As can happen, one artist draws a cover, and the editor chooses to have it redrawn by another artist. Case in point the cover for Batman 210, March 1969. The layout had been done by Carmine Infantino and passed on to Irv Novick who was enjoying his early years of drawing super-heroes for DC, which included Batman and The Flash.
For reasons unknown to us, DC decided to have to cover redrawn by Neal Adams, an artist who was beginning to reimagine super-heroes in American comics. This was only the third time he’d done a Batman cover.
Both of them are presented here for comparison. Fashion watchers do the “Who wore it better?” thing, so this is “Who drew it better?” Comments – as ever – are welcome.
As published.
IRV NOVICK
Scan from Heritage Auctions. That’s a rubber cement stain covering most of the art.
Art restored and trade dress re-created. The word balloon lettering and the headline were hand-drawn elements by Gaspar Saladino.
Colour version 1.
Colour version 2.
NEAL ADAMS
Scan from Heritage Auctions.
Art cleaned up and trade dress re-created. The word balloon lettering and the headline were hand-drawn elements by Gaspar Saladino.
Colour version 1.
Colour version 2.
WHO DREW IT BETTER?
Scans from Heritage Auctions.
Colour.
Related
Batman No. 255 Cover by Neal Adams
At the end of his industry-changing run at DC Comics, Neal Adams turned in this solid cover. However, with Batman then running 100-page issues, the…
Batman No. 234 Cover by Neal Adams
Two-Face is one of those characters that is fantastic when he's written well. In August 1971, Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams (with Dick Giordano on…
A Batman Cover That Was Never a Batman Cover by Jim Aparo
In 1976, Jim Aparo was known for being the regular artist on The Brave & the Bold. So, finding this scan of a cover he did that year for The Comic…
DC Special Series No. 1 Cover by Neal Adams
DC Special Series was a catch-all for the one-off specials DC released over the following years, beginning with Five-Star Super-Hero Spectacular in…
When you say “DC”, it was really Infantino’s decision. He pushed Adams to the forefront, over Schwartz’s objections, on Batman. His Bat figure is obviously superior, without Novick’s inverted “V” of a mouth.
I prefer Mr. Adams’ cover. He appears to strain more in the ropes and his expression back at Catwoman is better.
I can’t get past Batman’s huge noggin and misshapen hand Adams drew. Novick’s female characters are also superior and more lively and dimensional.
Adams was obviously still figuring things out.
I like Adams’ work better for its dynamism, but Irv Novick’s anatomy is better here. Compare Batman’s left leg on both, the placement of the foot on Adams’ drawing is wrong.
DEFINITELY agree with those who dig the Adams cover the most. “Tom Tom” brought up what he calls the “misshapen hand” on the Adams cover, but to me — and others, apparently — it translates as straining at the bonds. Either way, if one looks at the same hand drawn by Novick (in his early years), it seems outsized, beyond the usual (because hands are often drawn, or sculpted, larger than normal due to perspective, etc). Also: the women draw by Adams are far superior (sorry, Tom Tom), as is Batman. More depth, more “3D”-like texture.