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| Copyright MARVEL COMICS |
Was it really a staggering 34 years ago that I first read this then-new 6-part limited series from MARVEL COMICS, The BLACK DRAGON? Yup, it sure was, but (and you'll no doubt be tired of reading me repeating this by now) it sure doesn't seem like it. I don't really remember what it was all about, so I took a quick look through all 6 comics before scanning, and there are dragons, fairies, ROBIN HOOD, MORGAN LeFEY, and lots of top-notch drawings in it. (Hey, if that doesn't make you want to read them, nothing will.)
I plan to reacquaint myself with their contents before too long, but even though I don't recall much of the plot, I've never forgotten the artwork, which made more of an impression on me than the story, obviously. It's probably been issued in a collected edition at some point down through the years, so I'm going to keep my eyes open for one as I'd like a volume that I can dip into at any time, instead of having to rearrange the contents of my room in order to access the individual issues, which are tucked away in a drawer with loads of stuff in front of it.
Look at the cover of #3, which is my favourite, and for some reason reminds me of my early childhood. That may be because the house in which I was living during the mid-'80s wasn't all that far from the very first one my family had in this town after moving here from the West End of Glasgow in 1960. From my '83-'87 bedroom window I could see the woods I'd played in as a kid, beyond which had once spread acres of fields and countryside, but which now sported an industrial estate.
However, I remembered it as it was, and the cover seemed to capture the place as I'd once known it. No, knights hadn't fought there, nor had it sported marquees - but the grass, trees, clouds and sky looked as if they'd been plumbed from my youthful memories, and were therefore familiar to me. And, 20-odd years later, an expanse of greenery yet lay within sight of my new bedroom window, which revived and reinforced my childhood recollections for the then-present day. It's likely that first reading the ish on the same kind of sunny afternoon as depicted on the cover was also a contributory factor in my regard for it.
However, enough of my nostalgic, self-indulgent sentiment, let's get to the pictures before you abandon me for some other blog. Did you read this series back in the day? Then let rip in the comments section about what you thought of it.
5 comments:
I don't think John Bolton has ever drawn anything that isn't beautiful. I think of him as a British Al Williamson.
I think his style is similar to - now who is it? I was going to say Arthur Ranson, but I think it's another John. H'mm, that'll bug me now.
Remembered - John Ridgway.
John Ridgway is fantastic too, I fondly remember a fill-in issue he drew of one of my favourite 90s comics-John Ostrander's Spectre series.
Seem to recall him drawing some Transformers stuff for Marvel UK too.
And although I'm less familiar with Arthur Ranson's art, I've seen enough to know that he's another great artist, with a lovely atmospheric style. Not sure how well known or regarded Messrs Bolton, Ridgway or Ranson are in the US, but there have been many artists who've had decent careers in American comics who don't have anywhere near the talent or ability of gentlemen like them.
DS, you must track down Hulk #335 - brilliantly illustrated by John Ridgway. The Hulk looks like he did in #1, and it's a great story too. Straight on to ebay with you.
(Originally published 23 May 2019 at 19:39.)
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