I was still making my way through the complete run of SHAZAM that I had borrowed from my grade school friend Donald Sims. SHAZAM #6 featured the series' second photo cover, and it was a bit less successful and convincing than the prior one which had run on issue #2. But there was something appealing … Continue reading BC: SHAZAM #6
THE AMAZING WORLD OF SUPERMAN was a tabloid-sized special publication put together in 1973 by National Periodical Publications as a souvenir item intended for the second Superman day being held in Metropolis, Illinois, which had been declared the official "Home of Superman." The interiors were printed in black and white, with sturdy cardstock color covers. … Continue reading THE AMAZING WORLD OF SUPERMAN: HOW A COMIC MAGAZINE IS CREATED.
This issue of MYSTERY IN SPACE, another book that I got in my Windfall Comics purchase of 1988, sports another of those great halftone covers that DC production man Jack Adler was experimenting with. The added texture does give the piece a nice painterly quality, as well as far more subtlety than the typical DC … Continue reading WC: MYSTERY IN SPACE #55
This issue of GREEN LANTERN was noteworthy right on the face of it, as it featured one of production maven Jack Adler's washtone cover treatments on Gil Kane's illustration. These washtone pieces were experimented with on assorted DC titles in the late 1950s and early 1960s, most often the war books. But as far as … Continue reading WC: GREEN LANTERN #8
The DC war titles often used monochromatic covers for effect in the late 1950s and early 1960s and this Jerry Grandinetti image for G.I. COMBAT is a good example of why. Not only does it convey the mood of the moment in a gripping and visceral way, but the whites of the gunner's eyes stand … Continue reading Great Covers; G.I. COMBAT #69
In January of 1977, I turned ten-years-old. And around that time, I would up getting my second book collection of vintage comic book stories–a book that, up until that point I didn’t even know existed. We found it in the remaindered section at Two Guys, a regional low-rent department store chain, kind of like the … Continue reading BHOC: THE GREAT COMIC BOOK HEROES
I saw it advertised in assorted DC Comics, as I had seen the ads for the previous issues, but I didn’t quite know what a “fanzine” was, so I never sent away for any of them. Until this point. This particular issue of THE AMAZING WORLD OF DC COMICS was said to contain “The SHOWCASE Story.” Knowing … Continue reading BHOC: AMAZING WORLD OF DC COMICS #10
Another brilliant Jack Adler greytone cover, this time executed over the precision artwork of Russ Heath for this G.I. COMBAT cover. The coloring is lovely–I think the only misstep is the pink logo.
A very pretty Russ Heath Haunted Tank cover for an issue of G.I. COMBAT, made even more spectacular by the greytone work of Jack Adler. DC experimented with these sorts of greytone covers in the early 1960s to great effect–the end result always looked more photographic and more real.
A terrific Russ Heath G.I. COMBAT cover taking full advantage of halftones to create a painted look to the artwork. DC production maven Jack Adler experimented with adding greytones to covers throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, often to excellent effect. The color here is marvelous as well–that fireball couldn’t seem any more hot … Continue reading Great Covers – G.I. COMBAT #80
The Tom Brevoort Experience 