Two-Gun Kid #25 - Al Williamson art

Two-Gun Kid #25, 1955 - A man run out of his own ranch returns to face outnumbered odds. While confined throughout most of the tale to fairly small panels, Al Williamson illustrates one of the most exceptional efforts of the western genre. Most of the scenes are accentuated by dramatic lighting, masterfully achieved through thoughtful and exceptional inking. The rancher's face on page five is a superb example of dignity and defiance. The artist's large opening panel of the rancher sets the tone through detailed brushwork on the surrounding trees, rocks, and the sheen from the rider's black horse (click on inset above). Williamson frequently used beautiful woodsy outdoors on his first panel, and this example is among his finest. This is number 1 of 3 Two-Gun Kid issues with Williamson art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Williamson or Two-Gun Kid issues.
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"The Hunted" Williamson story pencils and inks 5 pages = ****
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Spectacular Spider-man #56 - Frank Miller cover

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-man #56, 1981 - The figures of Spider-man and the villain appears as if they were drawn separately and placed together. Regardless, Frank Miller does a credible effort on this often-used theme. The black background with its chalk-like rendering of a web deftly contrasts against the tighter lines of inker Bob Wiacek. This is number 10 of 12 Spectacular Spider-man issues with Miller art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Miller or Spectacular Spider-man issues.
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Miller cover pencils (Bob Wiacek inks) = ***
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Frontline Combat #4 - Wally Wood art

Frontline Combat #4, 1952 - The Charge of the Light Brigade was a legendary military tragedy that gets told here for the first time in comics. Wally Wood meets and exceeds the task of chronicling the event with numerous detailed horsemen and rocky landscapes. The craftsmanship and pacing of the final three pages are particularly moving, aided by the scripted lettering of Alfred Tennyson's poem of the same name. Harvey Kutzman also draws one of his most memorable opening panels in "Air Burst", set during the Korean War. Additional art by Jack Davis and John Severin. This is number 4 of 12 Frontline Combat issues with Wood art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Wood or Frontline Combat issues.
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"Light Brigade" Wood story pencils and inks 7 pages = ****
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House of Mystery #258 - Steve Ditko art

House of Mystery #258, 1978 - The series nears the end of its dollar comics format, and Steve Ditko contributes one of his last stories for House of Mystery. A demon accidentally conjures up a mischievous boy into his realm, and gets more than he bargained for. The artist's style is more quaint than scary, perhaps more appropriately so for this twist on the usual demon-conjuring tale. With the exception of Ditko and E.R. Cruz, the rest of the issue falls pretty flat. This is number 4 of 6 House of Mystery issues with Ditko art. See today's posts or more Ditko or House of Mystery issues.
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"A Demon and his Boy" Ditko story pencils and inks 6 pages = ***
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Uncle Scrooge #13 - Carl Barks art & cover

Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge #13, 1955 - A series of earthquakes rock the town of Duckburg to its foundations. Scrooge, Donald and the gang journey into the Earth and discover the source: a civilization of round, rock-like beings that lift plateaus and bowl en masse into columns underground. The Terrys and Fermies (after terra firma) distinguish themselves from wearing bow-ties and four-in-hands, but are otherwise different colors, which seem the better approach to tell them apart. A later reprint later in the series would color them the same, making more sense of the neckwear. Carl Barks' delightful art includes the vast underground caves of this odd community and the comic results of a massive earthquake on page 22. The back-up Gyro Gearloose tale meets expectations and is one of the few times I've seen Barks render Mickey Mouse's small nephews. See today's posts or more Barks, Disney or Uncle Scrooge issues.
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Barks cover pencils and inks = ***
Barks inside front cover pencils and inks = ***
"Land Beneath the Ground" Barks story pencils and inks 27 pages = ****
Gyro Gearloose Barks story pencils and inks 4 pages = ***
Barks inside back cover pencils and inks = ***
Barks back cover pencils and inks = ***
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Haunt of Horror #1 - Ralph Reese, Walt Simonson art

Haunt of Horror #1, 1974 - Haunt of Horror was only one of several magazine-sized titles published by Marvel under the Curtis imprint. Walt Simonson does a series of illustrations for a text story interspersed throughout the issue. The largest one is nearly a double page spread at the tale's beginning. Sadly, the art as more enthusiasm than skill, and the primitive nature of Simonson's drawings suggest this was done a few years earlier. Ralph Reese's opening feature, by contrast, shows a more seasoned hand at work. "Rats" is an urban cautionary tale, each panel painstakingly drawn. The textural quality of Reese's work is evident here, in the people's faces, the rodents, and especially on the slum-like city street of the opening splash. This is the only Haunt of Horror issue with Reese or Simonson art. See today's posts or more Reese or Simonson issues.
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"Rats" Reese story pencils and inks 8 pages = ****
"Heartstop" Simonson story pencils and inks 16 text illos = **
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Wyatt Earp v2 #9 - Russ Manning art

Wyatt Earp v2 #9, 1960 - Russ Manning's artwork diminishes ever so slightly from previous issues. Of his three stories, the short "The Miner's Message" lacks a clarity and detail present in the other two. Interestingly, the opening panel has the boxed initials "RM" on the lower right: a rarely seen Manning signature. The remaining stories are dependably drawn in his own fluid style. The night-time scene of two thieves surveilling a robbery eyewitness on age nine, panel three is a well crafted design of darks and lights. Manning illuminates their figures and horses but keeps their heads in shadow, masking their identities and suggesting their devious intent. The inside front cover, rather than original art, repeats panels from interior stories. This is number 9 of 12 Wyatt Earp issues with Manning art. See today's posts or more Manning or Wyatt Earp issues.
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"Bushwhacker Country" Manning story pencils and inks 16 pages = ***
"The Miner's Message" Manning story pencils and inks 4 pages = ***
"The Renegades" Manning story pencils and inks 10 pages = ***
"Hide Hunter" Manning inside back cover pencils and inks = ***
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