In a prior article I already confessed my love for
classic movie posters. Today I'm starting a feature on some of my favorite comic book covers. I guess that I'm just a sucker for really good pop art. I like old record covers and advertising as well.
Today I chose a great Marvel Comic from the 70s that features everybody's favorite "she-devil with a sword" Red Sonja.
The basic appeal of the cover is obvious. You have Red Sonja, a fiery red head in a metal bikini standing triumphant over the bodies of fallen foes.
Sonja exclaims. "Whatever the battleground .. whatever the foe .. I shall never falter!" The evidence that she can back up what she claims is all around her.
I have copy of this issue for sale in my online store for $7.69 - Check it out HERE
Many fans aren't aware that Red Sonja appeared in the pages of Marvel Feature prior to getting her own solo series in 1977. That issue also features an amazing cover.
Credit goes to artist Frank Thorne for this great composition.
Here is a little on Thorne:
Thorne began his comics career in 1948, penciling romance comics for Standard Comics. After graduation, he drew the Perry Mason newspaper strip for King Features, which was followed by more comic book work for Dell Comics. He turned out a multitude of stories for Flash Gordon, Jungle Jim, The Green Hornet, Tom Corbett Space Cadet, Tomahawk, Mighty Samson, Enemy Ace and numerous others. Thorne drew the syndicated comic strip Dr. Guy Bennett / Dr. Duncan from 1957–1963 for LaFave Newspaper Features.
Originally drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith for Conan the Barbarian, Red Sonja was transposed from a minor Robert E. Howard 16th-century gunslinger character ("Red Sonya") to a mainstay of the sword and sorcery Conan canon by Roy Thomas. After the character was spun off into a solo feature, Thorne succeeded penciler Dick Giordano in drawing her for Marvel Feature #2 (Jan. 1976), continuing through most of her 1977-79 solo series, Red Sonja.
Thorne subsequently created a number of erotic fantasy comics and characters, alongside other works. His works include creating, writing and drawing the features "Moonshine McJugs" for Playboy, "Lann" in Heavy Metal, and "Danger Rangerette" in National Lampoon, and the miniseries Ribit for (Comico), as well as the Fantagraphics Books graphic novels Ghita of Alizarr, The Iron Devil, The Devil’s Angel, and The Illustrated History of Union County.
Publishing company Hermes Press has reprinted Lann, Ribit! and Ghita of Alizzarr; the latter being reprinted as an archival, nearly full sized reproduction of the original art.
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