To borrow a phrase from Nigel Tufnel: how much more black could this cover be? The answer is, indeed, none. None more black. I know that the search for a high grade copy of this book sends some collectors into a tizzy, but I'd like simply focus on the subtle brilliance of this cover. It must have blown people away when it hit the spinner racks back in '65. I just love the tone of gold chosen for Molten Man, and I really like how Spidey looks as though he belongs in a black light poster. The only real problem with this cover is the caption at the bottom as it is intrusive and does not fit with the otherwise elegant colour scheme. This is my 50th Ditko cover and I find myself at a crossroads. Do I move onto a new artist? Stick with Ditko? Switch to a monthly Ditko cover and also spotlight one or more more cover artists? Who? Kirby has been done a million times. I'd prefer someone with 30+ years of output. Gene Colan? Gil Kane? Ross Andru? I'd love to hear what you folks think.Friday, February 26, 2010
Steve Ditko Cover of the Week: Amazing Spider-Man #28
To borrow a phrase from Nigel Tufnel: how much more black could this cover be? The answer is, indeed, none. None more black. I know that the search for a high grade copy of this book sends some collectors into a tizzy, but I'd like simply focus on the subtle brilliance of this cover. It must have blown people away when it hit the spinner racks back in '65. I just love the tone of gold chosen for Molten Man, and I really like how Spidey looks as though he belongs in a black light poster. The only real problem with this cover is the caption at the bottom as it is intrusive and does not fit with the otherwise elegant colour scheme. This is my 50th Ditko cover and I find myself at a crossroads. Do I move onto a new artist? Stick with Ditko? Switch to a monthly Ditko cover and also spotlight one or more more cover artists? Who? Kirby has been done a million times. I'd prefer someone with 30+ years of output. Gene Colan? Gil Kane? Ross Andru? I'd love to hear what you folks think.
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13 comments:
I'd like more Ditko. But if you're determined to move on, my top nominees would be Joe Kubert, Frank Robbins, Jim Aparo, or Pete Morisi. Love your blog!
Neil Anderson
All great suggestions, Neil. I worry that Robbins and Morisi might not have enough covers from different genres/era, but I certainly love both artists.
more Ditko covers...they have been just amazing!!
I'm really digging Ditko, but I wouldn´t complain if you decided to throw Gil Kane into the mix
Another vote for Gil Kane...definitely has the longevity, he drew just about everything and did it well. Gene Colan would be good too. Ross Andru did some good work on Spider-Man, but I don't think he's in the same league with Kane or Colan.
Nick Cardy could use some love. :)
Idea for a future post: Seance covers. I can think of 2 right away, Adventure Comics 433 and Challengers of the Unknown 73.
Joe Kubert, Gil Kane and I will add Carmine Infantino all did tons of covers. These guys were not only very productive, but also very innovative in cover designs. Plus their covers spans from the late Golden Age (Atomic Age?) to the Copper/Modern Age.
I love Gene Colan on interior art but I don't remember a single cover he did that really stand out.
Nick Cardy is also a good choice, one of my very favorite cover artist of all time. But the majority of his production was in the Bronze Age when he followed Neal Adams as DC main cover artist. Still Bronze is my favorite Era so it's all good.
And I wouldn't mind more Ditko either. This particular Spider-Man cover is certainly one of his top 3 best covers. The design is incredible for early sisties comics.
Wonderful cover art hurt by news of Peter Parker's graduation. That said, the reminder of the brief Marvel Pop Art Productions incarnation serves to distract and attract. Please keep the Ditkos coming!
My vote is for Gil Kane. A great artist who's stuff just got better as he got older.
Neal Adams would be great, particularly if you can find his DC romance covers or the Bob Hope/Jerry Lewis issues. I used to have a couple of those but I bought them coverless.
Scott, the fact that the brilliance of this cover made it all the way to #50 in your Ditko feature without previous mention shows there are lots more great Ditko covers to pull out of the galleries. So more Ditko would be fantastic.
An alternate? Another vote for Nick Cardy,who defined the cover presentation of the DC bronze age. Craig.
I love the Ditko covers. I say go for 100, at least.
Wow!
Thanks for all of your input everyone.
It seems like sticking with the Ditko is a good idea. Let me see if I can run it all the way up to 100 covers.
I think I'll go with Kane - maybe one cover a month. I love Kane (even have a Kane cover at home)and he work over a long enough period of time, in enough genres to keep things very interesting.
Thanks again for all of your input folks!
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