Witching Hour #34 - Nestor Redondo art

Witching Hour #34, 1973 - Redondo excels at stories set in the Victorian and middle ages, and this one is no exception. The clothing, interiors, and architecture are meticulously done. The linework alone on this female vampire story is beautiful to behold. This is number 4 of 5 Witching Hour issues with Redondo art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Redondo or Witching Hour issues. See also this blog's Redondo checklist or Top 10 Redondo comics.
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"Dracula Had a Daughter" Redondo story pencils and inks 7 pages = ***
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Witching Hour #31 - Alex Nino art

Witching Hour #31, 1973 - A fiendish boy finds a book on black magic in this Alex Nino story. The art is more simplified than usual for him, but is no loss in quality. The opening splash presents a fairly ordinary scene that only hints at the malice to come. The tale has more subtlety than most horror stories of the time. This is number 1 of 4 Witching Hour issues with Nino art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Nino or Witching Hour issues. See also this blog's Alex Nino checklist.
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"Red is for Dead" Nino story pencils and inks 7 pages = ***
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Witching Hour #23 - Nestor Redondo art

Witching Hour #23, 1972 - This issue contains a great story about a night watchman and his daughter. Redondo delivers his best work of the series, every page finely detailed. The title splash page is expertly drawn with antique furniture and objects. Redondo's inking is highly polished and sophisticated. This is number 3 of 5 Witching Hour issues with Redondo art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Redondo or Witching Hour issues. See also this blog's Redondo checklist or Top 10 Redondo comics.
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"Watch Over My Grave" Redondo story pencils and inks 8 pages = *****
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Uncle Scrooge #6 - Carl Barks art & cover

Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge #6, 1954 - Uncle Scrooge decides to escape the stress of civilization by moving to an undiscovered eden-like community where money doesn't exist. The tale is cleverly written and dependably drawn by Barks, including a breathtaking panel of a plane flying inside an enormous gorge. This story references the film "Lost Horizon" and touches upon the themes in "The Good Earth". This is one of Barks' most beloved exotic adventure stories. Scrooge tries to coerce Donald into selling his house in the second story. This is 6 of 70 Uncle Scrooge issues with Barks art and/or covers (not including reprints). See today's posts or more Barks, Disney or Uncle Scrooge issues.
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Barks cover pencils and inks = ***
Untitled Tralla La story Barks pencils and inks 22 pages = ****
Untitled house selling story Barks pencils and inks 10 pages = ***
Barks back cover pencils and inks = ***
Barks inside back cover pencils and inks = ***
Barks inside front cover pencils and inks = ***
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Uncle Scrooge #5 - Carl Barks art & cover

Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge #5, 1954 - Scrooge schemes to own the rarest coin in the world by hoarding and dumping quarters in the ocean. It naturally goes wrong, and he and Donald travel to the ocean's depths to find them. This is one of Barks' longest stories on the title. Among the many superb scenes are a pie fight and the lost city of Atlantis. The plot and writing is also Barks at his very best. This is 5 of 70 Uncle Scrooge issues with Barks art and/or covers (not including reprints). See today's posts or more Barks, Disney or Uncle Scrooge issues.
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Barks cover pencils and inks = ***
Untitled Atlantis story Barks pencils and inks 32 pages = ****
Barks back cover pencils and inks = ***
Barks inside back cover pencils and inks = ***
Barks inside front cover pencils and inks = ***
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Iron Fist #15 - John Byrne art

Iron Fist #15, 1977 - This last issue of the series features an early appearance by the new X-men, predating Byrne's run on the series. His first full X-men story renders Storm, Nightcrawler, and Colossus consistently with later issues. Ironically, Wolverine looks unpolished compared to later works by Byrne (and would eventually become his signature character). Overall the artwork meets expectations and is nothing extraordinary. Other artists in this issue include Dave Cockrum (cover). This is number 15 of 15 Iron Fist issues with Byrne art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Byrne or Iron Fist issues.
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"Enter, the X-Men" Byrne story pencils (Dan Green inks) 17 pages = ***
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Witching Hour #21 - Nestor Redondo art

Witching Hour #21, 1972 - American GIs find treasure in an old Italian church during WWII. Redondo does a exceptional job with the architectural surroundings. His splash page, of soldiers taking cover from explosions, is tense and frenetic. This is a rare and unusual opening for a Redondo story, but he illustrates it adroitly. This is number 2 of 5 Witching Hour issues with Redondo art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Redondo or Witching Hour issues. See also this blog's Redondo checklist or Top 10 Redondo comics.
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"The Mournful Bells of Santa Morte" Redondo story pencils and inks 7 pages = ***
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Uncle Scrooge #4 - Carl Barks art & cover

Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge #4, 1954 - Donald and his nephews accompany Scrooge to his private island in the tropics, where they encounter "Menehunes" or little elves. Barks excels at drawing exotic locales, and this issue is no exception. His larger first and last panels tell the story splendidly. This is 4 of 70 Uncle Scrooge issues with Barks art and/or covers (not including reprints). See today's posts or more Barks, Disney or Uncle Scrooge issues.
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Barks cover pencils and inks = ***
Untitled Menehunes story Barks pencils and inks 32 pages = ****
Barks inside front cover pencils and inks = ***
Barks inside back cover pencils and inks = ***
Barks back cover pencils and inks = ***
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Tarzan #121 - Russ Manning art

Tarzan #121, 1960 - Russ Manning's Brothers of the Spear back up series continues to improve. This particular story seems to have sort of a pro-feminist theme as the queen leads her army's attack. The art includes battle scene with multiple figures which Manning handles nicely. See today's posts or more Manning or Tarzan issues. See also this blog's Russ Manning checklist.
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"Tavane Leads into Battle" Manning story pencils and inks 6 pages = ***
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Iron Fist #14 - John Byrne art

