1980’s | Magazines and Monsters!

Marvel’s Unsung Heroes! – Keith Pollard!

Posted on July 5, 2014 by billyd75

Why the name Keith Pollard isn’t mentioned among Marvel’s elite, is beyond my comprehension. Sure, you have the likes of Jack Kirby, John Romita, and so on, but for me, Pollard belongs right in the next tier alongside Perez, Byrne, Simonson, and the rest. His work is really great, and he actually drew most of my favorite Thor story as well. I think that’s actually the first time I saw his work, and I was blown away.

Whether it was in the pages of Thor, The Fantastic Four, or any other, you’ll soon realize that he’s one of the most underrated artists of all time! I’ll actually throw in a few covers he did as well, just to show the great range he had too. With incredible inkers like Joe Sinnott, and Chic Stone, Keith’s work really stands out. His list of credits may not be as lengthy as some others, but you cannot deny his talents. So, here’s to you, Keith Pollard, thanks for your contributions to the comic book industry!

ROM SpaceKnight! The Bill Mantlo/Steve Ditko Run!

Posted on June 30, 2014 by billyd75

Unbeknownst to me until recently, the incomparable Steve Ditko had a nice run on ROM! His rendering of the shiny superhero from Galador is quite awesome, and with other artists the caliber of Bob Layton, Jackson Guice, P. Craig Russell, and Tom Palmer inking his pencils, you were privileged to see a great comic book! In the mid-1980’s, Marvel was in high gear, but also competing with DC, who was churning out epic stories like Crisis on Infinite Earths, and Legends. Marvel had Secret Wars, but also had some little gems like I’m about to show you now! So, without further delay, let’s get right to the visual show!

Superstar Artists- John Byrne! Pt. 3

Posted on May 28, 2014 by billyd75

In this, the last installment of my John Byrne tribute, we’ll see some of his spectacular work on Captain America (with collaborator Roger Stern), his brilliant X-Men (with partner Chris Claremont) work, and a couple of nuggets from the mid-1970’s, in Marvel Team-Up! Whether it was Josef Rubinstein or Terry Austin on inks, you cannot deny the power of Byrne’s pencils. He really knew how to grab the readers eyes, and have them glued to the panels! So, get ready and strap on your seat-belt, because we’re getting cosmic and crazy with this post! Enjoy!

Superstar Artists- John Byrne! Pt. 2

Posted on May 25, 2014 by billyd75

After seeing some of John Byrne’s awesome work on the Fantastic Four in my earlier post, I thought it was time for some of his other work, you know, stuff off of the beaten path. His early Avengers work, the West Coast run, Silver Surfer, and a Hulk story from Marvel Fanfare that will knock your socks off will be featured in today’s post. So, get ready to be dazzled! Enjoy!

Superstar Artists- John Byrne! Pt. 1

Posted on May 22, 2014 by billyd75

Another week, and another post that spotlights a giant in the comic book world! John Byrne has accomplished many things as an artist and a writer, but most hold him high for two specific runs in his lifetime (3 for me). First, is probably his X-Men work alongside longtime stalwart, Chris Claremont. That era of X-Men really put them on the map, and resurrected that team from the dead (HUGE thanks to Len Wein, Dave Cockrum (who’ll get his own spotlight soon!), and editor Marv Wolfman, as well). I’m going to start out with some of his work on Fantastic Four, and then move on to other titles. From action to the mundane, he could do it all. So, without further delay, get ready for some classic Byrne! Enjoy!

Superstar Artists- George Perez! Pt. 1

Posted on May 13, 2014 by billyd75

After finally getting to meet George Perez this past year at NYCC (2013), I became an even bigger fan of his if that was even possible (click here to read my con coverage about Mr. Perez). This gentleman is an incredible hard working, dedicated fellow, that is super nice as well. He spent hours that day at the table signing, taking pictures, and doing commissions. The man didn’t leave the table for hours on end to keep his fans happy.

I first discovered his awesome pencils in the pages of The Avengers, and sought out more from that point. He really did it all over the years, both for Marvel and DC. Who can forget his work on Crisis on Infinite Earths! No matter what your tastes, George Perez has done something you will love! Take a peek at some of his cover work! Enjoy!

The Defenders (1972) -The Hannigan/Trimpe/Perlin Run!

