Spider-Man 1960s era Gwen Stacy by Steve Rude

Steve Rude loves Gwen Stacy! I did a post in 2010 featuring a number of his Gwen Stacy commissions. And now thanks to the Steve Rude fans group on Facebook, I found even more were done during the past few years. If you are a fan of classic 1960s Bean Scene Spider-Man, these images are for you, true believer.

Dancing in a disco! While Mary Jane complains that Peter's attention is elsewhere. I love how the black and white patterns work so well here. Gwen's checkerboard dress (and that belt) working so well against the background and the mirror ball. Mary Jane's tiger patterned dress. Yeow.

Peter as the Bachelor deciding which girl gets a red colored rose? And those outfits the girls have on. I think Gwen did wear a cowboy inspired outfit one time.

Striking a pose in recline. Again the pattern of Gwen's top plays off the bars of the background.

Groovy baby! Nuff Said.

Silver Surfer and Galactus by Steve Rude

A great little sketch by Steve (Rude) the Dude featuring Norrin Radd...

...and Galactus! You can see my other Steve Rude related posts here. Nuff Said.

Steve Rude commissions: Iron Fist, Gwen Stacy, Ronan the Accuser!

Some recent commissions from Steve Rude (the Dude) Facebook page!

Iron Fist, dodging some arrows.

Gwen Stacy shaking it in a go-go discotheque, similar pose / clothes to Mary Jane from a 60s Spider-Man comic.

Ronan the Accuser, looking menacing. Nuff Said!

Silver Surfer vs Super Skrull by Steve Rude

Shades of Jack Kirby!  Steve Rude captures this battle perfectly between the Surfer and the Super Skrull.

I have abandoned this site mostly for Tumblr these days -- seems natural as this blog was always about images.  But the above image just had to be added here for my Surfer collection.  Nuff Said.

Silver Surfer by Steve Rude

Classic Kirby-style space surfing by the Dude!

Nuff Said.

Thorsday: Thor vs Hulk by Steve Rude

Back when the Hulk wasn't depicted as a gargantuan, it was possible to do what Thor is doing in this pic by Steve Rude.

Pick him up and get ready to smash!  Check out The Dude's Kickstarter for his 2013 sketchbook.  Happy Thorsday!  Nuff Said.

Ever Lovin' Blue Eyed Thing by Steve Rude

Are ya ready for some clobberin' time?  Today we have not one but two--count 'em, two--pinups of Bashful Benjamin J Grimm by Steve Rude!

Coming at ya!

A ponderous pose.  Nuff Said!

Doctor Strange in Deep Thought by Steve Rude

How about this one, classic true believers?

Doc Strange, in a classic Ditko-like pose, drawn by the uncanny Steve Rude.  Nuff Said!

Thing Tuesday: The Thing on Coney Island by Steve Rude

Here’s a great Thing pin-up that I picked up on Steve Rude’s Facebook page.  The Thing relaxing on a sunny day in Coney Island, but always thinking of those darn Yancy Streeters.  Nuff Said!

Steve Rude is Madly in Love with Gwen Stacy

A while ago I wrote this article: Why Amazing Spider-Man 121 is the single most important comic in my life.  That classic issue featured the shocking death of Gwen Stacy, probably the first fictional character I had ever had feelings for!  It was, as Kurt Busiek suggested in Marvels, the end of innocence in Marvel Comics.



In the years since then, it's been fashionable to knock Gwen Stacy.  Was she as glamorous or as fun as Mary Jane?  We tend to think of MJ as the wild party girl and Gwen as the uptight blonde from a more conservative family.  But Ms. Stacy was the one to shine a light in Peter Parker's gloomy world.



Steve Rude certainly doesn't see Gwen that way, as you can tell by these illustrations.  Gwen had a unique beauty that was perfectly captured by John Romita.  Rude's interpretation of the character pays homage to Romita through the Dude's ultra-cool romanticized style.

 

I love how Rude not only captures the character, but the fashion and style of the late 60s and early 70s in these drawings.  Dig the coke bottle glass in the first pic, the belt in the second, the beads, bracelets, and boots in the last picture.



For Archie fans, the choice is Betty or Veronica, but for Spidey fans in this time period, the choice was between Gwen and Mary Jane.  I always went for Gwen.  And I preferred Betty, too.  I don't think it's a blonde thing, I just thought they were nicer girls!

Steve Rude is currently selling a lot of artwork to help keep his house afloat.  You can support the Dude by checking his Facebook page and eBay site to see what he is selling.  Also check out SteveRudeArt.com, where he has a Gwen Stacy Cobwebs print ready for sale at a fantastic price below $20.  Nuff Said!

Link:  Steve Rude Gwen Stacy Cobwebs print.
Link:  Steve Rude's Gallery at ComicArtFans (source for all images in this article).

Thing Tuesday: Steve Rude, Benjamin J Grimm and Suzy Storm

This week's Thing comes a real Dude, Steve Rude!



The Thing is his ever-lovin' self, with a nice editorial comment added, to boot!  Check out Steve's website where he does all kinds of cool commissions like this one.  Nuff Said!

Link:  Steve Rude's Gallery at ComicArtFans.
Link:  Steve Rude Original Art.

Silver Surfer and Doctor Doom by Kirby and Rude

One of my favorite Fantastic Four stories took place in Fantastic Four #57-60, where Doctor Doom conned Norrin Radd big time and stole his power cosmic.  All of marveldom thrilled at this story by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby—and mourned the trashing of it in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

At least we have the comics—and this nifty pin-up that Jack Kirby did the captures a key scene from that classic story.



Now here’s something else I’ve uncovered from the internet.  Steve Rude’s take on this scene, executed in his own Kirby Classic style!



Rude the Dude worked on a number of projects for Marvel, where he evoked memories of Marvel’s silver age comics.  There’s a lithograph Rude did for Dynamic Forces, Marvel Universe Classic—anyone have a good scan on that one?  If so, please send it me here, meanwhile, checkout the Dude’s awesome website here.  Nuff said.