Marvel Comic Artists – Jim Steranko
It wasn’t just the Marvel stories that captivated me as a teenager, it was also the artwork. Marvel has a very talented crop of artists but my all-time favourite is Jim Steranko.
I first came across him in Strange Tales when he started illustrating Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. The artwork just seemed to be on a whole different level, heavily influenced by the psychedelia movement of the sixties.
One double page spread I was particularly fascinated by comprised of 16 panels without a single word, but which still was able to move the story forward!
My dream as a teenager would be to become a comic-book artist. But when I saw the fantastic detailed work of Steranko, I realised that I could never compete with such a talent.
So I suppose Steranko is responsible for shattering my childhood dream, but I bear him no grudges! In fact I was honoured to shake his hand at a Birmingham Comic Convention in 1979. I still have his autograph.
Nevertheless his artwork still inspired me, and I am quite pleased with an oil painting I completed representing a Steranko version of The Hulk.
One unusual aspect of this painting is that the Hulk has eyes! Because comic drawings are so small, artists used to leave these blank, or make sure that every superhero they drew wore a mask!
That wasn’t good enough for Steranko, he went to the trouble of completing pen-and-ink eyes. So thanks Jim, it’s the only painting I’ve got that I’m satisfied is finished!
John,
Painting in the eyes certainly brings the character to life. Yet another exceptional painting from you.
Margaret
Thanks Margaret, A long-term project of mine is to fill-in the missing eyes on my other paintings. John[Reply]
Hi John, are you sure you don’t want to do this for a living?? You are seriously good!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Nice of you to say so Mandy, I'm starting to believe you! John[Reply]
Hi John, WOW, i wish i could paint like that, but unfortunatley i have trouble doing the garden fence ha ha.
You’ve got a real talent there John.
Regards, Barry Wells
Thanks a lot Barry. I've always liked my own paintings, but I didn't realise other people would! Thanks again for the compliment. John[Reply]
Hi John,
I have to agree, with Barry and Mandy you are so talented maybe masterclass should be your second income , keep up the good work on both counts , its great to see pure talent well done !
TTFN….Ed.
- Thanks John, I was really chuffed to see your remarks. I would love to earn an income from painting, and these blog comments have inspired me to give it a go.
John
[Reply]
Were you copying the Hulk with the Marie Severin drawn head or the Steranko drawn head?
Hello Tony, Great to hear from a comic fan. Just looked at your Steranko site - brilliant!.....It's supposed to be the Steranko head, I copied the image from the cover of the original Hulk annual #1.....How did you find this post - via google?John[Reply]
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[...] have put it any better myself. Readers of my blog HAVE heard of Steranko before, with my post Marvel Artists – Jim Steranko. Thanks Jonathon Ross and the Guardian for making my [...]