Posted on May 3, 2014 by billyd75

After a short respite, my comic blog has returned! Work was a killer this week, and prevented me from getting anything out, but now I’m bringing some of my favorite stories from off the beaten path to your eyes! April saw a month-long look at some of Marvel’s unsung heroes, and this month will technically be no different in some aspects. My first post of May, will be of a run in one of my favorite series of all times, The Defenders!

Truthfully, I gravitate to writers that can write stories that not only keep my attention with action, intrigue, and adventure, but also heavy emotional moments that weigh heavy on the heart, and have consequences. There’s one more element I love too, and that’s the ability for a writer to script an off the wall story, but one that includes all of those earlier ingredients I mentioned as well.

Marvel has been lucky enough in its hay-day to have a few of those guys (Steve Gerber, J.M. DeMatteis, Bill Mantlo, etc.), and all will get their due eventually. This time however, I’ll be focusing in on a run in the Defenders by Ed Hannigan, Herb Trimpe, and Don Perlin! These three creators gave us some crazy stories that still resonate till this day. Kudos must also be given to inkers Pablo Marcos, and Joe Sinnott as well (Al Milgrom and Bob McLeod on the cover inks). There presence is definitely felt in the consistency of the artwork!

Ed Hannigan had penciled some issues of The Defenders previously, but this time around, he would be the writer. The run began with the great Herb Trimpe on pencils, and he was then followed by Don Perlin (Perlin would stay on the book as artist when J.M. DeMatteis took over writing duties). This team gave us some wild stories involving villains such as Ruby Thursday, Lunatik, FoolKiller, and Mandrill! One of the best issues though, has to be #89, as it illustrates how fragile even a superhero is, when death hits someone close to them (Patsy Walker’s mother dies).

The Mandrill story line (#79-80, 85 & 86, 89-91) is definitely up there with the best Defenders stories I’ve ever read, and this run as a whole really does stack up against any others. Trimpe’s art was fantastic, as you’ll see in the following scans, but Perlin did an outstanding job too. Some of the great covers you’ll see are by the incomparable Rich Buckler (#84 & 90), and his contributions should not be understated! This is some of the best writing about the Valkyrie you will ever find. Guest appearances by Black Panther, Daimon Hellstrom, Daredevil, and more! If you don’t want to search out the back issues, go grab the Marvel Essentials (volume #4, for this material). They are a great way to find gems at a low cost if you don’t mind black and white!

Marvel’s Unsung Heroes! -George Tuska!

Posted on April 28, 2014 by billyd75

The name George Tuska (RIP) doesn’t stand out for a lot of people, but this guy had quite a career beginning way back in the Golden Age. Titles such as “Crime Does Not Pay” and “Captain Marvel Adventures“, were home to hard-working guys like George. He really is the textbook definition of a journeyman. He has a ton of credits, but personally, I don’t own many of his books. That being said, he’s made an impression on me, and I think he deserves to get some love! So, here’s to you, George, thanks for all the work you put in over the years in the world of comic books!

Marvel’s Unsung Heroes! -Marie Severin!

Posted on April 25, 2014 by billyd75

It’s nice to see that in this day and age, women are making great strides in the comic book industry (Kelly Sue DeConnick, Emma Rios, Laura Allred, Fiona Staples, Rachel Dodson, Marjorie Liu, Jill Thompson, Jo Chen, Sara Pichelli, Siya Oum, etc.), and it’s about time. These ladies add a unique perspective to the industry that is a breath of fresh air. Back in the day though, comics were even more dominated by men, so the women of that earlier era need to be given praise for their groundbreaking work. One of those ladies was Marie Severin. Her vast body of work (Dr. Strange, Submariner, Hulk) that includes a ton of pencils, inks, and colors, cannot be overlooked, and in today’s post, you’ll get to see some of her work that I own and cherish. So, here’s to you Marie, thanks for all of your hard work not only creating art, but also paving the way for the ladies of tomorrow!

Marvel’s Unsung Heroes! -Ross Andru!

Posted on April 22, 2014 by billyd75

Even though I don’t own a ton of this man’s work, his pencils have always left me looking for more! The late, great, Ross Andru, left an impression on the world of comics, whether you know his pencils from Spider-Man, or his work on DC’s war titles (GI Combat, Our Army at War, etc.), you have to admire his work ethic, and overall positive attitude he brought with him to the drawing table. Often teamed up with long time friend, Mike Esposito, Andru did some really good things for the industry, and deserves to be shown some love right now! So, here’s to you Ross Andru, thanks for the great memories!