Before Mike Ploog made a supernatural splash at Marvel drawing The Monster of Frankenstein and Werewolf By Night, he drew four pieces for the horror comics of Warren Publications. These four pieces presaged much of the work that makes Mike Ploog a name in comics.
Mike began his career in the California animation studios then moved to New York to work with Will Eisner for two years. Eisner’s letterer, Ben Oda turned Mike onto Warren’s magazines. There is some question as to Mike’s birthday but he was either 29 or 31 when he drew for James Warren. New to comics, but no neophyte either. He drew solid, moody horror pieces in these four stories.
“Tower of the Demon Dooms” (Eerie #35, September 1971) written by Gardner F. Fox, was a nice sample of the Sword & Sorcery genre that Mike did later on Kull the Destroyer and his own Fantasy series, Klarn.
“The Wedding Gift” (Vampirella #14, November 1971) written by Nicola Cuti had more Fantasy, mythological this time.
His original submission to Marvel, a Western called “Tin Star” was called ‘too cartoony’ but a little later he got a call-back for Werewolf By Night in early 1972. He didn’t drop Warren immediately, but had two more pieces appear before working full-time for Marvel.
“Sleep” (Creepy #44, March 1972) written by Kevin Pagan is the least interesting of these four samples, filled with talking heads. That final panel is pure EC Comics though.
“The Brain of Frankenstein” (Eerie #40, June 1972) was written by Fred Ott. This comic was the perfect audition for The Monster of Frankenstein that Mike did with Gary Friedrich beginning January 1973.
Mike Ploog’s ‘cartoony style’ and his apprenticeship at Warren would serve him well at Marvel, drawing Ghost Rider, Man-Thing and Planet of the Apes, all comics with either a Gothic feel or fantastic elements. After a disagreement with Jim Shooter, Mike left Marvel to do film work drawing story boards. His work can be seen in Wizards and The Lord of the Rings for Ralph Bakshi, John Carpenter’s The Thing, Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth and other movies.
