Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2 - Jim Starlin art & cover

Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2, 1977 - Concluding the storyline begun in Avengers Annual #7, Captain Marvel and the Avengers battle the world-conquering Thanos. Spider-man and the Thing also join the fray in this Jim Starlin tale, one of his longest to date. Thirty-plus pages display a mastery of sequential design, including three memorable splashes. Inker Joe Rubenstein enhances the pencils while maintaining their integrity. Starlin's cover, though overcrowded with elements, nonetheless grabs your attention. This story has been reprinted in Warlock v2 #6. This is number 1 of 1 Marvel Two-in-One Annual issues with Starlin art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Starlin or Marvel Two-In-One issues. See also this blog's Starlin checklist or Top 10 Starlin comics.
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Starlin cover pencils and inks = ***
"Death Watch" Starlin story pencils (Joe Rubenstein inks) 34 pages = ***
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Thunder Agents #11 - Wally Wood art & cover

T.h.u.n.d.e.r. Agents #11, 1967 - Surrounded by enemies, the Thunder Agents blast their way through a barrage of firepower. Wally Wood's cover is an all-out attack made more extreme by the explosive blast (which also visually frames the heroes). Despite the piggyback-riding woman, the artist does an overall satisfying action scene. Completely unrelated, Wood's interior story tells of a Dynamo duplicate spy and the confusion that ensues. Competently drawn, some of the panels suggest Dan Adkin's hand with the pencils. Other artists in this issue include Mike Sekowsky, Chic Stone, Manny Stallman and John Giunta. This is number 11 of 18 Thunder Agents issues with Wood art and/or covers (not including reprints). See today's posts or more Wood or Thunder Agents issues. See also this blog's Wood checklist.
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Wood cover pencils and inks = ***
"The Death of Dynamo" Wood story pencils and inks (Dan Adkins? inks) 10 pages = ***
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Limited Collectors Edition #C-41 / Super Friends - Alex Toth art & cover

Limited Collectors Edition #C-41 / Super Friends, 1975 - During the 1960s and 1970s, Alex Toth would create numerous character designs for the animation studio Hanna-Barbera. Super Friends featured his own depictions of Superman, Batman & Robin, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and other characters. Although an ongoing Super Friends comic series would begin a year later, Toth would only contribute to this large format issue. The artist's cover is appropriately kid-friendly, but Superman's face appears to have been edited to match his features in his regular series. Compare it to the inside front cover, which does not appear modified. The bulk of the issue contains reprints from 1960s Justice League of America with some narrative framing pages. This edition also contains Toth's lengthy and informative explanation on how tv cartoons are created and executed. The text is written in his own precise handwriting with accompanying text illustrations. Other artists in this issue include Mike Sekowsky, Sid Greene and Bernard Sachs. This is number 1 of 1 Limited Collectors Edition issues with Toth art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Toth or Limited Collectors Edition issues. See also this blog's Toth checklist.
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Toth cover pencils and inks = ***
Toth inside front cover and back cover (same) = ***
Toth framing pages pencils and inks 6 pages = ***
"TV Cartoons" Toth story and bio, pencils and inks 11 pages = ***
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Danger Is Our Business #1 - Al Williamson / Frank Frazetta art

Danger Is Our Business #1, 1953 - The series appears to feature general adventure stories, as portrayed by the cover and most of the interior. For that reason, the Captain Comet science fiction story seems oddly out of place and may have been originally slated for a different title. Al Williamson, one of the masters of the sci-fi genre, provides typically sophisticated artwork for the tale. His exotic settings and heroic figure drawings are further enhanced by the inks of the equally talented Frank Frazetta. Sensitive brushwork and textures increase depth and interest, most evidently in the colorful uniforms of the various characters. Frazetta appears to be his most assertive on the depiction of ferocious hounds on page four, panel six. This is a fine example of one of their many collaborations during the 1950s. This is number 1 of 1 Danger Is Our Business issues with Williamson art and/or covers and number 1 of 1 Danger Is Our Business issues with Frazetta art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Williamson or Frazetta issues. See also this blog's Williamson checklist, Frazetta checklist or Top 10 Frazetta comics.
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"The Vicious Space Pirates" Williamson story pencils / Frazetta inks 6 pages = ***
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Donald Duck / Four Color Comics #300 - Carl Barks art

Walt Disney's Donald Duck / Four Color Comics #300, 1950 - Donald loses his girlfriend Daisy's heirloom brooch, and will use any means to get it back. The brooch finds its way into the hand of a quick change artist of a traveling circus, and the chase begins. Barks' best panel is on the opening page, depicting Donald and his nephews fishing while a circus train looms in the distance. It is an idyllic scene in contrast with the chaotic circumstances to come. See today's posts or more Barks or Donald Duck issues.
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"Big Top Bedlam" Barks story pencils and inks 28 pages = ****
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