Panel from Marvel Holiday Special 1994 one-shot (1994), script by Kurt Busiek, pencils by James Fry, inks by Neil Vokes, colors by Steve Mattson, letters by Richard Starkings
Hi, Bully. The Beast has been my favorite Marvel hero pretty much since I first saw him, somewhere around 1965. Over the years he's had some competition from Captain America, Luke Cage and even Howard the Duck (!), but Hank has always been at the top of my list. In some other place and time, assuming you care at all, I'd be happy to tell you how this particular story came to be. In the meantime, suffice it to say that I was SO happy to be doing this story with my friend Kurt that I wanted to make it the Greatest Thing I Ever Drew. And because I put so much pressure on myself---- it wasn't. It SOOOO wasn't. So I've always been delighted as hell to have drawn not just a story featuring my favorite Marvel hero, but THIS story. I just really hate the way it came out. I bring it up because a friend sent me a link to your blog for another reason altogether, but when I saw the button for 365 Days with Hank McCoy, I HAD to click it. And I was delighted to see that you'd posted some of the art from that story. I don't like the art any more now than I did then, but just seeing that you had it here for its seasonal appropriateness---and that you're also a fan of the character---made me smile. It's been a Very Rough holiday season for my family, and smiles have been in very short supply. But I want to thank you for giving me one. Thank you, and the very best of the season to you and yours.
James, I'm so glad you're a Beast fan like me, and that you've enjoyed the feature. And I've very much enjoyed your work, so don't be hard on yourself, especially here: it was a very fun story, and i enjoyed it a lot.
I only just recently put the subject buttons on the sidebar, so I'm extra pleased you came over at the right time to spot 'em!
And I hope 2017 is better for you and your family, and for all of us. Be good and be good to each other...and have fun!
Hi, Bully. The Beast has been my favorite Marvel hero pretty much since I first saw him, somewhere around 1965. Over the years he's had some competition from Captain America, Luke Cage and even Howard the Duck (!), but Hank has always been at the top of my list. In some other place and time, assuming you care at all, I'd be happy to tell you how this particular story came to be. In the meantime, suffice it to say that I was SO happy to be doing this story with my friend Kurt that I wanted to make it the Greatest Thing I Ever Drew. And because I put so much pressure on myself---- it wasn't. It SOOOO wasn't. So I've always been delighted as hell to have drawn not just a story featuring my favorite Marvel hero, but THIS story. I just really hate the way it came out.
ReplyDeleteI bring it up because a friend sent me a link to your blog for another reason altogether, but when I saw the button for 365 Days with Hank McCoy, I HAD to click it. And I was delighted to see that you'd posted some of the art from that story. I don't like the art any more now than I did then, but just seeing that you had it here for its seasonal appropriateness---and that you're also a fan of the character---made me smile. It's been a Very Rough holiday season for my family, and smiles have been in very short supply. But I want to thank you for giving me one. Thank you, and the very best of the season to you and yours.
James, I'm so glad you're a Beast fan like me, and that you've enjoyed the feature. And I've very much enjoyed your work, so don't be hard on yourself, especially here: it was a very fun story, and i enjoyed it a lot.
ReplyDeleteI only just recently put the subject buttons on the sidebar, so I'm extra pleased you came over at the right time to spot 'em!
And I hope 2017 is better for you and your family, and for all of us. Be good and be good to each other...and have fun!
Thanks James!