July 2010 Archives

My 1970s tribute to Jack Kirby ends with a couple of pages from one of his most daring and different projects of all, his adaption of 2001 A Space Odyssey!  When the Bullpen Bulletins announced that Kirby was returning, the kicker to the news was that he would adapt the Stanley Kubrick film in the Marvel Treasury format.

The adaption was a mixed bag.  From a story standpoint, it was weird to see all of these captions and thought balloons explaining everything, which was almost completely non-verbal in the movie.  But from an artistic viewpoint, it was completely triumphant for Kirby.  He was allowed to draw all kinds of apes, spaceships, and cosmic stuff in giant splash pages like the one above.  Dave Bowman blasting back into the Discovery spaceship!

Here's a medium sized pic of the original pencils to the Bowman page.  Think about all the time Kirby spent filling in the blacks/shadows on the hands and everywhere.  Most comic book artists don't bother to that anymore, do they?  How long did it take Kirby to draw this page?  One day at most?  Wow.

This gigantic double page spread took place earlier in the story, where the scientists are flying over the moon towards the Monolith.  I always thought this drawing of the moonscape and base were awesomely detailed by Kirby.

Link: 2001: A Comic Book?  A Look at Jack Kirby's Controversial Adaption.

Jack Kirby did one of my favorite Iron Man covers for issue #80.  Inked by Al Milgrom, I think this image was used on merchandising.

Why do I think this is such a great cover?  It has no action, fighting, or drama of any kind.  Shell-head even has the helmet with the nose.

I admire it because it puts the Armored Avenger in a trippy outer-space setting, something Kirby excelled at drawing.  We had seen Iron Man in a couple of intergalactic fights before this, most notably during the Kree-Skrull War, when he was tearing into spaceships.  Kirby brought back the vision that Tony Stark's armor could take him anywhere in the galaxy.  Nuff Said!

Because you never demanded it—Photon Torpedoes, my other blog about Science Fiction, DC Comics, TV, and Pop Culture in general—is back!

I started Photon Torpedoes over 5 years ago, my first attempt at writing a comics blog.  I had some traction going there for a while, but stopped after creating Giant-Size Marvel.  Now it’s back, and I’ve got someone to help me out with contributing new articles, a friend of mine named Jeff Lebowski, aka The Dude.  It’s not his real name, but he actually does like White Russians.

Photon is more than comics. I’ve reviewed the new Steven Moffat Sherlock series that premiered last week on the BBC.  I’ve been sharing some great SF books, such as Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis, the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, and The Magicians by Lev Grossman.  Jeff did a post on the original Planet of the Apes series movie posters which was quite fun.

There is plenty of content for DC Comics fans as well.  Jeff found the original black and white version of George Perez splash page for Wonder Woman 600.  There is a lot of DC related material you true believers might be interested in:

Comic-Con 2010 Green Lantern Press Conference with Ryan Reynolds, Martin Campbell, Mark Strong

Comic-Con 2010: Amazing CGI Trailer for DC Universe Online

Black Canary by Bruce Timm

Black Canary by Neal Adams

Black Canary by Brian Bolland

Black Canary on JLA Monitor Duty: pin-up by Terry Austin

Keith Giffen's 1983 Legion of Super-Heroes Poster

Big Barda by Art Adams

Why DC Comics Fanboys Love Anthro

And non-DC material as well…

Live Blogging Frank Miller’s The Spirit on DVD

Come join us on Club Photon!  Nuff Said!

Link: Photon Torpedoes - Tripping out on Science Fiction, Comics, Movies

When Jack Kirby returned to Marvel, of course they had him draw some Fantastic Four covers.  Here are two favorites...

Fantastic Four #176 featured one of the best stories executed by Roy Thomas and George Perez.  The Impossible Man ran amok in New York City, tearing up the Marvel Bullpen and demanding to have his own comic.  All the bullpeners of the day make an appearance, including Stan and Jack.  The cover captures this crazy frenetic action of the Impossible Man perfectly.

Marvel Treasury Edition #11 featured a compendium of reprints, with this cover of Doc Doom looming over the FF.  This reminds me of the John Byrne story, Terror in a Tiny Town, but I don't think there's any relationship between the two. 

