Pencil Ink

Detective Comics #439 - Walt Simonson art, Neal Adams cover, Joe Kubert reprint

2026-10-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

Neal Adams

Detective Comics v1 #439, 1974 - Neal Adams begins this 100-page issue with a splendidly fearful cover. Accompanying the main Batman feature is part three of the Manhunter saga. Cornered by interpol agent Christine St. Clair, Paul Kirk recounts his origin and more recent resurrection. With the exception of one oversized panel (see interior page below), most of Walt Simonson's pages are divided into ever smaller segments. His drawings are impressively laid out and meticulously paced. This story was later reprinted in Manhunter #1 and Manhunter Special Edition #1. Reprints fill much of the book, including a Joe Kubert tale from Flash Comics #92. Other artists in this comic include Carmine Infantino, Sal Amendola and Dick Giordano.

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Detective Comics v1 = 38 Adams issues, 12 Simonson issues

Simonson gallery
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Adams cover pencils (Dick Giordano inks) = ***
"The Resurrection of Paul Kirk" Simonson story pencils and inks 8 pages = ****

Walt Simonson

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Prez #1 - 1st appearance

2026-10-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

Prez #1

Prez v1 #1, 1973 - Once the age requirement for US president was lowered to eighteen, Prez Rickard was elected to office soon afterwards. Along with his teen friends, he proceeds with his youthful plans for America, but the evil Boss Smiley intends to be an obstacle. This Joe Simon story was drawn by Jerry Grandenetti. Cover by Grandenetti.

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Key 1st appearance, 1st cover, 1st origin Prez Rickard, 1st issue

Prez v1 = 1 key issue

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"Oh Say Does That Star Spangled Banner Yet Wave?" 24 pages

Prez #1

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Vampirella #32 - Jeff Jones art

2026-10-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

Vampirella #32

1. Vampirella v1 #32, 1974 - Warren magazines frequently allocated a small number of full color pages in some issues. This one contains not one, but two artfully colored Jeff Jones stories. Both are breathtakingly beautiful in their draftsmanship. The only flaw in "Dead Run" is that its short page count leaves you wanting more. In "Harry", a seemingly innocent little girl converses with her stuffed animal. Jones' illustrative drawings are complemented by his well-honed sense of design. Much of the credit goes to Richard Corben, a fellow artist whose coloring further benefits the pages. "Harry" was later reprinted in Vampirella #83 (in black and white). Other artists in this bronze age magazine include Jose Gonzalez.

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Top 10 Jones comics

Vampirella v1 = 8 Jones issues, 3 top 10 issues

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"Harry" Jones story pencils and inks 6 pages (color) = *****
"Dead Run" Jones story pencils and inks 2 pages (color) = *****

Jeff Jones

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Tarzan #119 - Russ Manning art

2026-10-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

Tarzan #119

Tarzan v1 #119, 1960 - With their village ransacked by Taureg invaders, Natongo and Zulena search for survivors. They find their people held prisoner at a nearby oasis, surrounded by the enemy. Russ Manning draws this Brothers of the Spear backup tale with slightly less care than previous issues. Some fine details are omitted, but the interior page below contains some of the better panels. Jesse Marsh draws the main Tarzan feature. Painted cover.

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Tarzan v1 = 132 Manning issues

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"The Daring Rescue" Manning story pencils and inks 6 pages = **

"Mountains of the Moon" Manning story pencils and inks 1/2 page = **

Russ Manning

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Firestorm #2 - 1st Multiplex

2026-10-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

Firestorm #2

Firestorm v1 #2, 1978 - Working at a nuclear facility, Professor Stein is felled by two villains who appear to be the same man. As they begin to steal from the atomic pile, teenager Ronnie Raymond begins to merge with the professor to become Firestorm. Multiplex the duplicate man proves more than a match for him. This Gerry Conway story (guest-starring Superman) was drawn by Al Milgrom and Bob McLeod. Cover by Milgrom.

