Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Tag: Marvel Comics

Erik Larsen — Marvelous Melee

Original Art and The Artists

Defenders #11, January 2002

Erik Larsen (With help from Sal Buscema and Kurt Busiek) has some fun with the Defenders on this frenetic splash, as they clobber the undersea warlord Attuma and his feckless fish men. The Defenders are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.

I only learned recently the reason that Doctor Strange replaced Silver Surfer between their first “unofficial” appearance in Sub-Mariner, and their official launch in Marvel Feature later in 1971. Apparently, Stan Lee was feeling precious about the Surfer, and didn’t want anyone else to write stories featuring him.

Eric solves that line-up problem here by including both of them, along with original stalwarts Hulk and Sub-Mariner.

(Many of the latter members of the group — Nighthawk, Valkyrie, et al — are along for the ride as well.)

All in all, a fun 20-year-old mini-series that has yet to be collected as far as I can tell.

Paul Ryan & Al Williamson — Eternals, Avengers, Oh My!

Original Art and The Artists

Eternals #12, September, 1986

This “sequel” Eternals series couldn’t have gone quite as planned.  

Peter Gillis launches as writer, but Walter Simonson takes over mid–stream. Sal Buscema starts us off on pencils, (ands in some case, inks) but the art team shifts a few times too with a variety of Bullpen artists from the era, until we finally get here, the double-sized last issue, with pencils by Paul Ryan and inks (mostly) by Al Williamson, with assists fromSam de la Rosa.

All pretty odd stuff for a limited-series.

That aside, this is dynamic page featuring Eternals and Avengers working together to defeat their common foe. And hey, based on the film trailers alone, it’s obvious the Eternals exist in the greater MCU, so a crossover like this down the road is not the craziest idea you’re going to hear today. (It’s still early, so trust me on this.)

Eternals opens in theaters on Friday. (Well, technically tonight in many locations.)

Who’s Who in the Eternals? Convenient scorecard presented above.

John Romita Jr. — The Coming Of The Celestials

Original Art and The Artists

Eternals #1, August 2006

Jack Kirby’s Celestials walk the earth, courtesy of Neil Gaiman and John Romita’s 2007 mini-series, as detailed previously here.

And finally, after a year or so of pandemic-related delays, they (presumably) walk on the big screen this Friday.

Early buzz on the film is quite good, but if I’m guessing, regardless of story and cast performance, Kirby fans will judge the film on whether the cinematic realization of the Celestials matches — or even amplifies — Jack’s giant vision.

In a few days, we will all see for ourselves

Oddly enough, Arishem (the greatest of the Celestials, apparently) appears on the final page splash in many of the first few issues as the tease for the following issue. The only hiccup is that he doesn’t typically appear in any of the following issue’s action.

Ashley Wood — Bone Mechanix

Original Art and The Artists

Ghost Rider #20, December 1995

Our third annual Halloween tribute continues now through October 31. 

Ash Wood has accomplished much in his career, but I still miss his trippy interior comic art. As clearly exemplified here.

And Ghost Rider 2099? That was the easily the trippiest of the 2099 Universe, spearheaded by my long-time pal Joey Cavalieri.

Most of the 2099 material has yet to be collected, but given the passionate enthusiasm in 90s comic art material of late, it won’t surprise me if an omnibus or two is coming our way shortly.

(I’d buy the Ghost Rider material just to revisit the art — even if I’m still not entirely sure I could explain the narrative clearly.)

Gene Colan — Dracula Transformed

Original Art and The Artists

Tomb of Dracula #9, June 1972

Our third annual Halloween tribute continues now through October 31. 

Dracula transforms into a bat and transforms back again in this cool page from the master of moodiness Gene Colan.

I’ve written about Colan’s Tomb of Dracula work with Tom Palmer previously; this issue precedes Palmer’s permanent partnership with Gene on the title, and is instead inked by Vince Colletta. (No I am not going to knock Vince’s work here. That’s what comics’ social media is for. Talk about beating a dead horse…)

So… a vampire transformation page? Cool, I will take it.

Fun fact: All the art panels on the page are pasted onto the art board that leads me to believe the story was revamped (pun intended) at some point.

