Because You Asked For It (Kinda Sorta): The Art of Arthur 'Art' Adams

 

Keep your Todd McFarlanes, your Rob Liefelds, your Erik Larsens, your Jim Lees (the very last of whom I am, admittedly a total Stan). 

Art Adams is the mother fawkin' man. You know it. I know it. Your mama knows it. 

The guy draws beauties, beasts and spandex bedecked superheroes like nobody's business. 

Oh, and gorillas. Adams really has this thing for drawing gorillas. (We all have our kink don't we?)

Since 1984, when he turned pro, he's been producing work at a level that, pencil for pencil, very few in the industry can rival. And some of his early stuff almost pales to the work he's been producing since the late 1990s.  

I mean,  yeah. He's slow and meticulous––which is why his name doesn't rank higher than it does in the pantheon of comic book artists with legions of fans. 

He's never done an extended run on Spider-Man, X-Men, New Mutants, X-Force or...Batman. But he plays to his strengths, which are shorter stories in anthologies like Tom Strong's Terrific Tales, limited series like the X-Men affiliated Longshot and artistically breathtaking Ultimate X. 

And let's not forget the his creator-owned Monkey Man and O'brien published by Dark Horse. The beloved comic book duo who, by the way, made their debut in the back pages of Hellboy: See of Destruction #1. 

For the last few years, most of the work he's been turning in are covers for various Marvel titles, because Marvel knows what they've got, and Art Adams cover art is an attention grabber. 

If DC Comics was smart, they'd tie Adams down to a chair, pay him a bajillion dollars to illustrate 12-issues of a new title they're ready to launch into the stratosphere (uh, about 24 months into the future) and then wait patiently for the magic to happen. 

A long run on a flagship book is the only thing missing from his resume, and keeping a great artist from being really really great. 

But...then again. Greatness is overrated. 

Doing what you love how you want is what's really great, right?

Art Adams is a total draftsman. An artist's artist. And the work this man produces, even when the subject is a repulsive looking monster, is always a thing of beauty. 

 

But as LeVar Burton on his Reading Rainbow TV show used to say: You don't just have take my word for it! 

Buh-dun-dunh!

Collector's Gon' Collect: Arthur Adams

Yo, the homie Darrell D has been living his best friggin' life recently by expanding his impressive Richard Corben comic book collection (and taking us all along for the journey via weekly vlogs on YouTube). 

His passion towards this righteous effort has recently inspired me to do the same, but as it pertains to the comic book works of artist Arthur Adams. 

Oh, and no. Not to vlog (nah, not my thing...yet), but to go diggin' for the "weird, startling, uncanny" stuff that my collection is missing!

Although I have a few different artists who make my "favorites" list, Adams, who first made his splash in comics back in 1984, has probably been on my list the longest. I certainly have more of his work represented in my collection than anyone else, so I wanted to honor that by filling in some gaps in my already extensive Adams library. 

One of the biggest gaps has been Urban Legends #1, a black and white anthology comic produced by Dark Horse back in 1993 that somehow escaped my notice until fairly recently. The issue features a gorgeous 1-page submission by Adams documenting a once über popular urban legend about the 1966 film King Kong vs. Godzilla. (All of us kaiju geeks believed it was true.)

How this work by Adams slid by me is a friggin' Area 54-Level mystery. I mean, when it comes to comics and whatnot, Paco stays in these streets! So I'm utterly mystified as to how I missed out on it––and for nearly 30 years! [Que Twilight Zone theme]

Anywho, Adams is the man who, maybe more than all others, was born to draw kaiju (giant monsters). His comic books featuring Godzilla, in particular, make up some of the most treasured gems in my collection. So it was an absolute must that I begin this current foray filling in the Adams-related gaps in my stash with this book.

And the price was right, too, so you can't be that. 

Oh, ironically, Urban Legends #1 also feature cover art by Dan Clowes (Eightball, GhostWorld), whose name came up recently on one of Darrell D's related vlogs on underground comics. D isn't particularly a fan of Clowe's work, so I had to laugh to myself,  considering the timing of that vlog and this post.