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Key 1st appearance, 1st cover Multiplex

Firestorm v1 = 3 key issues

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"Danger Doubled Is Death" 17 pages

1st Multiplex

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Home / Firestorm / DC / Superhero

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Super Star Holiday Special - comic series checklist

2026-10-17T18:00:00.000-04:00

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Super Star Holiday Special v1
DC
1980

DC Special Series 21 - Miller art

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Home / DC

Tales of Suspense #69 - Jack Kirby art & cover + 1st Titanium Man

2026-10-17T12:06:00.000-04:00

Jack Kirby

Tales of Suspense v1 #69, 1965 - Commander of a Siberian work camp, Boris Bullski yearns for greater glory. Forcing a team of scientists to build him a battle suit to take on Iron Man. Written by Stan Lee and drawn by Don Heck, the Titanium Man makes his first appearance, following the footsteps of the Crimson Dynamo. In a separate story, Captain America tries to rescue his pal Bucky from the clutches of the Nazis. Jack Kirby's layouts are prominent enough to be recognizable, but not much else. Same goes for his dreary, lackluster cover.

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Key 1st appearance, 1st cover, 1st origin Boris Bullski as the Titanium Man

Tales of Suspense v1 = 92 Kirby issues, multiple key issues

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Kirby cover pencils (Don Heck inks) = **
"Midnight In Greymoor Castle" Kirby story layouts (Dick Ayers inks) 10 pages = **

1st Titanium Man

Jack Kirby

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Durango Kid #9 - Frank Frazetta art

2026-10-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Durango Kid #9

Durango Kid v1 #9, 1951 - A British sympathizer tries to undermine Dan Brand's efforts to raise money for the Revolution. The artwork by Frank Frazetta is confident and meticulous. His scenes of the wild frontier and colonial life are equally superb. The story culminates in an especially violent duel between Brand and his Tory opponent. Disturbingly, the antagonist's blood spews from his mouth at the moment of his impalement This story was later reprinted in White Indian #12. Other artists in this issue include Joe Certa (Durango Kid stories)

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Durango Kid v1 = 16 Frazetta issues

Frazetta gallery
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"Tory Treachery" Frazetta story pencils and inks 7 pages = ***

Frank Frazetta

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Deathblow #1 - 1st issue

2026-10-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

Deathblow #1

Deathblow v1 #1, 1993 - A covert operative working for the US government, Michael Cray is tortured by the guilt of his past killings of men, women and children. He seeks redemption by going to a confessional at a nearby church. This gritty first issue was written by Brandon Choi and Jim Lee and drawn by Lee. Cover by Lee. Note that there is a cover variant with the character's face embossed on a black background.

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Key 1st issue

Deathblow v1 = 1 key issue

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"Confessions" 10 pages

Deathblow #1

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Unusual Tales #12 - Steve Ditko art

2026-10-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

Unusual Tales #12

Unusual Tales v1 #12, 1958 - An extraordinary amount of luck befalls an ordinary man, prompting him to seize the moment to enrich himself. The slightly elongated faces and figures are typical of Steve Ditko's early works, and this brief tale is no exception. His page layouts and pacing are merely adequate. Unfortunately, the drawings themselves beg for more effort and detail. Other artists in this golden age comic include Rocco Mostroserio and Sal Trapani. Cover by Mostroserio.

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Unusual Tales v1 = 18 Ditko issues
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"A Matter Of Luck'' Ditko story pencils and inks 5 pages = **

Steve Ditko

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Home / Ditko / Unusual Tales / Charlton
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Your Future as a Dental Hygienist

2026-10-15T18:00:00.000-04:00

"you will promote bright happy smiles"

Comic book educational page, 1970s - What does a pharmacist or dental hygienist actually do? Gold Key comics lays it all out for you. Published in Where's Huddles #1.

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Home / Miscellany

Star Spangled War Stories v2 #120 - Joe Kubert cover

2026-10-15T12:00:00.000-04:00

Joe Kubert

Star Spangled War Stories v2 #120, 1965 - A gargantuan fish monster that grabs tanks during World War II? Sure, why not. Breaking from the conventional war story, Joe Kubert draws the cover with all seriousness. The strange creature is intricately detailed, showing an uncommon realism for the sci-fi/war genre. Featuring an early version of the Suicide Squad, the interiors are drawn by Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

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Star Spangled War Stories v2 = 96 Kubert issues

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Kubert cover pencils and inks = ***

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Home / Kubert / Star Spangled War Stories / DC / War

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X-Men #140 - John Byrne art & cover

2026-10-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

John Byrne

X-Men v1 #140, 1980 - Joining Alpha Flight in the Canadian wilderness, Wolverine and Nightcrawler fight for their lives against the carnivorous Wendigo. John Byrne nears the end of his long run on this title, but still maintains a high standard. His exquisite cover seems especially designed to show off Wolverine's new costume. Among the story pages, Nightcrawler's acrobatic avoidance of the beast is a high point (see interior page below). The issue also serves as a precursor to the first Alpha Flight series, which Byrne would write as well as draw.