Alan Davis — Death Becomes Him

Original Art and The Artists

Thanos: The Infinity Conflict, November 2018

We begin our third annual Halloween celebration with a terrific Alan Davis splash of Thanos becoming Death in The Infinity Conflict graphic novel.

Like all recent Davis and Farmer pages, it’s a combination of blue-line printing and pencil by Davis, and finishes by Farmer. And, also like all pages by that terrific art team, it looks great.

Happy Halloween — foe the next few weeks. See you on Thursday.

Paul Gulacy — Shaken…

Original Art and The Artists

James Bond 007: Serpent’s Tooth #2, August 1992

Until the last few years, James Bond’s appearances in comic books are rare. Added all together prior to 2016, they most definitely would not fill an omnibus.

Rights issues are always tricky with this franchise; although Eon Productions —and its merchandising arm, Danjaq — manages film rights, the literary property itself remains controlled by the Ian Fleming Estate. 

Which explains why this run at Dark Horse features a James Bond who doesn’t in fact look like any other Bond we’ve seen previously. In fact, here he looks a little bit like — Paul Gulacy.

Regardless, It’s great Gulacy page from a good-looking miniseries; even if this specific example looks like it would be more at home in an Indiana Jones comic book.

James Bond through the years in comics. (The experience was so distasteful for Howard Chaykin on For Your Eyes Only that he left Marvel Comics.)

Barry Kitson — Negative Space

Original Art and The Artists

Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #3, September, 2008

We close out our second celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Fantastic Four with a quick visit to the Negative Zone.

The Negative Zone, like so many of Jack ad Stan’s creations, endures. I’m sure one version or another will figure into the MCU when The FF finally receives the proper cinematic respect the team deserves.

In the meantime, we have the talented Barry Kitson, and the equally talented Mick Gray, delivering a dynamic and splashy page of Johnny Storm bursting into flames and out of the Fantasti-Car, leaving Ben Grimm unhappily behind.  (With a cute piece of dialogue to showcase his frustration, as seen in the published page below.)

It’s a terrific piece of art, and if I have any beef with it all, it’s in the published version, because, after coloring, Johnny appears to have a tight crew cut or no hair at all when he bursts into flame. (And stays that way.)

Johnny Storm without his blonde locks? Even on fire? Blasphemy, I say.

Jim Starlin — Clobbered

Original Art and The Artists

Marvel Fanfare #21, July 1985

Continuing our celebration of the 60th anniversary of the debut of Fantastic Four #1. (August 8, 1961)

Jim Starlin pens a love letter to the classic Hulk-Thing battles of the 60s and 70s with this fun two-parter from Marvel Fanfare.

The Hulk decks Mr. Grimm “off-screen” as it were, bridging the two issues.  (See below.)

I never cared one way or another whether The Hulk or Thing was stronger (I pretty much enjoyed any crossover), but apparently this subject is very emotional for some.

That said, Thor is stronger than either of them. 

Let the hate mail begin. Ha.

CBR has done a great overview of those classic battles, which you can read here.

Jim Starlin lets our imagination fill in the actual punch, as the Hulk has apparently just decked the Thing in between issues.
The Marvel Age of crossovers begins in March 1963, with a very busy FF meeting the Hulk and Spider-Man in the same month..

Tony Harris — Divine Time

Original Art and The Artists

Marvel Knights 4 #16, May 2005

Tony Harris delivers a terrific cover for one of the oddest–logoed titles in Marvel History.

The title is not “4”, but actually “Marvel Knights 4”, as the publisher decided to give an edge to the FF by incorporating them into the Marvel Knights brand. (Of course this assumes you know that MK stands for Marvel Knights. And that you’re certain that “4” refers to the FF.)

It’s a puzzler how they ended up there.

And speaking of puzzlers — this storyline deals with time travel and Ramades, son of Ram-Tut, who makes his first appearance the issue prior.

Rama-Tut, of course, is also Kang AND Immortus, and also ultimately retconned to be Nathaniel Richards. Reed’s father. The Time Variance Authority and the Time-Keepers are also involved. 

Frankly, as mentioned previously, I could never keep any of this straight, and even the very-detailed Wikipedia page can’t help my brain get around the various iterations of this character. (Not blaming them, though — it’s probably just me.)

Great cover art, though, and Tony colored it himself — adding the background texture as well. 

(As for Ramades? He has yet to reappear since this storyline was completed in issue#18.)