Comics
Underoos Concept Art by Alex Toth
Alex Toth was one of the true visionaries in the development of the visual language of American comic books. Eschewing the lush brushwork of contemporaries like Milton Caniff and Frank Robbins, he relentlessly simplified his linework and showed that a single line, perfectly placed was worth more than all the hatching and scalloping of lesser talents. He was also a vocal commentator and critic of trends in comics he thought strayed from a positive and progressive path of growth.
Detective Comics No. 415 Cover by Adams & Giordano
Behind this great cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano were two solid stories written by Frank Robbins. Batman was drawn by Bob Brown and inked by Giordano, while Batgirl had Don Heck doing full art.
Swamp Thing No. 25 Unpublished Cover by Ernie Chan
Those first 10 issues of Swamp Thing by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson were something special. Horror was enjoying a revival in comics thanks to a relaxation of rules enforced by the Comics Code Authority. Wrightson had emerged as one of the young stars of the moment and his work demonstrated mastery and continuous improvement.
Detective Comics No. 473 Cover by Marshall Rogers
With Neal Adams no longer drawing stories for DC, Batman in the mid 1970s settled into a quiet period with artists like Ernie Chan, John Calnan and regulars Irv Novick and Jim Aparo. So when Marshall Rogers arrived with inker Terry Austin, their stylish angular art and crisp architectural backgrounds brought something new to Detective Comics. Add to that superior scripting by Steve Englehart and their run is well remembered today.
Doorway to Nightmare No. 1 Cover by Michael Wm Kaluta
Designed by cover illustrator Michael Wm Kaluta, Madame Xanadu made her first appearance in this comic.
Phoenix No. 2 Unpublished Cover by Sal Amendola
Atlas/Seaboard was a short-lived comic company owned by Martin Goodman after he left Marvel. Producing a couple dozen titles, none lasted beyond four issues.
DC Super-Heroes UK Annual 1982 by Brian Bolland
In 1980, British comics didn't exist for me beyond the occasional Dandy or Beano annual that appeared in Coles bookstore in the small Canadian town I grew up in. I didn't like the look of those, so I never bought them.
Demon with a Glass Hand by Ellison & Rogers
The Outer Limits was an important stepping stone in popularising speculative fiction. Premiering in 1963 it lasted one-and-a-half seasons and connected the more general The Twilight Zone with 1966's straight science fiction Star Trek. Many that worked on The Outer Limits later moved on to Trek.
Witches Tales No. 10 Cover by Lee Elias
It was pretty ballsy of Lee Elias in 1952 to draw the devil figure with androgynous characteristics on this fantastic cover for Witches Tales No. 10 for Harvey Comics. Perhaps that's why it was covered up by a text block once it was published.
Black Cat Mystery No. 49 Cover by Lee Elias
When I look back at the few examples I've seen of what was considered extreme in comics by men like Dr. Fredric Wertham and Senator Estes Kefauver, I'm most often saddened by the energy and vitality I saw in that work versus what came later after the Comics Code Authority was established.
Star Hunters No. 8 Unpublished Cover by Buckler & Giordano
Star Hunters had been cancelled as part of the DC Implosion with issue No. 7. But even if it had continued it would have been without creator/writer David Michelinie.
Mythelinies – The Connected DC Universe of David Michelinie
Back in the mid 1970s, David Michelinie had the idea to connect the books he created with the same background concept of gods of law and chaos – or light and darkness – who could not fight directly for dominance in our worlds, and so each side chose their champions to act as avatars.
The House of Mystery No. 182 Cover by Neal Adams
If there were hundreds of covers like these by Adams I'd want to colour them all. Unfortunately, there are only a couple dozen or so he did for DC's horror comics, and only a few of those have decent scans available on the web. So I take my time with these and only do one once in a while.
Christmas with the Super-Heroes No. 2 Cover by DeStefano & Mahlstedt
I highly recommend this cover if you wish to discover how tedious it is to colour little elves and their multi-coloured costumes. Though with the lantern light to play off of the scene it did turn out to be magical.
Marvel Treasury Edition No. 8 Giant Super-Hero Holiday Grab-Bag Cover by John Romita
I'm not sure I'm down with a rage monster dressed up as Santa and looking as pleased as punch with a kid on his lap, but it was a different time, I guess.
Spider-Man 2099 No. 50 Unpublished Cover by Joe Kubert
Joe Kubert didn't do an awful lot of work for Marvel Comics, and it was always a pleasant surprise when he did.
Strange Adventures No. 149 Cover by Murphy Anderson
While this one is from 1963, it has all the markings of a 1950s sci-fi B picture. The stoic and resolute man faces his doom while his girl seeks shelter and comfort in his arms, unable to summon the strength to look at what he sees. Others scurry about, knowing the end is nigh. The threat: astronomical in origin and size.
The Amazing Spider-Man by Mike Bunt
This one was so deathly simple that it took longer to extend the art to fit the cover format than it did to apply the colour.
The Lizard by John Byrne
A simple – yet complex – one this time out. Images from the life of Dr. Curt Connors, the Lizard – a tragic and unhinged foe for the Amazing Spider-Man – surround the central figure.
