Let's play the unpublished cover game! (Round 2)

A no-prize to readers who can correctly guess the actual issues these unpublished covers were intended for?

Ed Hannigan – Covered

You can pick up this comic book at your local comic book store. Not only does it feature some amazing art work from Ed Hannigan , an artist and writer from the Marvel 1970s and 1980s, all the proceeds of this book go towards helping Ed out. Ed lives with Multiple Sclerosis which has progressed from a minor annoyance to a major disability.

Here’s a sneak peak at what you’ll find between the covers…

Marvel Solicitations for May 2010 - 1980s goodness

THOR: THE WARRIORS THREE PREMIERE HC
Written by LEN WEIN & ALAN ZELENETZ Penciled by JOHN BUSCEMA, JOE SINNOTT & CHARLES VESS Cover by CHARLES VESS

Fandral the Dashing, Hogun the Grim, Volstagg the Voluminous: They may not have made it into the mythology books, but they're living legends to this day -- and some of their solo sagas are collected here for the first time! The Warriors Three tackle organized crime in Manhattan, then embark on an Asgardian quest that takes them deeper than ever before into peril -- and into themselves! Featuring stories by Alien Legion co-creator Ala Zelenetz! Collecting MARVEL SPOTLIGHT (1971) #30 and MARVEL FANFARE (1982) #13 & #34-37. 144 pages, $19.99

MOON KNIGHT: COUNTDOWN TO DARK PREMIERE HC
Written by DOUG MOENCH Penciled by BILL SIENKIEWICZ Covers by BILL SIENKIEWICZ

Agent Cobra, the Hatchet-Man, Lupinar: only a few of Moon Knight's early enemies, yet some of his deadliest! In these rarely seen sagas, Marc Spector faces down a former fellow spy turned strength-heightened hitman, a serial killer Spector believes to be his brother, and a terrorist claiming to be...Moon Knight! Featuring Frenchie, Marlene and revelations from Moon Knight's murderous memories! Guest-starring the Incredible Hulk! Collecting material from HULK MAGAZINE #13-15, #17-18, #20-21 and MARVEL PREVIEW #21. 168 pages, $24.99

IRON MAN: ARMOR WARS II TPB
Written by JOHN BYRNE Penciled by JOHN ROMITA JR. Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.

In the famous run by John Byrne and John Romita Jr, Iron Man faces challenges he never even dreamed of! When industrial villains Kearson Dewitt and the Marrs twins seize control of Tony Stark's central nervous system, he finds himself inexplicably paralyzed and suffering memory loss amidst deadly battles with the Living Laser, who is stronger, and crazier, than ever before! Meanwhile, with the help of Fin Fang Foom and his race of dragons, the Mandarin learns his true potential, and that of his ten rings of power! Guest-starring: Jim Rhodes and Wonder Man! Collecting IRON MAN (1968) #258-266. 216 pages, $29.99.

ESSENTIAL X-MEN VOL. 3 TPB (NEW PRINTING)
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT Penciled by DAVE COCKRUM, JIM SHERMAN, BOB MCLEOD, BRENT ANDERSON & BILL SIENKIEWICZ Cover by DAVE COCKRUM

Storm, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Colossus and Wolverine. Children of the atom, they are humanity's only hope in the face of evil: they are the UNCANNY X-MEN! In this volume, Cyclops gets stranded on an island with Magneto, Kitty leaves the X-Men, the team travels to Limbo to save Illyana Rasputin and the Dark Phoenix returns! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN #145-161, X-MEN ANNUAL #5-6 and AVENGERS ANNUAL #10. 536 pages, $19.99.

POWER PACK CLASSIC VOL. 2 TPB
Written by LOUISE SIMONSON, BILL MANTLO & CHRIS CLAREMONT Penciled by JUNE BRIGMAN, BRENT ANDERSON, SAL VELLUTO & JOHN ROMITA JR. Cover by JUNE BRIGMAN

Alex, Julie, Jack, and Katie return for more super-powered family adventures as Power Pack! As the kids struggle with issues like chores, rescuing kittens, crushes, homework, and getting into trouble at school, they find themselves in more danger than ever before when they are kidnapped by the Morlocks, fight the runaway-snatching Cadaver, and are attacked anew by the Bogey Man, their arch enemy Carmody! Plus, the Snark/Kymellian war lands on Earth and our heroes are caught in the middle! And the team gets a new member in Franklin Richards! Guest-starring: the X-Men, Beta Ray Bill, the Warriors Three, Cloak, and Dagger! Collecting POWER PACK (1984) #11-17, UNCANNY X-MEN #195 and POWER PACK & CLOAK AND DAGGER: SHELTER FROM THE STORM GN. 256 pages, $29.99.

