Don Heck doesn't the love he deserves in my book. He was an important but often forgotten part of the early days of the Marvel Comics push to dominate the comic book world in the Silver Age. Heck began as an artist from the Milt Caniff school, drawing delicate feathery figure in many a genre comic for Atlas and others. When the Marvel Age exploded Stan Lee wanted more artists in the vein of the great Jack Kirby and Don Heck worked feverishly to fill the bill. He brought a new wild energy to somewhat sedate work and to my eye was most successful in evoking the essence of the King without exact mimicry. The Avengers was his gig until alas he was pulled to draw the first King-Size annual and was replaced by John Buscema. It wasn't exactly like Wally Pipp but enough so to make me remember that bit of baseball lore, because Heck's star began to dim. He was an X-Men artist, Captain Marvel artist, he was all over. Fans always seemed to be bothered by Heck but he soldiered on, an essential part of the machinery at Marvel's comic-making factory. Then he jumped to DC and drew Batgirl and The Flash eventually even the Justice League of America. He even had his own WWII book with Gerry Conway -- Steel the Indestructible Man. No one drew machinery better than Heck, save for the King. He brought a bizarre elegance to his often hulking equipment. Like Kirby's designs, the stuff was an impossibility but it was sleek and impressive to the eye. And then there was the way Heck drew blasts of energy as odd geometric shapes, flares. I'm reminded often of Heck when I watch a modern movie with the little light flares which tickle the eye and add motion and energy to a scene. Heck also drew handsome ladies, beautiful modern women who were more than able to keep step with their costumed peers. It's a pity Don Heck is not more loved by fans across the comic book world, but he is here at the Dojo. Heck is the only artist on the list with original art in my collection. I picked it up decades ago and have treasured it since.
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Heck is another of these "Frank Robbins type" artists (although for me Robbins is a genius) in that you either love or hate his work. For me at his best, Dons early pre Marvel work, most of his Avengers, Iron man and the Teen Titans at DC were great. However there were some truly awful strips like Ka-zar and a few Sub Mariners that looked like the work of a talented teenager. Overall though I love his work full of action, beautiful ladies and fast paced story telling . Back in the day (the 1950s) his art was better (imho) than Kirby and most others (not Ditko though his early stuff was amazing) One of the guys that made Marvel what it was/is and a very underrated comic book legend.
ReplyDeleteI agree that his early stuff is really sweet, but in the Marvel Age it was old-fashioned and the need was to evoke the King. Heck worked mightily at it and sometimes hit the mark. I'd forgotten his stint on the Titans -- overall I'm less impressed with his DC stuff than his Marvel work.
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Loved Heck's Iron Man and Avengers work, and even his Thor and X-Men stuff was quite good, but something happened to him, and eventually his figures seemed to 'float in the air' (didn't seem anchored) and his art became too loose and cartoony. Like you, I was never too keen on his DC work.
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