Friday, January 07, 2011

Giant Cat Covers

To be perfectly accurate, sometimes it's a matter of a person shrinking and the cat remaining the same size, but you get the general idea. Giant cats make for great cover subjects. Here are a few prime examples:

Let's begin with the cover to Atom #21 (Oct-Nov, 1965) by Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson. From angry birds to wristwatches, Ray Palmer faced plenty of daunting foes during the 60s but none was quite as menacing as this sharp clawed ginger cat. Gil Kane gives the kitty a demonic face. I really find that the Atom's costume looks quite strange without that belt. It's really too bad that 'Flake Off' never really made its way into lexicon.

Next up is a rare cover from the a post-Code Ajax-Farrell series. Strange #2 (June, 1957) is not a book with which I aim terribly familiar. I've only owned a handful of A-F books over the years, and I've always had a tough time placing their artists, as I know much of it came from the Iger studio but I haven't a clue who worked their at this time. All I know is that this is one weird looking cat. It is quite poorly rendered, but I must admit that there is something hypnotizing about those giant yellow eyes.

When I was a kid, nothing freaked me out more than re-runs of Land of the Giants. I don't think I've seen any episode for 30+ years, but I remember the sense of tension I always felt while watching it. I'm guessing that it doesn't hold up all that well, so I may just leave it as a memory. I have never owned an issue of this series, but since the Bails Who's Who tells me that it features Tom Gill artwork, I sure really get my hands on them. The cover to Land of the Giants #3 (March, 1969) features another ill tempered ginger cat. What's with them? Why can't they just chill out like Rhubarb, the Millionaire Cat?

The cover to Detective Comics #311 (January, 1963) is a bit different, as it features a giant mechanical cat. The New Look Batman isn't that far around the corner and the days of him fighting cats, whether they be Catwoman trained or jungle denizens, were nearly over. The GCD currently has this credited as a Dillin/Moldoff collaboration, but I don't quite buy it. Anyone have a definitive answer?

I'll sign off with the terrific cover to Adventures Into the Unknown #135 (September, 1962). I really like how this cat is mostly a silhouette, with just the single paw smashing through the glass. Also, it's only described as a 'thing' and it actually looks part-werewolf, but let's assume for the time being that it is actually a cat. As each year passes, my love for Ogden Whitney grows stronger.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Here's a favorite of mine:

http://www.comics.org/issue/18729/cover/4/

Scott Lovrine, aka Cherokee Jack

Scott M said...

That's a great one, Scott.