Brave and the Bold v1 #6, 1956 - No Viking Prince tale in this issue, as Joe Kubert illustrates the Robin Hood feature instead. Unlike the cover portrait, his version is closer to actor Errol Flynn. Varied layouts are interspersed with large spacious panels. However unlikely the scenario, Kubert's bird's eye view on the opening splash sets an enthusiastic tone for the subsequent pages. This story was later reprinted in >Best of Brave and the Bold #3 and >DC Special #22. Other artists in this DC golden age adventure comic include Russ Heath. This is number 6 of 33 Brave and the Bold issues with Kubert art and/or covers (not including reprints). Find >this issue or more >Kubert or >Brave and the Bold issues on ebay.
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"The Battle of the Kites" Kubert story pencils and inks 8 pages = ****

Joe Kubert

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Neal Adams

Savage Tales v1 #4 featuring Conan the Barbarian, 1974 - An outstanding painted cover by Neal Adams opens this issue, immediately followed by pencil portrait of Conan on the inside contents page. The lead feature tells of Conan's early love, a young woman forcibly kidnapped from his tribe. Gil Kane's pencils are finished off by several inkers, but Adams is the most dominant and beneficial. Their respective styles always worked together well and this effort is among their best collaborations. This story was first reprinted in color in Marvel Treasury Edition #15. This issue also includes a Barry Smith reprint from Conan #12 and two new text illustrations. Other artists in this Marvel bronze age adventure magazine include P. Craig Russell and Joe Maneely. This is number 4 of 4 Savage Tales issues with Smith art and/or covers and number 1 of 5 Savage Tales issues with Adams art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Adams, >Smith or >Savage Tales issues on ebay.
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Adams cover painting = ****
Adams contents pencils 1 page = ***
"Night of the Dark God" Adams partial story inks (Gil Kane pencils) 21 pages = ***
"The Hour of the Gnome" Smith 2 text illos pencils and inks 1 page = ***
(All interiors in black and white)

Neal Adams

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Giant-size X-men #1, 1975 - With his teammates captured on a remote island, Cyclops and Professor X gathers heroes for a new team to rescue them. The recruits include Sunfire, Banshee and Wolverine and some newly introduced characters: Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler and Thunderbird. Regular members Angel, Iceman, Beast, Marvel Girl, Havok and Polaris also make appearances. Many of Marvel's giant-size issues of the era contained mostly reprints, but this is among the few exceptions to feature new material. This Marvel superhero comic marks the key first appearance of the new (bronze age) X-men. Written by Len Wein, this story was later reprinted in >Special Edition X-Men #1. See more X-men issues. Find >this issue or more >X-men issues on ebay.
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Gil Kane cover pencils / Dan Adkins inks
"Deadly Genesis" Dave Cockrum story pencils and inks 36 pages



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Walt Simonson

Battlestar Galactica v1 #11, 1980 - Led by Starbuck, the patrol finds the missing ships dismantled and reconfigured. After two earlier issues, Walt Simonson begins a lengthier run on this series. His style seems more evident than previous issues, despite the strong inking by Klaus Janson. Most impressive is page four: a full page splash displaying an array of different spaceships (see interior page below). This is number 3 of 14 Battlestar Galactica issues with Simonson art and/or covers. This Marvel copper age science fiction comic is also included in this Simonson gallery. Find >this issue or more >Simonson or >Battlestar Galactica comics on ebay.
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Simonson cover pencils (Klaus Janson inks) = ***
"Scavenge World" Simonson story pencils (Klaus Janson inks) 17 pages = ***

Walt Simonson

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Harvey Comics
1941-86

Alarming Adventures
Alarming Tales
Black Cat
Black Cat Mystery
Blast Off
Captain 3-D

Double-Dare Adventures
Fighting American
First Love Illustrated

First Romance

Hi-School Romance
Race for the Moon

Romance Stories of True Love
Spyman
Thrill-O-Rama
True Bride-To-Be Romances
True Love Problems and Advice Illustrated
Unearthly Spectaculars
Warfront

All Harvey comics

more on Wikipedia

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9.  House of Mystery v1 #274, 1979 - A church minister is invited to a hellish theme park at the invitation of its devilish owner (think Billy Graham meets Bob Guccione). Marshall Rogers uses a montage effect on the first page, purposely disorienting the reader. His pencils and inks throughout work seamlessly together, resulting in an uncommonly sophisticated-looking story. Among the many fine drawings, my personal favorite is the minister's arrival at the park gates (see interior page below). This tale is easily Rogers' best of the series. This story was first reprinted in Shadow of the Batman #1. Other artists in this issue include Jerry Bingham and Tex Blaisdell. Cover by Joe Orlando. This is number 2 of 2 House of Mystery issues with Rogers art and/or covers. This DC bronze age horror comic is also one of my Top 10 Rogers comics. Find >this issue or more >Rogers or >House of Mystery issues on ebay
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"Hell Park" Rogers story pencils and inks 9 pages = *****

Marshall Rogers

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Coo Coo Comics v1 #50, 1950 - All too eager to please, a friendly whale gets into trouble when he accepts his seal friends' latest dare. Frank Frazetta submits only two small illustrations for this text story, but does them more than capably. His fine lines and brushwork rise above the rest of the issue. This is Frazetta's last effort on the series, ending a memorable (yet underrated) run. Other artists in this Standard golden age humor comic include Milt Stein and Jack Bradbury. This is number 17 of 17 Coo Coo Comics with Frazetta art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Frazetta or >Coo Coo Comics issues on ebay.
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"Willie the Willing Whale" Frazetta 2 text illos pencils and inks 1 page = ***

