As a failed comic book artist it is sometimes comforting to look at the early work of those who went on to excel. I recall seeing an illustration in the gaming magazine Different Worlds by some punk named Mignola. I wonder whatever happened to him? Probably washed out with the rest of us. (I wish I still had those old issues too….)
Here is a challenge for you. Guess who these artists were by some of their firt comic appearances. You might be surprised. All of them became masters of comics and other media. (There a few easy ones.)
“A Hole in the Air” (Airfighters #20, Fall 1944)
“The Great Kublai Khan” (Treasure Comics #1, June-July 1945) pencils by John Giunta. Who was the inker?
“Crime: Kidnaping Victim: Abraham Lincoln” (Crimefighters #4, November 1948)
“Bed Made” (Pep #140, August 1960)
“Robot Gallery” (Magnus Robot Fighter #10, May 1965)
“Image in Wax” (Creepy #17, October 1967)
“Abraca-Doom!” (The Spectre #9, March -April 1969)
“Great Battles of History: Shiraz!” (Flash Gordon #18, January 1970)
“Man-Thing” (Fear #10, October 1972) Inks by Gray Morrow
“The Legion of Super-Executioners” (Superboy #205, November-December 1974)
“The Baddest Dude in Town” (Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch #2, September 1975)
Answers:
Cover: Dave Sim, Gil Kane, Frank Frazetta, John Buscema, Neal Adams, Walt Simonson, Tom Sutton, Berni Wrightson, Mike Kaluta, Howard Chaykin, Mike Grell and John Byrne