Posted By Dan Greenfield on Mar 17, 2024 | 13 comments

BRONZE AGE BONANZA: Wilson! Robbins! Adams! Kirby! Brunner! 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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George Wilson returns! Twice! Plus, Bob Kane in the Bronze Age, a Frank Robbins appearance, and your usual cast of characters, such as Nick Cardy, Neal Adams, Jack Kirby and so forth.

Dig the TOP 13 COVERS OF MARCH 1974 — RANKED:

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13. Famous 1st Edition #C-28: Detective Comics #27, DC. The main art may have been 35 years old at this point, but this is all about the presentation. DC’s Famous 1st Edition series of treasuries properly gave these early, oversize Facsimile Editions the sense of grandeur and historical import they deserved. And in this case, the silver cardboard perfectly suits the original issue being spotlighted.

Bob Kane

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12. Action Comics #436, DC. The gag is a classic one: Someone in Superman’s life gets powers. But what makes it work is the angular layout, the forcefulness of the speed that Nick Cardy gives Perry, and, just as importantly, the care given to the Metropolis skyline at early sunset. Kudos to colorist Tatjana Wood.

Nick Cardy

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11. Limited Collectors’ Edition #C-27: Shazam!, DC. One of the greatest treasury covers of all time, with wonderful draftsmanship by Bob Oksner and a perfect primary-color tableau by Sol Harrison. I’d put it much higher but it’s essentially a remake of 1941’s Whiz Comics #22 by C.C. Beck and Pete Costanza. (I actually prefer this version.)

Bob Oksner

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10. The Amazing Spider-Man #133, Marvel. I got this one when it was new and, to this day, I still don’t know why Marvel needs a Human Torch and a Molten Man. Nevertheless, this is an effective cover with Spidey legit looking like he’s in painful danger. And of course, a classic New York setting just amps it up a notch.

John Romita (but possibly pencilled by Gil Kane)

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9. Worlds Unknown #7, Marvel. Total sentimental pick: I LOVE this movie and so much wanted this two-part adaptation. Didn’t get the issues until adulthood. Neverthless, while the image is a little static, it does capture that movie poster feel. Points for including scene-stealing Kali, and Caroline Munro’s Margiana.

George Tuska pencils, Vince Colletta inks

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8. Savage Tales #4, Marvel. A Neal Adams painted cover is almost always going to make this list. Not his best, but Adams’ not-best is still better than almost anyone else’s.

Neal Adams

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7. The Shadow #5, DC. When you think of DC’s 1970s The Shadow, you think of Mike Kaluta, which makes sense. But don’t forget the often-underappreciated Frank Robbins who brings it with one of his best covers of the Bronze Age. Damn, the Shadow is menacing — backlit by all that wonderful, exploding lightning. And look, Nazis getting the business end of his wrath!

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6. Kamandi #18, DC. Think Kirby read Dune? I do.

Jack Kirby pencils, D. Bruce Berry inks

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5. Star Trek #24, Gold Key. Hey, it’s been awhile since we’ve seen our man George Wilson around these parts. This is just batshit bonkers with a fabulous grab bag of over-the-top, clashy colors. There is nothing about Wilson’s illustration that says “Star Trek” — but that makes it even more entertaining to look at.

George Wilson

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4. Mighty Samson #24, Gold Key. Wilson again! By the way, who do you think would win in a fight — sky shark or land shark? I gotta go with sky shark. That’s basic Warfare 101. I also like that this take’s place on C’Nal Street in N’Yark. Seriously!

Wilson

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3. Doctor Strange #1, Marvel. One of the classic Doctor Strange covers of the 1970s, which makes it one of the classic Doctor Strange covers of all time. Wanna put it higher? I won’t stop you.

Frank Brunner

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2. Power Man #19, Marvel. The title formerly known as Hero for Hire had been re-named Power Man by this time, as you can see, and it keeps the tradition alive, showing Luke Cage furiously bursting through a wall or a window, debris flying everywhere. But what really makes this cover is the first look at Cottonmouth — and you will get me with an illustration done in negative every time. Every. Time. You cannot look away from this. Fantastic.

Ron Wilson pencils, Frank Giacoia inks

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1. Superman #276, DC. As hero vs. hero covers go, this is one of the best you’ll find — and seeing Superman take on an ersatz Captain Marvel was such a tease. DC had already been publishing Shazam! but, other than on covers, the company was taking great pains to keep the Big Red Cheese out of the DCU proper, so this helped scratch the itch for all those fans who for decades wanted to see the Man of Steel go head to head against the World’s Mightiest Mortal. The primary colors pop, especially against that yellow background. And is it just me, or should DC have just thrown in the towel right here and said, “Screw it, we’re just gonna re-name him Captain Thunder. It’ll work out better in the long run.”

Cardy

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MORE

— The TOP 13 COVERS of FEBRUARY 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.