I love the artwork of Big John Buscema. But true confession - when I was 9 or 10 years old I didn't exactly take a shine to him when he replaced George Perez on the
Fantastic Four. When I read the arc that began with Gorr and moved through bouts with the Destroyer, Galactus, and the High Evolutionary I was a bit miffed. I now know that my major complaint centered on the art in
FF #175, where Buscema inked himself. I was such a dummy... The absence of Joe Sinnott, while obviously removing that wonderful continuity seen through the tenures of Jack Kirby, John Romita, Buscema's first run, Rich Buckler, and Perez, instead revealed Buscema's pencils the way he loved them presented - as his own. And that's what I have for you today - pure, unadulterated John Buscema. Enjoy!
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| This was pencil on vellum - I used to own this piece and sold it a few years ago. |
Starting right off with the heavy hitters, hm, Doug? Can't go wrong with Big John.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to hear that you didn't initially like his work. I'm pretty sure I liked it right from the start, even though I'm not quite sure where I first saw it - possibly in a Treasury edition with a reprinted Avengers story, or maybe one of those issues of FF you mentioned.
By the way, I think I've seen all of these images before somewhere on the net (including the BAB), but I don't think I've ever seen that Spidey sketch before. It's very nice for a guy who said he didn't really like to draw superheroes.
Nice post Doug! Really enjoy it! It was only in the past few years I started to see the difference that inkers made on the drawing so it's educational too! Dare I ask who John drew on that piece you used to own? Cheers, Joe
ReplyDeleteGood morning, gentlemen -
ReplyDeleteI love the Galactus rough. So much power, even in the sketch version.
Edo, good eye and good memory! The image of Tarzan and the lions, as well as the man with the gun, were both pictured on the BAB back when I was detailing the selling of my original art. The Tarzan sketch was actually on the back of a full-page rough, and honestly was more interesting than the layout for the comic on which Buscema was working. I have another, finished, version of the man with the gun; I'll post it at some point in the future.
Charlie, great to hear from you as well. In regard to someone drawing on the man with a gun, are you referring to what looks like "9th" at the bottom of the man's torso? I looked at that for a long time and finally figured out that it's the guy's coattails, seen through this legs.
Doug
To be fair to your younger self Doug, I reckon the FF wasn't really the best place for Buscema to ink his own work - continuity aside, the smooth finish of Joe Sinnott was much more appropriate for a post-Kirby science fictiony superhero series.
ReplyDeleteBuscema's approach was much better suited to the exaggerated naturalism of Conan or Tarzan; which, as I'm sure you're aware, he personally had more interest in.
-sean
Yes, Sean - although JB was a cut above no matter the title he worked on, when in the realm of fantasy illustration he could really cut loose. No one drew a bad guy like Buscema.
ReplyDeleteDoug
Yeah, Buscema's one of those artists who always looks good to me; his Avengers and Conan are pretty much definitive for those characters. I would've liked to see him on JLA; I bet it would've looked great.
ReplyDeleteHey, Mike -
ReplyDeleteI've also always wondered what a JB Hawkman series would have looked like!
Doug
My first exposure (that I recall) to John Buscema was a good one...”Avengers” #59 which was the introduction of Hank Pym as Yellowjacket. For a long time that character was at the top of my list. I received the comic from my cousin in a pile, but that book instantly became my favorite. John drew a great scene in that issue between Spider-Man and J Jonah Jameson arguing about the qualities of “bug” inspired heroes.
ReplyDeleteBut what I remember most about John Buscema - and it came from that issue and is exemplified in the samples Doug supplied - is how he draws thugs. Robbers, burglars, muggers, and thieves have a certain facial appearance when Buscema draws them. That demeanor sometimes appears in other villains like Magneto, Loki, and the Grim Reaper. It is something I easily identify as specifically Buscema’s and I really like it.
Man, Martinex - that would indeed be a great place to start!
ReplyDeleteI think my first JB art was either in Thor, the Avengers #150s or the aforementioned FF arc. I started collecting after his first FF run was complete - Rich Buckler was my entry point on the FF. Even as a youngster, I could tell the difference in... effort maybe isn't the right word. Tone? Whatever - between Buscema's hero books and Conan and/or Tarzan, as Sean stated.
And I'll echo you, repeating myself, too: No one draws bad guys like John Buscema.
Doug
Doug,
ReplyDeleteI got a good chuckle out of today's post. Let me explain why.
When you sent me the e-mail about starting up this wonderful blog, I had two thoughts. First, I was very happy that you were blogging again. Second, I joked to myself that you misspelled the name of the blog, because it should be called Black & White and Buscema! :)
All joking aside, I love when you do shout outs to either John or Sal. They are two of Marvel's best pencilers, but unfortunately, they're not as well remembered as Kirby, Ditko, Perez, and Byrne. It is a real shame because they both did jaw dropping beautiful work.
All my best,
Karen
Hi, Karen -
DeleteYou can bet that Sal’s work will show up around here at some point! And thanks for the kind words.
Doug
Hi Doug! What I was trying to communicate, and failed at LOL, was who is that a drawing of? Who is the man with the gun? I don't recognize the character off the top of my head. Cheers! (And only 25 days to winter??? W.t.h...)
ReplyDeleteCharlie - Wow, am I dense. I think I am guilty of reading your first comment too quickly. I see that your original query is crystal clear! Tell you what -I’ll run the finished version of the “man with a gun” in a few days. And I think he’s just that - some baddie Buscema drew.
ReplyDeleteDoug
Oh man, I've been too busy; didn't touch bases here and have missed out on big John! Excellent images, Doug. You can't beat John Buscema for versatility. My introduction to his work was through Conan, and those Avengers issues you mentioned (in the 150's; imagine the smiles upon finding his work on all those Silver Age Avengers stories).
ReplyDeleteDoug, in a recent email I mentioned Batman: Black and White. In the second tpb collection, one of the stories is illustrated by none other than Big John himself. And as mentioned above, you can't mistake his hoodlums. And he does a fine Batman, incidentally...