Remembering Artist Curt Swan

Remembering artist Curt Swan on his birthday (February 17, 1920 - June 17, 1996) with a couple of his all too rare covers for Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane (#78 and #80, of October, 1967 and January, 1968)....though these two covers don't necessarily show that Superman and Lois were in a good place at the time.

Celebrating Artist Curt Swan

Remembering artist Curt Swan on his birthday (February 17, 1920 - June 17, 1996) with these 1970s Batman covers to Batman #223 (July-August, 1970) and Batman #228 (January-February, 1971).

By the 1970s, Curt was more famous for drawing the Man of Steel, yet he did have a bit of history with Batman.

Back in the 1950s, Curt drew Batman, such as on these covers to Batman #120 (December, 1958) and Batman #122 (March, 1959).

Of course, later, in the 1960s, Curt drew Batman with his Worlds' Finest teammate for a while, including covers with Batman villains Clayface and Joker (as well as Brainiac and Bizarro), for World's Finest Comics #144 (September, 1966) and World's Finest Comics #156 (March, 1966).

If you need to see Curt drawing the Caped Kryptonian, check here!

Curt Swan Super Romance Artist?

Remembering artist Curt Swan on his birthday, and wondering, as it is February near Valentine's Day, why wasn't Curt used on romance comics?

Oddly, he wasn't, but here are a few issues with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen that show he has all the basics down, with weddings, jealousy, crying, fighting, shame and kissing....

Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane 7 and 31

Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane 29 and 30

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Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen 56 and 76

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen 21 and 98

Remembering Superman Artist Curt Swan

It was hard to pick one cover to summarize the majesty that was Curt Swan's Superman art... 

.so, instead, here is a look at the first eight annuals (even though they came out twice a year) for Superman in the 1960s, with cover art by Curt Swan.(February 17, 1920 to June 17, 1996).

Superman Annual 1 and 2, 1960

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Superman Annual 3 and 4, 1961

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Superman Annual 5 and 6, 1962

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Superman Annual 7 and 8, 1963

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There was suppose to have been a ninth annual at the time, but it turned into the first 80-Page Giant (featuring Superman, naturally, and more, including More Secret Origins), and Curt also drew many anniversary issues involving Superman, such as Action Comics 500, and a bit in Action Comics 600 and 700,  which showed that they still remembered his style!

Wishing that DC would put these in a couple of collections like they did with the Batman Annuals of the 1960s!

Comic Heroes Are Unappreciated

It might be hard to believe, with all the fans they have, but not everyone likes a hero.

Sure, the life of a superhero looks easy, but it really isn't....

Take for example Superman and Spider-Man (one from DC and one from Marvel, both working in the news industry, both the biggest heroes in their world, or at least the most popular...).

Neither of them have had an easy life....

To Save A Superman

With Superman #240 (July, 1971, with a cover by Neal Adams, and interior story by writer Denny O'Neil, artist Curt Swan and inker Dick Giordano), we learn how people react when Superman fails!

Not cool, as the cover shows....but it wasn't really Superman's fault....

...he just wasn't up to full power!  Starting with Superman #233 (January, 1971, by O'Neil, Swan and inker Murphy Anderson), Superman was being slowly weakened by the extra-dimensional being Quarrmer) who came to our world when a lab accident destroyed all Kryptonite on Earth, and this creature formed as a "sand Superman", a parasite (though not THE Parasite, a different Superman villain..), slowly taking away Superman's powers over time! 

Superman had to deal with this problem all the way until Superman #242 (September, 1971) and did it with a little help from Wonder Woman (who, at the time, was also without her powers!).  Superman recovered, and Quarrmer even came back to be the Superman villain in the Superman vs. Shazam battle of All-New Collector's Edition #C-58...and the entire collection of O'Neil & Swan's sand Superman saga was collected in the DC Comics Classics Library: Superman: Kryptonite Nevermore in January, 2009!

Spider-Man No More!

Peter Parker was a photographer/freelancer working barely surviving working for J. Jonah Jameson, fearing for the health of his elderly Aunt May, and pushed into giving up being Spider-Man....and this all came about in Amazing Spider-Man #50 (July, 1967, with a cover and interior pencils by John Romita and story by Stan Lee and inked by Mike Esposito). 

It's amazing that Peter did eventually come back to his webheaded alter-ego after the unknowning encouragement of his friends...and he did it just in time to face the crimelord of New York, the Kingpin! 

Winston Fisk made his first appearance within this story, and continued to menace Spider-Man, as well as other New York heroes like Captain America, Punisher and especially Daredevil (started during Frank Miller's run...which was adapted into the Daredevil movie...more or less). 

Over the years, the Kingpin caused plenty of heartache...but deep down, it's Spidey that the Kingpin hates most of all!  You can find that original Spider-Man/Kingpin confrontation in the Marvel Masterworks #22: Amazing Spider-Man, along with issues #41-50 and the third Amazing Spider-Man Annual (which has Spidey facing the Hulk at the behest of the Avengers), or all that and more (like battles against the Green Goblin, Rhino, Lizard, Electro, Kraven, Dr. Octopus and others in Amazing Spider Man #39-67, Annuals #3-5 and more in the Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #2 of April, 2012).

 

Lessons Learned

It seems that heroes who come in and do the work, week after week are not always appreciated, but they still do what they can to help others...and it is by continuing on against adversity that help to make these rare people into heroes as they do what they can!