Pencil Ink comic book blog: art and artists 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 
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"Wonder Woman battles an octopus"Aurora comic book ad, 1960s - I believe these are the first Aurora plastic models of DC superheroes. The ad coincides with the popular Batman television show. Published in Showcase #62.- - - - - - - - - -Home / Ads
Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #187 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories v1 #187, 1956 - Uncle Scrooge tests the business acumen of his two closest relatives, Donald Duck and Gladstone Gander. When Donald takes over a featherbed company, what could go wrong? Carl Barks' storytelling is terrific, during his most inspired decade. Standing out in particular are the scenes of door-to-door salesmanship, as each customer finds fault with the product. Other artists in this golden age comic include Paul Murry. This is 147 of 280 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories issues by Barks. - - - - - - - - - - Untitled Barks story pencils and inks 10 pages = *** Carl Barks - - - - - - - - - - Home / Barks / Walt Disney's Comics and Stories / Dell ebay >this issue >Walt Disney's Comics and Stories Barks >comics >books(This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)
Seduction of the Innocent #2 - Alex Toth reprint
Seduction of the Innocent #2 Seduction of the Innocent v1 #2, 1985 - Continuing its reprints of 1950s horror tales, this issue contains early works by Jack Katz and Nick Cardy. Also included is a memorable story by Alex Toth, originally from Adventures into Darkness #5. Other artists in this copper age comic include Ruben Moreira and Murphy Anderson (all reprints). - - - - - - - - - - Home / Toth / Seduction of the Innocent / Eclipseebay >this comicToth >comics >books(This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)
Tomahawk #128 - Neal Adams cover
Neal AdamsTomahawk v1 #128, 1970 - Atypically, a supporting character takes center stage on this well-drawn Neal Adams cover. The perspective of the captured heroes leads directly to the doctor. The campfire illuminates his face, adding further drama. Why he's referred to as "black doctor" as opposed to just "doctor" seems representative of the times. Other artists in this bronze age comic include Frank Thorne. This is 11 of 13 Tomahawk issues by Adams. - - - - - - - - - - Adams cover pencils and inks = *** - - - - - - - - - - Home / Adams / Tomahawk / DCebay >this comicAdams >comics >books(This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)
Beetle Bailey / Four Color v2 #469 - 1st appearance
Beetle Baily / Four Color v2 #469Beetle Bailey v1 / Four Color v2 #469 (#1), 1953 - First appearing as a comic strip in 1950, Beetle Bailey makes his comics debut with this first issue. Written and drawn by Mort Walker, the comedic antics of this Army private were usually set in the fictitious Camp Swampy. Constantly on his case for his laziness is Sergeant Snorkel, his commanding officer and primary antagonist. Cover by Walker. /// key 1st appearance in comics, 1st cover Beetle Bailey, 1st issue- - - - - - - - - -Untitled 12 pages+ other storiesBeetle Baily / Four Color v2 #469- - - - - - - - - -Home / Beetle Bailey / Dellebay >this comic(This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)
Strange Tales #159 - Jim Steranko art & cover
Jim Steranko Strange Tales v1 #159 featuring Nick Fury & Doctor Strange, 1967 - In a brief respite from saving the world, Nick Fury reviews Shield's underground training academy. An unexpected visit from Captain America leads to a man-to-man combat exercise. This is Jim Steranko's first rendition of Cap, a precursor to his later work with the character. In an attempt to add more realism, the artist uses a high contrast photograph for the background in the first two panels. The duel between Cap and Fury is terrific, but more static scenes such as Nick's apartment (see interior page below) are equally engaging. Other artists in this issue include Marie Severin and Herb Trimpe. This is 9 of 18 Strange Tales issues by Steranko. /// Steranko gallery - - - - - - - - - - Steranko cover pencils and inks = *** "Spy School" Steranko story pencils and inks 12 pages = *** Jim Steranko - - - - - - - - - - Home / Steranko / Strange Tales / Marvelebay >this comic >Strange TalesSteranko >comics >books(This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)
Bernie Wrightson original art - Eerie #62 page
Bernie WrightsonOriginal page from Eerie v3 #62, 1970s. Note how the printed version was flipped and Wrightson's signature on the lower right was deleted.- - - - - - - - - -Home / Original art / Wrightson / Eerieebay Wrightson >comics >books(This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)
Our Army at War #236 - Joe Kubert cover & reprint
Joe Kubert Our Army at War v1 #236 featuring Sgt. Rock, 1971 - An uncommonly eerie cover begins this bronze age war issue. Joe Kubert combines two different rendering techniques (perhaps charcoal?) to separate the foreground and background. As usual, Sgt. Rock is the focal point despite multiple visual elements. No new stories by the artist inside, despite the 52 pages. "The Empty Cockpit", however, is an earlier Kubert tale which first appeared in Captain Storm #3. Other artists in this bronze age comic include Russ Heath, Frank Thorne, John Costanza and John Severin. This is 170 of 236 Our Army at War issues by Kubert. - - - - - - - - - - Kubert cover pencils and inks = ***- - - - - - - - - - Home / Kubert / Our Army at War / DCebay >this comic >Our Army at War Kubert >comics >books(This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)
Grandma Duck's Farm Friends - comic series checklist?
