BRONZE AGE BONANZA: An unconventional month… — Welcome to BRONZE AGE BONANZA — our monthly series that looks at the greatest covers of the Bronze Age — exactly 50 years later. For more info on this feature, click here. — Remember how many all-time classic covers there were last month? Well, this time around the pickings aren’t quite as fat. But hey! It’s still 13 COVERS from the Bronze Age, so these are inherently awesome anyway! As usual, these are based on sale dates, not publication dates. Groovy. — 13. The Sundance Kid #2, Skywald. Look, we know Skywald did things on the cheap — but a Sundance Kid comic two years after Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid came out? That’s desperate. Ayers and Tartaglione are still pros all the way, though. — 12. Butch Cassidy #2, Skywald. Wait, no, there were actually two comics — one for each of them! And then they go and rip off one of the movie’s most famous scenes. BUT WHO IS LANCE?! — 11. Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp #2, Gold Key. As I’ve said before, I am a sucker for simians who wear clothes and talk. — 10. Famous Monsters of Filmland #85, Warren. Really, I mean it. — 9. The Phantom Stranger #14, DC. Swamp Thing? No. Man-Thing? No. It’s Neal Adams Swamp-Man-Thing! Fun cover, though. — 8. I Love You #92, Charlton. There are a bajillion romance covers out there that are basically variations on the same theme. But Charlton often gave us some funky, offbeat ones like this Art Cappello job. That golden overlay is what makes it. — 7. The Incredible Hulk #142, Marvel. Boy, Valkyrie really makes the Hulk look puny, doesn’t she? Plus, dig the timely women’s lib reference — as well as the black comedy of “They Shoot Hulks Don’t They?” But really what I like best here is all the exploding and the guest appearance by the World’s Coolest Skyscraper, the Chrysler Building. — 6. Superman #240, DC. Adams always drew the hell out of Superman. Of course, Adams drew the hell out of everything. — 5. Thor #190. That’s a classic Buscema cover there. Looks like Odin is having a Helava time dealing with Thor’s demise. (Ouch. Sorry.) — 4. Tomahawk #135, DC. Joe Kubert was the most humanistic artist of his...
BRONZE AGE BONANZA: A significant month in comics history… — Welcome to BRONZE AGE BONANZA — our monthly series that looks at the greatest covers of the Bronze Age — exactly 50 years later. For more info on this feature, click here. — We’ve been doing this feature for almost a year and a half and one thing’s clear — some months are better than others. No surprise, of course. Still, it really jumps out at you when you look at a month and see that there were a number of all-out classics that came out at the same time. This was one of those months — so dig THE TOP 13 COVERS OF APRIL 1971 — RANKED. As usual, these are based on sale dates, not publication dates. Far out. — 13. Famous Monsters of Filmland #84, Warren. I love Christopher Lee, and this is a damn great pic. Great crop. Great blood red banner. This must have freaked the hell out of anyone thumbing through the racks. — 12. Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan of the Apes #200, Gold Key. George Wilson represent! But, jeez, Tarzan, punching out a chimp? Seems a little excessive, no? But at least you’re not using a machine gun. — 11. Iron Man #39, Marvel. Herb Trimpe is well-loved by Marvel fans but I can’t help but think he would have been an even bigger deal if he developed this more offbeat style. There are creeping shades of Moebius here, which I really dig. — 10. The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves #26, Charlton. Steve Ditko’s ’70s Charlton horror covers were mad, baby, mad!! But maybe the local Kentucky folks should do something about Cletus and Shep. I mean, if their deadly shenanigans are well known, perhaps they should be locked up? Just a thought. — 9. Nightmare #4, Skywald. I don’t think you’ll find a more 1971 cover than this one. Feel free to insert your own cheap Keith Richards joke. — 8. Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #138, DC. Jack Kirby was going through a serious montage-cover phase, but this one jumps out because it’s Kirby inked by Neal Adams. That’s like Godzilla and King Kong teaming up, even if their styles are so divergent. — 7. Adventure Comics #407, DC. Pro cover, great perspective, love the reflection in the mirror. But...
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