CRIVENS! COMICS & STUFF!: KLASSIC KIRBY KOMIC KOVERS

Friday, 14 August 2015

KLASSIC KIRBY KOMIC KOVERS - THE FANTASTIC FOUR #1...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

This is how it began - with the first issue of The FANTASTIC FOUR, which heralded the start of the MARVEL AGE in the comicbook world. Pencilled by JACK KIRBY and thought to be inked by GEORGE KLEIN, the layout was reminiscent of the DC comic cover that was the impetus for the FF's Creation - The BRAVE & The Bold #28, starring The JUSTICE LEAGUE Of AMERICA.

Well, you know what they say - "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." I wonder if the Cosmic Quartet realize to whom they owe their existence?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Only one of the most classic covers of all time - even though it's a bit too wordy. Brings back fond memories of reading The Complete FF No.1 which is where I first read this origin story as I'd missed the first two years of Marvel UK.; 15 August 2015 at 13:20
Kid said...: I first read it in two parts in Smash! (published at the same time in Wham!), but I don't think I saw the cover art until MWOM #1, where it appeared as a pin-up.; 15 August 2015 at 13:26

About the artist:

From 1985 to 2000 A.D. (little joke there), I contributed to a variety of high profile comics and magazines for various companies.

For IPC/FLEETWAY/EGMONT, I freelanced as a lettering and logo artist on various weekly comics and monthly magazines, and also as a resize comic artist and spot illustrator on pocket books, summer specials and annuals.

For MARVEL U.K., BLACK LIBRARY, REDAN and USBORNE BOOKS, I again freelanced as a lettering artist, also working as a restoration artist for MARVEL U.S., restoring and re-creating certain pages of JACK KIRBY art for their MARVEL MASTERWORKS editions.

I also lettered the MARVELMAN sample pages submitted to MARVEL U.S. when they were considering acquiring the character, which - as we all now know - they DID.

Supplied comic strips, cartoons and illustrated advertisements for local business campaigns and newspaper publication on a professional basis since the age of 16. Did my first paid art job for publication at 14 or 15 for Lanarkshire Education Board.

Have also made TV appearances as a collector of memorabilia.

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Just some of the titles I worked on are:

2000 A.D. * JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE * DICEMAN * SONIC The COMIC * JUDGE DREDD, LAWMAN Of The FUTURE * CRISIS * REVOLVER * EAGLE * TIGER * BATTLE ACTION-FORCE * BUSTER * WHIZZER & CHIPS * WHOOPEE * NIPPER * SCHOOL FUN * ACE VENTURA, PET DETECTIVE * The REAL GHOSTBUSTERS * DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE * COUNT DUCKULA * RUGRATS * The TRANSFORMERS * DEATH'S HEAD * THUNDERCATS * GALAXY RANGERS * DRAGON'S CLAWS * SINDY * MARVEL MASTERWORKS * The TROLLS * LOADED * INFERNO * WARHAMMER * ROSE BLACK.

Copyright Notice:

Images remain the property of their respective copyright owners and are used here only for the purpose of review, promotion, and nostalgia.

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In the case of images culled from my own collection where copyright of an item isn't mine, I impose no copying restrictions on fellow bloggers.

(Although, if you don't allow copying on your own site, then you really shouldn't be copying from others, should you?)

And while you can credit this blog if you like, it's not mandatory. Who has time to make notes of every casually visited site during an idle browse of the internet?

In the case of anyone copying images of my own artwork and calligraphy, I affirm my right to be identified as the creator, and any such copying should not be for the purpose of monetary or material gain. (Unless it's mine.)

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Please also note that this blog is not sponsored by, affiliated with, or connected to, any organisation, business, or group, and is wholly independent.