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X-Men v1 = 35 Byrne issues

Byrne gallery

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Byrne cover pencils (Terry Austin inks) = *****
"Rage" Byrne story pencils (Terry Austin inks) = ***

John Byrne

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Sin City: Hell and Back #9 - Frank Miller art & cover

2026-10-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

Frank Miller

Sin City: Hell and Back v1 #9, 1999 - Dressed in tactical gear and armed to the teeth, Wallace locates a factory where bad things happen. The place has women in cages, men on slabs and guards at every corner. And Esther, the woman he's been looking for. Frank Miller's drawings are bit looser and more distorted, to the point of distraction. The story's antagonist, an assassin named Mariah, stands out due her orange coloration against black and white backgrounds. Other artists in this comic include Lynn Varley.

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Sin City: Hell and Back v1 = 9 Miller issues

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Miller cover pencils and inks = **
Miller story pencils and inks 55 pages (black and white) = **
Miller back cover pencils and inks (black and white) = **

Frank Miller

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Tales of the Unexpected #1 - 1st issue

2026-10-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

Tales of the Unexpected #1

Tales of the Unexpected v1 #1, 1956 - One of DC's not-quite-horror books to emerge in the late 1950s, the series stays within the bounds of the Comics Code Authority rules. A creature that emerges from a cartoon, a lamp that can transport people instantaneously and a prison cell with a secret are a few of the tales in this first issue. This title lasted for an unexpectedly long twenty-six year run. Artists in this issue include John Prentice, Howard Purcell, Leonard Starr and Charles Paris. Cover by Bill Ely.

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Key 1st issue

Tales of the Unexpected = 1 key issue

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"The Out-of-the-World Club" 6 pages

+ other stories

Tales of the Unexpected #1

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Girls' Romances - comic series checklist

2026-10-13T18:00:00.000-04:00

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Girls' Romances v1
DC
1950-71

1
2-4
5-10
11,12

13 - mis-attributed Toth cover

14-51

52 - non-attributed Baker art

53-100
101-133
134 - mis-attributed Adams cover
135-160

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Home / DC

Rocket's Blast Comicollector #106 - Don Newton cover

2026-10-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

Don Newton

Rocket's Blast Comicollector v1 #106, 1973 - The Phantom, an adventure hero of the pulp era, sits regally in his secret underground headquarters while his canine companion stays alert. Don Newton's magnificent rendition precedes his run on the character's own series. Could this cover have landed him the assignment in the first place? This fanzine's interiors are in black and white.

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Rocket's Blast Comicollector v1 = 24 Newton issues

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Newton cover pencils and inks = *****

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Teen-age Romances #42 - Matt Baker cover

2026-10-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Matt Baker

Teen-age Romances v1 #42, 1955 - Walking a girl home from school, a boy shares a moment with her upon arrival at her house. Matt Baker creates an idyllic scene on a crisp autumn day. A slight breeze wafts a few leaves into the air. The pair stands comfortably, slightly leaning in toward the other. Baker perfectly conveys the interaction and their mutual interest. Other artists in this golden age comic include Frank Borth.

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Teen-age Romances v1 = 42 Baker issues

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Baker cover pencils and inks = *****

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Donald Duck Album / Four Color v2 #1140 - Carl Barks cover

2026-10-12T17:32:00.000-04:00

Carl Barks

(Walt Disney's) Donald Duck Album v1 / Four Color v2 #1140, 1960 - Huey, Louie and Dewey display both their angelic and mischievous sides on this quaint Carl Barks cover. The layout comes precipitously close to the right edge, but our attention is mostly drawn toward the upraised "birdie". The placement of the focal point so near the masthead is unusual, but no less engaging.

