Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Leonard Kirk — The Gorilla On The Cover Trick

Original Art and The Artists

Spider-Man Family #4, October 2007

It’s Spider-Man vs. Agents of Atlas on this fun cover, and check out the featured player: It’s Gorilla-Man, an obscure 50s character who eventually made his way into Marvels Agent of Atlas, a team made up entirely of obscure 50s characters.

During the 50s and 60s, word over at the “Distinguished Competition” (DC Comics) was that gorillas on the covers sold more copies. (And purple gorillas apparently outsold ordinary-colored gorillas, but as always, we digress.)

Atlas (Marvel) clearly didn’t get that message in 1954, because the zombies get top billing in the issue with Gorilla-Man’s first appearance. But this was 1954 of course, and zombies were doing pretty well in the comics biz, at least for a few more months anyway.

Fifty years later, with the mass market for comics nearly extinct, I don’t think it matters for sales whether a gorilla is featured on the cover or not.

But fun, anyway.

Bret Blevins — Web Of Confusion

Original Art and The Artists

Sleepwalker # 5, October 1991

Spider_Man. Nearly drowned. Trapped in chains. On a table. Prone before Kingpin and a group of other assorted criminal goons. It’s a terrific final splash.

In “real life”, it’s game over, as most of the goons would quickly pull their guns and start blasting away. Spider powers do not include invulnerability.

But in comics, especially older classics, it’s… continued next issue!

And I am absolutely there for it. (And we know Spidey is going to get out of this — the joy is the “how?”)

Pencils and inks here both by Blevins, who drew most of the early Sleepwalker issues, following his terrific run on New Mutants.

Next issue leads off with a somewhat silly cover — and a great splash page that’s a close-up from the previous closer.

Terry & Rachel Dodson — Underwater

Original Art and The Artists

Marvel Knights Spider-Man #10, March 2005

Terry and Rachel Dodson provide the art for this dramatic and splashy page featuring ol’ web head in action underwater. Not your typical place for a spider, but hey, they do come up through the drain pipes one in a while, so why not?

(Apologies for that imagery to any of our readers that have arachnophobia.)

Marvel Knights was a lifesaving imprint for Marvel, which was in the middle of bankruptcy turmoil when the brand was launched in 1998. Original intended for grittier and “lesser” characters (Daredevil, Black Widow, Punisher et al), the brand was so successful that bigger stars of the Marvel Universe were ultimately incorporated, including our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Until, that is, the brand was completely folded into the main Marvel line.

But that is a story for another day.

Ron Frenz & Sal Buscema — Family Ties

Original Art and The Artists

Amazing Spider-Man Family #1, October 2008

Here is a great action page from Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema, one of my favorites superhero art teams of the 21st century.

The story is set in the “Spider-Girl” universe (Earth-982) but May Parker is only a baby in this timeline as Spidey comes out of “retirement” to deal with Curt Connors turning into the Lizard again.

Story is by Tom DeFalco, completing the creative trifecta from the long running solo Spider-Girl title.

Not so fun fact: Normally I’m a fan of painter Avi Granov’s work, but this specific cover? Ooof. Nuff said.

Will Conrad — Drowned in Thunder

Original Art and The Artists

Cover, Spider-Man Novel, Brazilian Edition (Novo Seculo), 2014

Ah, superheroes on a rooftop. Perched on a gargoyle… or other ornamental edifice. At night. In the rain. Or snow. I promise an entire post on the subject in the future.

In the meantime, we have this great cover by Will Conrad, who most definitely has a penchant for rain-soaked superheroes. Terrific mood and detail, some of which is obscured by the coloring of the published cover. (See below.)

Someone get that man a towel.

Steve McNiven — Brand New Day

Original Art and The Artists

Amazing Spider-Man #547, March 2008

Spidey takes a cue from his pal Captain America and shatters some (a lot, actually) glass in this dynamic splash from Steve McNiven.

It’s from the second issue of the Brand New Day storyline, the controversial reboot in which the world has forgotten Spidey’s secret identity, and he himself has forgotten his marriage to MJ. Following the Mephisto-led events of “One More Day.”

Of course, some version of this storyline is now destined for the MCU — and, as noted previously, I still think Mephisto (or Nightmare) is secretly behind much of the events of Spidey 3, Doctor Strange 2 and the Vision and Scarlett Witch TV series.

Apparently, I’m determined to stick with that crazy idea until at least phase 7.

Ron Garney — Hero Worship

Original Art and The Artists

Amazing Spider-Man #537, February 2007

Here’s a key splash page from Marvel’s Civil War. Captain America has convinced Peter that the resistance is on the “right” side of this epic crossover conflict.

When the conversation is over in this tie-in , Garney treats us to an epic splash of Spidey swinging into action.

Birds, and all.

Cynthia Martin — Flashback To Ditko

Original Art and The Artists

Web of Spider-Man Annual #4, August 1988

Cynthia Martin flashes back to the first appearance of the Vulture form Amazing Spider-Man #2 with with this great opening splash page from 1988.

This August of course is a big milestone for everyone’s favor web slinger. He turns 60 this month with the anniversary of his first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15.

We previously celebrated this anniversary with some great Spider-Man pages, and coming up are a few more to add into the mix to round out the month of August.