Pencil Ink

Frank Miller

300 v1 #3, 1998 - Born misshapen, Ephialtes yearns to join King Leonidas and his spartans for the final battle. Frank Miller displays the character's grotesqueness on the cover, but his interiors are superior in artistry. Although painted in full color, many scenes use silhouettes to quicken the pace and add weight to the layouts. The spread of the massive Persian army is equaled only by the armored Spartans on the final pages. This is number 3 of 5 300 issues with Miller art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Miller or >300 issues on ebay.
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Miller cover pencils and inks = ***
"Glory" Miller story pencils and inks 26 pages = ****

Frank Miller

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Wally Wood

T.h.u.n.d.e.r. Agents v1 #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 Tower silver age superhero comic 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). This issue is also included in this Wood gallery. Find >this issue or more >Wood or >Thunder Agents issues on ebay.
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Wood cover pencils and inks = ***
"The Death of Dynamo" Wood story pencils and inks (Dan Adkins? inks) 10 pages = ***

Wally Wood

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Bernie Wrightson

Batman: The Cult v1 #4, 1988 - Concluding the mini-series, Batman and Robin re-enter a Gotham City overrun by Deacon Blackfire's zealots. Despite some overuse of panel repetition, Bernie Wrightson's illustrations are somber, heavy and deadly serious. Two splash pages stand out: the first captures Bruce Wayne's nightmare of parental corpses and the second displays the Batman at his most determined. Wrightson's cover, like its predecessors, is up close and personal. This copper age superhero comic was published by DC. This is number 4 of 4 Batman: The Cult issues with Wrightson art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Wrightson or >Batman issues on ebay.
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Wrightson painted cover = ***
"Combat" Wrightson story pencils and inks 46 pages = ***
Wrightson final page pencils and inks = **

Bernie Wrightson

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Queen of the West Dale Evans #7

Queen of the West Dale Evans v1 #7, 1956 - Bringing a mysterious package up to a mountain lodge, Dale Evans is ambushed by two armed men. The local marshal happens upon them, thwarting the robbery. Russ Manning includes a fair amount of detail in his drawings. His lush, verdant settings form a rustic backdrop for these western characters. When compared to the other Dale Evans tale in the same issue, Manning's work stands out for its great care and sensitivity. Other artists in this Dell golden age western comic include Hi Mankin. This is number 5 of 15 Queen of the West Dale Evans issues with Manning art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Manning or >Queen of the West Dale Evans issues on ebay.
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"The Dangerous Trail" Manning story pencils and inks 16 pages = ***

Russ Manning

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Al Williamson

Kid Colt Outlaw v1 #54, 1955 - Though outnumbered, Kid Colt seems to have convinced his attackers to surrender. Al Williamson's cover excels due to his superlative drawing and smooth execution. Details taper off in the distance, allowing the foreground figures to take center stage. Artist Joe Maneely appears to have added the two gunman on the left, only slightly diminishing the overall effect. Other artists in this Atlas golden age western comic include Jack Keller and Doug Wildey. This is number 1 of 8 Kid Colt Outlaw issues with Williamson art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Williamson or >Kid Colt Outlaw issues on ebay.
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Williamson cover pencils and inks = ***

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Marines In Battle #8

Marines In Battle v1 #8, 1955 - In one of his few war tales for Atlas, Joe Kubert chronicles a raid on a Pacific island during WWII. His layouts are adequate, but his pencils are mostly obliterated by the inker. Seymour Moskowitz's inking is mediocre, with little regard for the original pencils. Kubert's talent would be showcased elsewhere, most prominently on DC's war titles of the same era. Other artists in this Atlas golden age war comic include Bob Forgione, Jack Abel, Bob Brown and Joe Sinnott. Cover by Joe Maneely. This is number 2 of 2 Marines In Battle issues with Kubert art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Kubert or >Marines In Battle issues on ebay.
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"Marine Raid on Munda" Kubert story pencils (Seymour Moskowitz inks) 6 pages = *

Joe Kubert

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Heroic Comics #35

Heroic Comics v1 #35, 1946 - Early in his career, Alex Toth contributed to this series comprised of true life stories. Each tale ranged from one to several pages, usually no longer than five. The two Toth stories that reside here are fairly primitive. The artist has yet to master the visual storytelling skills of his later works and the page layouts are frankly quite poor. The first story's opening panel suffers from minimal effort, and the second gives the impression of repetitive panels. Other artists in this issue include H.C. Kiefer. This is number 3 of 13 Heroic Comics issues with Toth art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Toth or >Heroic Comics issues on ebay.
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"The Switchboard Heroine" Toth story pencils and inks 5 pages = *
"The Heroic Traffic Cop " Toth story pencils and inks 4 pages = *

Alex Toth

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Uncle Scrooge #126

(Walt Disney's) Uncle Scrooge v1 #126, 1976 - Featuring work by Carl Barks, this issue contains material from earlier in the series. "The Cattle King" was first published in Uncle Scrooge #69. Other artists in this Gold Key bronze age humor comic include Tony Strobl.

