Back Issue v1 #19, 2006 - Focusing on the art and life of Don Newton, few fanzines have covered the artist's work so generously. Plenty of sketches, original artwork and rejected pieces accompany the articles. Among the jewels is an unpublished painted cover of the Hulk. This fanzine cover was first rejected for Batman, but it's published here for the first time, finished more recently by inker Joe Rubenstein.


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(Walt Disney presents) Zorro v2 #5, 1967 - This issue contains the first reprinting of Dell's Four Color Comics v2 #1003, including both main features and the inside back cover. Though Gold Key's versions are slightly smaller than the originals, this series does an nice job at reproducing Alex Toth's artwork.

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Frank Miller

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For v1 #2, 1992 - Initially ignoring her plea for help, Dwight sneaks onto a well-guarded estate to save Ava from her wealthy and connected husband. Later he realizes her hold on him is stronger than ever before. Bold and graphic, Frank Miller's storytelling loses none of its potency from the first series. A page repeated from the previous issue segues into the complex relationship between the two main characters, both physical and psychological. Some of Miller's best scenes are devoid of dialogue. His cover his merely adequate. This is number 2 of 6 Sin City: A Dame to Kill For issues with Miller art and/or covers.
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Miller cover pencils and inks = **
Miller story pencils and inks 30 pages = ****

Frank Miller

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Video Jack v1 #6, 1988 - Boasting a "jam session"-style format, this final issue features a different artist on nearly every page. Despite what some comic book guides say, there is no artwork by Neal Adams or Bernie Wrightson. They did neglect to mention two commendably drawn pages by Jim Starlin (see interior page below) and Walt Simonson. Other artists in this issue include Fred Hembeck, Keith Giffen, Michael Gilbert, Kevin MacQuire, Bill Wray, Steven Destefano and Dave Hunt (cover). This is number 1 of 1 Video Jack issues with Starlin art and/or covers and number 1 of 1 Video Jack issues with Simonson art and/or covers.
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"Vidzilla" Simonson story pencils and inks 1 page = ***
"Singing Slingers" Starlin story pencils (Jose Marzan inks) 1 page = ***

Walt Simonson

Jim Starlin

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Tarzan v1 #57, 1954 - Tavane becomes regent of the kingdom of Aba-Zulu in Dan-El's absence. Meanwhile, he and Natongo are prisoners of a slave ship of unknown destination. Finely drawn throughout, Russ Manning's best scenes portray the slave ship collapsing in a storm (interior page below). Other artists in this issue include Jessie Marsh. This is number 19 of 133 Tarzan issues with Manning art and/or covers (not including reprints).
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Untitled Brothers of the Spear story Manning pencils and inks 6 pages = ***

Russ Manning

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Barry Windsor Smith

Conan the Barbarian v1 #5, 1971 - Far away from his native Cimmeria, Conan is hired to dispose of a dictatorial wizard and his enchanted daughter. Barry Smith tries to maintain the vigor of his previous issues, but his artwork here falls short. His mundane layouts are further hampered by his unconvincing renditions of a tiger. Additionally, Frank Giacoia's inks have a stiffening effect on the pencils. Smith's best efforts occur on pages 15-19, where Jack Kirby's influence is more keenly felt. This story, inspired by Robert E. Howard's poem "Zukala's Hour", was later reprinted in Giant-size Conan the Barbarian #2. This is number 5 of 20 Conan the Barbarian issues with Smith art and/or covers.
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Smith cover pencils and inks = **
"Zukala's Daugter" Smith story pencils (Frank Giacoia inks) 20 pages = **

Barry Windsor Smith

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Out of This World v1 #1, 1950 - In this futuristic tale, Earth's station on the moon has been seized by renegades. Steve Drum, the station's engineer, takes on the mission to quell the rebellion. Long before he gained notoriety for his war comics, Joe Kubert nicely illustrates this science fiction tale. Panels are plentiful on each page and the dialogues are extremely wordy. The results seem quite crowded as a whole (see interior page below). And yet with the remaining spaces, the artist's efforts are more than adequate. This story was later reprinted in >Out of This World Adventures #1. A second Kubert story, "The Man-Eating Lizards", was first published in Eerie Comics #1. Other artists in this issue include Gene Fawcette. This is number 1 of 1 Out of This World issues with Kubert art and/or covers.
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"Lunar Station" Kubert story pencils and inks 10 pages = ***

Joe Kubert

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Matt Baker

Pictorial Confessions v1 #1, 1949 - A girl falls in love with a conniving boy and sisters vie for an older man in two of three Matt Baker tales in this issue. Plenty of captions and dialogue fill smallish panels throughout the stories. Still, the artist maintains detail and precise draftsmanship. Baker's well composed cover conveniently segues into the lead story. All three tales appeared later in other romance titles: "I Threw Away My Reputation on a Worthless Love" (reprinted in Pictorial Romances #9), "I Talked Myself into Love Troubles" (Teen-Age Romances #21) and "Two-Timing Taught Me to Love" (Pictorial Romances #10). These three stories were also reprinted in Teen-Age Romances #38. This is number 1 of 3 Pictorial Confessions issues with Baker art and/or covers.
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Baker cover pencils and inks = ***
"I Threw Away My Reputation on a Worthless Love" Baker story pencils and inks 10 pages = ***
"I Talked Myself into Love Troubles" Baker story pencils and inks 6 pages = ***
"Two-Timing Taught Me to Love" Baker story pencils and inks 8 pages = ***

Matt Baker

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Matt Baker

Authentic Police Cases v1 #20, 1952 - Matt Baker illustrates a hijacking in progress on the cover's largest panel. While unexceptional, the artist makes effective use of the allotted space. The careful placement of figures firmly establishes foreground, mid-ground and background for maximum depth. The skylight and distant window extend the illusion a little further, while defining the warehouse setting and scale. This is number 15 of 28 Authentic Police Cases issues with Baker art and/or covers (not including reprints).

