Thor #336, Thor Comics, October 1983. Artist: Bob Layton.
A great comic book cover matching each day of the year, 1 through 365. Please chime in with your favourite corresponding cover, from any era.
Day 336 was a very rough day so honestly picked the only cover that made me look twice, Bob Layton’s cover to Thor #336, it’s crisp with some strong vibrant covers, and Thor joins the ranks of millions of guys before him in receiving the dreaded ultimatum!
Detective is turning into what Four Color was a week or two ago, a default winner just in case. I’ve always loved Scarecrow covers so this Scarecrow Batman on the cover of Detective Comics #336 is a bonus from Carmine Infantino.
I picked Steve Geiger’s cover to Hulk #336 because I really like the intensity of the Hulk on the cover, this exercise has taught me that it ain’t easy drawing a compelling Hulk on the Hulk cover, we get one here.
5
I am a fan of the HULK #336 cover, and was happy to see it among the selections.
I was doubting the Thor #336 selection on first glance, but decided to go to the boxes and pulled out the original, and seeing it in person convinced me it deserves the recognition.
Also thought Chris Meli’s nomination of Sgt. Rock was interesting, and as described – good art and bad concept.
But it couldn’t top the head-butting horse cover of Action Comics #336 for the JOWA.
Liked all three covers today Walt
As we enter our last month – and as the covers get less than spectacular – should we do a year end review of the top dates and covers you’ve found? Could also do the best/worst JOWAs, etc. Of course I’m adding more work to your load, Walter, but want to end on a high note and not scrounging in the dollar bins 🙂
I like your thinking John, I also thought I’d do a day or two to post some really great covers that have issues numbers over #365
And it would be cool to have a tally of which artists had the most covers (I’m guessing Neal Adams is #1)
Also, would enjoy seeing commentators offer their own Top 5/Top10 list. This exercise has certainly changed my perspective – Blue Bolt covers were not even on my “superhero only” comic book radar until this column, but now the Cole covers would certainly rank near the top of my list.
This is all great feedback gang, I’ll try and include some solicits in the coming weeks and to some separate posts.
Detective, Hulk, Thor for my order but probably the best of whats out there… well except Sgt Rock with wings. Also like the ideas bantered about as well!
There are some cool things about the Thor, particularly the use of blacks, but it’s still a standing around poster and not my pick. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’ve just about had it up to here with the dopey Thor on the last few covers. Same old lunky musclebound guy, just not cutting it. It’s hard to believe that the series could just keep going and going after this, same old same old. I guess that’s what the people wanted.
Speaking of blacks, the black background on that Detective make it very hard in high grade, which makes it near and dear to my heart. DC must have gotten a cheap shipment of ink around this time because there are a number of very dark Detectives in this period. I wasn’t about to push this one given yesterday’s pick, but I am very happy seeing this one get some love.
I am on the fence about that Hulk – not bad but just not my favorite, something unfinished about it.
For #337 we finally get a standout pick, which is of course Simonson’s Fantastic Four. After my complaints about Thor, Simonson gives us a complete re-imagining of him as a dynamic hero, the only one of the crew intrepid enough to not have to ride on the Rosebud II. It seems like just yesterday that this first issue of the monumental Rosebud II story arc hit the shelves, selling out nearly immediately. It might not be a stretch to argue that the Rosebud II was one of those points of rejuvenation for Marvel that allowed it to stick around and become the key global entertainment powerhouse that it is today.
While we have this standout, it won’t surprise me if Walt again picks Four Color for The Brownies.
#337 also boasts a really strong JOWA selection. On Action we get Superman’s top hat and toe, on Laugh, Archie wants a third arm, and Thor has some kind of weird monster cover. However the award goes to Adventure for the bizarre hero sticks that apparently are a tradition for Legionnaire wedding processions.
Day 337 is ruled by Walt Simonson in my opinion. As noted by Meli, the FF cover is a fine one. Then he takes over the reigns on Thor with a iconic
Beta Ray Bill ‘smashing title’ cover, the next issue has the new title motif in fine continuity fashion. After that you get a Kirby homage on Captain America, it’s okay but the colors leave me wanting. A nice DD painted cover too.
JOWA has got to be Adventure. Sticks up there butts literally and figuratively about marriage. WTH?
WWWP?