House of Mystery #177 - Neal Adams cover

House of Mystery #177, 1968 - Three children hide behind tombstones while watching a gravedigger, only to discover an pack of cats converging behind them. One of the Neal Adams' best covers for this title, the art has a heavily textural quality to it, including the fur on the foreground cat. The composition is superb, leading the viewer from front to the very back. Even the color palette works surprisingly well. Other artists in this issue include Mort Meskin and Bill Draut. See today's posts or more Adams or House of Mystery issues. See also this blog's Adams checklist or Top 10 Adams comics.
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Adams cover pencils and inks = *****
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Showcase #84 / Nightmaster - Bernie Wrightson / Jeff Jones art, Joe Kubert cover

Showcase #84 featuring Nightmaster, 1969 - In this third appearance of Nightmaster, Bernie Wrightson employs larger panels and more creative layouts (including the wild typography on the opening splash). As a result, scenes such as the underground cavern city on page 9 have greater visual impact. Jeff Jones' partial inks are more obvious than the previous issue, while Joe Kubert's cover is mediocre at best. This is number 12 of 19 Showcase issues with Kubert art and/or covers and number 2 of 2 Showcase issues with Wrightson art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Wrightson, Jones, Kubert or Showcase issues. See also this blog's Jones checklist, Wrightson checklist, Top 10 Wrightson comics or Kubert checklist.
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Kubert cover pencils and inks = **
"Come Darkness, Come Death" Wrightson pencils and inks/Jones partial inks, 23 pages = ***
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Avengers Annual #9 - Don Newton art & cover

Avengers Annual #9, 1979 - One of Don Newton's lengthiest tales for Marvel, the Avengers take on the robotic threat of Arsenal. The artist's drawings are more pliable than usual, making his work that much more approachable. Often using high contrast lighting, his pencils fare much better under Joe Rubenstein's inks (pages 24-46) than Jack Abel's (pages 1-23). Surprisingly, in thirty-plus pages there are only three splashes. The most arresting of these is the partial demolition of Avengers mansion on page 24. Overall, Newton does a decent job, comparable to his effort on Avengers #204. This is number 1 of 1 Avengers Annual issues with Newton art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Newton or Avengers issues. See also this blog's Newton checklist.
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Newton cover pencils (Joe Rubinstein inks) = ***
"Today the Avengers Die" Newton story pencils (Jack Abel, Joe Rubinstein inks) 34 pages = ***
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Heroic Comics #67 - Frank Frazetta art

Heroic Comics #67, 1951 - Two short Frank Frazetta stories reside in this golden age issue. The first is a story about a heroic female lifeguard on a local beach. Each character (including some bystanders) seems to retain an individuality not often seen in comics. The second tale, about a three year old boy who becomes a hero, seems like much less of an effort. The figure drawing is a bit clumsy and was perhaps hurriedly done. This is number 3 of 15 Heroic Comics issues with Frazetta art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Frazetta or Heroic Comics issues. See also this blog's Frazetta checklist or Top 10 Frazetta comics.
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"3 Year Old Hero" Frazetta pencils and inks 2 pages = **
"The Scared Live Saver" Frazetta pencils and inks 2 pages = ***
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Heroic Comics #65 - Al Williamson / Frank Frazetta art

Heroic Comics #65, 1951 - Pretending to be pirates, two boys set off on their makeshift raft, only to find real danger ahead. Al Williamson and Frank Frazetta collaborate early on in their careers, illustrating this tale with a light touch. The pages are not immediately recognizable as the work of either artist, though Frazetta's inks come to the fore in the characters' faces and wooded backgrounds. This is number 1 of 15 Heroic Comics issues with Frazetta art and/or covers and This is number 3 of 3 Heroic Comics issues with Williamson art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Frazetta, Williamson or Heroic Comics issues. See also this blog's Williamson checklist, Frazetta checklist or Top 10 Frazetta comics.
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"Sunny's Sunday" Williamson story pencils / Frazetta inks 2 pages = **
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House of Mystery #176 - Neal Adams cover

House of Mystery #176, 1968 - A pale hand cups the flame of a candle while a group of children press curiously against the window. On the table, a beetle mysteriously begins to emerge from its scarab. Despite a lot of compositional elements, Neal Adams creates a balanced and nuanced composition. Note how the flame moves from the smoke to the curtain and back down to the table in a circular path. Other artists in this issue include Sid Greene and Jack Sparling. See today's posts or more Adams or House of Mystery issues. See also this blog's Adams checklist or Top 10 Adams comics.
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Adams cover pencils and inks = ***
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Captain America #290 - John Byrne cover

