Classic Comic Book Covers: Marvel Feature #4 (Red Sonja)

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.

Check Out:




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Abandoned Louisiana - The Pirate's Cove Water Park / Resort in Iowa

Image
 About ten minutes east of the city of Lake Charles are the remains of an abandoned water park . The decaying structures are clearly visible from the busy I-10 freeway and for years drivers have wondered about it's history and why it was left for dead.   The Pirate's Cove Water Park actually has a rather interesting story behind it. A story that has been repeated over and over again, unfortunately, here in Louisiana. It's just another example of how government bureaucracy in this state killed an enterprise before it could ever get off the ground. Construction on the park began in 2008 and it was scheduled to open sometime in 2010. The sprawling complex was envisioned as an oasis from the hot summer heat that would feature luxurious amenities like a 900 foot long lazy river, a giant splash pad for the kids and eventually a five star hotel. The Pirate's Cove would have been an obvious tourist destination that could have brought much needed tax dollars and employment oppo...
READ MORE »

Abandoned Louisiana - The Old Hightower Family Home in Dodson

Image
I have to admit that I have been hanging on to these photos for a couple of months now just looking for the right minute to post them. Back in November I was traveling up to El Dorado, Arkansas and I passed through the small town of Dodson. While driving through town my eyes spotted a very attractive old house up on a hill and I just had to stop and take a few photos of it. I honestly don't know the history of this house, but I'm sure some local will send me message telling me all about it (and someone did see the UPDATE ), and it's not as cool as an abandoned railroad locomotive or old movie house but it really spoke to me. I have to wonder about the people who used to live in it and how it ended up in the state it is now. Anyone can see that it was a beautiful house long ago. What happened? How did such a grand residence end up like this? Those are questions that I can't answer unfortunately.  Unfortunately a site like this isn't all that uncommon here in Louisian...
READ MORE »