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| Images copyright MARVEL COMICS |
Still along for the ride, amigos? Then let's not waste a second, as we peruse and compare the covers of FANTASTIC FOUR #91 and The TITANS #34. It's clear that one inspired the other, but rather than being a slavish copy, the latter pays tribute to the former while still having something new about it. Not much point in asking you which version you prefer I suppose, as I guess your answer will be pretty obvious. However, if you'd like to surprise me, feel entirely free. The above issue of FF was the second in a four-part tale, considered by many as one of the best sagas of the MARVEL AGE of comics - and I'm one of them.
The original wins hands-down for me. Was this the story with the planet of Skrulls who had recreated the 1920s? I seem to remember they made a comeback in a story reprinted in the UK Secret Wars weekly in the '80s.
ReplyDeleteYup, that's the one, DS. I've got the UK issues of Secret Wars (as well as the US originals), so I must take another look through them one day and find that story.
ReplyDeleteI think this one made best use of the aspect shift so far. Except for the really weird handling of the city in the background - i can't fathom why they decided to shrink the middle bit down between the thug's legs. Especially not when something looming in the background would add to the scene. Maybe an editor didn't want it busy around the title logo?
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at these, i'm repeatedly struck with what a thankless job the rework artist had. With all the constraints of of the Titans layout added on to the burden of shifting from vertical to horizontal format, it's quite the nightmare assignment.
Jack drew the background buildings to look like 1920s/'30s (or whenever) Chicago, which the new artist hasn't considered, making them look a lot more modern. (Glass skyscrapers and the like.) However, given the constraints of the format, it's a wonder that the covers were generally okay in their own right. It's really only when you directly compare them with the originals that their shortcomings are more apparent.
ReplyDeleteI bought the original issue off the newsstand back when I was a tyke and it blew me away. Still does. A simple, effective cover with Kirby's Thing expressing outrage as only Kirby's Thing can.
ReplyDeleteThe revised version is almost certainly Ron Wilson pencils; with probably Giacoia/Esposito inking.
Yeah, Jack's version cover is by far and away the better of the two. I bought my original copy of this FF issue brand-new (priced one shilling) off a spinner-rack in Blackpool back in 1973, perhaps '74. The scan is from a replacement I acquired many years ago, which I've had far longer than I had my original.
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