What's the Hulk so peeved about?
Above is Gil Kane's dynamic cover for the mostly reprint volume of Giant-Size Defenders #1. It's always been one of his more powerful depictions of the Jade Giant, the clear star of the series.
Here's the original artwork.
Here is that same cover art converted to other uses for the British weekly The Mighty World of Marvel. Kane's Hulk remains largely intact, but notice how Doc Strange has morphed into the Ever Lovin' Blue-Eyed Thing, and how the noble Sub-Mariner has become the Man Without Fear, and how the Silver Surfer has disappeared to be replaced by the Human Torch.
The Hulk would be most irritated were he to turn his emerald eyes over his mighty-thewed shoulder.
This art was later adapted again for use on the cover of Essential Defenders Volume 2. The 3-D effect of the artwork is greatly enhanced by the way it's blended in with the trade dress here. Powerful stuff.
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One of the BEST Kane covers of the 70s!
ReplyDeleteInked, btw, by Frank Giacoia.
The Surfer figure is a John Romita Sr. addition.
Peronally, I think the Essentials cover designer could've done a better job integrating the art into the cover design (and the Defenders logo should be bigger and centered).
This is my favorite dress for the Essential volumes. They make good use of the classic artwork. The original designs were a bit too clunky, though they communicated budget pricing pretty well. The newer look lacks the elegance of those sidebars.
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I should also note that the Hulk figure does violate Stan's ban on showing the bottom of feet on covers. I can see his point on this figure, it does take away a smidge from the drama of the Hulk having those big toes jumping up.
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Gil Kane never gets the recognition he deserves in the comic world.
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