KLASSIC KIRBY KOMIC KOVERS: JOURNEY Into MYSTERY ANNUAL #1...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

Now this is better.  A hint of KIRBY's abstract musculature remains, but thanks to the inks of VINCE COLLETTA (I think), the main drawing of THOR and HERCULES is far more visually convincing than the cover of THOR KING-SIZE ANNUAL #5, shown in a recent post.  Now, here's a puzzle for you: Which of the four small cover panels is the odd one out - and why?

BEAR Of The DAY - YOGI...

YOGI BEAR's being a bit naughty here, 'cos

there's surely an age restriction on this swing-park

slide.  He's bolder than the average bear though,

as well as smarter, so he does what he pleases.

(Sigh!  My hero!)

NON-KLASSIC KIRBY KOMIC KOVERS: The MIGHTY THOR KING-SIZE ANNUAL #5...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

It pains me to say it, but this JACK KIRBY cover is awful.  It gives the impression that Jack wasn't really trying to produce great work (or was perhaps no longer capable of it), he was merely meeting his page quota by churning them out as quickly as he could with as little effort as possible.  His art had become a poor parody of itself by this time, and he didn't even seem to care just how obvious it was.  Oh, how the mighty had fallen.