Twilight Zone #51 - Al Williamson art

Twilight Zone #51, 1973 - Although dead and buried, a vindictive Hollywood gossip columnist haunts a former actor. Exquisitely rendered, the story showcases Al Williamson's skills at their finest. His use of heavy, darkened areas work beautifully in the mausoleum settings on pages 3-6 and his textural effects throughout bring added sophistication. Each panel is painstakingly designed and even his portraits of narrator Rod Serling are convincing. Overall this is among his best bronze age works. Other artists in this issue include Frank Bolle and Jack Sparling. This is number 2 of 2 Twilight Zone issues with Williamson art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Williamson or Twilight Zone issues. See also this blog's Williamson checklist.
- - - - - - - - - -
"Telephone from the Tomb" Williamson story pencils and inks 6 pages = ****
- - - - - - - - - -
Find on ebay: >this issue, >more Williamson issues, >more Twilight Zone issues

Beware the Creeper #3 - Steve Ditko art & cover

Beware the Creeper #3, 1968 - A lost civilization on a remote island provides Steve Ditko with a fantasy setting and medieval-like characters. Elaborate costumes and weapons abound in this story, true to his eclectic style. Most scenes are underground, where the artist puts detail and texture into the cavernous surroundings. Most impressive is Ditko's breathtaking cover, a highly kinetic drawing within a precisely designed layout. Note how the reader's eye is lead from foreground to background and back again. This is number 3 of 6 Beware the Creeper issues with Ditko art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Ditko or Beware the Creeper issues. See also this blog's Ditko checklist.
- - - - - - - - - -
Ditko cover pencils and inks = *****
Untitled Ditko story pencils and inks 23 pages = ****
- - - - - - - - - -
Find on ebay: >this issue, >more Ditko issues, >more Beware the Creeper issues

Cinderella Love v3 #29 - Matt Baker cover

Cinderella Love v3 #29, 1955 - Set at a private tennis club, this young couple appears to be flirting innocently between matches. Matt Baker uses their leisurely stances, fashionable attire and fancy convertible to convey a stereotypically rich WASP-y scenario. Although perfectly captured and beautifully rendered, the fact that Baker was African-American makes it all the more ironic. This is number 7 of 7 Cinderella Love issues with Baker art and/or covers. See today's posts, more Baker or Cinderella Love issues. See also this blog's Matt Baker checklist.
- - - - - - - - - -
Baker cover pencils and inks = ****
- - - - - - - - - -
Find on ebay: >this issue, >more Baker issues, >more Cinderella Love issues

Captain Marvel v2 #28 - Jim Starlin art & cover

Captain Marvel v2 #28, 1973 -The Avengers enter the fray, joining Captain Marvel in stopping the world conquering Thanos. Jim Starlin's opening splash of the heroes is more artistic and forceful than previous issues (despite John Romita's modifications on Captain America). Page layouts vary wildly but effectively, especially the dream-like distortions (page 14) and the Cosmic Cube's introduction (page 21). Perhaps Starlin's most impressive feat is page 18 (see interior page above), a mosaic of small panels that communicate events in almost complete silence. This is number 4 of 12 Captain Marvel issues with Starlin art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Starlin or Captain Marvel issues. See also this blog's Starlin checklist or Top 10 Starlin comics.
- - - - - - - - - -
Starlin cover pencils and inks = ***
"When Titans Collide” Starlin story pencils (Dan Green inks) 19 pages = ***
- - - - - - - - - -
Find on ebay: >this issue, >more Starlin issues, >more Captain Marvel issues

