Image Comics – Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Erik Larsen — Blasted Idiots

July 15, 2021 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Savage Dragon #2, July 1993

We continue with our month long celebration of the “Independents” — Independent creators and projects that continue to impact the comic book medium.

Two independent creations collide in the second issue of Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon ongoing series in 1993, as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles drop in. Literally.

The large top panel of this fun action page inspired the cover for the issue.

Larsen and TMNT creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird share much more than just a passion for all things Jack Kirby. (I would bet that at one time, no one owned more DC Kirby art than the three of them.) They tell their stories with endless energy and panache, something that is often missing from more “mainstream” titles.

Larsen made headlines recently with the announcement that he was relaunching Ant, another Image creator-owned project originally created by Mario Gully. (Larsen purchased the character in 2012, and included her in the Spawn series he wrote shortly thereafter.)

Issue #1 of the new Larsen Ant series launches next month.

Meanwhile, Savage Dragon is now one of the longest running independent creator-owned series of all time. Issue #260 hits the stands in August as well.

Back here next Tuesday (7/20) with Frank Miller. Have a good weekend.

*Larsen’s August 2021 releases: Savage Dragon #260 and Ant #1.*

Dale Keown — Hulk Vs… Pitt

April 24, 2021 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Hulk / Pitt #1, December 1996

Concluding our series on Hulk vs.… The Universe.

Hulk vs. Pitt? I love this idea.

Not so much because it feels like a reasonable balanced match-up. (Although it does, with Pitt likely the tougher combatant.)

More so because Dale Keown made his bones with a terrific version of the Hulk on writer Peter David’s long run in the very early 90s, and then went off and created Pitt as his own character and title for Image Comics.

So Hulk vs. Pitt is actually… Dale Keown vs. Dale Keown.

On this page, the Hulk and Pitt beat the living daylights out of each other. Knockdown, drag ‘em out close-in battling, executed by a pro. (With lovely detailed finishes by the versatile and talented Dan Panosian.)

I would love to see more regular comics work by Keown, but, based on his total output the last 20 years, I have a feeling that’s not in the cards.

I would love to be wrong.

Dale’s first cover for Incredible Hulk, followed by the published version and original art for Pitt #1.

Matt Wagner — Defined

July 14, 2020 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Mage (Hero Defined) #5, January 1998

As discussed previously in this blog and elsewhere, Matt Wagner is a terrific talent.

Although it’s always great fun to see him play with other kid’s toys (The Demon, Batman, The Shadow, etc.) its obvious he has a special appreciation for his two long-time creations, Grendel and Mage. And Mage has been one those series has always demanded my attention, and my admiration.

MAGE is the contemporary tale of reluctant hero Kevin Matchstick who, after encountering a modern-day wizard, learns he is the reincarnation of the legendary King Arthur Pendragon, able to wield the power of the mystical weapon, Excalibur. (Now a magical baseball bat instead of a sword.)

Here’s Matt discussing it in a 2017 interview, just ahead of launching the final story arc

“For anyone who doesn’t realize it, MAGE is what I like to describe as an allegorical autobiography, with the character of Kevin Matchstick very obviously standing in as my literary alter-ego. All the other characters he encounters and situations he endures are metaphors from my own life…told through the lens of a fantasy adventure.”

It’s a wonderful trilogy — told over the span of 35 years — and Matt is probably bored with me telling him how much I enjoy and admire the work. (I first met him in the 80s and have sung the same tune since then.)

The autobiographical part of the fantasy is key to me, because Matt and I —and his hero Kevin Matchstick — are all about the same age.

Kevin’s character ages and incorporates Matt’s life experiences, which is still a fairly uncommon feature in graphic storytelling.

This cool page is from the middle of the trilogy, and features the cover scene of the issue in the wonderfully-executed final panel. POW indeed.

Matt says the Mage story is complete and the story of Kevin Matchstick is finished, but maybe he will incorporate a senior citizen story 20 years from now — we can discuss it over a game of checkers in the park.