Page Turners: John Buscema

John Buscema’s work seems to have been part of my comic buying life for more years than I care to remember having first encountered his art in the pages of the “Amazing Spider-Man” issue 80 in 1970 and then a few months later in “Silver Surfer” issue 12. In subsequent years I probably took Buscema’s art for granted as he constantly produced fantastic art and stories month after month without missing a beat. Last month after I managed to obtain a long wanted reading copy of “Silver Surfer” issue 4, (Surfer and Thor ) I was reminded just how truly amazing Big Johns art was.

John Buscema’s 17 issue run (out of 18 issues) on the original Silver Surfer series is among the most memorable of the genre. Issue 4 (February 1969) features some of Buscema’s best ever art , and a stunning cover.

Buscema completed two remarkable runs on the Avengers comic, the first in the ’60s/’70s, and later, in the ’80s. It will probably come as no surprise to read that for me his first run on the title was the pinnacle of the entire series and remains to this day, the template for any team comic book. - Above: Avengers # 62 (March 1969).

Avengers #97 (March 1972) - Illustration at the header to this blog is from this issue as well. This issue is probably my all-time favourite comic by John Buscema, it contains some amazing art which is all the more impressive when you realise that he was asked to completed this issue when Neal Adams (who was drawing the book from issue 93) was struggling to make a deadline.

In 1970, Buscema took up Kirby’s mantle on the Fantastic Four. Many fans consider Big John’s work on the FF to be some of his least impressive, but for me Buscema’s dynamic style, perfectly complemented by Sinnott’s inks took the FF to another level. Kirby may well have been the "King" with regard to the FF, but John Buscema wasn’t far behind as can be seen by the splash pages below - above from "Fantastic Four" #120 (January 1973).

Fantastic Four #122 (May 1972)

Fantstic Four # 174 (September 1976).

Buscema’s exceptional take on Thor and the gods and demi-gods of Asgard remains some of my favourite comic books of all time. Kirby was a hard act to follow but I think in this case Big John may just have outperformed the “King”. Above illo from Thor #187 (April 1971)

Theres not a lot that can be said about John Buscema's exceptional run on Conan, its simply the stuff of comic book legend. Above splash is from "Conan the Barbarian" #25 (April 1972).

Conan the Barbarian # 30 (Sept 1971)

As good as Buscema's work was on the colour Conan monthly, once he teamed up with Alfredo Alcala on the black and white "Savage Sword of Conan" magazine, their work reached another level. Above splash page from "Savage Sword of Conan" #16

"Savage Sword of Conan" #23

Milestones: The Avengers (UK) issue 1 - 50 years ago this month, no way!!

It's hard enough for me to reconcile the fact that many of my favourite comics were first published 10, 20 or even 30 years ago, so you can imagine just how jarring it is when you realise that some of those comics first appeared on sale 50 years ago, as is the case with the UK’s “Avengers” weekly comic which hit the newsagents shelves week ending 22 September 1973. This was the third weekly title to be published by what would become Marvel UK and was the first to feature a US style glossy cover along with a drop in the page count from 40 to 32 black and white pages. The comic itself was relatively successful and featured many characters that shared the Avengers title, most notably “Shang Chi, Master of Kung Fu” from issue 28 (March 1974). With issue 95 the Avengers merged with the short lived “Savage Sword of Conan“ weekly comic and with issue 148 (July 1976) the Avengers title itself ceased publication when it merged with the "Mighty World of Marvel" (issue 199).

Just a few weeks prior to being launched into their own title the Avengers had appeared in issues 46,47 and 48 of the “Mighty World of Marvel” (covers shown at bottom of page) which covered the teams origin story. This meant that the first issue of the new British weekly comic started with the Lee/Kirby classic tale “Captain America joins the Avengers” from the fourth issue of the US Avengers comic which may have been confusing to new readers who might not have heard of the Avengers or read their origin tale in the MWOM prior to purchasing the new weekly title.

The Avengers were joined by the excellent Lee/Ditko Dr Strange strip starting with his origin tale from "Strange Tales" # 115.

As was the norm with most British comics the first few issues were accompanied by a free gift. The first issue of the Avengers came with a set of 4 small, but beautifully illustrated stickers featuring various Marvel characters. These stickers (2 shown above) were painted by Lopez Espi and were eventually released as series of 6 poster.

Avengers Weekly issue 2.

With issue 2 readers were promised “The greatest gift ever offered” what we were presented with was a rather different affair, a flat cardboard gun! (picture from E-bay)

Above.The first (Marvel UK) appearance of the Avengers from the "Mighty World of Marvel" issues 46, 47 and 48.

Above: The Avengers and Dr Strange appeared in UK comics long before the fist issue of the "Avengers" weekly in September 1973. In particular, both charaters appeared in the Odhams title "Terrific" from 1967.

Classic comic book pages: The Final Chapter! - Steve Ditko

The opening pages of Amazing Spider-Man #33 are among the very best in comic book history. Steve Ditko’s image of Spider-Man trapped beneath a heavy piece of machinery in Doctor Octopus’s underwater lab, as the lab slowly fills with water and Spider-Man struggles to break free, are the stuff of comic book legend. The pages below are testament to Ditko’s skill as a vital visual storyteller as each panel moves the eye across the page and raises the tension as to whether or not Spidey will survive - of course he does but even now some 50 years after I first read this story as a 13-year-old , I still remember the excitement that these pages generated.

“The Final Chapter!” is Steve Ditko’s crowning glory on Spider-Man in a series where he regularly pushed the boundaries of what comic book art and storytelling could be, five issues later and Ditko would leave the character to be replaced by the equally talented John Romita Sr. who would take Peter Parker and Spider-Man to even greater hights of popularity.