Fabulous Fantastic Four?  Too many adjectives in that logo.  Nuff Said!

Last time, I knocked your socks off with that Marvel Treasury Avengers cover.  Well, these 3 covers for the regular Avengers comic are pretty darn great, too.

Avengers #151 is a classic cover, with the big three dudes (Thor, Cap, Iron Man) and one of those "old order changeth" issues.  It also marked the exit of writer Steve Englehart.  You can see the original Kirby pencils for this one over at Kirby Vision, along with a new ink/color job by Scott Reed.

It's interesting how different inkers will interpret Kirby's pencils.  Adkins changed the rendering in some places (Iron Man helmet and Thor's face) and the hand was changed from open to a pointed finger (probably an editorial decision).  Scott Reed certainly does keep to Kirby's original pencils.

You can see a few other Kirby pieces that Scott Reed has re-inked at the Kirby Musuem.  And Scott has a nifty website as well.

I think the cover to Avengers #156 is unique because of the perspective.  The heroes are flying up alongside a building, trying to reach Doc Doom on top.  Cap's guarding the Scarlet Witch while his comrades go on the attack.  A great ink job here by my pal Al Milgrom.

Avengers #148 is my least favorite among this set, but still cool because of the Squadron Supreme and Hyperion holding Thor over his head in a triumphant pose.

Check out the Jack Kirby Comics Weblog over at the Kirby Musuem.  Great stuff there, I really dig this Mister Miracle t-shirt that is coming out soon!  Nuff Said!

Perhaps you are like me and didn’t go to San Diego but followed the news closely this weekend?  Or perhaps you were there for all the Marvel Film announcements but didn’t have a good seat?  These videos will interest you, yes indeedy, courtesy of Hall H Coverage.

The press has widely reported on The Avengers film cast getting together, along with new Hulk Mark Rufalo and director Joss Whedon.  This video of the event gives you a front row seat on all the action.  The energy in that Hall was like a Nerdgasm of epic proportions.  Seeing those actors up there was like having the Beatles in front of you.

Going backward in panel time a bit, here is Kenneth Branagh on the Thor panel discussing his love for the Thunder God.  Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Natalie Portman (Jane Foster) and Tom Hiddleston (Loki) walk out on stage.  Natalie looks petite and Hiddleston is much taller than Hemsworth.

More videos after the break…

There are some wonderful Avengers covers that Jack Kirby did during his mid-late 70s Marvel stint.  Here's one of my favorites: Marvel Treasury Edition #7, from 1975.

I like this cover as it features my favorite classic Avengers, running straight at the viewer.  Thor is front and center in a timeless pose, swinging the Uru hammer above his head.  Cap looks cool to the left and on the right you have Henry Pym as Giant-Man (blue costume).

If that wasn't enough, Kirby also did the back cover with a different Avengers lineup.  The Hulk makes an appearance and Henry Pym is in the red Giant-Man costume--and does double duty as YellowJacket!  This pinup must have foretold Avengers Forever.  :-)  You can see some retouching going on here--I believe that the Beast, Vision and Iron Man were slightly changed to make them look more like the contemporary versions.  Great stuff.  Nuff Said!

In 1975, the word was given: Jack’s Back.  We read it first in Stan’s Soapbox on the Bullpen Bulletins page, then it re-echoed through fanzines like the Comic Reader.  Fans that also read the Distinguished Competition (DC Comics for you young uns), knew that Jack was leaving, as evidenced by his decreasing role over there.  Marvel die-hards who also subscribed to FOOM got an advance preview of what was to come…

Jack Kirby, super-hero warrior of the pencil, was returning back to the bosom of Marvel.  This issue detailed Kirby’s plans for Captain America as well as a special adaption of 2001 A Space Odyssey.  And they hinted at a future collaboration with Stan Lee on the Silver Surfer.

