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The Ring Of The Nibelung (1989-90)

Written by Roy Thomas. Drawn by Gil Kane (w/assist by Alfredo Alcala). Lettered by John Costanza. Coloured by Jim Woodring. Edited by Andrew Helfer. Published in 1989-90 by DC Comics.

Summary: A squarebound, four-issue mini-series adapting Der Ring des Nibelungen, Richard Wagner’s epic musical drama, aka the Ring Cycle, based on Norse Legend and the German epic poem Nibelungenlied.

Read more about Der Ring des Nibelungen on Wikipedia. (Saves me writing a synopsis!)

The Ring has also notably been adapted in comics form, at much greater length and more faithfully to the Wagner source, by P Craig Russell in 2000; and of course, there is the two-part 1924 silent movie by the great Fritz Lang, Die Nibelungen. The Thomas & Kane version is perhaps not so different from their work on various Conan projects—it has an old school adventure comics feel. If you like those books as much as I do, you won’t see that as a drawback.

The Ring Book 1
Epic Kane art from THE RING Book One.
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Hulk #182 (1974)

“Between Hammer and Anvil”

THIS REVIEW HAS SPOILERS!

Written by Len Wein. Pencilled & Inked by Herb Trimpe. Lettered by John Costanza. Coloured by Glynis Wein. Edited by Roy Thomas. Published in 1974 by Marvel Comics.

Summary: Stanley Kramer Meets John Steinbeck via the Outer Limits.

Let’s talk about one of my favourite comics. There are a few reasons why this is so: the Hulk was the first comics character I really bonded with, for one thing, and it was by accident. My nan used to buy me random comics when I was a little kid, and one of them was a Marvel UK Hulk book—which I doubt my mom would have ever bought me—and I instantly liked him. I already loved the original King Kong (1933), as well as all the Universal Monsters—I was definitely a Monster Kid. The Hulk was somewhere between Frankenstein’s Monster and Kong… today, I also see a lot of Lennie Small (Of Mice and Men) in him. And I do mean the 1970s Hulk—there are a number of spins on him, but the ’70s one is IMO the best.

Hulk #182 (1974)
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Comics: Time Machine

I was thinking about what I’d do if I had a time machine, and I got onto the subject of comics. Obviously, comics are a complete car crash at this point. But what event(s) that could be stopped might prevent this crash ever happening?

My answer: stop Alan Moore and Frank Miller doing Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns. Now, hear me out! I have affection for both of these books. I do think both are overrated—especially Watchmen, as beyond its literary pretensions and symbolisms and “adult” drama (such as two of the heroes getting aroused by their kinky costumes and making out; yawn, very daring even in 1986, I don’t think)… beyond those things… it has kind of a crummy B-movie plot at its core.

Comics: Time Machine
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Marie Portrait 2019

Yes, the star of Club Vamporama! I’m calling it 2019 because I wanted to revisit a piece I did back in February 2011. I liked the concept, but the execution was really quite poor—at the time a few people were positive about it, but one lispy-voiced person was quite critical… and basically they were right, whatever their motives. It was very amateurish indeed.

Marie Portrait 2019
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Doctor Thirteen & Sketchcards

Well… this is not really the place for a debate on the issue, but frankly I’m not at all happy with or impressed by the current incarnation of Ye Doctor in Doctor Who series 11. I feel Jodie Whittaker is hopelessly miscast** and the series has been all-round terrible (with the bizarre exception of Bradley Walsh, I’m shocked to hear myself saying)—and I’m not particularly inclined to watch more of them…

Nonetheless, I did have a go at drawing Jodie as the Doctor, and the result is kinda visually interesting. Or so I think, anyhow. BTW, this artwork is for sale, so feel free to make offers! 🙂

NOTE: THIS ARTWORK IS NOW SOLD.

So here’s Jodie, plus a couple of sketchcards of monster characters I like whose names begin with H.

Doctor Thirteen & Sketchcards
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Steve Ditko, RIP

As it’s been a while since the news broke, I thought it was about time to mention Steve Ditko, co-creator of Spider-Man (and lots of others), who died late in June, aged 90.

He was always one of my major art influences. He had a unique eye and a memorably distinctive style that persisted to the very end. I was one of the ‘faithful’, I guess; those who followed Steve’s work throughout. It was always worth looking at, even if he favoured a very stripped-down approach later in life.

Here’s a pic of Steve I just drew…

Steve Ditko, RIP
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