to the effort to remaster it from the original film elements. That's dedication, and one of the reasons genre film and TV lovers love Shout like cinephiles love Criterion and Kino Lorber. They do things right.
Action Comics No. 500 Cover by Andru & Giordano
As the Seventies were drawing to a close, the long-running Action Comics and its star Superman were celebrating the comic's 500th issue. Andru and Giordano were the regular cover team and they drew the iconic characters with their usual flair.
The Secret Six No. 2 Cover by Nick Cardy
Nick Cardy is one of best DC cover artists of all time. From Aquaman to The Brave & the Bold and Superman, his work is noted for the power of its composition and the emotional depth of his characters.
The Secret Six No. 4 Cover by Jack Sparling
An interesting cover design most likely sketched by Carmine Infantino and then passed to Jack Sparling – The Secret Six's regular artist – for illustration. From November 1968.
The Secret Six No. 3 Cover by Jack Sparling
It was a small series of only seven issues beginning in early 1968 and running bi-monthly. The Secret Six was created and plotted by E. Nelson Bridwell, with dialogue by Joe Gill. Frank Springer drew the first two issues and Jack Sparling the remaining five.
Detective Comics No. 379 Cover: Novick or Novick?
Just because you do a good drawing doesn't mean it's going to make the best cover, at least in the eyes of the art director or editor. Case in point, Irv Novick drew two covers for Detective Comics 379 from September 1968. The first is beautifully drawn. You can see the care he put into it with the rendering of the man's hand, for example.
The Demon No. 1 Cover by Jack Kirby
With his Fourth World books at DC Comics cancelled, Jack Kirby moved on to a second series of books which included Omac, Kamandi, Kobra and The Demon.
Batman No. 210 Cover: Novick or Adams?
As can happen, one artist draws a cover, and the editor chooses to have it redrawn by another artist. Case in point the cover for Batman 210, March 1969. The layout had been done by Carmine Infantino and passed on to Irv Novick who was enjoying his early years of drawing super-heroes for DC, which included Batman and The Flash.
Spider-Man & Daredevil Special Edition No. 1 Cover by Frank Miller
Frank Miller had completed the Daredevil run with Klaus Janson which had made him a top creator at Marvel. His next major project would be 1983's Ronin limited series.
The Original Star-Lord Covers
His mother murdered by aliens, Peter Quill only wanted revenge and his only goal was to get out into space to see it through. The early Star-Lord adventures were darker in tone than what we see today. They also had some great covers by top illustrators. Here they are as originally published, and new versions as Star-Lord magazine.
Wonder Woman by HG Peter
HG Peter was Wonder Woman's original artist, and this piece by him was a rejected cover from the 1940s. A perfect illustration to colour and package. A lost gem is rediscovered.
The X-Men Chronicles by Dave Cockrum
From 1981, Cockrum's hand-painted cover for this one-shot fanzine.
Uncanny X-Men No. 138 Cover by Byrne & Austin
One of the iconic covers in a run of iconic covers by Byrne and Austin. With fresh type and colour by me.
Batman No. 351 Cover: Colan or Colón?
Gene Colan was the penciller on Batman in 1982, and he did up a cover for No. 351, inked by Frank Giacoia. Perhaps wanting a larger, more active Batman, Ernie Colón and Dick Giordano were tasked to re-draw the figure. Here are both of them coloured up.
The Silver Surfer by John Buscema
I ran across a really grotty copy of the late John Buscema's pencils for this page from The Silver Surfer v3 No. 110. Detailed below are the steps from inks to layout to turn it into a cover.
The Doom Patrol Covers III
Following up on a previous post and this one too, here are three more interpretations of The Doom Patrol done by current artists, with cover layouts by myself.
ROM the Space Knight by Jeff Slemons
One of the early integrations of electronic features into an action figure, the ROM action figure didn't do well in the market, but the Marvel comic lasted 75 issues and four annuals. He'll return to comics in 2016 via IDW Publishing.
The Doom Patrol Covers II
Following up on a popular post, here are three more interpretations of The Doom Patrol done by current artists, with cover layouts by myself.
DC Comics Presents No. 26 Cover by Jim Starlin
DC Comics Presents No. 26 is more often remembered as the first appearance of The New Teen Titans, but it also marked the first appearance of Jim Starlin as a DCCP artist.
The Doom Patrol Covers I
The original Doom Patrol was a comic book series from DC Comics in the 1960s. Created by Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani, they first appeared in My Greatest Adventure No. 80, 1963, and the book was renamed for the team as of No. 86. The series ran until No. 121, 1968, when the Patrol seemingly sacrificed themselves to save the small fishing village of Codsville, Maine. They'd come back in different incarnations with different characters and different levels of popularity with readers.
Batman Year One
From 1986, this house ad was the first piece we saw from what was going to become a classic Batman storyline by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli.
Wonder Woman No. 269 Cover by Andru & Giordano
From July 1980, we have a great cover by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano, a prolific cover team for many DC titles during this period.
Star-Lord by Byrne & Austin
Back in 1976, Marv Wolfman – then editor-in-chief for Marvel Comics – came up with the name Star-Lord and passed it on to writer Steve Englehart to flesh it out. The result appeared in Marvel Preview #4, January 1976.
Justice League of America No. 66 Cover: Dillin or Adams?
From November 1968, two versions of the cover to DC Comics' Justice League of America No. 66 have survived. The first, drawn by Dick Dillin and Joe Giella was rejected. The second was drawn by Neal Adams and made it to the newsstands. I've coloured them both up here from scans of the original art.
