I LOVE that Silver Surfer cover. See, covers can be good with or without speech balloons, but they do need to be more than pinups. I don't think I could tell any recent issue of Ms. Marvel from any other without a program.
Have you ever done Ten Of A Kind with photo or photo collage covers?
I agree with Phillip-- these are covers are beautiful while still being narratively useful. My personal favorites are the Cap, the Spider-Man (that's a good issue, too) and the X-Men--I'm pretty sure that's the amazing Neal Adams, isn't It?
Agreed, it's a great post. Most of these date from late '68-early '69 and are (a) lovely and (b) early an experiment from Stan Lee, whose fondness for incredibly wordy covers goes back to the mid-40s, so this was quite a break in policy. He clearly judged the experiment a failure as Marvel soon reverted to the excessive text I found crass even when I was eight.
Cinephile - the earlier X-Men cover is probably Werner Roth, and the later one is Steranko. The Great Comics Database will know for sure.
Some background on SS#4 from a John Buscema interview I read:
"TJKC: I understand there was a problem with Silver Surfer #4.
BUSCEMA: Yes. We worked on the plot, Stan and I. I was very, very excited about doing the book. I thought, "This is one job I'm going to get away from the Kirby layouts. I'm going to try something different," which I did. I think it had a different look about it from the previous stuff I'd been doing. People were congratulating me on this particular issue. Stan tore the book to pieces! He started with the first page: "Well, okay, not bad." On and on and on. Every second page he ripped to shreds. "This is not good, this should be done this way..." I walked out of that damn office of his; I didn't know which way was up or down. I was completely demoralized. I walked into John Romita's office; John looked at me and saw that I was very upset. I said, "John, how the hell do you do comics?"
Maybe seven or eight years had gone by; I get a call from Stan one morning. We usually exchanged pleasantries - Stan said something; I think he called me an SOB or something (laughter) - and I said, "What's up, Stan? What'd I do wrong?" He said, "John, do you remember that book we worked on, the Silver Surfer and Thor book?" I remembered it very well. "John, that was the greatest thing you've ever done, the greatest comic ever done, the greatest thing you and I ever turned out!" Well, I thought he was pulling my leg, and I didn't say a word."
Mark- Yep. After I posted, I went back to Bully's post to soak in the images some more, and saw Steranko's name on the X-cover. I guess I'm so interested in Adams' X-work that I immediately associate him with that period, but you can't go wrong with either artist.
I LOVE that Silver Surfer cover. See, covers can be good with or without speech balloons, but they do need to be more than pinups. I don't think I could tell any recent issue of Ms. Marvel from any other without a program.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever done Ten Of A Kind with photo or photo collage covers?
I agree with Phillip-- these are covers are beautiful while still being narratively useful. My personal favorites are the Cap, the Spider-Man (that's a good issue, too) and the X-Men--I'm pretty sure that's the amazing Neal Adams, isn't It?
ReplyDeleteGreat choices, Bully!
Great post! I think you have 8 of my favorite covers in your list. Man, do they bring back memories.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Jeff Wetherington
The Comic Guide at Athena Guides
http://comics.athenaguides.com/
Thanks, guys!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever done Ten Of A Kind with photo or photo collage covers?
Here's one I did earlier this year, Phill. I certainly didn't hit al the photo covers, though.
Excellent theme this week, Bully!
ReplyDeleteAgreed, it's a great post. Most of these date from late '68-early '69 and are (a) lovely and (b) early an experiment from Stan Lee, whose fondness for incredibly wordy covers goes back to the mid-40s, so this was quite a break in policy. He clearly judged the experiment a failure as Marvel soon reverted to the excessive text I found crass even when I was eight.
ReplyDeleteCinephile - the earlier X-Men cover is probably Werner Roth, and the later one is Steranko. The Great Comics Database will know for sure.
GREAT picks!
ReplyDeleteSome background on SS#4 from a John Buscema interview I read:
"TJKC: I understand there was a problem with Silver Surfer #4.
BUSCEMA: Yes. We worked on the plot, Stan and I. I was very, very excited about doing the book. I thought, "This is one job I'm going to get away from the Kirby layouts. I'm going to try something different," which I did. I think it had a different look about it from the previous stuff I'd been doing. People were congratulating me on this particular issue. Stan tore the book to pieces! He started with the first page: "Well, okay, not bad." On and on and on. Every second page he ripped to shreds. "This is not good, this should be done this way..." I walked out of that damn office of his; I didn't know which way was up or down. I was completely demoralized. I walked into John Romita's office; John looked at me and saw that I was very upset. I said, "John, how the hell do you do comics?"
Maybe seven or eight years had gone by; I get a call from Stan one morning. We usually exchanged pleasantries - Stan said something; I think he called me an SOB or something (laughter) - and I said, "What's up, Stan? What'd I do wrong?" He said, "John, do you remember that book we worked on, the Silver Surfer and Thor book?" I remembered it very well. "John, that was the greatest thing you've ever done, the greatest comic ever done, the greatest thing you and I ever turned out!" Well, I thought he was pulling my leg, and I didn't say a word."
http://twomorrows.com/kirby/articles/18buscema.html
Mark-
ReplyDeleteYep. After I posted, I went back to Bully's post to soak in the images some more, and saw Steranko's name on the X-cover. I guess I'm so interested in Adams' X-work that I immediately associate him with that period, but you can't go wrong with either artist.
Loving that Surfer cover. I'm gonna have to order that SS omnibus soon and read all those old stories.
ReplyDeleteLots of great covers, but the Romita one reminds me what a truly great run of covers he produced on Spider-Man. Hit after hit.
ReplyDelete