John Carter of Mars by Alan Davis

I just discovered that Marvel released a John Carter of Mars Omnibus featuring all the comics they published in the 1970s.

Here is cover and as you could expect, Davis does a superb job capturing Carter, Tars Tarkas, and Barsoom.  Notice that Dejah Thoris here doesn't match the version in the Marvel Comics tales. 

Here is the pencil version of this artwork.  I am not quite sure but I believe that Davis drew this a while back even before the current JC mania in advance of the movie.  Alan writes on his website that "ERB's Mars books have been a favourite for many years and I have often thought about how I might handle the stories. This was one attempt to come up with a slightly different look from the usual comic book versions of the characters."

For more Marvel Comics with John Carter, check out my article on Giant-Size Marvel titled Gil Kane and Dave Cockrum on John Carter Warlord of Mars.  Nuff Said!

Brian Bolland Leads the British Invasion in 1984!

DC Comics brought in a number of great creators from the United Kingdom, starting in 1984, and if you had read any imported comics like 2000 A.D. or Warrior magazine, you were eagerly anticipating their work on mainstream DC heroes.  If it was not obvious what was happening, this cover by Brian Bolland on Amazing Heroes #52 made it very clear.  Judge Dredd, the character who had cracked the American market with superb artwork by Bolland and others, had opened the door for other creators from the UK.

Bolland was almost finished with Camelot 3000 by the time that Amazing Heroes cover was published.  Eleven stellar issues had been published—though we would have to wait about a year for the final issue (#12) to finally appear in 1985.

Dave Gibbons became the regular artist on Green Lantern in 1984, joining writer Len Wein for a series of stories that would see John Stewart take over as Earth’s Green Lantern for a while.

Alan Moore’s first issue of Swamp Thing was cover dated January 1984, meaning that it probably appeared in stores around Oct-Nov 1983.  I remember picking up this issue, without having read any of Moore’s previous work, but willing to give him a chance.  I thought it was a very good story and showed a lot of promise.  My jaw would drop to the ground when I read the next issue (#21) which contained The Anatomy Lesson.  That one prompted me to buy anything and everything written by Moore, including the Warrior magazines with the Marvelman & V for Vendetta stories.

Alan Davis joined a bit later, in 1985, when his stint began on Batman & The Outsiders.  I enjoyed his work on this title, although when I re-read these issues now, his style was a bit rough and his storytelling was yet as “epic” as it would become in later years.

Later in 1988, we got a second wave of creators from the UK.  Jamie Delano started on Hellblazer #1, along with John Ridgway.  Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean’s Black Orchid mini-series was also published in 1988.  It was a revolutionary period for comics fans!  Nuff Said.

Alan Davis: D.R. and Quinch vs Marvelman and Captain Britain!

What would happen if D.R. Quinch took on those other Alan Moore/Alan Davis creations, Marvelman and Captain Britain?

The result wouldn’t be pretty.  Those alien nerds would definitely win, as you can see from this amusing 1985 Amazing Heroes cover by Alan Davis.

While the Marvelman and Captain Britain stories are well known, I suspect many fans haven’t read the D.R. and Quinch stories by Moore/Davis during 1983-85.  The stories are very funny, weird, and slightly juvenile, in a good way.  Nuff Said!

Alan Davis Legion of Super-Heroes covers

In the 1990s, Alan Davis did a series of covers for DC Comics' Legion of Super-Heroes series.  Davis captured the youth and high spirited nature of these characters in a way that perfectly fit them.  I thought I read in an interview that Davis did these covers in part because his inker, Mark Farmer, was a big Legion fan?

I saved a number of these Legion covers from various previews (was it DC Online at AOL?) sans any cover logos.

During this mid-1990s storyline, the Legion were divided.  One half was marooned on present day Earth, the other remained in the future.  The cover to issue #85 showed that the team was about to encounter Metropolis' most famous resident.  This version of Superman had little connection to the Legion--something that Geoff Johns has rectified lately.

The Metal Men guest starred in issue 95.  I love the look on Tin's face as Brainiac 5 gets ready for a closer look at his responsometer.

Deadman appeared in issue 87, to help rescue Phantom Girl from Limbo.

Looking back at these covers, I'm noticing how often Light Lass is featured prominently.  This issue resolved a love triangle between Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, and Light Lass.  Of course, they had to fight over a man,.  Never mess with Saturn Girl!

Ferro Lad in this incarnation of the Legion was quite cute.  Issue 94 was about his crush on another team member.  I think this issue was published in February, given all the hearts.

This wonderful double page spread to LSH #100 shows the separate Legion teams being re-united when the "back to the past" storyline came to a conclusion.

This cover shows the Legion flying off into the sunset, carrying the Legion flag.  The founding members Cosmic Boy, Lighting Lad, and Saturn Girl are show front and center.

You can see a few more Legion covers here on Flickr.  Nuff said.