Silver Surfer Saturday: Norrin Radd and the Fantastic Four by George Perez

Here's a great illustration by George Perez early in his career...

I believe this was in one of the first books on Perez, Accent On The First E! It was around the time he was working at Marvel in the 1970s, before he went to DC Comics. And I noticed this recently on Capn's Comics blog!

Nuff Said.

Thing Tuesday: The Thing playing poker by George Perez

A classic commish by George Perez featuring old Ben Grimm...

Nuff Said!

Thing Tuesday: Marvel Two In One 61, Starhawk and Her!

This cover fits in with my recent article on Warlock the Complete Collection...

Marvel Two-In-One 61, The Thing and Starhawk by George Perez and Terry Austin! Warlock was known as HIM when he first appeared in the Fantastic Four, so naturally Mark Gruenwald had to create someone called...HER! But I don't recall whatever happened to this character. Nuff Said!

Thor Thursday: Splash Page by George Perez and Al Vey

Here's a page to start off your Thorsday...

This splash page was from Avengers #6 in 1998, by George Perez and Al Vey.  Perez was really on top of his game during this historic Avengers run!  Nuff Said.

Monster Monday: Man-Thing and Swamp Thing Team-Up!

Ever wondered what would happen if DC and Marvel's muck monsters ever met?  I've often wondered, especially since they were conceived and published around the same time in 1971.

Frank Cho executed this terrific illustration with Man-Thing following Swamp Thing on a trip through the outdoors.  A typical Cho-sian babe holds an axe which won't be much self-defense if she's feeling fear.  I have no idea what this was done for, a private collector, a magazine or publication?  Please let me know.

Update: Toby wrote and let me know that this was one of the covers slated for TwoMorrows book titled Swampmen: Muck Monsters of the Comics.  This publication was solicited twice and never published.  See this link for more details from George Khoury.

George Perez recently did this commission piece at a con, which would make a nifty cover for such an inter-company crossover.  It will never happen, but we can dream, right?  Nuff Said!

Silver Surfer and Galactus by George Perez

It's been a while, true believers, wouldja believe this brand spanking new commission by George Perez featuring Norrin Radd and his master?

Nuff Said!

George Perez: The Maestro And His Toys, from Hulk Future Imperfect

I’m back!  Like a bear emerging out of hibernation, I’m functioning once again—thanks to coffee.  I told you that I hated the holidays—I had to sleep in a coffin after Halloween just to escape the torture!    Time to look at the electronic long box of commissions and scans, just like this fellow megalomaniac…The Maestro!


George Perez shared this wonderful pen and ink piece over on his Facebook fan page.  Perez is notorious for cramming lots of details in the nooks & crannies of his drawings.  He has the best excuse here, showcasing the Future Hulk’s mad trophy room.  Here’s a few that I can name:

1. Thor’s helmet.
2. On the wall underneath: Pictures of Warlock (New Mutants), Beast, Inhumans, Daredevil.
3. Wolverine’s skeleton.
4. Silver Surfer’s surfboard.
5. Wonder Man’s uniform?
6. Superman’s shirt.
7. Doctor Strange’s cloak.
8. Nova’s helmet.
9. Ant-Man’s helmet.
10. Captain America’s mask & shield.
11. Hawkeye’s bow and arrow.
12. Ultron’s robotic head.
13. Spider-Man’s mask.
14. Thor’s hammer.
15. Wrecking crew thunderball?
16. Doctor Octopus’ arms.
17. The Thing’s picture of the left side of the Maestro’s leg.
18. The Vision’s head on the Maestro’s leg.
19. Iron Man’s helmet in his right hand.
20. Cyclops visor on top of the TV.

There is a lot more I didn’t name.  Do you see those bottles on the left, right under the Beast’s picture?  Do those have some meaning or are they just decoration?

An outstanding commission by Perez.  Whoever owns this should be bursting with Marvel pride!  Nuff Said.

Marvel Swimsuits: George Perez on She-Hulk, Black Bolt, Medusa

George Perez contributed a couple of neat pinups for the Marvel Swimsuit issues.  Who better than Perez to draw some cute Marvel babes?



She-Hulk and the Wasp in the Savage Land, circa 1991.  Jen must have imported those high heels and jewelry.  A goofy looking dinosaur looks on in amazement.



Black Bolt and Medusa on Monster Island in 1993.  Drawing Medusa in the nude with nothing but that fantastic red hair to cover herself was a stroke of genius.  I couldn’t recognize Black Bolt until I read the caption and saw the bolts on his speedo.  I suppose I just wasn’t looking at him immediately.  Nuff said.

Marvel Ads: Beast's Shampoo, Wolverine's Speed Stick

The best thing from the Marvel Swimsuit issues were the faux advertisements.  Take these two, from Marvel Swimsuit 1991:



The Beast, drawn by George Perez, selling Ultra-X shampoo!  Seeing this reminds me that I prefer the Beast in his blue and furry form.  After reading Dark Avengers #7, do you think it’s possible Marvel will revert him back?

