[Stu]

Oct 14, 2008 11:53:50 GMT -5 Batman said:

Eh. I think interpreting that as sending the message that life isn't worth living for the blind is over-thinking things a bit.

People who suffer sudden, unexpected disabilities often do have suicidal thoughts, occasionally leading to suicidal actions.

I think it's fair that a writer can simply use that fact as a plot point without having to make the whole story a "very special" issue all about disability and/or suicide and how it's NOT THE ANSWER!!!!

Fair enough.



That still doesn't excuse Superman

Keeping tabs on people like he's "Big Brother"
or

Threatening to rape Lex Luthor.

[Batman]

Neal Adams

Neal Adams is one of the most important figures in the history of comic-book art. His combination of photo-realistic faces and dynamic lay-outs were a revolution comparable to no-one who preceded him. Today, he's best remembered for his ground-breakng work on DC titles such as Batman, Deadman, and Green Lantern/Green Arrow. But he was also the last regular artist on the original X-Men. He handled the art on the title for most of 1969--issues #56-63--and then after a couple of fill-in issues, the title was switched to re-runs for over five years.


From X-Men #56:






From X-Men #57:




From X-Men #58:




From X-Men #61:




From X-Men #62:




In the 70s, Adams went on to become the primary cover artist for DC Comics, and his covers were noteworthy for their striking and eye-catching design. But at this point, early on in his career, his covers weren't that great yet. Here's one from his X-Men run that's pretty good:




Neal Adams profiles at wiki and at lambiek.

[Batman]

Dave Cockrum

On the heels of a well-received run as the penciller for DC's Legion of Superheroes, Cockrum moved to Marvel on took on the assignment of creating an all-new, all-different X-Men.

Cockrum is an artist I'm really torn about. His art is noteworthy for the visual imagination of the characters and settings he created. He not only designed most of the new X-Men, but followed that up with two big teams of alien guest stars--the Starjammers and the Imperial guard.

But on the other hand, his art was usually slightly marred by stiff figures and expressions, static layouts, and overly-heavy line-work. There were exceptions--issues where the art was unreservedly great. I'd guess this would have to do with deadline pressures and/or working with the right inker, but I'm only guessing.

But it can't be denied that he helped conceive the new X-Men, a concept that transformed the X-Men from a C-list title on a five-year hiatus, to Marvel's biggest franchise, a phenomenon that changed comic books forever.


From the first appearance of the new X-Men in Giant-Size X-Men #1 in 1975 (probably the most valuable issue of its era):






From the first regular issue of the all-new X-Men, X-Men #94:




The death of Thunderbird from X-Men #95:




From X-Men #97 in 1976:


(Prof X's first prophetic dream about the approaching arrival of Empress Lilandra.)


From X-Men #98:




For the first few issues the covers of the new X-Men were handled by Gil Kane, but Cockrum soon took over the task. His covers were pretty similar to his interior art: imaginative and colorful, but kind of stiff and life-less. Here's a well-remembered anniversary issue cover:




The last issue of Cockrum's first run on the title was #107. I'd say it was the best issue he did, whether that may have been because of less deadline pressure, or a better fit of inker in the person of Dan Green:

The splash page of #107 in 1977:


A classic group shot of this era's X-Men.


After John Byrne took over the interior art, Cockrum continued handling most of the covers for a while. Again, it may have been due to less time constraints or better inking (now from the exemplary Terry Austin) these were much better than when he was the regular artist, (though I still would rather have had Byrne covers in all honesty.)

From #109 in 1978:




After John Byrne's epochal run on the title ended in 1981, Cockrum returned to the book. I think I like his second run on the book a little better than his first, although there is still a certain stiffness to it, and all of his X-Men work is really overshadowed by the John Byrne run that it bracketed.




From #148




From #156




Cockrum's second run on the X-Men ended with issue #164 in 1982.


Dave Cockrum profiles at wiki and at lambiek. Pun's House Obit thread.