1985 – Eternals

Eternals 12- issue miniseries

Writers: Peter B. Gillis/Walt Simonson

Artists: Sal Buscema/Keith Pollard/Paul Ryan/Al Gordon/Danny Bulanadi/Sam DeLaRosa/Geoff Isherwood/Tom Morgan/Keith Williams/Al Williamson

This miniseries dealt with two major issues that have affected the Eternals since they last had a series: the death of their leader, Zuras (Thor #300), and that most of the Eternals have joined together as the Uni-Mind to explore the universe (Avenger #248).

Peter Gillis left the title after issue #8 and Walt Simonson took on the last quarter of the miniseries. Apparently, Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter had disliked Gillis’ scripts (http://www.asitecalledfred.com/2007/09/17/comics-in-context-194-eternal-verities/)

Sal Buscema did a solid job with the art and mimicked Kirby’s art where appropriate, like using Kirby dots or Kirby machinery. Unfortunately, as the series progresses, the art tended to get worse as a variety of ill-suited inkers were used.

With issue #10 there was also a switch in pencilers, and unfortunately, from an artistic point of view, the series limped along until its conclusion.

The plot also had some major holes and contradictions. Thena gained the throne of the Eternals and the power of Zuras in issue #1 and most the remaining Eternals couldn’t care less. However, with issue #9, Ikaris suddenly cared enough to challenge Thena for the throne and defeated her.

Can’t say that I saw any reason for the killing of Ikaris’ love interest, Margo. She was  killed by one of Ghaur’s underlings in an attempt to covert her into a Deviant. A sad, empty death.

Great covers by Simonson for issues #1 & 2.

Issue #2 introduced the priest-lord Ghaur who eventually becomes the main antagonist in this miniseries and goes on to cause problems years later in the Atlantis Attacks Annual event.

Issue #3 introduced two new Eternals, Phastos and Kingo, and they have faded into obscurity.

Let's play the unpublished cover game!

A no-prize to folks who can guess the actual issues these unpublished covers were intended for?

1985 - Gargoyle

Gargoyle #1-4

June 1985 - September 1985

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis

Artist: Mark Badger

I've never really been a Defenders fan, but I did try the title when it introduced the new Defenders. I liked the original X-Men and was interested in seen how Angel, Beast, and Ice Man would fare as Defenders. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I found that the Defenders lacked substance and that there was really no character depth. The art didn’t really do much for me and contributed to my dislike of the title.

One of the characters I did like was the Gargoyle and although I stopped picking up The Defenders, I was more than happy to try this miniseries. I picked up The Gargoyle limited series in a sale bin and was pleasantly surprised. Mark Badger's art, which currently seems indecipherable (see Excalibur #37-39 for example), does a rather find job especially with the magic usage and its effects.

"In parts charming and wistful, particularly when dealing with Christians' [Gargoyle's alter ego] past and lost love, and offering some interesting theological theories, the whole never quite gels."

     - The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide

Grieving over the death of his beloved Elaine, Christians (the soul that inhabits the body of the Gargoyle) returns to his hometown where he's confronted by his old body, which he learns is inhabited by the Gargoyle's soul. Christians is tricked into giving the Gargoyle back his body. The Gargoyle then goes on a rampage and Christians, with the help of an ancient druid, Derwyddon, must stop him.

The series has a nice moody, gothic feel to it and Badger's art style is well suited to the character and story. DeMatteis, who I find is either a hit or a miss with me, does a good job with the plot and script. He reveals the Gargoyle's dark origins and details Isaac Christians (the human soul trapped within the Gargoyle's form). I found the story a bit long winded and drawn out. It's could have easily been a 3-issue series.

Bill Mantlo

In 1992, while rollerblading, Bill was the victim of a hit and run. After a year long coma, he woke, severely brain damaged. He’s been institutionalized since then and will probably live there for the rest of his life.

If you grew up reading comics in the 1980s like I did, you no doubt enjoyed some of his work. Whether it was Cloak and Dagger, Alpha Flight, Spectacular Amazing Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Hulk, Micronauts, Rocket Racoon, or ROM, Bill’s comic book legacy is remarkable; writing over 500 comic books in just under 15 years with Marvel.

How can you help?

You can download a digital copy of David Yurkovich’s MANTLO: A LIFE IN COMICS for only $3.50US and the proceeds go 100% to Bill’s care.

http://www.sleepinggiantcreations.com/comics-ogns/mantlo/sgc-mantlo-order.html

“MANTLO: A LIFE IN COMICS is a celebration of Bill's career in comics and his vast creations. Written by David Yurkovich (and featuring an introduction by Bill's brother, Mike Mantlo), this 72-page retrospective includes interviews with many of Bill's collaborators including Jackson Guice, George Perez, and Colleen Doran. As an added bonus, the project features previously unpublished fiction by Mantlo, including the short story AFTERMATH (which Yurkovich has adapted into sequential format).”

Finally recovered from the flu

Hey there, sorry for the lack of updates. Our family's been hit hard with the flu, but I think we're on the mend. Expect more postings soon!