Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Tag: Tom DeFalco

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.

Ron Frenz — Lost In The Negative Zone?

Original Art and The Artists

Thor #405, Original “Lost” Cover, July 1989

Legend has it that this is the “lost” original cover for Thor #405. 

As the story goes, Ron sent the pencils to Marvel, and it was misplaced before Marvel could send it to Joe Sinnott for inking.

So Ron quickly redrew the cover and sent the replacement off just in time for deadline.

Eventually, this “first” original surfaced and Marvel returned it to Ron. 

Ron ultimately sold it, and the purchaser had Bob McLeod finish it up.

I also think its entirely possible that Thor editor Ralph Macchio (or EIC Tom DeFalco) simply decided he wanted to change Thor’s positioning on the cover, which is pretty much the only material difference between the two versions.

Thor appears to be in more trouble in the published version, although that change could have come from Ron himself. (I like the figure positioning slightly better in the “original” version.)

It’s a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.

Or, just a fun story, take your pick.  Either way, it is a nice piece of cover art.

The actual published version with its original as well.