Norm Rapmund – Page 2 – Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Dan Jurgens / Norm Rapmund — No Joke

November 9, 2019 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Booster Gold #21, August 2009

Part five of a multi-part series celebrating Batman’s 80^th birthday.

Booster Gold goes back in time to save Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) from being crippled as depicted in Alan Moore’s classic Killing Joke. Of course it doesn’t work, and of course, this being a Booster Gold comic, things go from bad to worse. Batman (at this point in the timeline, Dick Grayson) is none too happy.

Jurgens wrote much of this Booster Gold series, and he plays to his own specific artistic skills and interests. I enjoy the storytelling here, as well as the expression on Booster’s face, a combination of dismay and disappointment as he explains his failure to Batman. And extending Batman’s “ears” into the upper panel is a clever and splashy touch.

The New 52 reboot ended this series a few years later, which was unfortunate. It combined action and wit (and mind-bending time paradoxes) avoiding outright camp or satire while providing a joyful and thoughtful ride through the DC time stream.

Ian Churchill — Split Personality

September 4, 2019 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Supergirl # 4 (2005 Series), February 2006

Two Supergirls — one “light”, one “dark.” Lex Luthor in his “war-suit.” Appearances by Superman and the Justice League. Covers by the late Michael Turner. Darkseid. Big splashy fight scenes. And did I mention Luthor in his “war-suit?”

This fun —albeit brief — arc of Supergirl comes to us courtesy of Jeph Loeb, writer, and is rendered dynamically by Ian Churchill, penciller and Norm Rapmund, inker.

Black Kryptonite, making an early comic book appearance here (It was first introduced in the Smallville TV show) is responsible for Kara’s split personality, and her dark side has no problem taking the gloves off, quite literally. Here we see her get the upper hand on Luthor’s — (ahem)— upper hand, as she gleefully destroys the weapon of mass destruction built into his arm. Check out the amazing detail as it shatters into a million pieces. Also noteworthy is Luthor’s face, which expresses a rare combination of pain and shock.

It’s always fun to see Luthor in his super-suit post Crisis on Infinite Earths, and especially entertaining to see Supergirl shred it.

CBR has a fascinating look at the iconic suit’s history here.

The “B” cover of the issue is a Churchill homage to Curt Swan’s cover of Action # 346.

Mark Bagley — Green Energy = Clean Energy?

August 20, 2019 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Justice League of America #43 (2006 Series), May 2010

The super-talented Mark Bagley has only spent three years (so far, at least) of his 30-year career at DC. But during that tenure, he worked on the weekly Trinity book as well as JLA/JSA, so he drew many of the DCU’s mainstay characters — some with multiple versions. On this great splash page, we see Alan Scott, the Green Lantern of Earth 2 having a power surge issue. (With terrific inks by Norm Rapmund, and ultimately when printed, great colors by Pete Pantazis.) I love the “camera angle” that Mark chose, enhancing the drama.

Earth 2, Earth 3, Earth Prime, Earth 616, whatever. Bring them on. I’ve been fascinated by the multiverse concept ever since I purchased my first JSA/JLA crossover annual event off the racks in the summer of 1967. Even when it gets confusing, I’m still a fan.

And while we are at it, bring back Fringe, too.

This started my journey down the rabbit hole…
…and I’m still down there…