SUPULES unchained

Earlier on in one of the first postings I'd ever put here on the blog I put up a full page ad from the comics journal of Superman by George Perez. The story involved Supes being far out in space and losing his powers little by little and being thrown into gladiatorial combat ( and looking a lot like HERCULES with his cape as a sash and sporting a beard.) against big strong baddies and of course Supie triumphed and found his way back to earth and of course regained his Man of steel powers of Superness. It was a great storyline. This cover I believe was drawn by Kerry Gammill and Jerry Ordway. The interiors were by Gammill and Dennis Janke. EPIC stuff man!

A very sad statistical chart

This is a list of the performers from WRESTLEMANIA 1 that are no longer among the living.

Rest in peace Macho Man -

Rest in peace MACHO MAN...I watched WWF wrestling religiously throughout the entirety of the 80's. Randy along with Hogan and Steamboat were the biggest heroes that world had to offer. As time wore on and Randy and the WWE parted ways amicably...I still missed the Macho man's presense. He was a force of nature. A man of infinite character. I miss him, I miss his presense and I miss his character.

Randy battled baddies like Rick the MODEL Martel...who has also passed away...and The BIG BOSS man...who also passed on. He also matched ring wits with MR PERFECT Curt Hennig who has also left us. In fact very few of the WWE Superstars I remember as being the best HEELS have left this world. Randy even locked up with the Mighty HERCULES , Ray Fernandez.

It's kinda sad...when your childhood is falling off the map right behind you. These Superstars were not just TV personalities...they were Characters in a world of good and evil in it's most basic format. The SQUARED CIRCLE!

The illustrations are by JOE JUSKO

John Buscema HERCULES vs the Nemean lion...

a clip from the DELL four color art by John Buscema. The Legend on the legend.

I drew a HERCULES

I was just in the mood to draw picked up a pencil grabbed some paper and drew me a HERCULES...Just sharing. Hope you like it.

Of Frisbees and Gladiators the tale of WHAM-O!

A special thanks goes out to " Diversions of the groovy kind " the blog for posting the interior pages from WHAM-O's giant sized comic book from 1967...contained within it's enormous pages was this fantastic Gladiator tale...Read on and let your mind wander back to ...someplace else in 1967. I am not entirely sure who drew this story,,,it might be Lou Fine of "THE FLAME" fame from WONDER WORLD comics during the Golden age of comics. Enjoy the great story and wonderful art.

IF NOT FOR THIS GUY....

Steve Reeves - A portrait drawn by Legendary comic artist Steve THE DUDE Rude

Mark Singer as DAR the BEASTMASTER...in 3 films that inspired a TV series spin off

Arnold...as CONAN the DESTROYER .... we all know him right?

Kevin Sorbo ( A former HERCULES from the famed tv series ) as KULL the CONQUEROR!

Dwayne THE ROCK Johnson as the SCORPION KING!

Peter and David Paul...the BARBARIAN BROTHERS

Lee Horsely of MATT HOUSTON fame as TALON from the SWORD and the SORCEROR

Ralph Moeller portrayed CONAN in the 1990's TV series....

JASON MOMOA in a still from the set of the upcoming CONAN the BARBARIAN 3D.

...Steve Reeves the legendary Muscle man who portrayed HERCULES and virtually was the FACE who created a GENRE....dozens and dozens of peplums were made ( Sword and Sandal films )

With the likes of Gordon Scott , Reg Park and Mickey Hargitay taking turns playing the Man God HERCULES...but that GENRE never really died....it only evolved. Here are a few films that have come and gone starring Steve Reeves' successors...Arnold Shwarzenegger , Ralph Moeller , Mark Singer and so on as larger than life Heroic warriors who truly deserve the mantle of THE SONS OF HERCULES!!!! ( Even if Lee Horsely is a bit scrawny next to the rest of them )

Jayne and Mickey

I searched high and mighty for an image of Jayne and Mickey doing this pose. Usually they did little photo opps and were wearing their Tarzan and Jane leopard print bathing suits...but this pic is so beautiful...I think I am satisfied. But somewhere out there in WEBLAND or in a photo album some place. The picture I am thinking of rests..in peace.

Everyone knows who ATLAS is right?

I love this damned cover...check out Zeus and an obvious and blatant copycat pseudo Superman in the form of ATLAS...in an attempt to compete with SUPES in the 50's. Lovely Andru and Esposito artwork that totally kicks freaking ass!!

