April 2010 Archives

The 1979 book The Art of John Byrne featured a couple of nifty illustrations for that era of the Marvel Universe...

This one in particular is a joy, capturing my favorite X-Men and Avengers teams, with the Fantastic Four thrown in for good measure.  Byrne wouldn't take over the FF until two years later in 1981--this was a harbinger of things to come!

The cover to this book featured Byrne's own creation, Rog-2000, driving terror into the hearts of Spider-Man, Wolverine, Scarlet Witch, and the Vision.

If you ever find this book at a con, it's very much worth having!  Nuff Said.

Surely all fans of the Claremont/Byrne X-Men run remember this panel from the very last page of Uncanny X-Men #132 (1980)!

After being dumped in the sewers, Wolverine vowed to open up a can of whup-ass on the Hellfire Club, which he did in the next issue.  It was an exciting image, with the shadows of the sewer grate above shining down on Wolvy's costume.

John Byrne re-interpreted this moment for an illustration that appeared in his X-Men portfolio in 1993.  This version features a lot more muck and sewer gunk that surrounds Wolverine--a truly awful place to be!

Here's the pen & ink version of this illustration.  I imagine that some art collectors have commissioned similar pieces?  If so, please share them in the comments below.  Nuff Said!

Here's a cover scan that I've searched for years and finally found it!  Frank Miller's 1981 cover to Amazing Heroes #4, featuring Daredevil.

I always admired this one for the composition.  There's something about DD rotating on that clothesline, suspended in mid-air between two buildings in the city that seemed thrilling.  The composition is simple but seems to capture the character perfectly.

You know how some songs get stuck in your head because you heard that when you read a comic.  The one I associate with this cover is Under Pressure by David Bowie and Queen.  Nuff Said!

Hey True Believers, check out this other nifty gem from the Giant-Size Marvel Vault:

Frank Miller cover to Daredevil Marvel Comics Index

Here are few pieces to drive you Marvelously Crazy this fine April Fools Day…

This cover to Crazy #1 (1972) by Marie Severin features Forbush-Man summing up the spirit of the early 1970s anti-war protests:  Support peace, you super-baddies, or we’ll clobber ya! 

Forbush-Man: a character I thought would have taken off more!  He looks to be making a comeback in next week’s parody special (of Captain America), Who Won’t Wear the Shield? 

What happens when Nick Fury goes scuba diving on vacation?  As Bruce Timm sees it, he just can’t stop taking all of his gear along with him, much to Val’s chagrin.  Perhaps Hydra was about to strike?  It’s a fine homage to Steranko’s covers and penchant for pockets and gear.

It really cracks me up that Fury is smoking a cigar inside that helmet!