The Marvel Age of Comics

May 26

A page from DAREDEVIL #190 with layouts by Frank Miller and full art by Klaus Janson.

A page from DAREDEVIL #190 with layouts by Frank Miller and full art by Klaus Janson.

May 25

browsethestacks:

Vintage Magazine - The Comic Reader #145 with The X-Men

browsethestacks:

Vintage Magazine - The Comic Reader #145 with The X-Men

browsethestacks:

Vintage Comic - Ms. Marvel #019 (Original Art) (Unused)

browsethestacks:

Vintage Comic - Ms. Marvel #019 (Original Art) (Unused)

Cover pencils to FANTASTIC FOUR #191, initially intended for issue #189, by George Perez. These pencils got lost in the mail, and Joe Sinnott had to ink the cover on a vellum overlay from a photocopy of the pencils.
There’s a note from George to writer/editor Len Wein in the space for the UPC box:
NOTE TO LEN: IN PHOTO THEY’RE IN OLD COSTUMES BECAUSE REED NEVER STRETCHED IN HIS NEW ONE (LEAST WAY, NOT SO HE COULD BE PHOTOGRAPHED.)

Cover pencils to FANTASTIC FOUR #191, initially intended for issue #189, by George Perez. These pencils got lost in the mail, and Joe Sinnott had to ink the cover on a vellum overlay from a photocopy of the pencils.

There’s a note from George to writer/editor Len Wein in the space for the UPC box:

NOTE TO LEN: IN PHOTO THEY’RE IN OLD COSTUMES BECAUSE REED NEVER STRETCHED IN HIS NEW ONE (LEAST WAY, NOT SO HE COULD BE PHOTOGRAPHED.)

Splash page from HULK ANNUAL #7 by John Byrne and Bob Layton.
A border note from Byrne reads:
TOGETHER AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME!

Splash page from HULK ANNUAL #7 by John Byrne and Bob Layton.

A border note from Byrne reads:

TOGETHER AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME!

May 24

The final page from the Iron Man story in TALES OF SUSPENSE #90 by Gene Colan and Frank Giacoia.
A number of bits of Colan’s border notes are still evident:
MELTER (word obscured) DROPS HIS GUN
AGAIN MELTER DESPERATELY ATTEMPTS TO HOLD THE GUN AND FINISH OFF I. MAN
THE WEAPON IS EVEN HOTTER
CAPTURE MELTER AT THIS POINT
I. MAN CRUSHES (words obscured) TOY
IRON MAN WALKS AWAY FROM THE SCENE. SOME OF STARK’S GIRL FRIENDS AROUND.
There’s also a note from Stan to Sol Brodsky instructing him to take out the girl in the lower right of the final panel. This note is crossed out, and other illegible instructions have been written in its place—one of which is a note from Brodsky to Giacoia asking Frank to speak to Sol before inking this panel.

The final page from the Iron Man story in TALES OF SUSPENSE #90 by Gene Colan and Frank Giacoia.

A number of bits of Colan’s border notes are still evident:

MELTER (word obscured) DROPS HIS GUN

AGAIN MELTER DESPERATELY ATTEMPTS TO HOLD THE GUN AND FINISH OFF I. MAN

THE WEAPON IS EVEN HOTTER

CAPTURE MELTER AT THIS POINT

I. MAN CRUSHES (words obscured) TOY

IRON MAN WALKS AWAY FROM THE SCENE. SOME OF STARK’S GIRL FRIENDS AROUND.

There’s also a note from Stan to Sol Brodsky instructing him to take out the girl in the lower right of the final panel. This note is crossed out, and other illegible instructions have been written in its place—one of which is a note from Brodsky to Giacoia asking Frank to speak to Sol before inking this panel.

May 22

Here’s a photo of a vintage newsstand—known as the 5 Points Newsstand—in 1949. There are a number of Marvel (then Timely) books on the rack.

Here’s a photo of a vintage newsstand—known as the 5 Points Newsstand—in 1949. There are a number of Marvel (then Timely) books on the rack.

Splash page from STRANGE TALES #99 by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers.

Splash page from STRANGE TALES #99 by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers.

May 21

Anonymous asked: This isn't a question, but a comment. I used to own that Steranko Strange Tales page. He signed it for me at an SDCC in the early 80s (the last one I've been to). He looked at it in astonishment and asked where I got it. I told him I'd traded a "Flash Gordon" serial pressbook to Mike Royer for it. I sold it a few years later for (I think) $200. Surprisingly, I took out a number of ads in the CBG before someone bought it. Nowadays, I wish I hadn't. Just wondering where you got the scan.

No idea offhand—I’ve gathered scans from all over the place over the years. Could have come from anywhere, but most likely from one of the original art sales sites.

May 20

A page from the Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD story in STRANGE TALES #160 by Jim Steranko.

A page from the Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD story in STRANGE TALES #160 by Jim Steranko.