MOEBIUS PASSES AWAY...

JEAN HENRI GASTON GIRAUD.  (May 8th, 1938 - March 10th, 2012)

JEAN GIRAUD, also known as MOEBIUS, has sadly passed away. I have to confess that I wasn't a fan of his SILVER SURFER graphic novel, PARABLE, with STAN LEE (nor did I share his rather strange views on lettering), but when it came to doing the stuff he was good at (which was a lot), he was very good indeed.  Comics are the poorer for his passing.

I'll leave it to others better acquainted with the man's life and career to pen a more detailed tribute than I'm capable of.  I just didn't want his passing to go by without commenting upon it myself.  No doubt some of the many fine blogs in the list on the right of the page will have their own thoughts to express about the legendary artist, so keep your eyes peeled.  I'm sure they'll do him proud.

A FISHY TALE Of FOUR (NOW FIVE) SUBS...

FANTASTIC FOUR #11.  Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Sufferin' Shad!  Take a long lingering look at the above pin-up from the 1962 issue of The FANTASTIC FOUR #11 - it's none other than the awesome avenging son of fabled ATLANTIS himself, PRINCE NAMOR The First, the sensational SUB-MARINER - mighty monarch of the seven seas!

TERRIFIC #1

This pulsating pin-up next appeared (in Britain) on the back cover (above) of TERRIFIC #1 in 1967, before turning up yet again in 1973 as a back page pin-up (below) in the collectors' item classic that every true believer should have, The MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL #15.

The MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL #15

It turned up again in The COMPLETE FANTASTIC FOUR #24 (below) in 1977, but this time was printed in black and white (with a little touch of Letra-tone), and lacked some of the 'punch' of the three earlier full-colour versions.  Still nice though.

The COMPLETE FANTASTIC FOUR #24

The next one (below) was produced by semi-regular reader and commenter Baab, who digitally coloured a picture of the original art after the MWOM version.  Didn't he do a good job?  He first showed it on his own blog, but I'm sure he won't mind me 'borrowing' it for mine. 

Bah Boy Blog.  (See comments)

I suppose the first two versions have more of an 'oceanic feel' to them due to the blue and green colour scheme, although the MWOM page had more of an impact on me at the time and is consequently the one I prefer.  Luckily, I'm not restricted to just one and can enjoy all of them depending on my mood.  Okay, you've had more than enough time to compare all four five of them - which one is your favourite?

Imperius Rex!