Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
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| Image by Tumisu from Pixabay |
Speke is a well-known suburb of Liverpool.
However, Steve Does Comics has no suburbs. So bustling is it that it has been officially designated 100% Central Business District.
And that business is chat.
For it is not Speke of Liverpool that concerns us tonight.
Rather, it is Speak, of the, "Your brain," variety.
This can only mean one thing.
And that can only be done by posting it in the comments section below.
Therefore, make haste to do so before the opportunity has passed.
What was Gerry Conways finest contribution to comics?
ReplyDeleteCharles, I presume...
ReplyDeleteAvengers # 156, Daredevil # 90, Daredevil # 93 (the outstanding art played no small part in these three, however! )
Phillip
Charlie did not pose the subject to be considered by this venerable crowd of Forward Facing Stalwarts!
ReplyDeleteConway’s biggest achievement was being employed by Marvel to start writing stories for Marvel’s Crown Jewel “Spider Man” at age 19.
Stop and consider that. 19 years old. Incredible.
Charlie, Robert E Howard was 19 when his first story was published in Weird Tales magazine.
ReplyDeleteFair enough. But Weird Tales was likely publishing several stories in a monthly Pulp, judging Buy my collection of pulp comics like amazing adventures, and amazing tales.
DeleteThus whatever risk, Robert E Howard was to weird tales, it was diffused with other stories and art in that monthly issue.
With Marvel and Spider-Man, though, it was all Conway that month and the next 15 or 20 issues after that, As well as the proceeding 10 or so issues.
Conway‘s impact was like the sun, whereas Robert Howard’s was like the moon?
Just my thoughts :)
CH
The Conway Spidermans were brilliant comics BUT.........never really warmed to Andru artwork.Tried to but something angular(is that a word?) about his figures put me off!Probably spoilt with Romita and Kane.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - To me, on Spidey, Ross Andru's quality varied greatly. On # 169, his art was absolutely great - 'Spiderish' - but next issue - Dr.Faustus - Andru's art was poor. Likewise, Sal. Spectacular Spider-man # 3 - great 'spiderish' art. Yet, in other stories - like Tarantula - not good... ( Of course, I read those comics in UK Marvel - I've 'translated' the story issues to the US comics from which they were reprinted! )
ReplyDeletePhillip
Phillip
Different Strokes Department:
DeleteI stopped consistently buying ASM after Conway exited. I didn’t care for Len Wein’s writing on the book and Mike Esposito’s inks didn’t enhance Ross Andru’s pencils the way Frank Giacoia’s had for most of the Conway run.
I think I must not have bought #169, as I have no memory of it. However, I did buy #170 specifically BECAUSE Giacoia was back (for at least one issue) and I thought it looked really good 😊
b.t.
I also didn't like Ross Andrus art on Spider-Man. My favourite Conway story had to be (as Phillip) Daredevil 90 ( stunning art by Colan/Palmer as well). I would add Spider-Man issues 121 and 122 the "Night Gwen Stacey died" and although I haven't read it in years ( and only read my pals copy back in the day) but the Superman / Spider-Man team up has to be up there
ReplyDeleteTo each their own. Andru was drawing ASM when I first started buying the comic (#128 was my first) and while I can’t say he was one of my early “Love At First Sight / Nerd Crushes” (like Kane, Romita, Colan or the Buscema Bros) I did think his strengths far out-weighed his weaknesses and after two or three issues, I was 100% sold. So much so that when John Romita himself steppped in to draw ASM #32, I was actually disappointed!
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo…
b.t.
Had I commented under the last post I'd probably have grumbled about Gerry Conway's take on the New Gods - and maybe 'Conway's Corner' in general, the new titles he edited at DC in '76 - so it's probably just as well I was a bit busy and didn't have the time.
ReplyDeleteTbh for me Conway seemed a fairly 'meat and potatoes' writer, so his work didn't appeal. But then I preferred the more way out comics - the Kirby DCs, Dr Strange, Warlock, that kind of thing - to standard superheroes like Spider-Man anyway, so it's no real reflection on him.
On the subject of comic creators who've recently passed away, I loved the work of the great Belgian writer/artist Hermann Huppen.
https://www.tcj.com/hermann-hero-of-the-hard-boiled-1938-2026/
-sean
Sean… just out of curiosity how long do you think it would take Hermanm to produce a book? Half year?
DeleteCH