So on that note, True Believers, if you're interested...click here to peep the homie's Darrell D's latest haul of Underground COMIX, or click here to follow his wondrous journey into the world of Richard Corben comics. 

And if you, like I, are an Art Adams fanboy who missed out on Urban Legends #1, look for your copy wherever fine comics are sold. 

Is Spider-Gwen #0 Really Worth the High Prices it's Fetching on eBay? (Nope.)

Hey there, True Believers! 

Believe it or not, the article that I'm linking here was actually published two years ago. 

Regrettably, I didn't share it here because it's a bit more niche, having been written specifically for the comic book collecting community and speculators. So it was shared only thru Facebook.  

Because the comic book in question was just being discussed again today in a Facebook group I'm in, I decided to read my piece again. And I realize now that I may have underestimated its broader appeal. 

I mean, if I do say so myself, it's some pretty hilarious writing. Really informative, as was intended, but often hilarious, too. I really think I should write like that much more often than I do! LOL

In fact, I've even been thinking about maybe starting another blog devoted mainly to comics 'n' such. And the piece linked here captures the overall vibe I'd like it have when I do finally get around to doing it.

So enjoy this blast from the past! (And glimpse at the future.)

Do You Love Harley Quinn? Thank a TV Soap Opera for Her Existence

 "In the early 1990s, Paul Dini was making a living as a freelance screenwriter on the Kids’ WB cartoon show Batman: The Animated Series. While hashing out story elements for a new episode that would feature Batman villain The Joker and his criminal henchmen, Dini was hit with a novel notion..."

To read all about it, click here.

16 Times Comic Book Artists Totally Rocked Rock Music Album Cover Art [Hot Linked]

Artist: Todd McFarlane • Image Credit: Epic Records, Marvel Comics 

The long wait for a new post is finally over, kids! Exhaustively curated here for your viewing pleasure is a new spine-tingling listicle revealing 16 times comic book artists rocked rock music cover art.

That Cool Thing That Happened Back in November (that I Somehow Forgot to Mention)

This was cool. And for the life of me, I can't imagine how the heck I forgot to post this Facebook screenshot back in November, when the article was first published on Vocal. But I did. (Whoopsie!)

Anywho, there it is, True Believer. Ain't it cool?!?! Yeah, super cool. 

Also, I decided a few days ago to move the article from Vocal over to Medium, so if you're lookin' for it–cuz you were, perhaps, too busy or too cool to read it the first time–you can find it by clicking here. 

Today Was A Good Day

"Today, I didn't even have to use my AK. I gotta say it was a good day." – Ice Cube

16 Times Comic Book Artists Absolutely Rocked Hip-Hop Album Cover Art [Hot Linked]

Image Credit: Def Jam, Marvel Comics

"Exhaustively curated here for your viewing pleasure is a senses-shattering listicle showing 16 times comic book artists rocked hip-hop music cover art."

'Prince: Alter Ego' Comic Book

Prince: Alter Ego

Publisher: Piranha Press/DC Comics

Date: October 1991

Writer: Dwayne McDuffie

Artists: Denys Cowan and Kent Williams

Cover: Brian Bolland

Synopsis: "A fantasy story in which Prince is locked in mortal combat with a man from his past who can turn music into the greatest destructive force the world has ever seen."

Ode to Underground Cartoonist Vaughn Bode

"The desire to reinterpret Vaughn Bode’s distinctive cartoon style was hardly limited to the underground realms of graffiti. In 1977, Bode’s work also inspired the production of the animated fantasy film Wizards, directed by Lord of the Rings animator Ralph Bakshi." 

Note: "Ode to Underground Cartoonist Vaughn Bode" was originally published in Kung Fu Grip!#2. The text has recently been reformatted for publication on Medium. To check out the remixed and remastered director's cut, click here. 

Harley Quinn #59 (Variant Cover Edition)

Hey Puddin'!

'Memba when I mentioned back in January that a sweet Harley Quinn fan art piece done by singapore-based artist Derrick Chew, that I'd given the top spot in the fan art listicle I published to geeks.media, was used by DC Comics for the cover of Harley Quinn #58?

