BRONZE AGE BONANZA: The 1970 INDEX
Your clearinghouse for the first full year of the Bronze Age…
BRONZE AGE BONANZA: Kubert! Kirby! Giordano! MORE! — 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. — It’s the last month of the year, and you know what that means: In a couple weeks, we’ll bring you the TOP 13 COVERS OF 1975! Meantime, dig the TOP 13 COVERS OF DECEMBER 1975 — RANKED: — 13. Midnight Tales #17, Charlton. One of the funnier Jawsmania comics covers. — 12. Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery #66, Gold Key. The only way to describe whatever the hell’s going on here is “Wilsonian.” — 11. The Defenders #33, Marvel. I’ve never heard of the Headmen before, but I’m so glad to know them now! Bananas. — 10. 1st Issue Special #12, DC. That is some wonky anatomy on Starman’s legs, but I give Joe Kubert credit for going way out of his comfort zone with this bit of cosmic. — 9. Vampirella #49, Warren. Those are some seriously mixed signals there, huh? — 8. Doomsday + 1 #5, Charlton. There’s no question John Byrne was destined for stardom. The Dutch angle, the colors, the framing, the futuristic design elements — he was on his way. — 7. Freedom Fighters #1, DC. A standard cover, sure, but a memorable one nonetheless. And I do like the choice of a black background, which really sets off the red, white and blue logo. It never occurred to me that DC gave the Freedom Fighters their own book on the edge of the Bicentennial. — 6. The Avengers #145, Marvel. A cool cover and one of the The Avengers‘ groovier ones in the ’70s. Maybe it’s the orange background, but the Assassin looks like a proto-Deathstroke, doesn’t he? — 5. Action Comics #457, DC. The cover that launched a thousand memes. — 4. FOOM #12, Marvel. Two of the best to ever do it give us one of the best Vision images ever. Coulda been a poster, and I mean that in a really good way, not in a lazy-artist way. — 3. The Invaders #5, Marvel. I know I use terms like “bananas” and “bonkers” a lot, but that’s exactly what this is. And it’s not just the giant Red Skull down the chute...
BRONZE AGE BONANZA: Take a bite out of these by Grell! Romita! Newton! And MORE! — 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. — You’ll detect a theme when you get there. Dig the TOP 13 COVERS OF NOVEMBER 1975 — RANKED: — 13. Adam-12 #10, Gold Key. Not the first time I’ve pointed this out, but Gold Key’s Adam-12 covers were way more interesting than the show itself. — 12. Power Man #29, Marvel. Not the first time anyone’s pointed this out, but everybody laughs at Mr. Fish. Bonus points for the sidearm. — 11. Marvel Chillers #3, Marvel. Because I think Kerry Callen would quit the site if I didn’t include this. — 10. The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #19, Marvel. Not as, ahem, striking as John Byrne’s famed cover from 1976, but still a really swell job by Bob Larkin. — 9. Superman #296, DC. A Superman trope but the simplicity of this design makes this a particularly memorable take. — 8. Planet of the Apes #16, Marvel. Ken Barr does an outstanding job reminding us that even though the world blew up at the end of Beneath, Escape was far, far more tragic. — 7. The Witching Hour #62, DC. Oldest gag in the horror-comic bag of tricks: Innocent couple (or kids, or whoever) are about to turn the corner only to find something awful waiting for them. Except that Luis Dominguez elevates this one BECAUSE GOOD LORD, WHAT THE HELL, MAN?? — 6. Limited Collectors’ Edition #C-43, DC. Coming soon as a Facsimile Edition to a comics shop near you. — 5. Marvel Treasury Edition #8, Marvel. Giving the edge to this Christmas treasury because Nick Fury is wearing the dumbest outfit of his life and he’s about to burn the tree down as soon as he turns to the right, with that big cigar sticking out of his maw. — 4. Ghost Rider #16, Marvel. Jawsmania was hitting comics in the fall because of the lead time it took from when the movie became an absolute blockbuster in the summer. Marvel goes right for it with “In the Gripping Tradition of JAWS!” — 3. Action Comics #456, DC. But DC...
Your clearinghouse for the first full year of the Bronze Age…