Secret Origins v3 Annual #1 - John Byrne art & cover

Secret Origins v3 Annual #1, 1987 - Retelling the origin of the Doom Patrol, John Byrne delivers a competent and enjoyable effort. His symmetrical cover design divides past and present members centered around the ever-present Robotman. Byrne's interiors sometimes convey a simplicity not dissimilar from the team's early days in My Greatest Adventure. This annual ends with a separate tale on Captain Comet's origin. Other artists in this issue include Ron Harris and Bruce Patterson. This is number 1 of 1 Secret Origins issues with Byrne art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Byrne or Secret Origins issues.
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Byrne cover pencils and inks = ***
"Secret Origin of the Doom Patrol" Byrne story pencils and inks 23 pages = ***
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House of Mystery #179 - Neal Adams art & cover, Bernie Wrightson art

House of Mystery #179, 1969 - In Bernie Wrightson's first professional comics work, a mystery surrounds a man disappears without a trace. Though only three pages, the art is conscientious yet skillful. Neal Adams follows his monochromatic cover with a tale of an ambitious sailor and his faithful wife. Sadly, his pencils have little compatibility with Joe Orlando's inks. Though thoughtfully laid out, the final drawings are generally weak. The interior page shown above is by Wrightson. Other artists in this issue include Jerry Grandenetti and George Roussos. This is number 1 of 27 House of Mystery issues with Wrightson art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Adams, Wrightson or House of Mystery issues. See also this blog's Adams checklist, Top 10 Adams comics, Wrightson checklist or Top 10 Wrightson comics.
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Adams cover pencils and inks = ***
"The Widow's Walk" Adams story pencils (Joe Orlando inks) 10 pages = **
"The Man Who Murdered Himself" Wrightson story pencils and inks 3 pages = ***
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Bobby Benson's B-Bar-B Riders #11 - Frank Frazetta cover

Bobby Benson's B-Bar-B Riders #11, 1951 - Though not as strong as his previous cover on the series, Frank Frazetta captures an action-packed split-second. Bobby Benson's dog stops a man from lethally injecting a horse. There is a noticeable lack of foreshortening on the young hero's foreground arm, which is disproportionately smaller than the other. While not his best, Frazetta provides readers with a scene of genuine intensity. His figures are momentarily suspended in time, a visual approach not dissimilar to stop-motion photography. This is number 2 of 3 Bobby Benson's B-Bar-B Riders issues with Frazetta art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Frazetta or Bobby Benson's B-Bar-B Riders issues. See also this blog's Frazetta checklist or Top 10 Frazetta comics.
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Frazetta cover pencils and inks = **
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Werewolf by Night #1 - Mike Ploog art & cover

Werewolf by Night #1, 1972 - After three try out issues, Werewolf by Night gets his own title. Ploog continues doing a good job the art. His lively drawings and enhanced by Frank Chiaramonte's competent inking. Ploog's early issues in this series are better overall than his later ones. This is number 1 of 12 Werewolf issues with Ploog art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Ploog or Werewolf By Night issues. See also this blog's Ploog checklist or Top 10 Ploog comics.
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Ploog cover pencils and inks = ***
"Eye of the Beholder" Ploog story pencils (Frank Chiaramonte inks) 20 pages = ***
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House of Mystery #178 - Neal Adams art & cover

House of Mystery #178, 1969 - Caught in a thunderstorm, a boy finds shelter and an unlikely playmate in an old house. Many of Neal Adams' exceptional pages feature gradated pencils that increase depth and texture. Other clever techniques, such as silhouetted tree branches as panel borders (see interior page above), add richness and variety. Frequently reprinted over the years, "The Game" is one of the artist's best efforts on House of Mystery. Adams' cover, hinting at the story inside, is adequately done but pales by comparison. Other artists in this issue include Win Mortimer and George Roussos. See today's posts or more Adams or House of Mystery issues. See also this blog's Adams checklist or Top 10 Adams comics.
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Adams cover pencils and inks = ***
"The Game" Adams story pencils and inks 7 pages = *****
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Daredevil #200 - John Byrne cover

Daredevil #200, 1983 - A victorious Daredevil looms over a severely beaten and battered Bullseye. The sparse background puts the focus solely on the two figures. Note how the hero's face is cloaked in shadow, suggesting a darker side. Most milestone issues display a celebratory cover, but here John Byrne opts for an effectively disturbing image for the 200th edition. Other artists in this issue include William Johnson and Danny Bulanadi. This is number 2 of 5 Daredevil issues with Byrne art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Byrne or Daredevil issues.

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Byrne cover pencils (Terry Austin inks) = ****
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Adventure Comics #429 - Alex Nino art

Adventure Comics #429 featuring Black Orchid, 1973 - After her premiere in the previous issue, the Black Orchid continues as the main feature on this title. Alex Nino's Captain Fear also continues, with the indian finding himself once again captured by pirates. Several panels shows wide open vistas with minimal dialogue, allowing readers to soak in the Caribbean setting. Most impressive are Nino's scenes of a tropical storm at sea, drawn in sumptuous shapes and textures (pages 5-6). Other artists in this issue include Tony DeZuniga. This is number 4 of 6 Adventure issues with Nino art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Nino or Adventure Comics issues. See also this blog's Alex Nino checklist.
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"Pirate's Revenge" Nino story pencils and inks 7 pages = ***
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