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Here we are yet again with some more fab Fantastic Four covers from when Jack Kirby was still the principal artist on the series. As before, feel free to say what your favourite/s is/are, and talk about why it's/they're significant to you. These images are from a period when it seems that Marvel weren't using dialogue balloons on the covers of the FF, but they did later return to the practice. Some fans love characters conversing on the front of mags, some hate it, and others don't bother one way or the other. What's your preference, Crivvies - would you rather see covers unadorned with dialogue (not counting the occasional caption or blurb), or do you think they're more interesting or appealing with the heroes and/or villains indulging in a bit of banter? Our captivatin' comments section awaits your valued contribution.
Fantastic Four #72 is my real first issue of the series. I'd seen a few others in the clutches of an older cousin (featuring Blastarr no less) but this one was my first and it was a wild tumble of a tale.
ReplyDeleteEvery one of those covers (and storylines) here is a total cracker. As I mentioned in your last thread issues 72 “Where soars the Silver Surfer” is my favourite cover as it is a striking illustration plus the Silver Surfer is one of my favourite comic characters. I like the odd work balloon on the cover and while these don’t have balloons they are drawn in a way that’s exciting but more importantly also tells you what to expect in the story unlike 90% of today’s covers that are simply (albeit well drawn) posters or action poses. I read all these strips for the first time in the Mighty World of Marvel comic so they don’t really trigger any memories for me based on the covers, but the issue 67 “the coming of Him” (Warlock) sticks out for me as I loved that storyline. For me the FF really took off after issue 50 with some amazing storylines and ideas which propelled it (for me at least) into a different league.
ReplyDeleteThe cover was later reused for The Super-Heroes #1 in 1975 (a UK weekly), RJ, though the Watcher was replaced by Galactus. Jack was still managing to imbue the Surfer with a degree of grace and fluidity on the covers, but Norrin's posture was generally stiffening a little in the interiors.
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Yeah, the FF was the jewel in Marvel's crown at this time, McS (I'm not sure at which point Spidey eclipsed them), and I particularly enjoyed the storyline where Doom steals the Surfer's 'power cosmic', which somehow sounds more impressive than 'cosmic power'. Another storyline I loved was "The Skrull Takes A Slave!", and we'll be seeing the covers to that four-parter very soon.
Most of those covers remind me of the FF Pocket Book from the early '80s and, as you mentioned Kid, the terrific Silver Surfer cover appeared on The Superheroes No.1 rather than the actual cover of Silver Surfer #1 by John Buscema. And as for speech bubbles on covers - I'm one of those who doesn't mind either way.
ReplyDeleteI was in Tesco this morning and I saw a DVD called Mr. Benn: 50th Anniversary Edition - one for your collection, Kid?
I've got the Complete Mr. Benn DVD collection, CJ, but it's an older one, so I'll definitely be checking out the new one to see whether there are any new goodies on it. Ta much for the heads up. Got a favourite FF cover out of the 2 posts I've published so far?
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, CJ, out of all the 30 covers I'm showing in this four-parter, only 9 of them appeared on the FF Pocket Book cover gallery two-parter.
ReplyDeleteOf the covers shown so far I'd say "This Man, This Monster" is the best. I first read that story in the second FF Treasury Edition.
ReplyDeleteI think I first read it in an UK FF Comic Album back in the '60s, where the Thing was coloured a bluey-grey, and the FF's costumes were red and yellow. Yeah, strange.
ReplyDeleteJohnny Storm did wear a red and yellow costume in the US comic for a while also- mid 70s perhaps? I think it was supposed to be reminiscent of the Original Human Torch's outfit.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's right, DS, but he didn't (as far as I recall) wear yellow trunks, boots, and gloves. And you're correct as to why his costume's colour was changed as well. As for my World Distributors FF Comic Album, perhaps the colourist was colour-blind?
ReplyDeleteKid, while I was in Tesco I also looked at the new Panini Spidey and X-Men comics. The X-Men costs £7.99 which is a bit steep for a monthly comic!
ReplyDeleteIt's more like a book though, CJ, rather than a comic, but I had a look at it myself a couple of days back and it didn't really appeal to me.
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