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Jack Kirby

Police Trap v1 #4, 1955 - In pursuit of an arsonist, police follow him into the bowels of an oil refinery. Jack Kirby does an especially good job with the composition, using various forms to enhance scale and perspective. Oddly enough, an inset from another story appears in the lower right, somewhat diminishing the cover's impact. Other artists in this Charlton golden age crime comic include Ross Andru. This is number 4 of 6 Police Trap issues with Kirby art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Kirby or >Police Trap issues on ebay.
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Kirby cover pencils (Joe Simon? inks) = ***

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ACG (American Comics Group)
1939-67

Adventures Into The Unknown
Confessions of the Lovelorn
Forbidden Worlds
My Romantic Adventures
Out of the Night
Spy-Hunters
Unknown Worlds

more on Wikipedia

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Adventure Comics #247

Adventure Comics v1 #247, 1958 - Super-powered teens from the future invite Superboy to join their exclusive club. As part of his admission, he must complete a series of super-tasks while competing with each member. The Legion of Super-heroes make their key first appearance in this DC golden age superhero comic. Certain panels suggest more members, but only Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy and Lightning Boy (later known as Lightning Lad) are featured. This story was later reprinted in Adventure Comics #491 and >DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #1. This golden age superhero comic was published by DC. See more Adventure Comics or Legion of Super-heroes issues. Find >this issue or more >Adv enture Comics or >Legion of Super-heroes issues on ebay.
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"The Legion of Super-heroes" 12 pages

1st Legion of Super-heroes appearance

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Captain Marvel v2 #36

Captain Marvel v2 #36, 1975 - The origin and first appearance of Captain Marvel is reprinted for the first time since its initial publication in >Marvel Super-heroes v2 #12. Jim Starlin draws a sharp new introduction and perhaps lays out (?) the final two pages for Alan Weiss to finish. While not as substantial as his previous Captain Marvel issues, the work has its merits. Cover by Al Milgrom. This is number 11 of 12 Captain Marvel v2 issues with Starlin art and/or covers. This Marvel bronze age superhero comic is also included in this Starlin gallery. Find >this issue or more >Starlin or >Captain Marvel comics on ebay.
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Starlin framing pages pencils (Alan Weiss inks) 2 pages = ***

Jim Starlin

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"Junior Bubble Vending Machine Bank"

Junior Bubble Gum Vending Machine Bank, 1950s - "Have Fun - Make Money Too". Sell bubble gum balls for one penny to friends and relatives. The bank costs $2.98 and comes with 100 gum balls. Refills of 200 gum balls cost $1. You'd have to spend $7 and sell 700 gum balls to make your first profit. I think. Published in True Crime Comics #1.

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Neal Adams

2. Batman v1 #251, 1973 - Considered a masterpiece by many, "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge" has been reprinted numerous times over the decades. When the Joker escapes from a mental hospital, the Batman must stop his killing spree. Neal Adams' classic cover of a monolithic Joker leads into a remarkable opening splash. The villain's maniacal face appears through the torrent of a rain-splattered windshield. Subsequently, as the Batman locates the Joker's old henchmen, the artist takes great care in portraying each character and setting. The inevitable showdown takes place in an abandoned aquarium, where Adams brilliantly uses a great white shark as metaphor (see interior page below). On page 21, a full page portrait of Batman in pursuit has become one of his most iconic renditions. Not only is this Adams' best Batman story, but arguably the finest Joker tale to date. This story was later reprinted in Best of DC #2. This DC bronze age superhero issue is also one of my Top 10 Adams comics. This is number 27 of 28 Batman issues with Adams art and/or covers. Find >this issue or more >Adams or >Ba tman issues on ebay.
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Adams cover pencils and inks = ***
"The Joker's Five-Way Revenge" Adams story pencils and inks 23 pages = *****

Neal Adams

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