Posted By Dan Greenfield on Nov 21, 2021 | 3 comments

Give thanks for great comics art…

—

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’re getting close to the end of the year! December is still to come — and then THE TOP 13 COVERS OF 1971 — RANKED.

In the meantime, we’ve got a groovy selection for you here — featuring Adams, Kane, John Severin, Nick Cardy and other top artists.

Dig the TOP 13 COVERS OF NOVEMBER 1971 — RANKED:

—

13. Wendy Witch World #43, Harvey. Because it’s my wife Wendy’s birthday this week! Happy birthday, Wendy!

Artist unknown

—

12. Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp #4, Gold Key. We will include Lancelot Link at every opportunity.

—

11. Archie Giant Series #192, Archie. Every month back then, there were about 14,000 Archie titles. This one jumped out at me just because it’s so sweet and kind. “Love-In” indeed.

Stan Goldberg

—

10. Western Gunfighters #8, Marvel. It’s a new John Severin cover for a reprint book and I dig the way it comes together: the shared black-and-gold banner, the bright red background, Severin’s first-rate draftsmanship and, perhaps best of all, the floating portraits on the left. Floating portraits are second only to floating heads in the arena of awesome.

John Severin

—

9. Dark Shadows #12, Gold Key. I can’t make heads or tails about what this cover signifies but it doesn’t matter because George Wilson is The Man.

George Wilson

—

8. Batman, #238, DC. DC was still trying to figure out its Super Spectacular packaging. Later, the 100-pagers generally stuck with story collections related to the main character or title. Here, you get two Batman stories — and tales starring the Legion, the Doom Patrol, Plastic Man, Aquaman, the Atom and even Sargon the Sorcerer. All of which makes very little sense. But nice job by Adams and Giordano on this motley crew wraparound.

Neal Adams pencils, Dick Giordano inks

—

7. Love and Romance #3, Charlton. First, Audrey, my idea of a wild time is also making fudge and reading a good history book, so don’t go changing. Besides, it’s not going to end well for Cindy, who evidently is walking off with Charles Manson.

Art Cappello

—

6. House of Mystery #198, DC. Do you know who never gets enough credit as a horror artist? Nick Cardy, that’s who.

Nick Cardy

—

5. Marvel Premiere #1, Marvel. It’s a rock solid Gil Kane/Dan Adkins cover, that’s for sure. But it’s more notable for the historic import — Him’s first appearance as Adam Warlock. By the way, a top-notch, unslabbed copy recently sold on eBay for $655. I imagine prices will go even higher with Warlock set to join the MCU. (Bonus points for the Hulk’s windswept ‘do. Nice feathering job.)

Gil Kane pencils, Dan Adkins inks

—

4. Eerie #38, Warren. “SPECIAL HOLIDAY ISSUE.”

Ken Kelly

—

3. Daredevil #84, Marvel. Gil Kane was on top of his game with this run of Daredevil covers. He also might have been the best artist to handle Marvel’s limiting, frame-style covers of the time: His famed dynamism is only enhanced by DD bursting out of the borders. A hell of an effective image.

Gil Kane pencils, Frank Giacoia and Mike Esposito’s inks

—

2. The Phantom Stranger #17, DC. A horror classic masterfully constructed by Neal Adams. The look of holy terror on the guy’s face is enough to sell it but Adams’ photorealistic style evokes a you-are-there impact. The lighting, the angles, the sense of movement, the panicked witnesses and the Phantom Stranger’s grimly ethereal presence all combine to make this a cut above most covers of the genre. And the subway even looks like a hungry beast bearing down on Mr. Unfortunate Commuter Guy.

Adams

—

1. The Avengers #96, Marvel. I dunno, one of the most famous Avengers covers of the ’70s? One of the most famous ever? Now matter how wide you’re casting the net, this is a memorable image of the Vision completely losing his mechanical shit amid the Kree-Skrull War. Just a friendly reminder that this kind, gentle android who has been known to cry is only one loose bolt from being one of the most dangerous beings on the planet. Ah, the duality of AI.

Adams, with possible Tom Palmer inks

—

MORE

— BRONZE AGE BONANZA: The 1971 INDEX. Click here.

— The TOP 13 COVERS of OCTOBER 1971 — RANKED. Click here.

—

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