- - - - - - - - - -Grandma Duck's Farm Friends v1Dell 1957-62 Four Color v2 763 (#1)Four Color v2 873, 965 Four Color v2 1010 - Barks art Four Color v2 1073 - Barks art & cover Four Color v2 1161 - Barks art Four Color v2 1279 - - - - - - - - - -Home / Dell
Opus #2 by Barry Windsor Smith
Barry Windsor Smith Opus book #2, 1999 - Like the previous volume, Opus 2 contains some of Barry Smith's finest paintings, drawings and sketches over the course of a long career. The artist shares more about his history and philosophy, leaving a tad less room for artwork than before. Regardless, the body of work shown is magnificent in its scope and execution. Smith shares a few insights with his early comic book work, notably his "Red Nails" saga in the magazine-formatted Savage Tales. For me, some of the most fascinating parts of the book are the rough sketches, revealing the artist's thought processes and approach. See also Opus #1. Barry Windsor Smith - - - - - - - - - - Home / Smith ebay >this book Smith >comics >books(This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)
Southern Bastards #1 - 1st issue
Southern Bastards #1Southern Bastards v1 #1, 2014 - Earl Tubb returns to his hometown in Craw County, Alabama for the first time in forty years. Only there for three days to sell the family house, he's quickly reminded of the violence and corruption that drove him away in the first place. This first issue, written by Jason Aaron and drawn by Jason Latour, sets an ominous tone for the rest of this gripping series Cover by Latour. /// key 1st issue- - - - - - - - - -"Here Was a Man" 28 pagesSouthern Bastards #1- - - - - - - - - -Home / Southern Bastards / Imageebay >this comic(This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)
The Flying Nun #1 - 1st issue
The Flying Nun #1The Flying Nun v1 #1, 1968 - The misadventures of the Sister Bertrille make their way into comic books. Curiously, this young nun discovers her ability to fly, to the surprise of her entire convent. This one-shot issue follows the 1967 television show starring Sally Field, Marge Redmond and Alejandro Rey. All stories were drawn by Henry Scarpelli. Photo cover. /// key 1st issue- - - - - - - - - -"Lost at Sea" 17 pages& other storiesThe Flying Nun #1- - - - - - - - - -Home / Flying Nun / Dellebay >this comic(This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)
Power Pack #52 - Al Williamson art
Power Pack #52 Power Pack v1 #52, 1989 - On board the Doomsday Machine, the Power Pack and their allies must stop the Snarks' Queen Mother at all costs. Unlike the previous issues, Al Williamson inks the entire story. Some pages fare better than others, but the artist overall brings a sophistication usually attributed to more established superhero books. Incidentally, this issue is also the end of the (relatively long) series. This is 3 of 3 Power Pack issues by Williamson. - - - - - - - - - - "The Bitter End" Williamson story inks (Mike Manley pencils) 24 pages = ***Al Williamson - - - - - - - - - - Home / Williamson / Power Pack / Marvelebay >this comic Williamson >comics >books(This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)
Uncle Scrooge #24 - Carl Barks art & cover
Carl Barks Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge v1 #24, 1959 - Of the three Carl Barks stories that reside in this issue, the lead feature is one of my personal favorites. Scientists discover a second moon revolving around the Earth, and determine it's made of solid gold. Uncle Scrooge, a wealthy Rajah, and a Texas oilman race through space to claim it as their own. The majority of scenes are in space and aboard spaceships, but Barks utilizes larger panels as needed for scale. The two remaining Barks tales, though shorter, are also enjoyable and well written. "The Twenty Four Carat Moon" was reprinted in Uncle Scrooge #135 and Walt Disney Comics Digest #6, the Gyro Gearloose tale in Uncle Scrooge #113. This is 24 of 70 Uncle Scrooge issues by Barks. - - - - - - - - - - Barks cover pencils and inks = **"The Twenty Four Carat Moon" Barks story pencils and inks 20 pages = ****Gyro Gearloose Cyclone Hill story Barks pencils and inks 4 pages = ***"The Magic Ink" Barks story pencils and inks 6 pages = *** Carl Barks - - - - - - - - - - Home / Barks / Uncle Scrooge / Dellebay >this comic Barks >comics >booksUncle Scrooge >comics >collectibles >books+magazines >movies+tv >toys+games(This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)
All-Star Western #64 - Alex Toth art
All Star Western #64All-Star Western v1 #64, 1952 - An impersonator convinces a local sheriff that he's the Roving Ranger, while the real one winds up behind bars. This is Alex Toth's final effort on the series, which is as mediocre as his previous issues. His title page lacks any depth or interest. However, certain pages show Toth trying a more graphic approach (see page below) that would later become one of the hallmarks of his work. Other artists in this golden age comic include Carmine Infantino. This is 6 of 6 All-Star Western issues by Toth. - - - - - - - - - - "The Riddle of the Rival Ranger" Toth story pencils (Bernard Sachs inks) 6 pages = ** Alex Toth - - - - - - - - - - Home / Toth / All-Star Western / DCebay >this comic Toth >comics >booksAll-Star Western >comics >books (This post has affiliate links which help support this blog)