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| Images copyright MARVEL COMICS |
I have to confess that I was never much of a fan of GEORGE ROUSSOS's inking on JACK KIRBY's pencils for FANTASTIC FOUR #s 21-28 - with the exception of issues #25 & 26, that is. For some reason, George (working under the surname of BELL) managed to lift his game for the two-part adventure, wherein The HULK and The THING have one of the best 'knock 'em down, drag 'em out' battles ever seen in the pages of a comicbook (or two).
However, that's another post for another time, perhaps. For the moment, we're more interested in the 10 cataclysmic covers that graced these classic issues - so here they are, presented just for you! Peel back your palpitating peepers and simply enjoy, frantic ones! Got a favourite? Then let's hear all about it in the comments section.
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Wow. I've always considered myself to be a bit of an authority on Marvel comics, but most of this stuff I've just got in reprints, so I've never seen these covers before. What a treat. Thanks, Kid. M.P.
ReplyDeleteGlad to be of service, M.P.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen all those covers before either, although I do recall most of the stories themselves from the first year of MWOM - Issue 26 is my favourite as it's a strange one (the building site one). For an artist that probably has a low profile amongst comic fans George Roussos was actually an amazingly prolific artist in his day and seems to have been involved in so many major covers and stories such as the FF books, Superman and the cover of Avengers number 1 - I recall him mostly from those Mighty Comics strips of the 60s (mostly reprinted via Alan Class' titles in the UK) like the Mighty Crusaders (which I think he drew all the early strips) and Steel Sterling etc. - McScotty
ReplyDeleteI remember reading that FF #26 tale in the pages of Smash! way back around '67 - in class in primary school. (Must've been when the teacher was out of the room, obviously.) George was a great colourist, and his inking style wasn't too bad on Ditko, but for some reason it didn't always suit Kirby.
ReplyDelete#25 & 26 were the very first CB's I ever bought ( off a school-mate ) after getting hooked on The Hulk in Smash! I couldn't understand why they were calling him BOB Banner. I think when these 2 were reprinted in an FF annual it was back to Bruce again. Then on the tv he was David ( Robert Bruce ). Things were to get even more confusing with the "HULK" film with David being Bruce's dad and then I heard there was going to be another TIH film with an Eric!! As for today with all the different Hulks I havn"t got a clue!!
ReplyDeleteSame here, JP. Why do they always complicate things
ReplyDeleteThe Hatemonger was the first bad guy that I could actually imagine being real.
ReplyDeleteI just realised as I type this,that a nightmare I had when I was about twelve years of age that has stayed with me all these years, was a character not unlike him.
I never linked the two together before.
Wow! Kirby nightmare.
Kid, as to John Pitt referring to another TIH movie with an Eric, he is certainly a little confused - The character Bruce Banner in the 2003 movie was actually played by an actor with the name of Eric Bana!
ReplyDeleteIt was actually Stan Lee, who no doubt due to his heavy schedule of scripting a number of comic books each month in the early 1960's, forget his character's name and called him Bob Banner in a couple of issues. (This was not the only time he made such an error, he once changed Peter Parker to Peter Palmer!) It's been suggested that when the mistake was pointed out to Stan, he rectified it in an issue of the FF, revealing that Banner's full name was Robert Bruce Banner!!!
The producers of the 1970's Hulk TV show did not want to have the lead character called a corny comic-book sounding name as Bruce Banner, double B!! Or worse; Bob Bruce Banner, Triple B!!! (they probably took this decision haunted by the memories of the campy comicy 1960's TV Batman). On TV he was David Bruce Banner, but he was actually played by the actor named... Bill Bixby (the irony!) So it could have been Bill Bixby starring as Bob Bruce Banner!!!
I hope that uncomplicates things a little.
(marko)
Thanks for the info, Marko, which I knew, but it explains things for others. I'd guess that JP knew most of it, but sometimes, in the agony of haste, we don't say precisely what we intend to say.
ReplyDeleteI remember Avengers Annual #4 (1970-71), which reprinted Avengers #5 (1964). That story referred to the Hulk's alter ego as "Bob Banner." And I've heard before that Stan used the "full name Robert Bruce Banner" dodge to explain away the inconsistency. Also that the TV show changed Bruce to David because they thought an alliterative name was too cartoonish. Another thing: the name "Bruce" had an unmanly connotation in the US at the time. It was often used as a sort of metaphor for "gay." For example, comedian Ronnie Schell played a recurring character in skits on a variety show. He was an interior decorator and a stereotypical mincing, prancing, limp-wristed sissy. The character's name was "Bruce Baroque." -TC
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