Posted By Dan Greenfield on Apr 21, 2024 | 9 comments

BRONZE AGE BONANZA: Aparo! Adams! Kane! Romita! MORE!

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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.

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It’s a strong month when you could argue that the No. 7 cover should be No. 1.

Dig the TOP 13 COVERS OF APRIL 1974 — RANKED:

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13. Batman #257, DC. A sentimental pick, really. Kind of on the busy side, but I dig the bold, red background and (I’m pretty certain) it’s the first Bronze Age appearance of the Penguin, seen here with a disguised Talia. That’s a strange pairing. Also, Ally Babble was annoying as fuck.

Nick Cardy

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12. Nightmare #19, Skywald. Pure Skywald schlock by Sebastia Boada but that’s the best, most unhinged gill-man I’ve ever seen. Manphibian’s got nothing on that guy.

Sebastia Boada

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11. Adventure Comics #434, DC. Just your standard, terrific Aparo Spectre cover.

Jim Aparo

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10. The Witching Hour #44, DC. Not the most original idea, but it’s all in the execution. I look at Nick Cardy, whose work I love, as a “soft” penciller, as opposed to a Neal Adams or Mike Grell. But then he can nail a cover like this that is downright ominous and startling. Very strong.

Cardy

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9. Everything’s Archie #33, Archie. Welcome to the 1974 Annual Riverdale Stargazing Ball and Key Party.

Stan Goldberg pencils, possible Jon D’Agostino inks

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8. World’s Unknown #8, Marvel. If I only judged by my heart, this would be a lot higher, because I love this movie. (It came out 50 years ago this month in the U.S.) But even on its own merits, it’s a great Gil Kane/Vince Colletta cover that spotlights the Harryhausen flick’s best set piece. One question: Why is Caroline Munro’s Margiana (lower left) a blonde?

Gil Kane pencils, Vince Colletta inks. Alterations by John Romita.

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7. Iron Man #69, Marvel. This is a strong month, which is why this Ron Wilson/Mike Esposito cover is as low as it is. It’s one of the most memorable Shellhead covers of the Bronze Age but it just so happens that the competition is stiff.

Ron Wilson pencils, Mike Esposito inks

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6. Star*Reach #1, Star*Reach Productions. The first issue of the beloved independent comic, which presaged the indie boom of the ’80s. Still one of the most respected series of the Bronze Age and the Chaykin cover serves bold notice that comics readers were in for something new and fresh.

Howard Chaykin

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5. The Amazing Spider-Man #134, Marvel. If you want to flip this with No. 4, I’m cool with that. Both are by John Romita, as it happens. I have always been a big fan of the Tarantula’s design and when I got this as a kid, I found him downright intimidating. Excellent debut image.

John Romita

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4. Giant-Size Spider-Man (and Dracula) #1, Marvel. Had this one too. It’s an abstract image and I dig every inch of it, even if it is super-crowded.

Romita

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3. The Avengers #125, Marvel. Gets my vote for all-time greatest Thanos cover — which is saying something. (Apologies to George Perez.) The Mad Titan’s not done in negative but the coloring gives off the same vibe, making this an exceptionally striking piece of art. A winner just about any other month.

Ron Wilson pencils, Romita inks

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2. The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #2, Marvel. One of the great Shang-Chi illustrations, by the great Neal Adams. At least I think it’s supposed to be Shang-Chi; his gi is off model, but who’s to say he didn’t like to change outfits from time to time? It’s perfect that the setting is Times Square, a place where you did not want to be at night in 1974 — but one filled with theaters that showed grindhouse fare like this. The layout is so good, Adams colleague Dick Giordano borrowed it for DC’s 1978 calendar, making Batman the central figure.

Neal Adams

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1. Jungle Action #10, Marvel. Not just the best cover of the month, it’s the best Black Panther cover ever. It’s as gripping to me now at 57, as it was when I got it at 7. A masterpiece.

Kane pencils, Frank Giacoia inks

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MORE

— The TOP 13 COVERS of MARCH 1974 — RANKED. Click here.

— BRONZE AGE BONANZA: The 1974 INDEX. Click here.

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Comics sources: Mike’s Amazing World of Comics and the Grand Comics Database.