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This cover for The Penguin Book of Comics is a delightful hodgepodge of sundry images from a variety of sources by artist Alan Aldridge. But there's little doubt where the Marvel images which dominate the cover are sourced from. Cyclops though is to my mind an odd choice.
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| John Buscema and Frank Giacoia |
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| Jim Steranko |
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| Jack Kirby and Syd Shores |
And the Tarzan image tucked into the side is vivid Burne Hogarth. His stuff is still so very wild and energetic.
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As you'll know, Rip, there's an interesting story behind this cover and the book. The first edition had Superman on the cover, as well as DC Comic images inside. Penguin had received permission from NPP (as DC was then) to use Supes, and their finished cover was exactly as described to DC/NPP. However, when DC saw it, they demanded ten times the original asking fee. Penguin refused, and when DC returned the cheque, Penguin sent it back, only for it to be returned again. Penguin sent it back once more, and although they never heard about the matter again, the cheque was never cashed. When the 2nd edition of the book was produced (in 1971, four years after the 1st), all the DC images were absent and Marvel heroes were prominently featured in their place.
ReplyDeleteI did not know this. Thanks much for some keen vintage comics info.
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You can see the original (1967) front and back covers here...
ReplyDeletehttp://comics.ha.com/itm/books/anthology/the-penguin-book-of-comics-softcover-penguin-books-1967-condition-gd-vg-excellent-early-tome-on-british-and-american-co/a/13101-16836.s
You can also see the front covers (I'll add the backs at some stage) at http://kidr77.blogspot.com/2014/03/today-i-p-p-picked-up-penguin-book-of.html -
DeleteThanks guys. I appreciate the links.
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