Captain America #290, 1984 - This unusual cover by John Byrne is one of several graphically oriented covers he did in the 1980s. The approach nicely coincides with the appearance of a female character, Mother Night. Despite the lack of a silhouette, Captain America's torso is defined with just enough information. The black on white color palette is uncommonly stark, but eye-catching regardless. This is number 12 of 15 Captain America issues with Byrne art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Byrne or Captain America issues.
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Byrne cover pencils and inks = ***
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Donald Duck #54 - Carl Barks art

Walt Disney's Donald Duck #54, 1957 - Donald and his nephews travel to the Amazon jungle, stumbling upon a forbidden valley full of living dinosaurs. Barks entertains us with a bevy of creatures, from the triceratops to the tyrannosaurus rex. Two scenes are especially hilarious: the stampeding crocodiles on page 13 and the large panel of stampeding dinosaurs on page 25. See today's posts or more Barks or Donald Duck issues.
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"Forbidden Valley" Barks story pencils and inks 26 pages = ****
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Adventure Comics #427 - Alex Nino art

Adventure Comics #427, 1973 - A young woman tries to take over Captain Fear's ship, just as they come under attack. Compared to previous issues, Alex Nino's art is a tad more restrained. His best moment occurs on page 2, as two large ships collide on the open sea (see interior page above). Sensitively drawn, the imagery overall meets expectations. The Adventurers' Club and Vigilante stories round out the rest of the book. Other artists in this issue include Jim Aparo, Mike Sekowsky and Luis Domingez (cover). This is number 3 of 4 Adventure issues with Nino art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Nino or Adventure Comics issues. See also this blog's Alex Nino checklist.
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"His Daughter's Keeper" Nino story pencils and inks 7 pages = ***
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Weird War Tales #36 - non-attributed Alex Nino art, Joe Kubert cover & reprint, Russ Heath reprint

Weird War Tales #36, 1975 - Collecting both old and new material, this giant-sized issue is the only one of its kind in the series. Notable among the original stories is& Alex Nino's strange but brief tale. American GIs during WWII discover large mutated plants that turn lethal. Growing tension and disorientation are conveyed through strong vertical panels. Nino's fine brushwork flourishes amidst the horror and chaos. Among the reprints are tales by Russ Heath (Weird War Tales #3) and Joe Kubert (Weird War Tales #2). Other artists in this issue include Mike Sekowsky, Bill Draut, E. R. Cruz, Frank Robbins, Ruben Yandoc and Reed Crandall. This is number 9 of 9 Weird War Tales issues with Nino art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Nino, Heath, Kubert or Weird War Tales issues. See also this blog's Nino checklist, Heath checklist or Kubert checklist.
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Kubert cover pencils and inks = **
"The Deadly Seeds" Nino story pencils 3 pages = ***
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Doctor Strange v2 #4 - Frank Brunner / non-attributed Neal Adams art, Brunner cover

Doctor Strange v2 #4, 1974 - The sorcerer supreme continues to make his way through an unreal world within the Eye of Agamotto. Frank Brunner's cover keenly suggests the madness that awaits inside. The artist delivers another admirable effort, depicting the hero's plight within an infinite void. Although Dick Giordano is the story's credited inker, Neal Adams does most of the work. His hand appears on a few sporadic panels, but he's most effective on a silent, mystical sequence (see interior page above) and the hero's full-page portrait on page 16. Brunner and Adams's collaboration places this story among the best drawn of the series. This is number 4 of 11 Doctor Strange issues with Brunner art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Brunner, Adams or Doctor Strange issues. See also this blog's Adams checklist, Top 10 Adams comics, Brunner checklist or Top 10 Brunner issues.
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Brunner cover pencils and inks = ***
"Where Bound'ries Decay" Brunner story pencils / Adams partial inks, 18 pages = ***
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Weird War Tales #82 - Don Newton art

Weird War Tales #82, 1979 - Newton does a capable art job on this long running war title. Frequent collaborator Dave Hunt supplies some polished inking. See today's posts or more Newton or Weird War Tales issues. See also this blog's Don Newton checklist.
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"An Outbreak of Peace" Newton story pencils (Dave Hunt inks) 6 pages = ***
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X-men Annual #3 - Frank Miller cover, John Byrne art?