A one issue EPIC by Jack Kirby...would have made a great series in my opinion. Punching out Supes seems like the thing to do.

I love this Alex Ross Homage to the classic KIRBY - THOR -HERC cover....spectacular

Yep...he's the guy who supports the firmament of the earth upon his shoulders. He's got a Famous statue in NY...he also had a few different incarnations as failed attempts to compete with Superman back in the 1950's.

But DC comics came up with their own version back in the 1970's...a new concept by Jack King Kirby brought ATLAS to comic book fans old and new. See here in the copy below.

"Atlas is a mighty warrior and conqueror of magical origins from several centuries into the past. At a young age when his family was slain by Hyssa the Lizard King, a wise mentor raised him and he became a protector of the innocent. After defeating his nemesis though he gave into a darker and more destructive nature, consumed by his desire to become the world's greatest champion. He was brought into the present through time travel by General Sam Lane during Coming of Atlas to work for a branch of the military known as Project 7734, dedicated to fighting against Kryptonians. In this position he is an enforcer whenever Lane needs someone roughed up, although it is common knowledge that his ambition is to succeed his new masters and take the power he deserves. His name is inspired by Atlas of the Greek Titans, a mythological being with unimaginable strength, one of the entities who grants Captain Marvel his powers. Atlas was created by Jack Kirby, first appearing in 1st Issue Special #1. (1975)"

I got my copy....about 12 of them...buy them everytime I see one...lol

the COVER to HERC # 3

HERCULES - the ladies man. pt 2

I touched on it in a post once before...we have Frankie Raye ( Nova ) and the SHE HULK and this group of ladies and then there is NORTHSTAR? The ancient myth's have mentioned that HERKIE is a switch hitter....but you know what?

If you're gay...or you like men etc' etc'....that's your business..I am not going to judge you. SO that does not change my perception of the Legend of HERCULES. But never in a million years did I expect MARVEL comics...to take the Legendary mythical Hero and do that! That's like perpetuating the myth that Bat Man and Robin or The Lone Ranger and Tonto or CAP and Bucky...were gay. Just because there is a myth...there is no need to go spreading rumors.

BUT...I still maintain HERC is my all time favorite HERO of legend!

the COVER to HERC # 1

Earlier I posted some art and a few sneak peaks at the covers to the new series from MARVEL ...HERC! Here is the cover as it will appear in shops...rightly soon!

More HOLY CRAP that's cool HERC art!!!

I got nothing to say...just look at the cool stuff and enjoy!!

I just love original art pages...wish I could get hold of this one. It's fantastic And CAP makes an appearance! Art by John Buscema

The " MIGHTY " JOE JUSKO !

I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek at this painting about a week before JOE JUSKO decided to let everyone see it. He sent me an attachment that said.. "DO NOT SHARE"

Let me tell ya...when JOE says..."DO NOT SHARE"...you don't even dare try to think twice about it. I was all like...Yessir......

THEN>>>>he sent me an advance scan of his painting from the cover of WOLVERINE and HERCULES # 3....WOW!!!

Now I want to talk about this painting. POWER!!! Every brush stroke and every ripple and hair on HERC and those ZOMBIES!!! Look ...I love my super heroes , I love my HERCULES , I love my CONAN , I LOVE ME SOME SHANNA....every bit as much as I love the genre of ZOMBIES. I see a Zombie that kind of looks like TOR JOHNSON and one that looks a little like BARNABAS COLLINS.

HERC crushing that ones neck awesome. I can't wait for this series to come out. There is a lot going on at MARVEL with HERC these days. I am absolutely ecstatic that he is an important figure in the M/U. They should keep it up and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Thank you very much Mr. Jusko for sharing that with me. I speak for everyone ( I think )

when I say...."JUSKO RULES!!!" We are so lucky that there is a guy like you pumping out the great work at the pace you do with quality and unmatched skill. ( There goes my Fan boy sensibility again ) But really, we appreciate your work. I know I can't wait to see what's next.

HERCULES vs the Bull of Minos

This is panel from the Dell four color movie adaptation of HERCULES drawn by John Buscema.

My friend Michael Maikowsky shared it with me on Facebook and now I'm sharing it with the 20,000 plus fans of HERCULES....there were contemporaries and peers to the Late great Mr. Buscema but he was the best of the best.