Saturday, June 16, 2012

Same Story, Different Cover: Another tragic ink-related death


Left: Daredevil #164 (May 1980), pencils by Frank Miller, inks by Wally Wood
Right: Daredevil: Marked for Death (March 1990), pencils by John Romita Jr., inks by Al Williamson

(Click picture to battling-size)

3 comments:

Erik Johnson Illustrator said...

#164 Hands Down the superior cover. A high angle shot is a classic method of depicting vulnerability. The "Le Pieta" pose is familiar, but appropriate as is the black background, so as to focus our attention on what is truly important.

Marked for Death is at worm's eye view, but the text book at the bottom blocks the essential horizon line. Not to mention that DD and Black Widow are the same height, theres nothing dynamic about it. Daredevil looks more like he's about to sneeze more than he does look in anguish. Seeing the white glove and sword in the land side makes me wish I was looking at that cover story instead!

Jon Jermey said...

It was as a direct result of this comic that the FDA moved leaky fountain pens with cyanide ink to the #1 spot on its list of Our Nation's Silent Killers.

Bully said...

Another fine analysis, Eric! Thanks!

And JonJ, I'm still waiting to see The Punisher use a leaky fountain pen!