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| Images copyright MARVEL COMICS |
Look at this simply cracking cover by JIM STARLIN (inked by JOE SINNOTT maybe?) from MARVEL SUPER-HEROES #47, November 1974 (on sale in August). This was a reprint of TALES To ASTONISH #92, but didn't feature the original cover, instead sporting the nice new one you see above. Three years later, GARY BRODSKY 'swiped' the design for the U.K. 1978 HULK Annual (on sale in August or September of 1977), but added a few extra embellishments of his own (this time definitely inked by Joltin' Joe). And it's just been brought to my attention that the artwork was also utilised for The MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL #105, cover-dated October 5th 1974. (See Comments Section.)
Which one do you prefer?
And, below, is the very chappie mentioned in the previous paragraph. What's amazing is that it's actually the 2nd birthday issue, but it isn't referred to anywhere on the cover or inside. The comic had just recently celebrated its 100th issue, so perhaps it was considered too soon to be indulging in yet another hullabaloo. To be frank, I consider the MSH presentation to be better than the MWOM one.
On the one hand, the annual is a nostalgic reminder of the brash, colourful in-house covers of late-70s Marvel weeklies.
ReplyDeleteOn the other, however, it's a distinctly poor relation, compared to the drama and sheer style of the original.
Starlin every time - McScotty
ReplyDeleteI always loved Starlin's artwork on the early covers of The Mighty World of Marvel. (Unsigned, I believe.) Then I recognised his style on some Captain Marvel comics, and bought them because of it. (Which is ironic I suppose, because MWOM got the main part of its logo from CM's mag.)
ReplyDeleteYes- unsigned. I am lucky enough to have the MWOM 3 original. A lovely cover with Spider-Man prominent and the Hulk & FF in separate panels.
DeleteWasn't that Starlin one used for a MWOM cover?
ReplyDeleteB Smith
Well spotted - Mighty World of Marvel 105, week ending 5th October 1974. At least that one doesn't have the trousers changing colour!
DeleteGiven that both titles were reprints I am left wondering which one this was drawn for.
You're perhaps thinking of issues #2, 7, or 16, which each had a similar Hulk figure, but were not exactly the same. Starlin had a sort of 'stock pose' for all the heroes he drew in his early days.
ReplyDeleteNow that's interesting. I would definitely have had MWOM #105, but I don't remember that particular piece of artwork on that issue, strange to say. Yes, makes you wonder what comic it was first drawn for. Well spotted indeed.
ReplyDeleteUpdate: The MWOM version has been added to at the sides, so it seems likely (although not necessarily conclusive) that the cover illo was originally produced for the U.S. mag.
ReplyDelete