I had a mixed reaction hearing this news.  I loved Kirby’s Jimmy Olsen, New Gods and Mister Miracle over at DC.  What I knew of Kirby’s Fantastic Four and Thor came from reprints like Marvel’s Greatest Comics—I had started reading Marvel at precisely the time Kirby jumped ship.  While I loved those classic FF stories…as time progressed, I came to admire a slightly deeper level of writing from guys like Steve Englehart, who wrote Captain America from issue 153 to 186 (1972-1975).  Three years of the greatest Captain America arc ever written in my eyes: the racist doppelganger Cap\Bucky of the 1950s, the Secret Empire headed by Richard Nixon, the Nomad arc, topped off by the Red Skull’s return.  Ed Brubaker has been mining this material since he started his Cap run.

Yes, Kirby was back—but wait a minute—that meant Steve Englehart was not coming back! 

Shit!  That was my feeling.  Looking back, it was like a hostage swap.  Marvel got Kirby, DC got Englehart, who worked on Justice League and his famous Batman/Detective run with Marshall Rogers.

This is a weird way to begin a 1970s Kirby tribute.  I still bought his 70s era Marvel comics: Cap, 2001, Eternals, Black Panther, and yes—Devil Dinosaur.  I thought they were bizarre and funky and definitely not as hip as the work produced by Englehart, Don McGregor, and Steve Gerber.  They weren’t as good as his DC Comics work or the old FF run.  I’ve appreciated this material more as time has progressed.  I think Kirby produced some great covers during this period, which I am going to feature here over the next few days. 

Jack Kirby’s cover to Captain America 193 was iconic.  Even better, it was inked by John Romita.  I know a lot of you guys are gonna say that Romita’s inks overpowered Kirby on this cover.  But I think it’s the perfect blend, a great Kirby pose followed with Romita detailing.  I think this cover is just as good as Captain America #100 (the first silver age issue).  You have to love that cover blurb: King Kirby is Back—And Greater Than Ever!

The back cover to FOOM #11 featured Jack Kirby sitting back and dreaming up the covers to Cap 193 and 194.  I don’t know who did this one, if I had to guess, I would say it was Marie Severin.

I am curious if anyone else alive in the 70s had the same reaction to Kirby’s taking over Captain America?  Or did you say, throw that bum Englehart out?  Let me know your thoughts.  Nuff Said!

I am burnt out on all this social networking—didn’t Prince just say that it’s all passé now?.  Facebook and Twitter seem to have one purpose, which is to sell you products via direct targeted marketing.  I’ve deactivated my Facebook, but keep my Twitter account going, because of one man: DRUNK HULK!  I always get a chuckle when I see one of his tweets.  Drunk Hulk slings off one liners as easily as Steven Wright.

Here are a few choice examples.  For instance, the ongoing saga of Bristol Palin:

BRISTOL AND LEVI BACK TOGETHER! DRUNK HULK NO BE THIS UPSET ABOUT REUNION SINCE STEPHENIE MEYER REUNITE WITH TYPEWRITER!

ARGENTINA MAKE GAY MARRIAGE LEGAL! LEVI AND BRISTOL MAKE JOKE OF MARRIAGE IN AMERICA! ONE STEP FORWARD! TWO STEP BACK!

Oh yes, Drunk Hulk always types with CAPS ON!  On Mel Gibson:

DRUNK HULK BET MEL GIBSON WISH HE MAKE SEX TAPE LIKE OTHER CELEBRITY DO INSTEAD!

On the Sixth Sense / Last Airbender Director’s career:

DRUNK HULK JUST FIGURE OUT TWIST! M NIGHT SHYMALAN CAREER WAS DEAD WHOLE TIME!

On Kristen Stewart’s acting—appropriately, I read this after watching Adventureland:

DRUNK HULK LIKE KRISTEN STEWART! SHE METHOD ACTOR! SHE NO EVER BREAK CHARACTER! SHE ACT MISERABLE ALL TIME! THAT COMMITMENT!

On the economy:

TEEN EXPERIENCE WORST SUMMER JOB MARKET IN 41 YEAR! OH NO! NOW WHO WILL TREAT DRUNK HULK CONDESCENDING AT THE STARBUCK

On this year’s summer movies:

SUMMER MOVIE SEASON AWFUL! DRUNK HULK MOVIE SUMMER USUAL FEEL LIKE VAN HALEN! AND THIS YEAR SAMMY HAGAR TOOK OVER!