Chamber of Darkness No. 7 Cover by Bernie Wrightson
Wrightson emerged as the 1960s ended with a lush and expressive illustration style strongly influenced by EC Comics of the 1950s.
Conan the Barbarian No. 30 Cover by Kane & Chan
The Marvel years of Conan the Barbarian started with the evolution of artist Barry Windsor-Smith as he cast off his influences and found his first maturity as an illustrator. He would leave comics behind for a number of years, and this allowed the more classically-oriented penciller John Buscema to step in and set the look and feel of Conan for many years.
The Invaders by John Byrne
First appearing in mid 1975 as a Giant-Size issue, The Invaders was the idea of Roy Thomas with his deep love of Golden Age characters. Thomas initially teamed up with penciller Frank Robbins. The Invaders lasted 41 issues and one annual during its first volume.
The Four Blue Beetles
The Blue Beetle is one of the earliest costumed adventurers appearing in American comics. He debuted in 1939 in Mystery Men Comics No. 1, published by Fox Publications. Over the years he would evolve and become completely different characters as he was passed from publisher to publisher.
Reading Digital Comics with YACReader
Over the past 20 years digital comics reading has grown through services like Comixology, DC Universe Infinite and Marvel Unlimited. And it's gained significant acceptance through iPads and other tablets.
At the grass-roots level, collectors have shared scans* of comic books for just as long. The benefit of many users sharing their public domain or scarce vintage books is that we can all fill in a collection that would take many lifetimes to find, let alone afford.
If you're just an occasional digital reader, looking at a folder of scans in any image viewer is likely to provide you a perfectly adequate reading experience. Similarly, some digital publishers save their books as PDFs, and PDF viewers abound on each platform.
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Korg 70,000 BC Covers by Pat Boyette
I was really jazzed when I came across the scans for the complete series of Korg 70,000 BC covers done by Pat Boyette. In comparison to how they were printed back in the 70s, the scans of Boyette's paintings were bright, crisp and colourful.
The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman by Charlton Comics
First published in 1972, Cyborg by Martin Caidin chronicled the story of astronaut and test pilot Steve Austin who crashes during a flight and suffers catastrophic injuries. Drawing upon the emerging science of bionics, Caidin has Austin rebuilt with mechanical parts that give him superior physical abilities. He's soon tasked as an operative working for a shadowy agency in the US government.
Time Warp No. 1 Cover by Michael Wm Kaluta
It was this comic from the summer of 1979 with my 14th birthday approaching that sent me over the edge. As my paperboy income increased, my comic book buying increased. DC was on the move again having recovered from the Implosion of two years earlier and their penchant for exploration and trying things out was at the forefront once again.
The Legion of Super-Heroes No. 282 Cover by Jim Aparo
Jim Aparo wasn't known for his work on the Legion, but he turns in a serviceable job here on a Time Trapper tale.
Batman No. 296 Cover by Amendola & Milgrom
Sal Amendola has had a long career as a comic book artist and teacher. Though his work at DC was mostly accomplished during a brief period in the early 1970s, what he did do is well remembered. "Night of the Stalker" – eventually published in Detective Comics No. 439 – was a story he and brother Vin plotted from an idea by Neal Adams, and Sal pencilled. It had its words added by Steve Englehart and inks by Dick Giordano.
The New Teen Titans No. 1 Alternate Cover by George Pérez
In 1980 I was in my first years of regularly collecting and then as now DC's books drew me more than Marvel's (plus I was picking up books available on the emerging direct market). I saw the New Teen Titans first appearance in DC Comics Presents No. 26 not because of them, but because I normally bought DCCP, and cool, Jim Starlin did layouts for the Superman and Green Lantern team-up. GL was, along with Batman, my favourite DC character.
Terry and the Pirates Cover by Jim Keefe
While the comic strip Terry and the Pirates by Milton Caniff is fading from the memory of the general population, it remains an epitome of the American adventure comic strip and a showcase for Caniff's skills as a storyteller.
The Phantom No. 29 Cover by Jim Keefe
Created by Lee Falk in 1936, The Phantom comic strip has endured to this day, outliving other adventure strips long gone. It has also travelled well around the world, supporting comic book sales in the Nordic countries and Australia.
Ghostly Tales No. 76 Cover by Jim Aparo
By the time of this cover, dated November 1969, artist Jim Aparo was transitioning away from Charlton and over to DC Comics where he would put his mark first on Aquaman with writer Steve Skeates, and then on Batman in The Brave & the Bold with writer Bob Haney.
Fightin' Army No. 140 Cover by Tom Sutton
Tom Sutton was a madman with brush, pen and ink during his time at Charlton Comics. Take this cover from 1979 as an example. Is there anything more that could be added?
Tales of the Unexpected No. 10 Cover by Mort Meskin
A prolific and skilled artist working in comics Golden and Silver ages, Mort Meskin eventually left comics for agency work in illustration and storyboarding.
Batman by Rob de la Torre
Rob de la Torre is a Spanish artist who has done work for Marvel Comics. When he works on Conan, it's as if he's channeling the soul of the late, great John Buscema with lush linework and deep, mysterious blacks.
