Some of Michael Golden's best work appeared in Marvel Fanfare, such as this gem from 1989.

Issue #47 contained a unbelievable Marvel Team-Up (and perhaps this story was originally meant for that title) between Spider-Man and the Hulk with a guest appearance by Nick Fury. 

Written by Golden's Micronauts partner, Bill Mantlo, the Hulk went berserk in a mind-controlled frenzy.  Golden's artwork in this story is top-notch as usual, the above two panels being a great example.  You can probably get this issue very cheap at a convention!  Nuff Said!

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Marvel's plan to create a black and white magazine for the Thunder God (see Thor Thursday: The Thunder God's Magazine).  I believe Marvel commissioned a few stories for this format--and one of them was the story that appeared in Thor Annual #5, 1976.

Surely the greatest thing about this annual was the cover by Jack Kirby.  It was worth the 50 cents just to celebrate the King's return to Marvel, after his stint at DC Comics.  While not one of Kirby's most classic covers, it just felt good to see him drawing Thor again--and he was fighting Hercules!

That logo and masthead really cut down on the space available for the cover image, didn't it?

The interiors were done by John Buscema and Tony DeZuniga.  Something about the art makes me think that it was designed for a larger, magazine-sized format.  There is also the fact that DeZuniga did a lot of inking for Marvel's magazine line (he also inked Buscema's Conan and Jim Starlin's Thor story in Marvel Preview #10).  Buscema laid out the story with plenty of grand splash pages.

This pic of Hela making a grand entrance is one example.  The story by Steve Englehart is designed to introduce a new audience to the world of Thor--Asgard, Odin, etc., are all explained before the action starts.  I do remember reading somewhere that this story was intended to be the first issue of a Thor black and white magazine, while the Marvel Preview #10 story by Wein and Starlin was going to be in the second issue.

You see, fellow True Believers, all of this Marvel Minutia occupies my mind on a daily basis.  I should be thinking about how to become a millionaire or how to create a great software product.  Instead, I wonder what made the 1970s Marvel editorial staff abort magazine projects before they started!  As Hercules might say, Are Ye Mad or Merely Daft? Nuff Said!

Ever wonder what would happen if there was a Marvel-DC crossover event that was more on the romantic side?  Fred Hembeck did, back in 1981 for this cover to The Comic Reader 188.

I think it's very funny--especially with Hembeck's design which makes the couples mirror images of each other.  You have to wonder what other Marvel-DC swaps would work.  A Hawkeye/Black Canary and Green Arrow/Mockingbird pairing might be interesting.

Check out Hembeck's website for more lovable cartoons.  Nuff Said!

Another John Byrne pic to tickle your funny bone, from The Comic Reader 128 in 1976.

Howard the Duck—who was launched into his own title in 1975—gets kicked in the tail by Rog-2000.  Rog-2000 was a creation of Byrne’s that appeared in the back of Charlton Comics E-Man.  Far from an emotionless robot, Rog-2000 suffers from a bad case of comic-strip envy.  Nuff Said!

More John Byrne Marvel Funnies:

John Byrne’s Power Man and Iron Fist…in the style of Mad Magazine’s Don Martin

Spidey Introduces the Punisher to the Electric Company.

Storm critiques Ms. Marvel's costume, courtesy of John Byrne.

Iron Sis and Shang-She.

When the X-Men creative team was about to change in 1977, Dave Cockrum drew this cover for The Comic Reader #145.

John Byrne introduces himself to the X-Men, who have no idea who he is or why Cockrum is missing. 

I can't remember exactly, but I believe this cover appeared a few months before John Byrne's first issue of the X-Men, #108, cover dated December.  I do remember feeling the loss of Cockrum on the title, but feeling like Byrne could pull it off, since he had done so well on Starlord (see Claremont, Byrne & Austin's Classic Take on Star-Lord) and Iron Fist.

It was a great way for Dave Cockrum to hand over the reins of the X-Men, a title he visually re-designed for a new era.  Nuff Said!

More Marvel Funnies:

Storm critiques Ms. Marvel's costume, courtesy of John Byrne.

Red Sonja and Storm pinups by Byrne and Cockrum.

Marvel Funnies: 1970s Marvel Bullpen as the X-Men

Marvel Funnies: Marie Severin Roasts Wein, Cockrum, Claremont Over New X-Men

The Comic Reader featured a couple of good Doctor Strange covers during the 1970s…

This one by Frank Brunner in 1974 appeared during the period Marvel re-launched Doc in his own comic.  Brunner and Steve Englehart took Doctor Strange and Clea to new heights of cosmic consciousness.

Here’s one by Kerry Gammill in 1978.  Gammill penciled once issue of Doctor Strange, issue #46, in 1981.  In this pic, Doc is once again entering new doorways of Ditko consciousness!  Nuff Said!

A couple of Silver Age Thor covers today, from The Comic Reader…

Here’s a 1975 cover (Comic Reader 115) that showcases not only why Joe Sinnott was a great inker—he was a damn good artist as well!  Sinnott inked many issues of Thor, though ironically, he never inked Kirby on this title.  What would have happened if all those Vinnie Colletta issues were done by Sinnott instead?

Uh-oh, I’ve just made myself a target for the Colletta Club. 

Rich Buckler did this 1972 cover for The Comic Reader 1972.  Buckler during this period was the perfect second-generation Marvel artist, combining the best of Kirby and Buscema in his work.  Thor must be fighting one of the High Evolutionary’s creatures in this pic…perhaps the Man-Beast? 

Have a great Thor Thursday and skip the trip to Valhalla.  Nuff Said!

More on Rich Buckler:

Thing Tuesdays: Rich Buckler's Foom Thing

Giant-Size Superstars #1 and the wildest Thing vs Hulk match ever!

More on Joe Sinnott:

Marvel Swimsuits: Avengers in the Savage Land

Thing Tuesdays: Jim Starlin's Hulk and Thing, Funnier than Lewis and Martin!

Here's a big laugh courtesy of John Byrne, from The Comic Reader 143, circa 1977.  It was around this period when Iron Fist was set to become Luke Cage's best buddy--and share the masthead when Power Man was re-titled Power Man and Iron Fist with issue #50.  Claremont and Byrne were the creators behind this odd couple pairing.

The signature reads: John Byrne, from an idea by Roger Stern, with apologies to Don Martin.  Don Martin was one of the premiere artists from Mad Magazine, who drew funny characters with elongated features.  Why not take a visit to the Don Martin Shrine today?  Nuff Said!

More John Byrne Marvel Funnies:

Spidey Introduces the Punisher to the Electric Company.

Storm critiques Ms. Marvel's costume, courtesy of John Byrne.

Iron Sis and Shang-She.