Tuesday, April 12, 2011

John R. Holmes covers Fantastic Four 1

































Original cover by Jack Kirby and a debated inker; Marvel 1961. John R. Holmes's website is here.

22 comments:

  1. Other than ACTION COMICS #1 this has to be the most parodied superhero cover and this is the most original spin on it.

    P.S.--"I can't turn invisible fast enough?" You're already in its hand, Sue, how exactly would that help at this point?

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  2. Wow-- that shift in angles is...that is really clever.

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  3. This cover is great, it has never made sense to me. I mean, who tied up Reed... the monster??! I'm pretty sure he tied himself up to be a dick and get out of doing any actual work.

    Fantastic job by the way!

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  4. This, sir, is some mighty fine work indeed!
    Reminds me of my own meager contribution to this delightful sight:
    http://coveredblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/robt-seda-schreiber-covers-amazing.html
    in that it plays with the angle of observation, but I daresay yours runs rings around mine!

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  5. It's the addition of the man being flung out of his car that really makes the angle shift worth it! So sweet!

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  6. A very interesting exercise by changing the camera angle. Nicely done!

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  7. Haha! Brilliant! Look at all them bystanders jiving around!

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  8. I love it! This reminds me of the fabulous X-Men #1 cover by Dan Scanlon.
    Let's do all the #1's from an safe distance. Imagine She-Hulk #1 from a
    back view!

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  9. Someone should totally do a reverse angle of this classic: http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/nam/24-1.jpg

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  10. This is truly beautiful, and truly awesome. I'm surprised to be saying this, but miles better than the original. Great job!

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  11. Nice that you did it onfrom a different angle.

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  12. Thanks for the comments, folks. I wanted to do a deadpan take on Kirby's trademark foreshortening/compositions. Fun drawing in his style. I'm surprised there haven't been more "alternate angles". The ones cited here, Dan's and Robt's, are really enjoyable.

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  13. Love it!! From here on out I will think of this cover as a diorama.

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  14. Great job with the funky Kirby dance poses.

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  15. BOPalex.... isn't the reverse of that one the famous photo we always see?

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  16. I am so geeking out that the shift in angle changes my perception of the event and the flow of the image. With the onlookers in the foreground, it makes me see it more from their perspective- both Mole Man's Monster and the Fantastic Four are strange invaders to their routine. The diagonal sequential placement of the word balloons also helps draw attention to those foreground characters. In the original, my eye stops at Mister Fantastic. In John R. Holmes' reimagining, the flow starts with the fire trail, goes down the diagonal word balloons, is led back out toward the monster, and then the Thing redirects my attention toward the onlookers. The fact that it also mimics Kirby's style so well is what really sells this as a companion piece. Kudos!

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  17. Awesome how you managed to "out-vintage" the original cover. It looks like an alternate option of the original. Really awesome job!

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  18. I would love to see your version of Avengers #7

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