Hawkman and The Justice Society of America by Joe Kubert
From 1970, Joe Kubert provided this powerful illustration for The Steranko History of Comics 1. Here it is in colour, and with trade dress from different eras of DC Comics.
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Blue Beetle No. 5 (1965) Cover by Fraccio & Giordano
From March/April 1965, Bill Fraccio and Dick Giordano deliver a combative cover for Charlton Comics' Blue Beetle No. 5. I'd be worried about giant-sized chess pieces threatening a princess, too.
Charlton Bullseye featuring The Blue Beetle
Charlton Bullseye was a late entry with new content from Charlton Comics. Unlike the previous Bullseye – started as a fanzine in the 1970s – the second volume was an anthology which gave new talent a chance to be published. It ran for 10 issues before it was cancelled.
Blue Beetle Returns by Bob Layton
Bob Layton posted a recent convention sketch of Steve Ditko's Blue Beetle. He captured Ted Kord's exuberance and I thought it'd make a good cover.
Green Lantern No. 114 Cover by Saviuk & Giordano
From March 1979, Alex Saviuk and Dick Giordano knock Green Lantern and Green Arrow off their feet for DC Comics.
Outlaws of the West No. 17 Cover by Rocco Mastroserio
From November 1958, a dynamic illustration by Rocco Mastroserio for Charlton Comics.
Outlaws of the West No. 11 Cover by Maurice Whitman
From July 1957, a great illustration of an evil man laughing at the law by Maurice Whitman.
Secrets of Haunted House No. 39 Cover by Buckler & Giordano
From August 1981, Rich Buckler and Dick Giordano put a new spin on a horror icon for DC Comics.
Outer Space No. 22 Cover by Nicholas & Alascia
From Charlton Comics in May 1959, tourism in the solar system is about to boom by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski and Vince Alascia.
Outer Space No. 21 Cover by Steve Ditko
From Charlton Comics in March 1959, even in the frontiers of outer space, law and order will be maintained.
John Carter of Mars: 1958 Sun Comic Strip
From 1958, this A Princess of Mars adaptation by DR Morton & Robert Forest was published in Sun Comics from the UK. It has never been shown in colour. So here it is. The source scans are not high res, and I've had to make some educated guesses here and there. If you have access to larger copies, let me know by emailing me from the link in the footer.
Charlton Comics A. Machine Typeface
Back in the late 1950s Charlton Comics thought they'd save some time and money by outfitting a variable typewriter – a Vari-Typer, which was large enough to hold a page of comic art – with a custom typeface which mimicked the hand lettering used in comics for captions and word balloons.
Attack No. 60 Cover by Sam Glanzman
From Charlton Comics in November 1959, this cover was a composite of panels from the stories inside. One piece was by Sam Glanzman, and the other I haven't been able to identify.
Outer Space No. 18 Cover by Masulli & Mastroserio
From Charlton Comics in August 1958, a great example of the fear prevalent in pop science fiction of the day.There you are steering your way through interstellar space, and all of a sudden, a big freaking hand. All aboard!
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The Many Ghosts of Dr. Graves No. 7 Cover by Rocco Mastroserio
From Charlton Comics in July 1968, Rocco Mastroserio takes a page from Steve Ditko's visual language. Don't help the guy, doc. Just let him drift off into the netherworld.
Outer Space No. 19 Cover by Rocco Mastroserio
From Charlton Comics in October 1958, Rocco Mastroserio illustrates a more aggressive idea of what space exploration can be. Thrusting into the void, vapourising a threat and worshipping the glowing bean stalk. All hail the bean stalk!
Space Adventures No. 23 Cover by Nicholas & Alascia
In May 1958 the US was still reeling from the kick in the rockets Sputnik gave them in October 1957. Suddenly, space was the first priority.
Outlaws of the West No. 15 Cover by Nicholas & Alascia
I really like the composition of this cover by Charles Nicholas and Vincent Alascia, and thought it could be something more than what it was. As published, you don't get the feel of the canyons or the atmosphere of the old west, and the title is slapped on with a different colour behind it.
Outer Space No. 17 Cover by Rocco Mastroserio
May 1958 saw the debut of Charlton Comics Outer Space with the company's consistently-odd numbering. Here's the cover by Rocco Mastroserio for that first issue, Vol. 3 No. 17.
Outlaws of the West No. 13 Cover by Rocco Mastroserio
Rocco Mastroserio was a mainstay at Charlton Comics in the 50s and 60s. In a style similar to colleague Dick Giordano's - but more organic than Giordano's commercial slickness – he produced many memorable pieces. This superb illustration is from December 1957.
Space Adventures No. 8 Cover by Jim Aparo
Jim Aparo is better known for his runs on DC's The Brave & the Bold, Aquaman and The Spectre, but he had a successful period at Charlton before he went to DC. Here's one from July 1969.
The Silver Surfer by Kirby & Sinnott
From Fantastic Four No. 55, Oct 1966. Kirby's energy and Sinnott's precision are in top form as the Silver Surfer returns.
Pro! NFL Cover by John Buscema
From 1970, John Buscema does a Marvel group of characters for Pro!, an NFL official progam.
The Warlord No. 82 Cover by Jurgens & Giordano
Another Warlord cover. Cary Burkett and Dan Jurgens' run was a good successor to Mike Grell's.