"The Final Chapter!" story has been reprinted many times in various collections and reprint comics including "Marvel Tales" issue 26 from May 1970 (where the above pages are taken from) and later in issue 172 of the same title in 1985. The cover of Amazing Spider-man issue 33 (at the heading) is taken from Marvel Wiki.

I first read this story in "Spider-Man Comics Weekly" issue 27 (August 1973) and have held on to my original copy since that day. Not even the over use of "grey tone" in the art diminishes Ditko's amazing art on this story.

Above the opening pages of "The Final Chapter!" as they appeared in "Spider-Man Comics Weekly " issue 27.

Great comic book runs: The Spectre (Adventure comics) Aparo & Fleisher

One of my all-time favourite comic book series of the 1970’s was the Michael Fleisher and Jim Aparo revival of the Spectre character that appeared in Adventure Comics issue 431 – 440 (1974/5). This 10 issue series took its lead from the original golden age version of the character (created by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Bailley in “More Fun Comics” issue 52 in 1940) who wasn’t averse to dispensing justice through acts of violence. However, the Fleisher/Aparo Spectre took his version of justice one step further through some excessive acts of brutality including turning a villain into glass before shattering him, turning another to wax and then melting him and in one particularly gruesome episode turning a bad guy into wood before feeding him through a band saw. In these circumstances it was perhaps understandable why this Spectre series was cut short as it was violent for a 1970's comic, but then again that was part of it's appeal at the time. Of course Jim Aparo’s excellent moody art and stunning covers didn’t hurt the comics lasting popularity.

Adventure Comics ~#431 – This issue also featured the classic back-up tale “Is a Snearl human?” by Sheldon Mayer and Alex Toth.

Adventure Comics ~#432 – This issue also featured a Captain Fear tale by Alex Nino and Steve Skates.

Adventure Comics ~#433 – This issue featured another Captain Fear tale by Alex Nino and Steve Skates.

Adventure Comics ~#434 – Not all issues were fully illustrated by Jim Aparo, this issue was pencilled by Frank Thorne with Aparo inking. This issue was the first in the series to feature a full length Spectre tale.

Adventure Comics ~#435 – This issue featured an Aquaman back-up tale by Steve Skates and Mike Grell. Additionally this was the notorious issue where the villain was turned to wood and then cut up in a saw. Brutal for an all colour comic at the time (perhaps even by today’s standards).

Adventure Comics ~#436 – This issue continues the Aquaman back-up tales by Steve Skates and Mike Grell

Adventure Comics ~#437 – This issue features Ernie Chan (Chua) on pencils with Jim Aparo inking. This issue also continues the Aquaman back-up tales by Steve Skates and Mike Grell

Adventure Comics ~#438 – This issue features Ernie Chua (officially using his real name) on pencils with Jim Aparo inking. This issue features part one of a pretty strange Seven Soldiers of Victory back–up tale by Joe Samachson and Dick Dillin and Howard Chaykin.

Adventure Comics ~#439 – This issue features part two of the Seven Soldiers of Victory back–up tale by Joe Samachson and Lee Elias.

Adventure Comics ~#440 – The final issue of Adventure Comics featuring the Spectre. This issue features part two of the Seven Soldiers of Victory back–up tale by Joe Samachson and Mike Grell.

The Michael Fleisher and Jim Aparo Spectre series has been reprinted several times over the years including a 4 issues series in 1988 (cover to issue 3 above) and the “Wrath of the Spectre” collection (cover at header) which are both worth seeking out. This series may not have any deep meaning as it was largely based on the premise of a criminal doing something evil and the Spectre showing up and killing him. But it was a well written and illustrated book that was a cross between the best of 1970’s superheroes and the EC horror comics of the 1950’s, what’s not to like?

Favourite Comics: Detective Comics # 450 - Walt Simonson & Elliot S Maggin

I had all but forgotten about the above issue of Detective Comics # 450 (cover by Dick Giordano) until very recently when I came across a sale copy in Glasgow last week. As soon as I opened the book and saw that powerful splash page (below) by Walt Simonson, I was instantly transported back to late November 1975 when I picked up my original copy in John Menzies (newsagents) on a shopping trip to Glasgow with my brother.

Elliot S. Maggin offers up an enjoyable story with a powerful twist conclusion. However, the real star of this issue comes from the early art of Walt Simonson who had only recently ended his classic Manhunter storyline with a Batman /Manhunter finale in issue 443. With this issue Simonson’s art had progressed even further and his storytelling and his interpretation of Batman are both striking. Batman crouching with a menacing look on his face and his cape blowing in the wind! Just the way Batman should always look.

One possible criticism of Simonson’s (wonderful) art could be levelled at his interpretation of Bruce Wayne, who doesn’t really look like himself here.

In the story itself Batman searches for the person who assassinated Senator Locksley. He suspects Harcourt a criminal mastermind, who he thinks knows the assassin is Jeremy Wormwood, but not the person who hired the assassin.

Wormwood is invited to Bruce Wayne ‘s office where he finds Harcourt who hires him to steal Batman’s cape and cowl. Wormwood asks why Harcourt wants the cape and cowl and Harcourt offers him a deal, he will tell him his reasons if Wormwood tells him who hired him to kill the Senator. Wormwood reveals that is was Mike Carley (the Senators party boss), then asks Harcourt what he's going to do with the cape and cowl. Harcourt replies "I'm going to wear them."

Wormwood turns to find Batman attacking. After a short struggle, Batman defeats Wormwood and ushers in the awaiting police. Batman had been impersonating Harcourt all along

The final panel with Batman's cowl and cape hanging over a chair was a fantastic visual ending by Walt Simonson from a time comics could be dark and fun.