Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Two of my favorite comic creators, Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy, are best known (and rightly so) for their legendary run on MASTER OF KUNG FU. But they teamed on many more series besides that. One of them is SLASH MARAUD. Any fans?
If you’re a fan of fanzines, then you’ve got to check out Ken Meyer, Jr.’s monthly column Ink Stains. Each month Ken (who is an amazing artist) posts… well, let’s let Ken explain…
I have a collection of over 200 fanzines from the 60’s-80’s that I plan to scan and talk about, one at a time. I hope to have some of the participants answer a few questions. Many of those participants are established comics professionals now, while some have gone on to other things. I will show a few snippets from each zine and give you a link to download a pdf of the whole thing, which I hope all of you will do!
For Ink Stains 23, Ken took a look at Fantastic Fanzine 11 from 1970. Edited and published by Gary Groth [who went on to become the editor and publisher of The Comics Journal].
I’d never seen an issue of Fantastic Fanzine prior to reading Ken’s article about FF 11. What an issue #11 is! Starting with a Steranko cover, plus 3 additional Steranko pieces, an interview with Steranko, and a Steranko checklist alone would have made this a stellar issue, but there’s more. A Dave Cockrum double page splash of THUNDER Agents, Cockrum spot illos, plus tons of fan art. Fantastic Fanzine 11 is a keeper.
Ah, the memories of the glory days of fanzines. Thanks to Ken Meyer, Jr. for making these available!
Today we have a very nice watercolor Batman piece by Dan Fraga.
If you’d like to see Dan’s process in creating it, you can thanks to Dan and Bleeding Cool.
Last week I posted a Kevin Nolan piece that had Batman chained by Catwoman with Robin in the background looking down.
A few days later I posted the story behind Jack Kirby’s creation of Mr. Miracle.
Then I came across a piece by Kevin Nolan of Mr. Miracle and Barda chained with Oberon in the background looking down.
What does it all mean besides Kevin Nolan’s an amazing artist? Who knows, but isn’t that reason enough for the post?
Source: Bendis!
If you’re a fan of fanzines, then you’ve got to check out Ken Meyer, Jr.’s monthly column Ink Stains. Each month Ken (who is an amazing artist) posts… well, let’s let Ken explain…
I have a collection of over 200 fanzines from the 60’s-80’s that I plan to scan and talk about, one at a time. I hope to have some of the participants answer a few questions. Many of those participants are established comics professionals now, while some have gone on to other things. I will show a few snippets from each zine and give you a link to download a pdf of the whole thing, which I hope all of you will do!
For Ink Stains 19, Ken took a look at CPL 11 from 1974. Edited and published by Robert Layton [aka Bob Layton of Iron Man fame].
CPL was a quarterly fanzine published by Bob Layton and it was one of the high water marks of comic fanzines. CPL always had art from pros as well as soon to be pros and you could tell that the writers and artists for CPL loved comics.
CPL 11 featured a cover by Alex Toth, full page illos from Rich Buckler and spot illos from Neal Adams, John Byrne, Don Maitz, Jim Starlin, Gil Kane, Clyde Caldwell, and Dan Adkins. Let’s not forget the writers of CPL 11: Steve Gerber, John Byrne, Roger Stern and CC Beck. Oh, and there’s a Rog 2000 strip by Stern and Byrne.
Ah, the memories of the glory days of fanzines. Thanks to Ken Meyer, Jr. for making these available!
My favorite Jack Kirby creation from his DC days is Mr. Miracle. Above is Jack Kirby’s original presentation piece for the World’s Greatest Escape Artist. Sure the colors of his costume are different but the thing that jumped out at me was the gun.
Mark Evanier [whose blog you should be reading daily!] has an explanation for both of the changes and more. And Mr. Evanier should know. He had at least a knuckle in Mr. Miracle’s creation.
Since we’ve been on a Kevin Nolan kick lately, how about these two very cool character designs that he did for The Batman Animated Series coming to us from Bendis!? If you click over you’ll see more character designs by Nolan for Batman, Catwoman, The Penguin, Manbat and more.
Remember when I wrote about getting some old friends together to celebrate an early Christmas with Jim Ivey?
Well, I received the above message from Jim today and he asked me to share it with the gang. Easiest way is to post it here. So here it is.
Can’t wait until our next get-together!
