what makes a masterpiece?

[Flex Mentallo]

The most striking comic book cover ever....

....in my opinion. You just can't beat the skulls reflected in his eyeballs.

 

We're eyebal to eyeball and - gulp - I just blinked!

[Flex Mentallo]

I no longer own this book, but if a masterpiece is a cover that stirs emotion, then this is the one for me. Here's what I wrote about it in the Fawcett thread:

 

Published 3 months after Pearl Harbor. The cover is extraordinary, a child hero with what can only be described as blood-lust. Having already disabled three Japanese planes, he flies at a fourth, his eyes filled with rage, his hands outstretched as claws, ready to tear apart what very well may be the same planes that destroyed our navy and killed so many of our men that Sunday morning at Pearl Harbor. It's an angry cover, filled with the emotion of a nation bent on vengeance, and rightly so. It's visceral, powerful, and all in color for a dime...

 

 

 

so, so happy to have my modest little copy. thanks again, sir.

 

 

 

This cover is stunning! And so are the copies, well done gents!

[Flex Mentallo]

Warren King's cover for Spectacular Adventures #2 is one of the most intensely passionate images ever created for a comic book cover,and takes full advantage of the over-sized format. The key to the image is the use of black. The girl's balck hair echoes and merges with the guy's jersey. The intense white highlights are less about light and shadow than they are a unifying motif which stresses the quality of design and the power of shape. We are not distracted by unnecessary detail from contemplation of the emotional content. And we are not sold short by the story inside, which is simply astonishing!

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

The cover of Chilling Tales #16 is a brilliantly original composition which induces terror and vertigo through the use of arcs and diagonals. (The artist Marc Chagall used to use the same devices to induce a dream-like state.) The lurid green light bouncing off the walls conveys the intensity of heat and light as the poor victim is lowered into the flames. The gleeful, uniformly maniacal expresssions on the faces of the mad monks is darkly comedic and contrasts sharply with the victim's youthful innocence. There is no hero dashing to the rescue here...a chilling tale indeed.

 

Like most of the very best covers, it needs no word or thought balloons!

 

 

[G.A.tor]

I no longer own this book, but if a masterpiece is a cover that stirs emotion, then this is the one for me. Here's what I wrote about it in the Fawcett thread:

 

Published 3 months after Pearl Harbor. The cover is extraordinary, a child hero with what can only be described as blood-lust. Having already disabled three Japanese planes, he flies at a fourth, his eyes filled with rage, his hands outstretched as claws, ready to tear apart what very well may be the same planes that destroyed our navy and killed so many of our men that Sunday morning at Pearl Harbor. It's an angry cover, filled with the emotion of a nation bent on vengeance, and rightly so. It's visceral, powerful, and all in color for a dime...

 

 

I enjoyed it too...the longest owned fawcett I had, before Jeff relieved me of it (thumbs u

[spillred]

I don't know that I've seen any better example of wartime propaganda than Schomburg's cover.

 

I'd love to see this one colored with a more subdued palette, I think it would be even more incredible

[sacentaur]

Warren King's cover for Spectacular Adventures #2 is one of the most intensely passionate images ever created for a comic book cover,and takes full advantage of the over-sized format. The key to the image is the use of black. The girl's balck hair echoes and merges with the guy's jersey. The intense white highlights are less about light and shadow than they are a unifying motif which stresses the quality of design and the power of shape. We are not distracted by unnecessary detail from contemplation of the emotional content. And we are not sold short by the story inside, which is simply astonishing!

 

 

 

This just went high up on my want list - a "spectacular" and evocative cover.

[G.A.tor]

these are the only before posted ones I have...wouldn't mind having them all

 

 

[Bunky Brian]

What no posts since 11/26 ?

Can't leave Gator hanging out there all by himself,

Here's one I consider a masterpiece

 

 

[Straw-Man]

I no longer own this book, but if a masterpiece is a cover that stirs emotion, then this is the one for me. Here's what I wrote about it in the Fawcett thread:

 

Published 3 months after Pearl Harbor. The cover is extraordinary, a child hero with what can only be described as blood-lust. Having already disabled three Japanese planes, he flies at a fourth, his eyes filled with rage, his hands outstretched as claws, ready to tear apart what very well may be the same planes that destroyed our navy and killed so many of our men that Sunday morning at Pearl Harbor. It's an angry cover, filled with the emotion of a nation bent on vengeance, and rightly so. It's visceral, powerful, and all in color for a dime...

 

 

I enjoyed it too...the longest owned fawcett I had, before Jeff relieved me of it (thumbs u

 

you've been on that hitler football cover awhile my boy.

[Straw-Man]

What no posts since 11/26 ?

Can't leave Gator hanging out there all by himself,

Here's one I consider a masterpiece

 

 

 

it is a killer book, bb. so, so cool. but, then again, everybody knows i have a soft spot for purple smoke dragons.

[adamstrange]

What no posts since 11/26 ?

Can't leave Gator hanging out there all by himself,

Here's one I consider a masterpiece

 

 

 

it is a killer book, bb. so, so cool. but, then again, everybody knows i have a soft spot for purple smoke dragons.

 

Killer colors and image!

[MrBedrock]

What no posts since 11/26 ?

Can't leave Gator hanging out there all by himself,

Here's one I consider a masterpiece

 

 

 

it is a killer book, bb. so, so cool. but, then again, everybody knows i have a soft spot for purple smoke dragons.

 

Killer colors and image!

Killer purple smoke dragons

[Bunky Brian]

What no posts since 11/26 ?

Can't leave Gator hanging out there all by himself,

Here's one I consider a masterpiece

 

 

 

it is a killer book, bb. so, so cool. but, then again, everybody knows i have a soft spot for purple smoke dragons.

 

Killer colors and image!

Killer purple smoke dragons

Its a KILLER book enough already

 

[PreHero]

What no posts since 11/26 ?

Can't leave Gator hanging out there all by himself,

Here's one I consider a masterpiece

 

 

 

One of my favorite cvrs (was my old avatar)! I like how they let the art continue into the logo area, which they did for remainder of the run. Is that Edgar's old copy?

[Bat-Man]

In this classic More Fun cover, I've always thought that Baily was not condeming the Nazis or the growing conflict in Europe, but war and aggression in general. The image of the Spectre, the embodiment of the Wrath of God, towering over a raging battle makes this one a masterpiece for me.

 

 

 

Can never get enough of this cover. Certainly in my top 5 GA Classic Covers. (Possibly top 3)

[VintageComics]

In this classic More Fun cover, I've always thought that Baily was not condeming the Nazis or the growing conflict in Europe, but war and aggression in general. The image of the Spectre, the embodiment of the Wrath of God, towering over a raging battle makes this one a masterpiece for me.

 

 

 

Can never get enough of this cover. Certainly in my top 5 GA Classic Covers. (Possibly top 3)

 

Me too.

 

Just an awesome masterpiece that captures the grandeur and the horror at the same time.

 

Adventure #44, More Fun #54, Marvel Comics #1, Detective #31 and possibly one other in my top 5.

 

[detective35]

More Fun #54...Awesome!...A few years back I owned both the "Larson" and "Nova Scotia" copies.

 

 

Here is my contribution to "Masterpieces".

 

The Shadow - "Partners of Peril" -- Nov. 1, 1936

 

 

Spicy Mystery - "Satan's Mistress" - October 1935

 

 

Dwight

[porcupine48]

Huly!!The hypo!The garters!The shackles!The EVERYTHING!

I am in love.