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| Image copyright Marvel Comics |
Christmas has come early to Castel Crivens, as Bashful BARRY PEARL has selflessly sent me some Yuletide presents from the good ol' USA. Barry is one of the men behind the ROY THOMAS/JOSH BAKER book, 75 YEARS Of MARVEL, released not too long ago by TASCHEN. (Nifty NICK CAPUTO and Mighty MICHAEL J. VASSALLO being the other two contributors.)
First up, above, is SGT. FURY & His HOWLING COMMANDOS #30, from the '60s, drawn by DICK AYERS. The cover-layout is a bit 'all over the place' (figures on different levels), but the mag is a real slice of early Marvel, and one I'm looking forward to reading soon.
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Next (above) is STEVE DITKO'S 160 PAGE PACKAGE, published by ROBIN SNYDER. The contents are from 1999, and it's interesting to see how Ditko's work has evolved over the years - not really for the better, it has to be truthfully (though sadly) said. It's hard to believe that this is by the same hand as the creative and artistic genius behind SPIDER-MAN and DOCTOR STRANGE. Not that the artwork is bad as such, but it's not in the same league as Steve's earlier work.
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Now look at the above little beauty - containing the first 125 pages of art and story by JACK 'KING' KIRBY. It's interesting to see Kirby at the start of his career, and tracking how his talent developed into what later became the 'Marvel style'. Art restoration has come on in leaps and bounds since GREG THEAKSTON originated his 'bleaching' process, and no doubt better reproductions of these pages now exist, but it's still a great book to have, containing as it does an interview with Jack himself.
So thanks to Barry for helping me fill out my Christmas stocking. I, being Scottish, am by nature a complete Scrooge - but I might send him a single MALTESER - if I'm able to find a stamp small enough to put on the wrapper. On second thoughts, there's no point - someone would be bound to smell the chocolate and scoff it before it got there. I'll close with the illustration from Barry's Christmas card - the sentiments of which would make the world a better place if only we could all live by them, I'm sure you'll agree. 'Nuff said!
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While we're all here, I might as well show you the cover of the very book that Barry and his chums helped Roy & Josh produce, so here it is. Available right now in all good comicbook stores and bookshops as well, of course.
And a couple of great blogsites too in Barry's Pearls and Nick Caputo's for any new Cri-Vites out there who don't already know!
ReplyDeleteYes indeedy - the links to their sites can be found in my blog list on the home page.
ReplyDeleteKid, can you remember earlier this year you recommended to me a book abouttthe history of Marvel comics with Spidey on the cover and I said it sounded very similar to one I'd seen with Cap on the cover? Well the above book may very well have been that very book. The trouble is - NOW I can't find the " Spidey " cover book to compare! Can you remember which one it was?
ReplyDeleteI would love them for my prezzies and the Ditko & Kirby books too! You lucky blighter!!
JP, it was Marvel: 5 Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics, by Les Daniels. You can pick it up quite cheap on Amazon. However, I imagine the Taschen book will far surpass it, so I'd check that out on Amazon too.
ReplyDeleteFlippin' 'eck, Kid, have you seen the price of the Taschen book on Amazon!?!?- It'll be Led Daniels' book for me! Maybe I'll spot rascally Roy's cheap on eBay some time in the future?
ReplyDeleteAnd it's even£73 on eBay at the minute!!
ReplyDeleteThe Taschen book is bloody huge 'though, JP - not just in page count, but also in page dimensions. It'd be worth taking a look at it if you see it in a shop. Les Daniel's book is good 'though, and won't disappoint.
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