Green Lantern v2 #84 - Neal Adams / Bernie Wrightson art, Neal Adams cover

Green Lantern / Green Arrow v2 #84, 1970 - A small town becomes a willing mob, thanks to a small plastic device circulated by a super-villain. Two of the bronze age's best artists team-up on their only full length story. Neal Adams' pencils are generally dominant and exceptionally drawn. Stylistically, Bernie Wrightson has a far different approach but his inks in this case are surprisingly complementary. The first half of the book is stronger aesthetically, particularly the opening splash and Green Lantern's close-up on page 6 (see interior page above). This is number 10 of 15 Green Lantern issues with Adams art and/or covers and number 2 of 2 Green Lantern issues with Wrightson art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Adams, Wrightson or Green Lantern issues. See also this blog's Adams checklist, Top 10 Adams comics, Wrightson checklist or Top 10 Wrightson comics.
- - - - - - - - - -
Adams cover pencils and inks = ***
"Peril In Plastic" Adams story pencils / Wrightson inks 22 pages = ****
- - - - - - - - - -
Find on ebay: >this issue, >more Adams issues, >more Wrightson issues, >more Green Lantern issues

Thrilling Adventure Stories - magazine series checklist

- - - - - - - - - -

Thrilling Adventure Stories v1
Atlas/Seaboard
1975-75

1 - Russ Heath art
2 - Neal Adams cover, Alex Toth, Walt Simonson, Russ Heath art

- - - - - - - - - -

See today's posts, more series checklists or the master list of series. See also this blog's artist checklists, top 10 lists or readers polls.

Sea Hunt #11 - Russ Manning art

Sea Hunt #11, 1961 - The lead story opens with an airplane's spacious view of the Grand Canyon, but the lack of detail reduces visual interest and depth. Russ Manning makes up for it on subsequent pages, drawing the main character's underwater explorations of the Colorado River (see interior page above). The second tale, about an embezzler and some missing ledgers, is equally well drawn. Manning renders the characters with uncommon crispness and clarity. This is number 7 of 8 Sea Hunt issues with Manning art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Manning or Sea Hunt issues.  See also this blog's Russ Manning checklist.
- - - - - - - - - -
"Canyon Danger" Manning story pencils and inks 14 pages = ***
"Davey Jones's Ledger" Manning story pencils and inks 13 pages = ***"
Legends of the Sea" Manning story pencils and inks 1 page = ***
"Deep in the Deep Sea" Manning inside back cover pencils and inks (black and white) = ***
- - - - - - - - - -
Find on ebay: >this issue, >more Manning issues, >more Sea Hunt issues
Find on amazon: >this tv show

Conan the Barbarian #10 - Barry Windsor Smith art & cover

Conan the Barbarian #10, 1971 - The first of two longer page-count issues, Conan enters a bejeweled city and joins up with a fellow thief from his past. Barry Smith's drawings crowd most of the small panels, but not without interest or excitement. Decorative flourishes abound, especially in scenes of sorcery and fantastic creatures. Smith's pensive opening splash depicts Conan and his female companion at the city gates, firmly establishing the setting and tone of the story. The issue also contains a King Kull back-up story, one of his earliest appearances in comics. This is number 10 of 22 Conan the Barbarian issues with Smith art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Conan the Barbarian or Smith issues. See also this blog's Smith checklist.
- - - - - - - - - -
Smith cover pencils and inks = ***
"Beware the Wrath of Anu" Smith story pencils 24 pages = ***
- - - - - - - - - -
Find on ebay: >this issue, >more Smith issues, >more Conan the Barbarian issues

The Thing #14 - Steve Ditko art & cover

The Thing #14, 1954 - Bat-like humanoids run amok on this arresting Steve Ditko cover. His creature designs are among the strangest, yet most interesting, of the golden age. Three of his four interior tales display the same artistic fervor. "Rumpelstiltskin" (shown below) is the most distinctive, providing a twisted variation of the children's fairy tale. This horror classic was later reprinted in Tales Too Terrible to Tell #8. This is number 3 of 5 The Thing issues with Ditko art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Ditko or Thing issues. See also this blog's Ditko checklist.
- - - - - - - - - -
Ditko cover pencils and inks = ***
"Rumpelstiltskin" Ditko story pencils and inks 8 pages = ***
"The Evil Eye" Ditko story pencils and inks 7 pages = **
"Doom In The Air" Ditko story pencils and inks 8 pages = ***
"Inheritance" Ditko story pencils and inks 5 pages = ***
- - - - - - - - - -
Find on ebay: >this issue, >more Ditko issues, >more The Thing issues