This beautiful Batman, Catwoman and Robin piece by Kevin Nolan has always been a favorite. My buddy, John Beatty actually owned the original at one time. Looked even better in person.
One of my favorite movies of the last few years was John Wick. I’m really looking forward to the sequel (February 10th) and now have a new comic series coming from Dynamite Comics. The comic series won’t adapt the movies but will instead tell new John Wick stories which I think is a very smart move.
Source: Bleeding Cool.
If you’re a fan of fanzines, then you’ve got to check out Ken Meyer, Jr.’s monthly column Ink Stains. Each month Ken (who is an amazing artist) posts… well, let’s let Ken explain…
I have a collection of over 200 fanzines from the 60’s-80’s that I plan to scan and talk about, one at a time. I hope to have some of the participants answer a few questions. Many of those participants are established comics professionals now, while some have gone on to other things. I will show a few snippets from each zine and give you a link to download a pdf of the whole thing, which I hope all of you will do!
For Ink Stains 16, Ken took a look at Comic Crusaders 10 from 1970. Edited and published by Martin L. Greim.
Comic Crusaders 10 aka The Convention Issue. I’d never seen this issue before Ken’s column and I’m glad I didn’t miss out. The highlight of the issue is of course the Steranko full pager [posted above] but I also got a real kick out of seeing my buddy, Bill Black’s photos [man, he was young!] and art.
Other highlights include: a cover by Martin Greim, photos of legendary comic artists taken at a 1970 convention, an article on Super Heroes on Film with art and written by Bill Black, spot illos by Dan Adkins, Bill Black, Dennis Fujitake, Rich Corben, and more!
Ah, the memories of the glory days of fanzines. Thanks to Ken Meyer, Jr. for making these available!
This Alex Toth Conan piece is just one of seven on display in the Toth Conan gallery at The Bristol Board!
Earlier today, I picked up Jim Ivey [the gent getting the finger-point] and we headed to Robinson’s Diner in Apopka.
Once at Robinson’s, Jim and I met up with (from left to right) Rob Smith, Mike Sikes, Cliff Weikal, and Bill Black. We’ve all been friends since the 1970’s and met through Jim Ivey’s Cartoon Museum.
I try to get the group together a couple of times a year [Jim’s birthday and Christmas] and it is always a blast spending time with the crew and reminiscing. This time was no exception. We always bring Jim gifts and this time he received some of his favorites: cigars, lottery tickets, and a Roy Crane book. After breakfast Jim and I made the traditional trip to pick him up some Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream for him for later.
It’s always a blast seeing Jim [still “full of prunes and macaroons” at 91] and the gang. Hopefully John Beatty will be able to join us next go round.
If any of Jim’s old friends are reading this — he loves snail mail. Contact me and I’ll forward you his address!
I just can’t get enough of Eduardo Risso’s Punisher and Travis Bickle piece. I love it.
Also it makes me think about potential commissions of Sly as Jack Carter with…
Source: Cool Comic Art.
Update: I’ve pulled the trigger and commissioned Drew Moss for Sly as Jack Carter with…
If you’re a fan of fanzines, then you’ve got to check out Ken Meyer, Jr.’s monthly column Ink Stains. Each month Ken (who is an amazing artist) posts… well, let’s let Ken explain…
I have a collection of over 200 fanzines from the 60’s-80’s that I plan to scan and talk about, one at a time. I hope to have some of the participants answer a few questions. Many of those participants are established comics professionals now, while some have gone on to other things. I will show a few snippets from each zine and give you a link to download a pdf of the whole thing, which I hope all of you will do!
For Ink Stains 14, Ken took a look at Nimbus 3 from the September 1977. Edited and published by Frank Lovece.
I actually owned Nimbus 3 and remember it fondly. It was so professional looking and of course the Gulacy art for Sabre burned a spot in my memory. But Gulacy was just the icing on the cake that featured the Mike Zeck Hulk back cover and a front cover by Pat Boyette, with spot illos by Steve Leialoha, Arvelle Jones, Kerry Gammil, P. Craig Russell, Willie Blyberg, Sam De La Rosa, Walt Simonson, Doug Hazelwood, Gene Colan, John Buscema, Mike Grell, Alex Toth, John Romita and more.
Ah, the memories of the glory days of fanzines. Thanks to Ken Meyer, Jr. for making these available!