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Donald Duck Album v1 = 3 Barks issues

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Barks cover pencils and inks = ***

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John Carter Warlord of Mars Annual #1 - 1st issue

2026-10-12T12:00:00.000-04:00

John Carter Warlord of Mars Annual #1

John Carter Warlord of Mars Annual v1 #1, 1977 - Seeking solitude, John Carter requisitions a flyer to take him to a distant, desolate part of Mars. There is finds a small community like himself, living in ancient ruins. By befriending them, their old traditions put his own life at risk. Separate from the regular series, this annual and first issue was written by Marv Wolfman and drawn by Sal Buscema and Ernie Chan. Cover by Gil Kane and Rudy Nebres.

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Key 1st issue

John Carter Warlord of Mars Annual v1 = 1 key issue

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"When Walk the Ancient Dead" 34 pages

John Carter Warlord of Mars Annual #1

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Home / John Carter Warlord of Mars Annual / Marvel / Science Fiction

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Bernie Wrightson original art - House of Mystery #195 page

2026-10-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Bernie Wrightson

Original Bernie Wrightson page from House of Mystery #195, 1970s. See also the original Wrightson cover from the same issue.

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Home / Original art / Wrightson / House of Mystery / DC / Horror
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Geronimo Jones #1 - 1st appearance

2026-10-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

Geronimo Jones #1

Geronimo Jones v1 #1, 1971 - Uninterested in school, young Horace joins the US army out west. There, he leans to ride, shoot and fight against overwhelming odds. Back home, he finds that bandits killed his mother and sister. He heads back west looking for the men as Geronimo Jones. This first issue was written by Tony Tallarico and drawn by Tallarico and José Delbo. Cover by Delbo.

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Key 1st appearance, 1st cover, 1st origin Geronimo Jones, 1st issue

Geronimo Jones v1 = 1 key issue

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"The Years Between" 14 pages
+ other stories

Geronimo Jones #1

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Home / Geronimo Jones / Charlton / Western

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Marvel Premiere #19 - non-attributed Neal Adams art, Jim Starlin cover + 1st Colleen Wing

2026-10-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

Jim Starlin

Marvel Premiere v1 #19 featuring Iron Fist, 1974 - Making her first appearance, Colleen Wing brings Iron Fist to her father, a professor whose been targeted by the cult of Kara-Kai. Neal Adams lends a hand penciling two story pages and perhaps inking some panels and figures. For such as small contribution, the artist adds a marked improvement to the story. Jim Starlin's cover is a crowded layout with little hierarchy and an almost unrecognizable style. Note that comic guides did not credit Adams or Starlin in this Doug Moench story.

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Key 1st appearance Colleen Wing

Marvel Premiere v1 = 4 Adams issues, 2 Starlin issues, multiple key issues

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Starlin cover pencils (Al Milgrom inks) = *
"Death Cult" Adams partial story pencils and inks (Larry Hama pencils, Dick Giordano inks) 17 pages = ***

1st Colleen Wing

Neal Adams

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Wetworks #1 - 1st appearance

2026-10-10T18:00:00.000-04:00

Wetworks #1

Wetworks v1 #1, 1994 - A team of military operatives is sent to a remote part of eastern Europe. Inside the enemy facility, an experimental tube breaks and covers their commanding officer, Colonel Dane. Discovering its protective properties, the rest of the team (Mother One, Pilgrim, Grail, Claymore, Jester, Dozer, Crossbones, Flattop) follows suit just as the come under attack. Wetworks accomplishes their mission but realizes they've been betrayed. This first issue was written by Whilce Portacio and Brandon Choi and drawn by Portacio and Scott Williams. Cover by Portacio and Williams.

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Key 1st appearance, 1st cover, 1st origin Wetworks, 1st issue

Wetworks v1 = 1 key issue

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"Wetworks" 25 pages

1st Wetworks

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Home / Wetworks / Image / Superhero

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Linus the Lionhearted #1 - 1st appearance

2026-10-10T12:00:00.000-04:00

Linus the Lionhearted #1

Linus the Lionhearted v1 #1, 1965 - A mailman arrives in the jungle domain of Linus, needing to deliver a special package. The lion and his friend Billy Bird agree to escort him, even after they find out a thief is waiting in the wings. This first issue follows a CBS television show based on Post cereal characters.

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Key 1st appearance in comics, 1st cover Linus the Lionhearted, 1st issue

Linus the Lionhearted v1 = 1 key issue

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"Trek or Treat" 11 pages
+ other stories

Linus the Lionhearted #1

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Home / Linus the Lionhearted / Gold Key / Humor

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