If you missed the first one….
My love of Alex Nino’s work is no secret. I’ve written about his art on Space Voyagers, Korak, Weird War Tales and even a Mythos style piece. His artwork for Conan only happened twice (more’s the pity!) He drew “People of the Dark” for Savage Sword of Conan #6 (June 1975), which was later reprinted in color for Marvel Treasury #19 (1978). “People of the Dark” (Strange Tales, June 1932) is an unusual tale of Robert E. Howard’s for two reasons: 1) it appeared in a rival of Weird Tales where all the Conan tales appeared and 2) it had people in the present going back in time to the age of the Celts. There they meet Conan of the Reavers (not our Hyborian hero) and face off against the Worms of the Earth (aka The People of the Dark). Roy Thomas couldn’t miss such an opportunity so Conan of the Reavers becomes a Cimmerian…
Alex returned to the Hyborian fold for Savage Sword of Conan #228 (December 1994), nineteen years later. This time the story is “Lions of Corinthia”, another Roy Thomas rewrite job of the historical tale, “The Lion of Tiberias” (The Magic Carpet Magazine, July 1933). Due to this fact, Alex got no real monsters to draw. He makes the tale of military conflict exciting to look at all the same.
Alex work has appeared in color many times. (I think to his credit in the Korak back-up tales for Tarzan.) But it is in black & white that you can truly marvel at his line work, his odd geometry and lush inking. Bill DuBay at Warren’s 1984/1994 knew this. Alex appeared in virtually every issue. Sadly, Marvel wanted John Buscema realism (and would more often put up with poor imitations rather than push the envelope with stylist as good as Nino.) Alex did lots of Science Fiction stuff, including a great version of Harlan Ellison’s “Repent, Harlequin,” Said the Tick-Tock Man” (Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #3, May 1975), The Time Machine for Marvel Classics Comics #2 (1976) and many others, but I always liked him best when doing Fantasy. His inking of Mike Ploog’s pencils for “The Lord of Tyndall’s Quest” (Marvel Premiere #38 (October 1977) is a rare treat since Alex didn’t ink other people often.
The span of almost twenty years has had an effect on Nino’s style. The early piece is looser, while the later work has taken on an almost Phillipe Druillet density. I love both but maybe the 1975 one a little bit more (nostalgia?).
“The People of the Dark” (1975)
Lions of Corinthia (1994)
The adaptation by Nino on People of the Dark is gorgeous.