ASTONISHING TALES COVER & SPLASH PAGE GALLERY...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

ASTONISHING TALES was a great little comic, lasting for 36 issues from 1970 to '76.  JACK KIRBY had some of his last work for MARVEL published in the first couple of issues (before departing for DC - though he would later return), and WALLY WOOD's last regular strip for 'The House Of Ideas' featured in numbers 1-4.  Let's face it, with artists like Kirby and Wood, as well as BARRY SMITH and GEORGE TUSKA, the mag got off to a flying start.  Here are the covers and splash pages from the first five issues for your consideration and enjoyment.

Incidentally, when Wally Wood heard that Jack had defected to DC, he contacted them to offer his services as inker of Jack's new mags - only to be told that VINCE COLLETTA had already been given the gig.  Now, I actually like Colletta's inks over Kirby's pencils, but can you imagine how great the FOURTH WORLD mags would've looked had they been inked by Woody?

Thoughts, theories, and observations can be recorded in our captivating comments section, o cavorting Criv-ites.  So what are you all waiting for, frantic ones?  Get typing!

  

DUDLEY D. WATKINS' LAST BIFFO...

Image copyright D.C. THOMSON & Co., Ltd

When DUDLEY D. WATKINS, D.C. THOMSON's top artist, died on August 20th 1969 of a heart attack at his drawing board, he left a pencilled page of BIFFO The BEAR on which he'd been working.  DAVE SUTHERLAND inked it and it was published in The BEANO a couple of months later in #1423.  Dave then took over the feature, being extremely adept at imitating the styles of other artists, like LEO BAXENDALE, PADDY BRENNAN, and, not long after, DAVEY LAW.

Had it not been for this remarkable artist continuing various features in the styles of others, it's doubtful whether they would have maintained their popularity for as long as they did.  DCT owe him a debt of gratitude for his many years of service.