Well, I'm very happy to announce that another piece he did – that I'd also used for my listicle – will be featured on the cover of Harley Quinn #59 (street date: 3/6/19)! As stated previously, I'm not going as far as to presume that my article had anything to do with its selection by DC, but I'm beyond thrilled for Chew...and I hope that it did.

Happy Belated 80th, Count Dante!

February 2, 2019 marked what would have been the 80th birthday of the man once known as Count Dante (1939-1975). Having grown up in the golden age of martial arts movies reading comics–where Dante's most famous ad for his martial arts system appeared–the Count holds a special place in my heart, and in the hearts of countless others. 

In the fall of 2004 I wrote an essay on Count Dante and published it in the first issue of Kung Fu Grip zine. Sometime last year, I decided that I should probably transfer that piece to the web. As coincidence would have it, a fellow Gen-Xer who both read and liked the piece invited me onto his podcast on February 1st to talk about the infamous cult figure. It was a fun chat.  

I'll post a link to the show when its edited and uploaded to the web in a couple of weeks. But in the meantime, if you've never read "Man, You Come Right Out Of A Comic Book," you can check it out the essay by clicking here. 

Harley Quinn #58 (Variant Cover Edition)

Hey Puddin'!

Yours truly gave the fan art piece by singapore-based artist Derrick Chew (seen above and below) the top spot in a short Harley Quinn fan art listicle that I published to geeks.media sometime back (give it a peep by clicking here). So it was super effin' cool to learn just now that it's gonna be used by DC Comics as a special variant cover for Harley Quinn #58 (street date: 2/6/19). I won't go as far as to presume that my article really had anything to do with its selection by DC, but I'm tremendously happy for Chew...and I low key hope that it did.

The Incredible Hulk vs Man-Thing!

Incredible Hulk issue 197 (March 1976). Cover by Bernie Wrightson.

One of the great things about comics is that somehow–even having lived through the Bronze Age–there's still so many cool books that I've never even seen. Wow.

Wonders Never Cease: Nubia Fan Art Echoes 40-Year Love Affair With DC's Most Underrated Character

Believe it or not, it's really much closer to 45 years that Nubia — DC Comics' shamefully underused Amazon warrior — has existed. For more than half that time, I myself have viewed the character as being the biggest missed opportunity in the history of DC, a publisher that once lagged noticeably behind its rival Marvel Comics, in terms of a racially diverse roster of heroes.

It's somewhat dumbfounding when you consider the fact that Nubia was one of the very first black super-powered characters when introduced into Wonder Woman, Issue 204 in 1973. This was two years after the first appearance of the Green Lantern John Stewart, and two years before Storm of the X-Men. Today, those latter two characters are among fandom's most popular superheroes.

[Credit: DC Comics]

With so early an introduction into the pantheon of the super-powered, Nubia was perfectly positioned to someday ascend to a place of prominence in comics history. But sadly, in a country where the two big "isms" still rear their puss-filled heads almost as much today as when the character was created, that was never to be. Nubia wasn't given much of a chance at all, really.

And Yet She Persisted

WonderWoman's fraternal twin, formed of dark of clay by her mother Queen Hippolyta — in contrast to the light clay from which Diana was formed — essentially vanished after the three-issue story arc in which she was introduced. In 1974, the year after her creation, she had a small role in Supergirl Issue 9, but was then quietly ushered into the blank pages of obscurity.

Nubia's lasting place in the minds of many fans is more largely owed to a doll made by the Mego Corporation in 1977, when the Wonder Woman TV show was at the height of its popularity. The 12-inch Nubia action doll, outfitted in silver armor and a purple skirt, with a sword and shield accessories, looked as if it had sprung right from comics and into the toy isle.

Meet Mel Milton

In the first week of June, I had the pleasure of wrting about the internet-breaking fan art of Marcus Williams. Today, I am just as pleased to introduce you to the gorgeous, Nubia-centric illustrations of artist Mel Milton, who has been producing a variety of Wonder Woman drawings that every fan just needs to gawk at.

Milton, by the way, is a former artist/animator for Disney — and it shows. His vivacious cartoon women echo many of the distinctive style elements that one might associate with the protagonists of modern-day animated Disney classics, like Mulan, Atlantis, Lilo & Stitch, and The Princess and the Frog.