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Baker cover pencils and inks = ***

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Teen-age Romances v1 #17, 1950 - A love quadrangle is skillfully portrayed on this fine Matt Baker cover. Despite the large number of figures, the composition is clear and coherent thanks to the well-established foreground, middle ground and background. Inside, four Baker stories delight and entertain. One in particular, "Secret Love Made Me an Exile", opens with the central character looking directly at the reader (see interior page below). Her mischievous smile and expression lets us in on her discovery of another girl's secret. Out of the five Baker stories in this issue, only "I Deserted My Ideals for an Easy Life" appeared earlier, in Teen-Age Diary Secrets / Blue Ribbon Comics v2 #5. This is number 17 of 42 Teen-age Romances issues with Baker art and/or covers.
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Baker cover pencils and inks = ***
"My Dates Were Phoney" Baker story pencils and inks 6 pages = ***
"Secret Love Made Me an Exile" Baker story pencils and inks 7 pages = ***
"I Was Hurt by Love" Baker story pencils and inks 3 pages = ***
"I Outgrew My First Love" Baker story pencils and inks 7 pages = ***


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Gunsmoke Western v1 #55, 1959 - A greedy store owner exploits a retiring gunslinger, but gets more than he bargained for. Matt Baker does an exceptional job on this Stan Lee-written story. Although the last page is crammed with smaller panels, the artist's layouts overall are terrific. Multiple angles and expressive faces contribute to a aesthetically pleasing tale. Other artists in this issue include Jack Keller, George Klein, Jack Davis and Dick Ayers. Cover by Joe Maneely. This is number 3 of 4 Gunsmoke Western issues with Baker art and/or covers.
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"Gunfight at Grogan's Gap" Baker story pencils and inks 5 pages = ***

Matt Baker

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Journey Into Mystery v1 #43, 1957 - In Al Williamson's tale, an older couple finds a strange meteor in their vastly rural area. His loosely drawn pencils are competent, but the inking lacks definition and clarity. Some price guides attribute the inks to Ralph Mayo, but I think this may have been inked by Gray Morrow or Williamson himself. The opening splash page, with its various shadows and textures, is the high point of the story. In another failed attribution, Matt Baker illustrates a tale about an unseen assassin. Grimly and seriously drawn, his characters' faces are especially memorable. This is number 2 of 4 Journey Into Mystery issues with Williamson art and/or covers and number 1 of 2 Journey Into Mystery issues with Baker art and/or covers.
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"The Invisible Woman" Baker story pencils and inks 4 pages = ***
"Secret of the Strange Stone" Williamson story pencils (and inks?) 3 pages = **

Matt Baker

Al Williamson

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Our Love Story v1 #12, 1970 - Mostly reprints from 1960s Marvel romance comics, this issue boasts artwork by Jack Kirby (My Own Romance #74) and Matt Baker (Love Romances #82). Other artists in this issue include John Forte. Cover by Sal Buscema.

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Walt Simonson

Battlestar Galactica v1 #4, 1979 - Marvel procures the rights to do a Battlestar Galactica comic book, based on the science fiction tv show of the same name. In this issue, a virus from a Cylon outpost threatens to wipe out the entire crew. Walt Simonson lends his talents to this adaptation, but his pencils are largely overwhelmed by the inker. His layouts are fairly standard, lacking his usual innovative approach. Simonson finally asserts himself on the final two pages. This is number 1 of 14 Battlestar Galactica issues with Simonson art and/or covers.
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Simonson cover pencils (Klaus Janson inks) = **
"The Lost Gods of Kobol" Simonson story pencils (Klaus Janson inks) 17 pages = **

Walt Simonson

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Gates of Eden v1 #1, 1982 - From fantasy to humor, this underground comic covers several genres. Several prominent artists make small distinctive contributions. John Byrne and Jim Starlin illustrate the inside covers, serving as bookends. Jeff Jones has a mature-themed single page that has his hallmark figure drawings. Other artists in this issue include P. Craig Russell. Cover by Mike Kaluta. This is number 1 of 1 Gates of Eden issues with Byrne art and/or covers, number 1 of 1 Gates of Eden issues with Jones art and/or covers and number 1 of 1 Gates of Eden issues with Starlin art and/or covers.
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Byrne inside front cover pencils and inks = ***
Starlin inside back cover pencils and inks = **
"'69" Jones story pencils and inks 1 page = ***
 (all pages above in black and white)

Jeff Jones

John Byrne

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