If you’ve ever given a dog a bath, you’ll know how much hair comes out—it can clog your drain if you do it in the bathroom.  The amount of hair the Beast would shed…OMG.  Probably there would be hair all over his bedroom and lab as well.



Wolverine, drawn by Mike Zeck, selling Macho speed stick deodorant!  Notice that it’s misspelled “deoderant”.  Never thought about superhero sweat until reading this ad.  The Marvel Universe must be a very stinky place indeed.  Nuff said.

Enter the White Tiger

The Sons of the Tiger series in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu languished in obscurity for the first 18 issues.  Bill Mantlo and George Perez brought new energy into the story when they explored the cosmic power behind the Tiger amulets that gave them their special kung-fu power, but it never really took off.

In DHKF 19, after a terrific fight between lead characters Lin Sun and Bob Diamond, the Sons of the Tiger disband.  They throw away their mystical Tiger amulets…in a New York City alleyway!  Kind of dumb, isn’t it?  Would Doctor Strange just throw away the Eye of Agomotto in the garbage?  The Sons loss was Hector Ayala’s gain when he stumbled across the amulets, put them around his neck, and transformed into the White Tiger.



The White Tiger went into action in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #20.  Suddenly the series was super-charged and the story was more exciting than it had been during the past two years.  Hector was the first Puerto Rican superhero ever created, and George Perez was obviously proud of bringing him to life.  Hector was introduced with a girlfriend and a family that lived in the South Bronx, drawn from Perez’s own experience living in the city.

The White Tiger was a mysterious character.  He appeared to have a personality completely distinct from Hector in the first few stories.  As time went on, they would become more integrated.
The Tiger was an instant hit with the DHKF readership.  He appeared on two covers of the magazine.  Bill Mantlo made a decision to integrate the Tiger with the Marvel Universe by having him fight the Prowler and Mantlo’s own creation, the Jack of Hearts. 

The Tiger’s serialized story climaxed in DHKF #31, featuring the biggest Marvel Kung Fu team-up in history: the Tiger, Shang-Chi, and Iron Fist, with Jack of Hearts riding shotgun.

DHKF #32 featured the White Tiger’s last appearance before the magazine was cancelled.  He met the original Sons of the Tiger, who remained a sub-plot throughout the past 10 issues.  I had waited to see what would happen when the Sons discovered that Hector possessed the Tiger amulets—would they want them back?  Would Hector have to fight to keep them?  Perhaps arrange some kind of Tiger amulet timesharing deal?  Fortunately, Mantlo never had to answer the question…that was the end of the White Tiger’s solo stories. 



But it wasn’t the end of the White Tiger in the Marvel universe.  Bill Mantlo brought Hector Ayala into Marvel’s color comics in Peter Parker, Spectacular Spider-Man #9, circa 1977.  The story involved Empire State University cancelling night school, and a storm of protesters who work during the day!  The White Tiger springs into action against corrupt ESU officials, and in one of those usual comedy of errors, winds up fighting Spidey.



George Perez penciled the covers on this two issue story, and I have always admired the cover to Peter Parker #10.  Everything about this composition seems near-perfect: the White Tiger kicking Spider-Man off the ledge, the New York City skyline, the sunset, and the feeling of vertigo as they appear to be fighting far above the street.

The White Tiger would continue making sporadic appearances in the Marvel universe, most oddly in the Human Fly #8-9 in 1978.

If you can’t tell by now, I always liked the White Tiger.  When Marvel started publishing mini-series in the 1980s, I hoped that Mantlo and Perez would produce a White Tiger mini.  Even if that was desirable, it would have been impossible to schedule, with Perez busy drawing Teen Titans for DC Comics.  In many interviews with George Perez, he’s repeatedly stated his fondness for Hector Ayala.  Nuff said.

Luke Cage PowerMan: Hired by the Fantastic Four!

Fantastic Four had a great run during the mid-1970s, when Roy Thomas wrote the series and was joined by artists like Rich Buckler and George Perez.  During one of these stories, the Thing lost his powers and reverted back to Ben Grimm.  Who replaced him in the FF?



You got it baby: Luke Cage, PowerMan!  Hired at a really good hourly rate by Reed Richards to fill out the team’s roster.  You’d think Ben Grimm would have been happy about getting a break and being able to schwing with his girlfriend, Alicia Masters.  Oh no!

Ben’s feeling left out and jealous when the FF goes off to fight the Wrecker.  It’s kind of ironic, in this 1975 story, Luke Cage fights the Wrecker for the second time (the first was in Defenders #17-19 in 1974).  In New Avengers #7-8 he helps defeat the Wrecker once again, but steals his Asgardian forged crowbar, which he uses to escape the Dark Avengers in New Avengers #49.



Luke Cage only stays with the FF for three issues.  By issue 170, Cage is under the thrall of the Puppet Master and fighting Ben Grimm, who is inside a robot suit that resembles his former rocky self.
There’s gotta be great What If or Exiles material in here somewhere.  What If Cage stayed with the FF and Reed Richards was killed and Cage married Sue Storm?  What If Cage stole Alicia Masters from Ben Grimm?  What If Cage Became the Herald of Galactus?  Sweet Christmas, it’s time to get off this planet!  Nuff said.