Friday Night Fights: It's Clobberin' Time!

After a brief interlude, the mighty Bahlactus has sounded the battle cry for another round of Friday Night Fights....and when Bahlactus calls, the teeming hordes of the Comics Blogoverse rise to the challenge!

My spine-crushing contribution is taken from Fantastic Four #77 (1968), the final chapter of The Second Coming of Galactus!

Sent by Galactus to find the reclusive Silver Surfer, Reed, Johnny and Ben journey into a bizarre sub-atomic Microverse, where they encounter the emotion-manipulating threat of Psycho-Man.

This ridiculously entertaining tale was published during the high tide of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's classic run, featuring their insane concepts, rollicking dialogue, non-stop action and brilliant artwork (made even better by the sublime inking of Joltin' Joe Sinnott). These panels give you just a little taste of that magic, so spend some time looking them over (click on the panels for a Galactus-sized Mega-View).

Now, without further ado, let's join The Thing as he introduces Psycho-Man to his left and right fists, otherwise known as
"The Brothers Grimm!"  

Be sure to grab a helmet and safety goggles to protect you from the sheer seismic insanity of that final panel. You can feel the impact all the way from here, nearly forty years later! Take it away, Benjamin!  

Comments

[Drew Clements]

Man, when it comes to classic comics, there's probably never been a better dream team than Lee/Kirby/Sinnott. Those guys were made to work with each other (okay, at least for a while!).

[Mark Engblom]

Drew-

Absolutely! I can't think of a more incredible team off the top of my head. Kirby's pencils never looked better than when Joe was inking them. In fact, considering how long Joe stuck around to ink the F.F. in various stints over the years (all the way into the 1990's), I actually consider him the real "visual heart and soul" of the Fantastic Four. No matter who he inked over, whether it was John Buscema, Rich Buckler, George Perez, Keith Pollard, or Ron Frenz, they all seemed visually connected through his amazing lines.

I recently ordered a bio of Joe Sinnott from Amazon, and look forward to reading it. I'll be sure to post a review as soon as I get through it.

[Drew Clements]

I completely agree. Joe added a lot of class to a book that had quite a few ups and downs (as any that has run as long as it has).

What's the name of the book on Sinnott?

I'm personally very anxious to get my hands on Evanier's Kirby book!

[Mark Engblom]

The name of the book is Brush Strokes With Greatness: The Life Art Of Joe Sinnott. Click on the link and it'll take you right to the page. Amazon says they've only got three copies remaining at the $12.21 price. Yeah, I'll probably get the Evanier book on Kirby as well, though the cover design didn't exactly blow me away (not a good sign).

[cinephile]

Mark-- know why your blog is so darn annoying? Because every day, you have another post that makes me want to buy more comics! I used to be a well-balanced, financially solvent individual, and now find my imagination overrun by your wonderful page scans, winning prose, and fascinating links. Stupid jerk-- you can't just be like other blogs and have a few clinker postings, oh NO-- you insist on always making your work FUN and INTERESTING. Loser.

And, um, thanks. (:

[Mark Engblom]

"Mark-- know why your blog is so darn annoying? Because every day, you have another post that makes me want to buy more comics!"

Mwa-Ha-Ha-Haaaaaa!

"Stupid jerk-- you can't just be like other blogs and have a few clinker postings, oh NO-- you insist on always making your work FUN and INTERESTING. Loser."

I-I'm sorry, Cinephile! I'll try harder to bland things up! Honest!

Seriously, thanks for your kind (yet unkind) words. It's good to know the effort is appreciated.

...and that I'm forcing you to buy more comics!

Mwa-HA-HAAAAAAAAaaaaaa.....

[Matt]

You've been tagged, and that requires you to read my blog.

Also, great post as usual.

-M