Superman The Secret Years No. 4 Cover by Frank Miller
Miller was at DC. While Ronin had found an audience, it hadn't been a resounding success. But now he was working on The Dark Knight Returns, and that would change everything.
I was Face-to-Face with the Forbidden Robot by Lee, Lieber and Heck
Atlas Comics of the late 1950s are known for a couple of things. One, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko drew an awful lot of monster stories that were fun to read. Two, Atlas was the precursor to Marvel Comics and Fantastic Four No. 1.
DC Comics Presents Pin-Up by George Pérez
DC Comics Presents was modelled after The Brave & the Bold, which is largely remembered for being the Batman team-up book. As the Superman team-up book, DCCP had some great stories in it. It also had some clunkers and from my point of view it was the ever-changing creative teams that worked on DCCP that gave it its up and down feel, while B&B had the creative team of writer Bob Haney and artist Jim Aparo to keep the book's feel consistent.
Wonder Woman No. 258 Cover by Delbo & Giordano
José Delbo was the penciller on Wonder Woman from 1976–1981, encompassing the time when the Lynda Carter TV series was on American television. This cover by him and inker Dick Giordano came right in the middle of his time on the book.
Jungle Jim - January 7, 1934 by Moore & Raymond
We all know who Flash Gordon is, or at least a good chunk of the general population does. Created at the same time, Jungle Jim by writer Don Moore and artist Alex Raymond ran as a page topper – a strip that ran above another on the same page – for Flash Gordon. Both strips premiered on January 7, 1934.
The Werewolf by Heath & Adams
Dynamite was this great magazine for the kids from Scholastic begun in the 1970s. Created by Jenette Kahn – later president and publisher of DC Comics – it featured articles about TV, movies and other media that kids liked long before the internet took that role over.
Star Trek for The Monster Times No. 2 Cover by Gray Morrow
Gray Morrow was one of those classy-as-fuck illustrators moving seamlessly from commercial illustration to comics and graphic novels. I first saw his work in Heavy Metal in the late 70s/early 80s doing Orion and an excerpt from The Illustrated Roger Zelazny before I saw him in regular comics. Later I enjoyed his long run on the Tarzan Sunday comic strip.
Detective Comics No. 443 Alternate Cover by Walt Simonson
I was just a few years too young to get comics regularly when Manhunter was the back-up feature in Detective Comics Nos. 437–443. Written by Archie Goodwin and drawn by Walt Simonson, it combined pulp high-adventure themes with espionage and thriller elements. With Goodwin's tight, evocative prose and Simonson's groundbreaking storytelling techniques, Manhunter always punched way above its weight as an eight-page back-up in the Batman comic that consistently sold the least copies.
Justice League of America No. 193 Cover by George Pérez
A fellow on facebook reminded me that another great George Pérez cover had been given the inset treatment. Justice League of America No. 193 carried a preview for All-Star Squadron. Written by Roy Thomas and initially drawn by Rich Buckler & Jerry Ordway, it was the then-current revival of DC's Golden Age characters. The book lasted 67 issues and three annuals.
The New Teen Titans No. 16 Cover by Pérez & Tanghal
Not a lot new to say this time out, except it's another of The New Teen Titans covers that was put into an inset so that another new book preview could be marketed. In this case it was the wonderful Captain Carrot & His Amazing Zoo Crew, and I'm sure the preview gave a boost to a book that might have disappeared after only a few issues. As it was, it lasted 20 issues and has had some revivals over the years.
Wonder Woman by José Luis García-López
Few artists can convey the romance, drama and power of a character like Wonder Woman better than García-López. While much of his work for DC Comics licensing is crisp, clear and by necessity stylised and simplified, pieces like this one show his full skill with lush ink work.
Tarzan Sunday Comic Strips by Archie Goodwin & Gil Kane
Comics
Tarzan has been a mainstay of the Sunday comics page since the 1930s and the work of Hal Foster. Notable artists over the following decades include Burne Hogarth and Russ Manning. I came along in the late 70s, enjoying the work of Gil Kane, and later Mike Grell and Gray Morrow, artists I was familiar with from comic books.
Archie Goodwin and Kane were on the Sunday strip for 83 weeks. During this time Kane did this illustration which was used as the cover of The Comics Journal No. 64.
Following that are the first three strips from the 1979/80 story "Refuge from the Rich and Famous", which was reprinted in black & white by Blackthorne Publishing in their Comic-Strip Preserves: Tarzan, Book 4. Fresh colour by me.
Superman No. 338 Cover by Andru & Giordano
As a part of the mythos of Superman's world, the city of Kandor had been stolen from Krypton by the android Brainiac and in the process it was shrunken and put into a glass bottle as part of his collection preserving civilizations that would be otherwise lost. Years later, Superman encounters Brainiac and steals back Kandor, vowing to one day return the city to its normal size. Until then, it sat on a shelf in his Fortress of Solitude like a futuristic ant farm.
Superman No. 186 Cover by Swan & Klein
As adult readers of comics, the lure of nostalgia can be powerful. We remember a time when responsibilities were simpler and lighter, and our understanding of the world was no where near complete.