X-men Annual #3, 1979 - Frank Miller's sole effort on this title is this dynamically designed cover. Cyclops' optical blast deflects into four, creating diagonal lines of tension. It also creates a focal point for Arkon, the story's antagonist from another dimension. Terry Austin's inking seems a little too clean given the frenetic tone. The interior inks are also credited to Austin (over George Perez's pencils), but page 37 (see interior page above) looks suspiciously like John Byrne. This is number 1 of 1 X-men Annual issues with Miller art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Byrne, Miller or X-men issues. See also this blog's Frank Miller checklist.
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Miller cover pencils (Terry Austin inks) = ***
Byrne story inks? (George Perez pencils) 1 page = ***
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House of Mystery #175 - Neal Adams cover

House of Mystery #175, 1968 - With censorship codes loosening up, DC reverts this title back to its original horror genre. This second issue of the new format is also Neal Adams' first of a long succession of covers. He begins a consistent theme of depicting children in mysterious and often precarious situations. In this example, three kids dangerously peer down from a rooftop, flanked by stone gargoyles on either side. An open window sheds light, but reveals little else. Other artists in this issue include Jack Sparling and Goerge Roussos. See today's posts or more Adams or House of Mystery issues. See also this blog's Adams checklist or Top 10 Adams comics.
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Adams cover pencils and inks = ***
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Donald Duck #60 - Carl Barks art

Walt Disney's Donald Duck #60, 1960 - Gigantic ants ruin a high society picnic, and Donald and Uncle Scrooge discover they're the byproduct of a scientist's experiments. The story is told in large, roomy panels and Barks illustrates them with great care and craftsmanship. The ants terrorize a group of wealthy socialites on page 16 is one of the most memorable visuals of the story. The much shorter "Water Ski Race", about Donald in a sports competition, is only marginally less appealing. See today's posts or more Barks or Donald Duck issues.
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"Donald Duck and the Titanic Ants" Barks story pencils and inks 20 pages = ****
"Water Ski Race" Barks story pencils and inks 6 pages = ****
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Our Fighting Forces #134 - Alex Toth art, Joe Kubert cover & reprint

Our Fighting Forces #134 featuring the Losers, 1971 - In ancient Egypt, an older man joins the Pharoah's army out of desperation, hoping to earn money for his family. Like many other bronze age works, Alex Toth's artwork is graphically drawn with thick lines and heavy blacks. The results are bold and almost harsh, but appropriate for the brutality of the era. The first two pages are especially violent, accompanied by curiously clean, Greek-looking title typography. Joe Kubert's cover is less impressive than usual, but the book does end with one of his earlier war stories. Other artists in this issue include John Severin and Sam Glanzman. This is number 1 of 2 Our Fighting Forces issues with Toth art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Toth, Kubert or Our Fighting Forces issues. See also this blog's Kubert checklist or Toth checklist.
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Kubert cover pencils and inks = **
"Soldier's Grave" Toth story pencils and inks 8 pages = ***
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Adventure Comics #426 - Alex Nino art

Adventure Comics #426, 1973 - One of three features, the indian pirate Captain Fear saves a woman from a sacrificial cult. Alex Nino's textured drawings reside within carefully constructed layouts. Certain panels seem to benefit from his rough-edged style, in particular the background foliage on the bottom of page 3. Nino certainly stands out from the issue's more conventional stories (Vigilante and the Adventurer's Club). Other artists in this issue include Mike Sekowsky, Dick Giordano and Jim Aparo. This is number 2 of 6 Adventure issues with Nino art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Nino or Adventure Comics issues. See also this blog's Nino checklist.
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"God of Vengeance" Nino story pencils and inks 8 pages = ***
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Avengers #204 - Don Newton art & cover

Avengers #204, 1981 - Responding to a distress signal, the Avengers must save a Chinese Nobel laureate from the clutches of the Yellow Claw. The overly chaotic feel of Don Newton's cover gets replicated on some of the interior pages, but the larger panels make full use of their size and scale (see interior page above). By contrast, the splash on page 15 seems almost too spacious. This is number 1 of 1 Avengers issues with Newton art and/or covers, not including Avengers Annual #9. See today's posts or more Newton or Avengers issues. See also this blog's Newton checklist.
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Newton cover pencils (Dan Green inks) = **
"Claws Across the Water" Newton story pencils (Dan Green inks) 22 pages = ***
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