Gil Kane
What can I say about one of my favourite comic book artists ? Well nothing really, except to state that i’ve loved his work since I was a kid. I’m currently 300 years old and i’m fascinated and thrilled by it still.
Some examples ;
Beautiful stuff, eh ? This issue of a Silver Age DC comic, The Atom #25, along with a 70’s British Marvel reprint of the Incredible Hulk strip from Tales to Astonish #88 was the first time I became aware of Gil’s work. I’d seen Jack Kirby’s art (much more on him later), and he was now firmly established as my favourite artist, but this stuff was equally captivating. Just look at the preceding pages and that wonderful cover . Full of movement and inventiveness ! He really does makes the concept of the World’s Smallest Super Hero fly. I was aware of quite a few American comic artists by the venerable age of 12, but i’d never seen anything like this ! The characters were so fluid and dynamic, even someone reaching for a ringing telephone was cool and interesting. Cool. Yes, that was the perfect way to describe Mr. Kane’s art. Then and now .
The stuff i’ve shown is just the tip of the iceberg, of course. Gil worked on loads of great comics before and after the tiny bit i’ve showcased .He’s best known for superheroes I suppose, but he excelled in every genre. So. A fantastically versatile artist and a supreme storyteller. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it ?
I should of course mention the excellent inking of Sid Greene on these pages ,a stalwart of DC’s Silver Age and a fine all round artist in his own right. More on him later too! I can see i’m going to be busy…
