HALLS Of HORROR - BRIAN LEWIS SPECIAL...

All images copyright QUALITY COMICS

I first enjoyed the amazing art of BRIAN LEWIS in the pages of SMASH! back in the mid-'60s, on a strip called CHARLIE'S CHOICE.  I didn't learn his name until many years later, when I discovered he was also extremely adept at illustrating all types of straight action and adventure strips.  Brian died in 1978 at the far too young age of only 49, and readers of comics were denied further examples of great art from this talented individual, whose career had begun in 1959 on LONE STAR.

He worked on various comics over the years, such as LION, TIGER, BOYS' WORLD, EAGLE, WHAM!, SMASH!, COR!!, TV21, VAMPIRELLA, COUNTDOWN, TV ACTION, LOOK-IN, STARBURST, 2000 A.D., and many other publications.  He was also involved in animation, working on YELLOW SUBMARINE, as well as providing art for The MUPPET SHOW.  In 1982, QUALITY COMICS issued a HALLS Of HORROR Special, reprinting seven strips that Brian had drawn for them.

Here, then, is a quick jaunt through that Special, just to remind you of what a loss Brian's untimely demise was to comics and magazine publishing.  One of the greats, whose legend lives on to this very day, nearly 40 years after he laid down his pen and brush for the final time.

BABE Of The DAY - DALIAH LAVI...

Today's Babe of the Day is DALIAH

LAVI - there's a joke in there somewhere, but

 I'm too much of a gentleman to go there.

CAPTAIN BRITAIN COVER, SPLASH PAGE & IMAGE GALLERY - PART ONE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

You asked for it!  You pleaded for it!  You demanded it!  But I'm still not going anywhere, so you'll just have to get used to me being around here on Bloggerland for a long time yet!  However, don't despair, because here's a post you're bound to like - the first instalment of a fantastic CAPTAIN BRITAIN cover, splash page and image gallery to thrill and astound you!

Just look at the artists on view - BUSCEMA, STERANKO, LIEBER, and, of course, the late, great HERB TRIMPE, who was CB's very first artist when Cap made his debut way back in October of 1976.  Wow!!  A mere kick in the pants off 40 years ago, when Herb was yet in his mid-'30s and one of the shining stars in the Merry MARVEL firmament.  A whole lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, but the good Captain is still around today, something of which Herb would surely be immensely proud!

So prepare to refresh your magical memories of the long-ago days of your youth, as we plunge head first into a pulsatin' plethora of pulse-pounding pictures which you're sure to swoon at.  And if by some chance you're seeing these awesome images for the very first time, then I envy you!  You're in for a titanic treat that you won't soon forget.  But that's enough prattling preamble from me - wonderment aplenty lies ahead and shouldn't be delayed.

Excelsior!

A TRIBUTE To GENE COLAN...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

Back in 2008, three years before he passed away, MARVEL COMICS, in conjunction with The HERO INITIATIVE, released a 100 page Special called A TRIBUTE TO GENE COLAN.  As everybody and their brother knows, Gene Colan was an artistic master of light, shade and atmosphere.  True, sometimes his figures looked as though their limbs were sprouting from odd points on their torso and, in his later years, his perspectives could be a little wonky, but, those weaknesses (and banana fingers) aside, Gene was, in his heyday, one of the undoubted comicbook greats of all time.

Doubtless his occasional lapses were down to the glaucoma which impaired his sight for the latter part of his life and made the act of pencilling difficult.  In fact, given that he was virtually blind in one eye and suffered tunnel vision in the other, it should have been impossible, so it's all the more remarkable that he could draw as well as he did.  It's almost akin to a paralysed man being an accomplished gymnast, but Colan turned out page after page of incredible art for decades, much to the delight of his many fans across the globe.

Anyway, if you're a fan of great comicbook art in general, or Gene (the Dean) Colan in particular, this ace mag is one you might want to have in your collection if you don't own it already.  Five great tales of Mighty Marvel Magnificence at it's finest.  So what more can be said, apart, that is, from "Face front", " 'Nuff said" and "Excelsior!"?   Oh yeah - "Make Mine Marvel!"