Mister Trent

If you re-read my message, I said that SOME of the characters are supposed to have appeared on the stamps prior to their comic-book appearances. In the case of CAP, yes, he did appear in the 40s - but here we're talking about his Silver Age appearance. Not to confuse matters any further, here's Mark's list of characters appearing on the stamps - that are supposed to pre-date their (Silver Age) comic-book appearances: CAPTAIN AMERICA BUCKY PVT. PERCIVAL PINKERTON (from SGT. FURY) DAREDEVIL CAPT. SAVAGE KA-ZAR SHAZANA (from DR.STRANGE) and, erm . . . STAN LEE () Check out Mark's SIMPLY THE BEST web-site for a full range of the stamps . . . As for the artwork being 'nice', they look badly drawn to me - especially the Spidey image.

Question for the Board . . . Mark McDermott, of "Simply the Best", has a series of MARVEL COMICS SILVER AGE STAMPS original artworks up "For Trade" on his site. The artwork for the stamps, Mark insists, are dated 1/9/64 and are the works of Jack Kirby, Marie Severin and Wally Wood. Some of the characters, from these series of stamps (Mark continues to claim) represent, "the first time to pencil" for them (as such, pre-dating 1st comic-book appearances by a number of characters that include DAREDEVIL, CAPTAIN AMERICA and KA-ZAR). Here are some scans of the stamp originals - which, to me, look like badly-drawn copies of art by the likes of Kirby, Severin and Wood (as opposed to being drawn specifically by those three) . . . The latter image of DD is particularly interesting. If, as Mark claims, the stamp artwork pre-dates the 1st comic-book appearance of DAREDEVIL, why is it that the image is that of Wally Wood's re-designed costume (with the shadow on the forehead) that debuted in DD # 7? I think it's stretching credulity a bit far to suggest that DD's re-designed costume appeared on a stamp that (alledgedly) was drawn prior to the appearance of the Yellow costume in DD #1 . . . My beliefs here are that, for whatever reason, the "1/9/64" date is incorrect (anyone know when these stamps appeared?) and that the artwork is by the same hand (based upon published images from the comic-books), as opposed to being by Kirby, Marie Severin or Woody. Anyone else agree, disagree - or hold other thoughts on the matter?

Thanks for that - for some reason, I'm having difficulties trying to upload images other than as attachments!

Ermm . . .

'Golden Age' covers the period up 1955, right? If so, quite a few of the EC artists should be in hot competition for THE GREATEST GOLDEN AGE COVER ARTIST. To my mind, Wally Wood's Science Fiction covers for WEIRD SCIENCE are the best-ever for that genre . . . and in the field of Horror Graham Ingels's HAUNT OF FEAR cover images have never been bettered. Of special note are covers by other EC regulars, such as Al Feldstein, Johnny Craig, Jack Davis, George Evans, Harvey Kurtzman and Reed Crandall. My CAF Galleries (including nine EC cover originals) at: http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=1865

Yeah, there are some Lou Fine covers up for viewing on COMIC ART FANS Galleries, including the cover to PLANET COMICS # 1 (just use the search engine and key-in the artist's name). Terry My CAF Galleries at: http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=1865

What's wrong with cartoonish? These are cartoons after all, not illustration art. Too many collectors seem to look for the sheer number of brush strokes as indicative of quality, ie. Fine, Wrightson, Adams, etc. Personally, I prefer a comic book to look like a comic book ala Cole, Romita, Sal Buscema, John Stanley, Al Feldstein, DeCarlo, Manning, Swan, etc. I appreciate the former, but prefer the latter. Anyone else?? Whilst I have a leaning towards illustrative styles, I also have a love of those artists who combine a blend of illustration/cartooning in their work (if that makes sense?!). Here, I'm thinking of people like Harvey Kurtzman, Steve Ditko, Al Feldstein and Alex Schomburg (to name a few). Funny thing about Schomburg is that even though there's a cartoonist's leaning in his comic-book work, his pulp illustrations are realistic and precise! It's all about eye-appeal . . .

Hi there Thanks for the interest in the two TTA cover originals. Yes, they're both spectacular in 'the flesh' (each measure approx 20" x 13.5"). Larger scans are on view in my CAF Galleries (Comic Art Fans). Here's a link: http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=1865 There's also a STRANGE TALES cover on display (featuring Dr Strange), along with a broad range of comic-book orginals. Best TERRY DOYLE

Also, the cover art to # 96 (click onto attachments for this and previous message).

I have the original artwork to the # 98 cover framed and hanging on the wall in front of me - it's awesome!