Frank Frazetta

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Steve Ditko

Amazing Spider-man v1 #30, 1965 - Victimized by a wily thief, J. Jonah Jameson offers a reward for the cat burglar's capture. He soon has second thoughts when Spider-man gets on the case. In addition to his terrific story art, Steve Ditko sheds light on Peter Parker's personal life and relationships. Unfortunately, his cover minimizes the main character and makes the scene far less impactful. This is number 30 of 38 Amazing Spider-Man issues with Ditko art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Ditko or >Amazing Spider-man issues on ebay.
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Ditko cover pencils and inks = **
"The Claws of the Cat" Ditko story pencils and inks 20 pages = ***

Steve Ditko

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Mike Ploog

Werewolf by Night v1 #1, 1972 - After his premiere and two subsequent issues in Marvel Spotlight, the character gets his own self-titled series. Continuing the previous storyline, the Werewolf is briefly turned to stone by a modern day gorgon. Mike Ploog continues the artistic chores, his fluid line evident on every page. His drawings throughout this key first issue are lively and frenetic, with a touch of the horrific. The artwork is further enhanced by Frank Chiaramonte's terrific inking job. This is number 1 of 12 Werewolf By Night issues with Ploog art and/or covers. This Marvel bronze age horror comic is also included in this Ploog gallery. Find >this issue or more >Ploog or >Werewolf By Night comics on ebay.
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Ploog cover pencils and inks = ****
"Eye of the Beholder" Ploog story pencils (Frank Chiaramonte inks) 20 pages = ***

Mike Ploog

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Witching Hour v1 #47 - Concocting a way to bilk tourists, the owners of a dilapidated English castle hire an actor friend to play the resident "ghost". Alex Nino's eclectic style uses thin lines and brittle shapes to define the characters and settings. While appropriately eerie, some of the facial close-ups suffer from too much distortion. Overall though, Nino's drawings are quite effective, especially in the few silent panels (see interior page below). Other artists in this DC bronze age horror comic include Reuben Yandoc and John Calnan. Cover by Nick Cardy. This is number 4 of 4 Witching Hour issues with Nino art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Nino or >Witching Hour issues on ebay.
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"Haunted Any Houses Lately?" Nino story pencils and inks 8 pages = ***

Alex Nino

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Batman v1 #352, 1982 - With Commissioner Gordon hospitalized, the Batman pursues the mystery of a giant zeppelin and a missing battleship. Don Newton's normally textural work is significantly watered down by inker John Calnan. Some pages and panels are unrecognizable in style. The artist's hand is most recognizable on the darkened opening splash and the dirigible's moody entrance on page 6 (see interior page below). Other artists in this DC copper age superhero comic include cover illustrator Jim Aparo. This is number 9 of 32 Batman issues with Newton art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Newton or >Batman issues on ebay.
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"The Killer Sky" Newton story pencils (John Calnan inks) 23 pages = **
 

Don Newton

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In the early 1970s, DC engaged in an early example of outsourcing when they began sending assignments to artists in the Philippines. They made decent money relative to a third world country, while DC benefited from paying lower page rates. The work included stories for bronze age war and horror titles, including House of Mystery, House of Secrets, Weird War Tales, Witching Hour and more. Interestingly, the Philippines had a comics industry already decades old. Seasoned artists like Alfredo Alcala, E.R. Cruz, Tony Dezuniga and others had eclectic styles that worked well in certain genres. Two in particular stood out for inclusion on this blog: Nestor Redondo and Alex Nino. Though vastly in different in approach, both delivered high quality artwork comparable to their US counterparts. Still relatively affordable, I encourage readers to find their comics and enjoy them for yourselves.

- T.I.

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Home / Miscellany

(Walt Disney's) Uncle Scrooge v1 #102, 1972 - Featuring work by Carl Barks, this issue contains stories from earlier in the series. "Getting the Bird", "Nest Egg Collector" and "A Spicy Tale" were first published in Uncle Scrooge #39, including the cover. Other artists in this issue include Tony Strobl.

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Frank Miller

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-man v2 #51, 1981 - One of Frank Miller's more dynamic layouts, Spider-man battles Mysterio against an illusory background of outer space. A large planet conveniently frames the masthead and arcs down toward the title character. Note how the villain's cape radiates out toward the reader, adding some limited perspective. Other artists in this issue include Marie Severin and Jim Mooney. This is number 6 of 12 Spectacular Spider-man issues with Miller art and/or covers. This Marvel copper age superhero comic is also included in this Miller gallery. Find >this issue or more >Miller or >Spectacular Spider-man issues on ebay.
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Miller cover pencils (Al Milgrom? inks) = ***

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Korak Son of Tarzan v1 #11, 1965 - Two tales by Russ Manning place Korak in exotic, undiscovered lands within Africa. In the first, he fights alongside the Stork Men of Pal-Ul-Don as they defend their territory. The artwork shows promise, but falters from lack of depth and detail in many panels. The second story features the hero's first foray into the City of Opar. Manning's art is more polished and distinctive, especially the large panel of the fabled city (page 3). The view is wide in scope with an equal distribution of light and dark to enhance depth. Interestingly, two educational pages feature Korak touting the benefits of good fitness habits. This is number 11 of 12 Korak issues with Manning art and/or covers. This issue was also included in this Manning gallery. Find >this issue or more >Manning or >Korak comics on ebay.
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"Invasion from Pul-Ul-Don" Manning story pencils and inks (Mike Royer partial inks) 15 pages = **
"The White Pygmies Strike Back" Manning story pencils and inks 9 pages = ***
"Keeping Fit with Korak" Manning inside front cover pencils and inks (black and white) = ***
"Keeping Fit with Korak" Manning inside back cover pencils and inks (black and white) = ***

Russ Manning

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