13 COVERS | 13th Dimension, Comics, Creators, Culture

Oct11

Dig These 13 Crypt-Kickin’ Marvel CRYPT OF SHADOWS Covers

Posted by Dan Greenfield on Oct 11, 2024

Dig These 13 Crypt-Kickin’ Marvel CRYPT OF SHADOWS Covers

FRIGHTFUL FRIDAYS with Jim Beard! — Hey, we’ve got a new Halloween feature for you — FRIGHTFUL FRIDAYS! Every Friday before Halloween (there’s four in 2024), our pal Jim Beard is diving into 13 horror covers from a given title. This year, the theme is offbeat Marvel in the Bronze Age. Next year? Whoooo knooooows? Dig it. — Dan — By JIM BEARD Greetings, fright fans and welcome back to our humble, comic-filled dungeon for another look at some marvelous Marvel horror covers from the 1970s. Today, we’re going to dig up 13 eerie examples from the book that asked the question: “What nameless evil lurks in the… Crypt of Shadows?” Sadly, there’s not a lot of background info out there on this little beauty of a book (it doesn’t even have its own Wikipedia page!), save that it ran for 21 issues from 1973 to 1975 and featured reprint stories from 195os Marvel mags like Journey Into Mystery, Menace, Strange Tales, Adventures Into Terror, Mystic, Marvel Tales, Tales to Astonish, and the like. Roy Thomas kicked off the series as editor but in its later days it ended up with the ubiquitous Len Wein and Marv Wolfman at the helm. For our pulse-pounding purposes here, Crypt of Shadows offered all-new covers and we think they needed a day in the sun to shine… and then go straight back into their coffins. Settle in and feel the fright with us down in the Crypt! — Crypt of Shadows #1 (Jan. 1973). Art by Gil Kane and Tom Palmer. Which witch-woman is this? Only her hairdresser knows. — Crypt of Shadows #3 (May 1973). Art by John Romita. Am I the only one who ever wondered why card games are fertile ground for horror? — Crypt of Shadows #5 (Sept. 1973). Art by Ron Wilson (attributed) and Mike Esposito (attributed). There’s something I really dig about a ghoul getting a grave of his own—the hard way. — Crypt of Shadows #8 (Jan. 1974). Art by Russ Heath. Ladies and gentlemen, the great Russ Heath with a real stand-out, atmospheric cover. Love it. — Crypt of Shadows #9 (Mar. 1974). Art by Russ Heath and Mike Esposito (attributed). I have no idea at all what’s going on here but I’m all for it. — Crypt of Shadows #12 (Sept. 1974). Art by Ron...

Oct10

PAUL KUPPERBERG: My 13 Favorite Silver Age IRA SCHNAPP DC COMICS Logos

Posted by Dan Greenfield on Oct 10, 2024

PAUL KUPPERBERG: My 13 Favorite Silver Age IRA SCHNAPP DC COMICS Logos

A birthday salute to the late comics letterer and designer… By PAUL KUPPERBERG Ira Schnapp (October 10, 1894 – July 24, 1969) is one of those legendary comics creators whose work behind the scenes make them perhaps not as well known as the artists, writers, and even editors with whom they share the comic book page but who deserve every bit as much credit and recognition as those other artisans. Schnapp was a letterer… was the letterer for DC Comics for the better part of three decades. His first job for then National Periodical Publications was to standardize Joe Shuster’s original design for the Superman logo, and he continued doing freelance logo design for the company until he joined the production department in 1949. In 2021 I celebrated his birthday with My 13 Favorite DC House Ads Lettered by Ira Schnapp, which includes a bit more biographical information about the surehanded calligrapher, although for a deep dive into that career—and into the world of comic book lettering in general—I highly recommend you check out Master Letterer Todd Klein’s truly fascinating website Todd’s Blog, Presenting Klein’s Compendium of Calligraphic Knowledge. And as that Man of Letters Dan Greenfield had earlier seen fit to reveal his 13 Superb Ira Schnapp DC Comics Logos From the Golden Age, I’m going to continue with that idea with My 13 Favorite Ira Schnapp DC Comics Logos From the Silver Age: — Tomahawk #55 (March 1958). Simple and elegant, and I remember being a proud 7-year-old the first time I saw this Ira Schnapp logo because I recognized the visual pun. Cover art by Bob Brown. — The Brave and the Bold #28: Justice League of America (February/March 1960). Simply iconic! Cover art by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson. — Aquaman #1 (January/February 1962). A bubbly logo that seems to float atop the cover. Cover art by Nick Cardy. — Showcase #37: Metal Men (March/April 1962). Metal Men. Rivets. Done! Cover art by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. — The Brave and the Bold #45: Strange Sports Stories (December 1962/January 1963). Never a sports fan, I was nonetheless drawn to the title by the strong visual and solid logo. Cover art by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella. — Showcase #50: I—Spy! (May/June 1964). Another strong visual and a bold logo that slapped the reader in...

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