Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Black and White Wednesday: "Witch World!" by Mantlo and Giffen
Here it is, Groove-ophiles! The star-spanning second stave of Bill Mantlo's Sword in the Star! This (final) chapter was gorgeously illustrated by a young Keith Giffen who really let it all hang out on this job! Flourishes of Windsor-Smith, Kirby, Steranko, Starlin melded together into something totally different and offbeat--no wonder Giffen is still slaying us with his storytelling (that final ish of OMAC rocked, Keith!). The style he used on "Witch World" was more like his DC work (on Claw the Unconquered and Challengers of the Unknown) than his uber-Kirby-homage he was using on Marvel's Defenders. This particular style evolved into the intricate, small-figured work he'd blow us away with on Legion of Super-Heroes in the 80s! Mantlo was cutting loose as well. You could tell he was passionate about Sword in the Star. Too bad Marvel didn't give it a better shot. I mean, backing up Satana in what was pretty much a filler ish of Marvel Preview (#7, Summer 1976)? Sheesh! That makes for a fun time when you're trying to give a Rocket Raccoon fan the heads up on his first appearance!
Cheers Groove, I remember this fondly from the UK mags but not sure of which one (Star Wars Weekly or Planet of the Apes?).
ReplyDeleteAnd as you rightly point out, its a real shame Marvel didn't decide to carry on with the strip!
Keith Giffen is all over this thing! Mind = Blown. Is there any comic book artist whose style has gone through such extensive changes? Do you think it just depends on what inker he works with? Or is he consciously a kind of chameleon who eventually developed his own identity?
ReplyDeleteKeith Giffen's comic artwork up and through his 'Munoz style' is some of my favorite. I've never seen this one. AMazing!
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