Back in the late 1960s to the early 1970s there was one major rule at Marvel Comics.
Since Jack Kirby was the King of Comics it was an editorial decision that artists at Marvel would emulate Jack’s page layouts and elements of his style.
A young artist recently arrived in the United States: Barry Smith, submitted his work to Marvel Comics and was accepted. At that time his work look remarkably like Jack’s work and for a time he churned out Kirbyish artwork.
As his style progressed Barry successfully emulated other artists popular at the time such as Jim Steranko and others.
It wasn’t until he became the artist on Conan The Barbarian that his style really blossomed.
I remember the remarkable transformation of his work from rushed pencils to elaborate, finely penciled artwork ripe with details, incredible vistas, unbounded imagination and impressive anatomy.
Let me start by saying I absolutely love his artwork. He is one of my all-time favorite artists. I’m proud to say that I have much of his early comic book in my personal collection. It’s real joy looking over his work and how it progressed and improved over the decades.
In Fantagraphics’ Marvel Creator Collection No. 1 Back To The Savage Land Barry Windsor-Smith Art At Marvel Vol. 1 deluxe hardbound book, a plethora of his early work is reprinted in the first of a series showcasing all of his Marvel Comics work. Wow!
From its art montage cover to its Barry Windsor-Smith bio to the reprints of stories ranging from Kazar to The Avengers, The X-Men, Nick Fury, anthology art, Ironman to Doctor Strange-it’s all there!
I never tire of his art whether he’s penciling, inking or collaborating with other artists. It’s all superb, just like this book.
It is an amazing collection of art by one of the industry’s top talents and legends. Buy a copy today!
Psalms 55:22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
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