You're all familiar with this classic scene from The Empire Strikes Back, right? (click on the "play" arrow)
Yeah, so was I...the first time I saw it! Let me explain.
As I've said ad nauseum, I'm a Fantastic Four fan from way back. So much so, that when my 14 year-old self watched that scene in the summer of 1980, I immediately recalled a similar sequence from Fantastic Four #142 (1974). So similar, in fact, that I've often wondered if a certain bearded, plaid-wearing movie mogul might have read that same comic book and (either consciously or sub-consciously) incorporated that sequence into his famous sequel.
Here, I'll let you be the judge. The set-up: Reed Richards, recently separated from his wife Sue, shows up to attend a 10 year college reunion, accompanied by substitute F.F. member Medusa. Written by Gerry Conway and masterfully illustrated by Rich Buckler (pencils) and Joe Sinnott (sublime inks), the alumni are then escorted into the dining room...and into one of the most unforgettable "villain reveals" in my collection (click on the panels for a larger view).
So...what do you think? A dining room trap laid by a masked, heavily armored and cape-wearing arch-villain, greeting his "guests" with sinister mock formality? Coincidence...or influence?
Well, whatever it is, it's certainly a worthy addition to The Highlight Reel.
P.S. Of course, nothing in the world of entertainment is entirely original. Everything has been influenced by something that came before it...even the Dr. Doom panel. Doom's wide-eyed, frightening expression recalls Lon Chaney's terrifying facial expression from The Phantom of the Opera's classic reveal scene, nearly 50 years before F.F. #142. Again...what do you think?
I think you're absolutely right; I've been complaining about this since forever.
Good catch on the Lon Chaney!
Posted by: plok | July 23, 2007 at 03:43 PM
With regards to that possible Lon Chaney reference, the artist of FF #142, Rich Buckler, is notorious for being a swiper. Joe Sinnott has made references (never by name) to an artist who made him feel like he was inking the same pages over again. There are a lot of Kirby swipes in Buckler's FF issues.
Buckler also did "cross-swiping", for example, Giant-Size Avengers #1 has swipes from FF Annual #4. In particular, the flashback to the All Winners squad in the Avengers story lifts several panels from that FF story (which featured the return of the original Human Torch). Buckler in that case did the same thing as the Lon Chaney example you've dug up- different characters, same recognizable poses.
Posted by: Richard | July 23, 2007 at 11:23 PM
As an artist myself, I guess I'm willling to cut Buckler some slack on the swipes....especially when it's based on his own stuff. Time constraints can be tricky things, and Buckler got around some of them recycling stuff he knew worked well for the story. I guess I like the guy so much as an artist, I'm willing to give him a pass on a swipe here and there. I also have tremendous respect for Joe Sinnott, though when it comes to inking repetative elements, I would think Jack Kirby probably pencilled his fair share of them, too. I'm not saying Kirby swiped his (or anyone else's) work, but it's clear he relied on some of the same visual gimmicks and shortcuts time and time again.
As for Buckler directly swiping Kirby, I believe the intent of the Buckler F.F. issues was to deliberately evoke the Kirby style, with the blessing (or perhaps even the request) of Marvel editorial....so it makes sense that there would be "swiping" to some extent in order to give it a Kirby-art look.
Of all the artists to ape Kirby's stuff over the years, Rich Buckler and Steve Rude have been the most successful at matching the spirit of Kirby's work without slavishly copying it or, worse yet, caricaturing it (as others have done).
Posted by: Mark Engblom | July 24, 2007 at 09:16 AM