Sketch No. 5: Nubia [Credit: melmade.blogspot.com]

On June 6, 2017, in anticipation of seeing the justifiably much-hyped film about the amazing Amazon, Milton sketched out a portrait of Wonder Woman. The next day he produced another sketch of the character, and over subsequent days, the work expanded into a series of wonderful art pieces dedicated to the heroic princess of Paradise Island.

Milton has described the series as his "personal Wonder Woman challenge." Along with an assortment of drawings of Diana, the fifth, 13th, 16th and 22nd sketches are illustrations offering the artist's wondrous interpretations of the Amazon warrior Nubia. I won't waste a single keystroke trying to describe 'em. The pictures themselves paint a thousand words.

Sketch No. 13: Nubia [Credit: melmade.blogspot.com]

To Infinity And Beyond

Fans of Milton's work have been understandably wonderstruck by the full series of Wonder Woman illustrations. So much so that they've been requesting the opportunity to purchase the original drawings, prints — anything at all. And fortunately for us, Mr. Milton has decided to collect them into a keepsake sketchbook that, when ready, should take our collective breath away.

Sketch No. 22: Nubia [Credit: melmade.blogspot.com

For those who don't follow comics much, it's worth mentioning that in recent months, DC has introduced an "all-new and all-different" fraternal twin for Diana who's not brown-skinned, but white and male. That's right, as if there's anything out of the ordinary about a character fitting that description anywhere at all in the nearly 80-year history of comic books.

Nevertheless, it was the true uniqueness of a character in comics like Nubia — and with some extra help from a groundbreaking toy — that DC's other Wonder Woman made an impression on geek culture that has resonated out of the old school of Generation X and into the new school of the millennial. And if nothing else, Nubia's enduring (and still expanding) fandom just goes to show that you can't keep a good character down.

Sketch No. 16: Nubia [Credit: melmade.blogspot.com

Suffering Sappho! This 'Wonder Women' Fan Art Is Breaking The Internet

[Credit: @marcusthevisual]

As the hit DCEU movie Wonder Woman was in its fourth day of breaking the US box office this past weekend, Atlanta-based illustrator Marcus Williams (Tuskegee Heirs) started breaking the internet — or Facebook and Twitter, at least — by posting a spine-tingling tribute to WonderWoman and her largely forgotten fraternal twin sister, Nubia.

And as you can see, the artwork is wondrous.

Due to popular demand voila. Wonder Women Nubia & Diana
Posters are available  Also Shirts. https://t.co/8rwRHr1Qf9 pic.twitter.com/PuMYA0J3Ht

— marcus williams (@marcusthevisual) June 4, 2017

On June 2, a pulse-pounding preview of this now full-color work was shared in the form of a pencil sketch of Nubia and Diana. That piece showed off the pure form of fine line work for which Williams is becoming well known, especially due to his remarkable renditions of fan favorite comic book heroines like Storm, Captain Marvel, Psylocke, and too many others to name.

At the time the sketch was posted, Williams was just showing his enthusiastic support of the then-upcoming Wonder Woman film. Fans of the artist's work were quick to show their enthusiastic support of his enthusiastic support!

Yet, there were also many new school comic book fans who weren't aware that Diana had ever had a sister, aside from Donna Troy of the Teen Titans, let alone a black fraternal twin. But, once upon a time, she did indeed have one.

I offer a sketch of two Wonder Women (Nubia and Diana) to show my support for the film. Peace ya'll.#WonderWoman pic.twitter.com/L5Vg9WLeQ1

— marcus williams (@marcusthevisual) June 3, 2017

In February of 1973, during the rise in popularity of blaxploitation films like Shaft, Coffy, Black Caesar and many others, DC Comics showed themselves as "hip to the times" by introducing the Amazon warrior Nubia, with whom Diana duels in issue #204 of Wonder Woman. But Diana — who'd just recovered from amnesia — had no idea who her tall, dark and lovely adversary actually was. The same was also true of her book's readers.

By way of a flashback in Wonder Woman #206, it was revealed that Nubia and Diana were twin sisters, formed as babes from dark and light clay by their mother Queen Hippolyta, and animated into life by the breath of the Goddess Aphrodite. After their miraculous creation however, the God of War Mars appeared and stole Nubia away from her mother and sister.

