PORTFOLIO: Val Semeiks

Val Semeiks has worked on Conan for Marvel and Demon and Lobo for DC Comics, and has more recently worked on Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight.  Val's professional career in comics began in 1986.  Here's a pin-up piece he did in 1989 featuring the popular characters of Conan, Batman and Demon.

COVER GALLERY: Flash Gordon # 1 by Al Williamson

Cover Gallery: Marvel Fanfare # 6 by P. Craig Russell

Spider-man: Skating on Thin Ice

This title was produced under the direction of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police with the co-operation of the Alliance for a Drug-Free Canada!  Sporting a great cover by Todd McFarlane (possibly the only Canadian involved), the interior was written by Dwayne McDuffie, penciled by Alex Suviuk, inked by Christopher Ivy and colored by Gregory Wright.  Bob Budiansky and Tom DeFalco were editors.  Presented here are the front and back covers of this comic, which was given away free at Canadian schools. 

Not sure of the number of issues that were released; we know of at least 2 issues and we'll get more art online from these unusual items soon!

Cover Gallery: Hulk King-Size Special # 1 by Jim Steranko

I was knocked out when this hot cover by Steranko appeared on the stands in 1968!  One of the most powerful and best renditions of the Hulk ever done!

TRIVIA MATTERS: Jack Kirby Convention Pin-Up!

A Jack Kirby pin-up featuring Dr. Doom that was distributed to Phil Seuling organized comic-cons back in 1978!

PORTFOLIO: Mike Nasser and Rick McCullum

Mike Nasser is an American comic-book penciler of Lebanese origins. Changed his name to Michael Netzer in the 1980s... He worked with Marvel, DC Comics and other publishers in the `70s, `80s and `90s, on titles such as Howard the Duck, Superboy and Detective Comics.  Here's one of his own creations from 1977: Starspawn, which was a series of 4 black and white prints, each telling a phase of the story.

Rick McCollum has been called the Kirby of the fanzine world!  His most often used inker, Bill Anderson, said McCollum’s work was “light years away from what everyone else was doing,” and that his pencils were “the best of both worlds, very tight but open to interpretation.” Here's a pin-up illo by McCollum and Anderson from 1989!

PORTFOLIO: Charles Vess and Ernie Colon

Charles Vess is an award winning American fantasy artist and comic-book illustrator who has specialized in the illustration of myths and fairy tales. Illustrator Arthur Rackham has been a major influence on Vess' work.  Vess has worked for Marvel and DC, among others and his work includes the Spider-Man: Spirits of the Earth (a 1990 graphic novel from Marvel), and a 10- issue run (#129-139) as cover artist of The Swamp Thing from DC Comics in 1993.  Here's a pen and ink piece from 1977:

Ernie Colón is an American comics artist who has worked for a host of comics companies, including Marvel and DC.  Colón's many credits include Arak, Son of Thunder and Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld for DC Comics; Damage Control and Doom 2099 for Marvel Comics. Ernie Colón started out at Harvey Comics where he worked on Richie Rich and Casper the Friendly Ghost.  Here's an illustration featuring the Burrough's character, John Carter of Mars, from 1978:

CLASSIC COVER: Hulk # 197

Hulk #197 (1975) was the first meeting between The Hulk and Man-Thing!  And this classic cover is by none other than Berni Wrightson!

"DECODING STERANKO"

"Decoding Steranko" is an excellent exploration of Steranko's work and what he was attempting in his comics; and includes a discussion with Steranko! 

If you like Steranko's art or just want to learn more about the art of comics continuity, this article is well worth taking a look at! 

Here's the link: "Decoding Steranko" by James Romberger

CLASSIC COVER: Red Sonja # 1

NOW AND THEN: Artist Dave Ross

Dave Ross is a Canadian comics artist who has mainly worked for American comics publishers like Marvel, DC and Dark Horse. Dave has worked on such Marvel titles as "Avengers West Coast", "Marvel Knights: Daredevil" and "The Inhumans".  At DC, he has worked on "JLA", "Batman and the Outsiders" and "Birds of Prey", to name a few. Here's some of Dave's recent work:

Commissioned piece featuring Iron Man vs. Kang the Conqueror

Penciled page from "Star Wars"

Dave's first published work however, was in Canada.  He wrote and illustrated a 5-page story which appeared in Gamut # 3 (1978) , published by Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario Canada, where Dave was taking the Graphic Story/Sequential Arts course at the time. And here's Dave's first published story:

Classic Cover for Today: Amazing Spider-Man # 28

Classic Cover for Today: Fantastic Four # 33

Classic Cover for Today: Conan the Barbarian # 16