Iron Fist #14, 1977 - Sabre-Tooth makes his first appearance just prior to the title's cancellation. Although his depiction on the cover is mediocre, Byrne does a far superior job inside. The splash page of Iron Fist and Colleen Wing is especially dynamic, and the remaining art is solidly dependable. Other artists in this issue include Al Milgrom (cover). This is number 14 of 15 Iron Fist issues with Byrne art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Byrne or Iron Fist issues.
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"Snowfire" Byrne story pencils (Dan Green inks) 17 pages = ***
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Conan the Barbarian #44 - Neal Adams art

Conan the Barbarian #44, 1974 - Continuing the storyline from the previous issue, Conan and Red Sonja are captives of sorcerous siblings. Neal Adams lends a hand as one of the "Crusty Bunkers" credited in inking John Buscema's pencils. His hand is most evident on the opening scene (see interior page above), most of the Conan figures, and probably the last five pages. The remainder appears to be Dick Giordano and other assistants. Though only a partial contribution, Adams succeeds in raising the aesthetic. This is number 2 of 4 Conan the Barbarian issues with Adams art and/or covers (not including reprints). See today's posts or more Conan the Barbarian or Adams issues. See also this blog's Adams checklist or Top 10 Adams comics.
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"Of Flame and the Fiend" Adams partial story inks (John Buscema pencils) 18 pages = ***
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Uncle Scrooge / Four Color Comics #495- Carl Barks art & cover

Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge / Four Color Comics #495, 1953 - In order to settle a centuries-old debt, Scrooge, Donald, and the gang search for a cargo ship from the 1700s. Their nemesis, Chisel McSue, does everything to prevent it. Barks' knowledge of ships and nautical equipment is impressive, and the opening panel alone of a sinking vessel is striking. The second shorter story is a competently done Scrooge vs Beagle Boys tale. This is 3 of 70 Uncle Scrooge issues with Barks art and/or covers (not including reprints). See today's posts or more Barks, Four Color Comics or Uncle Scrooge issues.
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Barks cover pencils and inks = ***
Untitled Golden Goose ship story Barks pencils and inks 22 pages = ****
Untitled greenbacks story Barks pencils and inks 11 pages = ***
Barks back cover pencils and inks = ***
Barks inside back cover pencils and inks = ***
Barks inside front cover pencils and inks = ***
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Witching Hour #15 - Wally Wood art

Witching Hour #15, 1971 - Wood draws an interesting story of a brute under the care of a psychiatrist. The scenes are almost all darkly lit, showcasing his mastery of shadows. Despite some mediocre work in the 1960s, some of Wood's later mystery stories would harken back to his extraordinary EC days. This issue is a prime example. Gray Morrow also contributes a story. This is number 2 of 2 Witching Hour issues with Wood art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Wood or Witching Hour issues. See also this blog's Wood checklist.
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"Freddy is Another Name for Fear" Wood story pencils and inks 7 pages = ****
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Iron Fist #13 - John Byrne art

Iron Fist #13, 1977 - The tale opens with a refreshingly quiet and sophisticated full page. The composition of Iron Fist stealthily boarding a freighter at night is well done. By contrast, Byrne's page three splash dramatically explodes off the page. Overall the art is dependably solid, and his emotionally wrought broken panel on page 17 is a perfect visual device. Other artists in this issue include Dave Cockrum (cover). This is number 13 of 15 Iron Fist issues with Byrne art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Byrne or Iron Fist issues.
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"Target: Iron Fist" Byrne story pencils (Dan Adkins inks) 17 pages = ***
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Our Army at War #235 - Alex Toth art, Joe Kubert cover

Our Army at War #235 featuring Sgt. Rock, 1971 - This back story tells of two Civil War brothers. Alex Toth's art is graphic and with an economy of lines, typical of his bronze age work. The pages are beautiful as they are poignant. This is number 1 of 3 Our Army at War issues with Toth art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Toth, Kubert or Our Army at War issues. See also this blog's Kubert checklist or Toth checklist.
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Kubert cover pencils and inks = ***
"Glory Boys" Toth story pencils and inks 6 pages = ***
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Witching Hour #14 - Al Williamson, Jeff Jones art, Neal Adams cover

Witching Hour #14, 1971 - This special science fiction-themed issue deviates slightly from the horror tales of the title's previous issues. Al Williamson does a spectacular job combining the two genres in the aptly named "Haunted House in Space". The drawings are stunning and contemporary, with a subtle reference to the artist's earlier 1950s EC comics. Frequent collaborator Carlos Garzon supplies the inks in a loose but appealing fashion. The effort is of similar quality to Williamson's only other bronze DC tale in House of Mystery #185. Jeff Jones contributes an early effort about death in the vastness of space. His work for this publisher is just as obscure, making this issue somewhat of a rarity. Neal Adams' cover is a partially reprinted, partially redrawn interior panel by Williamson. The interior page shown above is by Williamson. This is number 8 of 8 Witching Hour issues with Adams art and/or covers, number 1 of 1 Witching Hour issues with Williamson art and/or covers and Witching Hour issues with Jones art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Williamson, Jones, Adams or Witching Hour issues. See also this blog's Adams checklist, Top 10 Adams comics, Williamson checklist or Jones checklist.
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Adams cover pencils and inks = **
"Haunted House in Space" Williamson story pencils (Carlos Garzon inks) 8 pages = ****
"Fourteen Months" Jones story pencils and inks 4 pages = ***
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