Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Tag: Marvel Comics

Jim Starlin & Alex Nino — Wild Rampage

Original Art and The Artists

Rampaging Hulk #4, August 1977

Original Art for Rampaging Hulk #4 by Jim Stalin and Alex Nino, from the collection of Greg Goldstein

Alex Nino proves to be one of Jim Starlin’s better inkers (if not the best) with this one and only fabulous collaboration for Rampaging Hulk magazine in 1977.

It’s a gorgeous Hulk fantasy story, worth seeking out in its original magazine format. (It’s reduced to comic book size, with inferior reproduction, in Rampaging Hulk Essentials, the only available reprint.)

As I was working on this post, Nostalgic Investments listed a beautiful DPS from this story for 15k (see below) and, in today’s market, that definitely seems reasonable.

Joe Kubert — In His Sights

Original Art and The Artists

Punisher War Zone #36, 1990

Joe Kubert Marvel Comics Punisher Original Art From The Collection Of Greg Goldstein

Joe Kubert just kept getting better… and better.

I didn’t realize Joe had worked on a Punisher storyline until I saw these lovely original art pages. And, no surprise, it’s a terrific looking arc, indeed.

Chuck Dixon is the credited writer, but the storytelling here is all Kubert. A unique page with eight small panels and that superbly dramatic half-splash close-up. (A perfect callback to the first panel.)

Kubert was in his sixth decade of professional work when this story appeared; and he was still drawing for more than another 20 years before he passed away at 85 in 2012.

Incredible.

Herb Trimpe & John Severin — Love Lost

Original Art and The Artists

Incredible Hulk #154, August 1972

Here Trimpe & John Severin Marvel Comics Hulk Original Art From The Collection Of Greg Goldstein

Herb Trimpe, inked by John Severin. 

Perfect Hulk art team on a pretty perfect Incredible Hulk page. 

Ol’ greenskin knows that somewhere in Hank Pym’s laboratory — and Bruce Banner’s brain — hides the secret to shrinking back down to the microverse. 

Why is this so important? I’m glad you asked. Our poor Hulk is lovesick and desperate to reunite with his beautiful Jarella.

Hulk in very panel: Raging, smashing, and blinded by love — and the self-awareness that he doesn’t retain enough of Banner’s smarts to work through it.

As noted, pretty perfect.

Wally Wood — Astonishing, As Always

Original Art and The Artists

Astonishing Tales #4, February 1971

Wally Wood Marvel Comics Doctor Doom Original Art From The Collection Of Greg Goldstein

Wally Wood drew four short Doctor Doom stories in Astonishing Tales. This page, from the fourth and final story is, like all of them, a Wood classic.

And yes, that’s the Red Skull lurking in the last panel. After all, what use is a super-villain story without another, even more twisted super-villain as the antagonist?

This would turn out to be Wood’s final output for Marvel Comics.

Took me a long time to pull the trigger on the “right” deal for one of these, and I’m glad to have finally acquired one.

John Buscema — Man On Fire

Original Art and The Artists

Sub-Mariner #3, June 1968

Sub-Mariner Original Art By John Buscema from the collection of Greg Goldstein

Five straight weeks in the Spring of 1968. Five comic book issues drawn by the legendary John Buscema:

Sub-Mariner #3

Avengers #53

Sub-Mariner #4

Avengers #54

Silver Surfer #1 (38 pages)

Gems. Every single one. (And yes, I might be biased, because these comics are from my newsstand-era sweet spot — 1967-1973 — but I’m not wrong.) My guess is that only Jack Kirby ever had an achievement similar, or greater.

This Sub-Mariner page featuring Namor and Triton is the best Buscema superhero page I’ve ever owned, and unless an amazing opportunity comes my way, will likely remain that way. 

Dynamic inks from one of John’s favorite inkers, Frank Giacoia.

All action. 

Just terrific.

Sub-Mariner #3 Original Art Page From the Collection of Greg Goldstein

Scott Koblish — Kitty Pryde, The Sequel

Original Art and The Artists

Wolverine First Class #15, July 2009

Finishing our mini-celebration of the X-Men’s 60th anniversary.

Here’s a fun page from X-Men First Class, featuring, as part of the story, Kitty a bit out of sorts in an underground drainage system. It’s here she learns the secret of Doc Blake’s cane and his transformation abilities into — well — the last panel tips us off, doesn’t it? (Of course, the cover was a giveaway, too.)

Clear and interesting storytelling, and a wonderful use of shadows and light, make this an exceptionally compelling page. (Once again, although the published page is fine, the original looks much better in black and white.)

David Williams — Wolverine: Terrifying To Foes — & Friends

Original Art and The Artists

Wolverine First Class #13, May 2009

Continuing a mini-celebration of the X-Men’s 60th anniversary.

Here’s a perfect (or as perfect gets) Wolverine cover by underrated artist David Williams. It features a pissed off Wolverine (actually, that might be redundant) and a shocked and terrified Kitty Pryde dynamically heading into — or out of — trouble.

Great background detail (nicely adapted from from photo reference) provides extra depth and interest while still setting off the foreground. Overall, a very nice use of shadows and light. (The digital coloring on the published cover handles it less effectively.)

And cliche’s are cliche’s for a reason: Every time I examine the expression on Kitty’s Face I do indeed think one picture is worth a thousand words.

Chris Bachalo — Wolverine Is No Second Fiddle

Original Art and The Artists

Amazing Spider-Man #555, June 2008

Continuing a mini-celebration of the X-Men’s 60th anniversary.

Spider-Man and Wolverine. Team-up or rivalry? Peanut butter and chocolate — or Coke vs. Pepsi?

Doesn’t really matter.  Two of Marvel’s most famous icons in one story typically means chaos and fun, especially when a talented artist like Chris Bachalo takes charge.

Bonus points for snow, at least for me. Issues #47- #49 of Amazing Spider-man were the earliest issues I read, and yep, Spidey must ultimately deal with snow. Not to mention the flu. Oh, and he gets his butt whipped by a different kind of dynamic duo: Kraven the Hunter and The Vulture. 

Good Stuff.

Sam Kieth — Hulk & Wolverine, Endless Rematch

Original Art and The Artists

Wolverine / Hulk #1, April 2002

Continuing a mini-celebration of the X-Men’s 60th anniversary.

Sam Kieth on a Wolverine Hulk mini-series? Seems like a no-brainer. And this page? Terrific.

But… you know what IS puzzling to me? The cover art to issue #1, which screams to me: “This stinks, let’s see if they buy it anyway.” *

Your mileage may vary.

(*The TPB cover, on the other hand, is fantastic.)

Walter Simonson — X-Men, Redux

Original Art and The Artists

X-Factor #14, March, 1986

Continuing a mini-celebration of the X-Men’s 60th anniversary.

What’s so great about this issue of X-Factor?:

Walter Simonson.

Classic X-Men characters.

Sentinels.

Story by Louise Simonson.

Terrific inks by Bob Wiacek.

Did I mention Walter Simonson?

You get the picture. I overpaid (really overpaid, I think) for this page in an auction bidding frenzy during the pandemic — you can look it up — but I love it, so it’s a win. It’s not going anywhere, unless, in all unlikelihood, I find a better page out in the wild.