A cool idea for an amusement part for adults—which also reveals the fact that Drunk Hulk is literate:

HARRY POTTER PARK AT UNIVERSAL SUCCESS! DRUNK HULK HOPE THEY DO HENRY MILLER TROPIC OF CANCER PARK NEXT!

Looking back at Drunk Hulk’s younger days:

DRUNK HULK PRETEND BE BACK IN COLLEGE! FIRST LISTEN TO BEST OF BOB MARLEY! DRINK LOT! AND THEN BE LESBIAN FOR SIX MONTH!

NEW APPLE PRODUCT! A-TEAM! KARATE KID IN CINEMA! ALL DRUNK HULK NEED IS WHAM AND WHERE BEEF! AND IT 1984 ALL OVER AGAIN!

If I were Marvel, I’d hire this guy to write a Drunk Hulk TV show.  Hey, it worked for Shit My Dad Says.  Nuff Said!

Link:  Drunk Hulk Interview on Cover Stories.

Here's a pinup from the Women of Marvel magazine, this time it's Bruce Timm giving us his favorite Marvel super-ladies.

No doubt you've seen this pinup before, but the size and clarity of this scan made it worth posting here.  What I like about this is the love he has for the supporting characters like Crystal, Clea, Hela, Sif, etc.  This makes me yearn for a Bruce Timm animated special featuring the Lady Liberators.  Nuff Said!

A couple of months ago, Marvel published a special Women of Marvel magazine with over 100 pages of content devoted to super-heroines.  There were two Alan Davis covers, which are joined here (thanks to the scanner who gave this to me).

This cover has the classic Marvel gals, who I can all name, but one!  Let's go, from left to right:

1. Golden Age Black Widow
2. Miss America
3. Scarlet Witch
4. Ms. Marvel
5. Invisible Woman
6. Medusa
7. Phoenix
8. Black Cat
9. Mary Jane Watson
10. Gwen Stacy
11. Storm (in her 80s punk biker chick mohawk outfit, yowza!)
12. Black Widow
13. Spider-Woman
14. Wasp
15. Elektra
16. She-Hulk

Now in the very center you have:

17. Kitty Pryde

18. Who the heck is the girl next to Kitty? With the giant mouse hat and holding a phone?  Please leave a comment if you know.

It constantly blows my mind that Spider-Woman is now a major character.  There are two characters that I wish had been featured here: Clea and Valkyrie. 

I've been on an Alan Davis kick lately--I think this man's never lost his magic touch.  I've recently revisited JLA: The Nail, Fantastic Four: The End, and the first issue of Avengers Finale.  Nuff Said!

In the back of the newly re-launched Avengers titles, Brian Bendis is writing an Oral History of the Avengers.  Sort of a documentary approach to the Avengers history--what if every person connected with the team was interviewed?  It's very interesting, and somewhat controversial.  Best of all, this backup allows Marvel to showcase some great covers and illustrations from the past, including Art Adams covers to the Avengers Classics reprint series.

These illustrations are from Avengers Classics #1-3, showcasing the Hulk on cover, when he was briefly part of the team.  Here the Space Phantom impersonates the Hulk and attacks Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp.  Which ticked off everyone to no end and made for the Hulk's early exit.  Iron Man is still in his "bucket-head" early armor, while Hank Pym upgraded himself from Ant-Man to Giant-Man.

The Hulk didn't go quietly--in the third issue he teamed up with Namor the Sub-Mariner to fight the Avengers.  Iron Man gets a new suit of armor--my favorite--with the pointed tips of the mask rising above his head.  I bought Randy Bowen's statue of this armor and I love it.

I really thought the Hulk was a lot fun in the Avengers.  He's a walking gamma bomb of chaos and unpredictability.  As Tony Stark says in the Oral History, "He was like a big, big, big dog on a leash.  Just take the muzzle off and let him loose."  It wasn't until The Defenders that we got the thrill of seeing the Hulk in a regular team book.

With all these new Avengers teams, Marvel tries to think out of the box and put in characters like Spider-Man and Wolverine that were previously off limits.  It looks like Wolverine and Hawkeye are pulling double duty on two teams.  Why not recruit the Hulk?  Nuff Said.