[Credit: DC Comics]

In the mid-1980s, DC Comics released the popular but also controversial series, Crisis on Infinite Earths. This complex story would serve as a reset button of sorts for the publisher's then-sprawling, multi-dimensional universe. Many of the plot twists that came about in the ensuing years since Wonder Woman and her peers were first created in the 1940s and onward were erased.

Among those countless casualties was Nubia's audacious origin, which left the character being just one of many Amazons on Paradise Island with no special relation to Diana and Hippolyta. The ripple in Wonder Woman's continuity created in 1973 by writer Cary Bates and artist Don Heck never faded, and the appreciation of this little known Amazon warrior endures.

In fitting tribute to that now classic tale of the "Wonder Women," Nubia and her fraternal twin sister Diana — as they forever remain in the minds of many old school comic book collectors — have been given a picture perfect family reunion in a gorgeous work of fan art by Marcus Williams.

[Credit: @marcusthevisual]

Though Nubia has never really had the place in comics that her character deserves, the vision of this talented artist from Atlanta makes you realize that it would be some kind of wonderful to see the separated twin sisters together again on the silver screen in Patty Jenkins' senses-shattering sequel to Wonder Woman — even if only for a moment.

What say you, Patty J? Do you wanna break the box office again?

Vintage Friday Foster Sunday comics half-page, circa 1972 (Oh, it's okay, fam, act like you knew.)

[Flashback] Marvel Comics X Bathing Ape Limited Edition Sneakers!*

*Originally published on the KFG Myspace blog, circa 2005  

No matter how old you get, there will always be something that can bring out the kid in you. For example, right now the Japan-based clothing brand Bathing Ape has got me feeling like a Spider-Man Underoos-wearing 10 year old. Winter of 2005 will bring the staggered release of "Bape's" new limited-edition sneakers line Bape X Marvel, inspired by the characters that we all know-n-love from the pulse-pounding pages of Marvel comic books.

The shoes in the Bape X Marvel line are coordinated in the bright, primary color palate of our favorite characters: the patriotic red, white and blue of Captain America, the red and gold of Iron Man, and the green and purple of the Hulk, to name a few, with the Bape shooting star logo variously integrated on the side. On the right heel of each sneaker appears one of the old Marvel logos, and featured on the left heel is the classic "floating head" motif––a design staple found on the covers and inside the pages of Marvel books in the late 1960s and early '70s.

As if producing such a cool shoe line wasn't already a big enough coup, for an added measure of design genius, the sneakers from the Bape X Marvel line will come packaged on carded blister packs––the packaging type used on action figures since the days of Mego toys. The card itself is also gorgeously embellished with vintage images drawn by artists from the old school Marvel Comics bullpen like Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Byrne, and many other legends.

In line with the adage that sez' that the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys, the prices on the Bape X Marvel sneakers will run in the usual $100-$300 range that Bape's limited-edition sneakers usually inhabit. But if you've been really good at being bad, then go ahead and spoil yourself with a pair of these super cool kicks. Just like the comic books that inspired them, the shoes in the Bape X Marvel line are destined to go up in value, sentimental and otherwise.

[Bookshelf] The Collected Works of Vaughn Bode

In the early days of Ebay, I flipped this super vintage poster of a sexy centaur woman by the late comic book artist Vaughn Bode (1940-1975) that I'd found in a local bookstore. But I'll probably never part with the five trade paperbacks in my collection that feature Bode's collected comic book works. Published by Fantagraphics Books, these stellar trades contain classic strips by Bode culled from various self-published underground comix as well as comic strips that the cartoonist produced for several magazines, including National Lampoon's, Heavy Metal, and Witzend. Some of the trades from Fantagraphics' Bode Erotica series (4 volumes) are a little harder to find now for a reasonable price, but the Cheech Wizard, Deadbone and Junkwaffel trades can usually be found for around retail price. A must have for underground comix historians and students of old school graffiti art. Collect 'em all if you're cool like that, or just stick with the two Cheech Wizard volumes to get a sample of Bode's genius.