Monthly Archives: December 2006

The Avengers #23 [1965] – Cover

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Doesn’t Kang look great on this cover, inked by John Romita in his first job on his return to Marvel? It looks even better in the original version (which you can see here as part of an interview in ALTER EGO, or in the various reprints), before Kang’s outstretched hand was moved for some inexplicable reason.

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I always love these symbolic giant menace covers by Kirby. Not just the huge villain but the reactions of the heroes in the foreground.

Published 1965

Two-Gun Kid #64 [1963] – Cover

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I love the figure of Grizzly Grogan on this cover, a great rough and cruel Kirby villain type that he refined over the years until we got the likes of Kalibak a decade later.

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Inks on this cover by Dick Ayers.

Published 1963

Tales to Astonish #63 [1965] – Cover

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I think the Hulk is about to get the back of his head whacked by that tunnel. I feel sorry for the tunnel. Meanwhile, Giant-Man and the Wasp make good use of their super-powers and protect a hardware store. And demonstrate some crazy fore-shortening.

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Chic Stone inks this cover.

Published 1965

Fantastic Four #167 [1976] – Cover

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I’m not quite convinced by that perspective and proportion on the Gateway Arch. I’m certain the observation deck there must be more than the four feet tall that it looks like.

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But still, the Hulk and the Thing drawn by Kirby and Sinnott, that’s always some fun.

Published 1976

The Avengers #156 [1977] – Cover

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That Doom does get around, doesn’t he? The Doom figure is a little small on this cover, but it gets the point across, and the figures of Cap and the Scarlet Witch are really good (and quite the trooper she is, going into battle with Doom with her arm in a sling).

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Al Milgrom handles the inks for this cover.

Published 1977

Ka-Zar #12 [1977] – Cover

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John Romita inks Kirby on this cover, which also had quite a few bits of re-drawing from the original pencils, in particular Zabu being completely different, as well as Ka-zar’s right arm. Still a pretty decent cover, very bold and popping right out at you.

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Published 1977

Gunsmoke Western #61 [1960] – Cover

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Doesn’t look like Kid Colt is the most popular guy in Gila Pass. But the Kid has fear? A thousand times no! (sorry, been watching a lot of TV recently…)

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Dick Ayers inks over Kirby on this cover.

Published 1960

Tales to Astonish #45 [1963] – Cover

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Well, of course a master plan against Ant-Man would involve an aardvark. They didn’t call him Egghead because of the shape of his head, apparently…

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Or maybe it is the shape of his head.

Dick Ayers inks this cover, which does have a nice ant there, and a good use of a giant needle for perspective. But you can see why Ant-Man only lasted a few more issues before going to the more dynamic Giant-Man.

Published 1963

Strange Tales #111 [1963] – Cover

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God, that’s some awful dialogue on this cover…

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And the Marvel Age wasn’t ushered in in an auspicious way in this particular title, with the debut and final appearance of the Asbestos Man (the Doctor Strange villain who debuted in this issue with no mention on the cover had a lot more staying power). Despite the trivial villain, there is a nice Human Torch figure on this Kirby/Ayers cover.

Published 1963

Tales to Astonish #90 [1967] – Cover

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Kirby didn’t do too many covers for the Sub-Mariner’s solo feature in TALES TO ASTONISH, doing mostly the Hulk issues. This Kirby/Colletta number from #90 is one of them, and works really well. Strong foreground figures and also a lot of expressive and detailed background figures, really draws you into the predicament that our favourite anti-hero finds himself in now.

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Published 1967