I've read the Nick Fury stories from Strange Tales more than a few times over the decades. But this time, I'm reading them in the IDW Artist's Edition format. It's stunning and in its paperback form surprisingly affordable. I spend this much on volumes nowhere near as fascinating and well composed as this volume. It's not just scans of the original artwork in total and ready for reading, but Steranko has added even more value with new pages of fascinating designs featuring the icons from SHIELD. It's a fantastic look at how it was done back in the day by a man who mastered it. (Note: Issues #151-162 are included. Not all of the run, but much of the earliest material.)
Apparently, the Director of External Atomic Threat Headquarters was supposed to by Nick Fury himself. The draft version of the S.H.I.E.L.D. series was first called "The Man Called D.E.A.T.H." and two pages were produced as a tryout.
These two Kirby-drawn pages were used as a test for "Jaunty" Jim Steranko to see how he'd do on the series which he'd soon take over and transform with his sleek singular style.
Nick Fury 1963
Sgt. Nicholas "Nick" Fury debuted in Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos #1 in 1963. He was rendered in those first critical issues by Jack "The King" Kirby. Kirby drew upon his own experience when creating the world of the Howlers and it's said that aside from The Thing, that Fury is Kirby's truest avatar in the Marvel Universe.
Nick Fury 1968
Nick Fury was transformed into a slick and downright cool leader of a band of super-secret agents in the Pop Art world of the 1960's. Jim Steranko remade Fury in his own image to no small degree. Fury's apartment was based on Steranko's as were many details about the indestructible agent.
Nick Fury 1998
The first film adaptation of the character came when David Hasslehoff portrayed Nick in a made-for-TV movie. It's pretty good given the limitations of the time, and the "Hoff" was not bad.
Nick Fury 2008
These days of course we know Nick Fury as portrayed by Sam Jackson in nearly all the might Marvel movies which comprise the Marvel cinematic universe. I have no clue how Marvel navigates the change in ethnicity in the comics, but my brain is fine with all these versions of the hard-bitten leader of SHIELD.
Rip Off
Did you know that David Hasselhoff had huge success as a pop singer in Germany? Here in the UK he had one Top 40 hit as I recall.
ReplyDeleteHe's never had a big singing career over here, though I have to confess he has some chops. The "Hoff" is a pop culture legend.
DeleteThe Ultimate universe version of Nick Fury in about 2001 was obvious in its resemblance to Jackson, without bothering to ask his permission. ( I believe another artist got Marvel into trouble by "referencing" a religious pop singer on a Dr, Strange cover.) I don't remember the exact story, but the imagery apparently got Jackson's attention, which ended up with them agreeing to let him play the part in future movies.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing real life meets fiction story. The singer was Amy Grant. Doc Strange #15.
DeleteA good tease with the Steranko book. Will have to check into that. The Kirby Sgt. Fury pinup is very cool -- always liked it.
ReplyDeleteKirby had a fantastic way of capturing a character in a single pose.
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