Sequential Skeletons

2006-04-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

Michael Zulli

2006-04-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

From Indie Spinner Rack Issue #21: Part 2

Alice Cooper: The Last Temptation
Neil Gaiman and Michael Zulli (and Alice) are your guides for this exploration of fear. Unfortunately, it looks much better than it reads, and the original color version looks better than the recent b&w collection from Dark Horse.
Alice Cooper: The Last Temptation #1, 1994

Soul's Winter
Zulli and his the Puma Blues collaborator Stephen Murphy elevate the Teenage Mutant Ninja Tutles to an unthinkable new level. Call it the Turtle Blues and get it into your collection.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #31-33, 1990

Noodles
The Tundra Sketchbook series gives us a glimpse into Zulli's world. Includes some preliminary work from Sweeney Todd and an introduction by Neil Gaiman.
Tundra Sketchbook Series #3, 1991

Sweeney Todd
Another potentially great series from the early 90's that never came to fruition. Neil Gaiman and Zulli started to give us what promised to be a great story full of meat. All we saw was a Penny Dreadful preview and Chapter One. Enjoy what we got as it will probably never be completed.
Sweeney Todd Penny Dreadful - Taboo #6, 1992
Sweeney Todd Chapter One - Taboo #7, 1992

2005-12-22T20:45:00.000-08:00

Kent Williams

2005-12-22T20:40:00.000-08:00

From Indie Spinner Rack Issue #11: Part Two

Sabre #4
Kent provided the cover art for several issues of this Don McGregor (no relation to our own Chucky McGreggor) series. He also did some back-up work in a few issues, but not this one.
Sabre #4, 1983

Where's Wolverine?!?
Kent inks over Rick Leonardi in this fill-in issue that also features a cover by the odd pair of Jim Lee and Bill Sienkiewicz.
The Uncanny X-Men #252, 1989

Doctor Zero
One of the few good things about Epic's Shadowline Saga was some great covers by Jon Muth, Bill Sienkiewicz, Kevin Nowlan and Kent.
Doctor Zero #8, 1989

Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed
Kent and John Van Fleet's lush adaptation of a Bradbury parable.
The Ray Bradbury Chronicles #1, 1992

Tell Me, Dark
A love story brewing with mysteries and betrayals showcasing Kent in top form. A pre-Vertigo Vertigo graphic novel by Karl Edward Wagner, John Ney Rieber and Kent Williams.
Tell Me, Dark, 1992

Where Is It?
This evocative tale of memory is one of the highlights of the anthology's four-issue run.
A1 Vol.2 #3, 1992

Hellblazer
Following Dave McKean's series of covers, Kent outdoes himself with a remarable series of his own. The figures in this one also appear in 'The Front,'
from Kent's War Prayer series of paintings.
Hellblazer #39, 1991

Briar Rose
Kent does the Brothers Grimm, with Lynn Parrish.
Epic Illustrated #33, 1985

Flinch
Vertigo's horror anthology series featured a short by Kent as well as this cover.
Flinch #6, 1999

The Village
An excerpt from David Mamet's first novel was accompanied by this outstanding illustration.
Playboy Magazine, 1994

The Canine Connection
A great painting in an unlikely place.
Accompanied an article on workplace drug policies.
Security Management, 1994

Drawings & Monotypes
An incredible collection of figure work. One of my favorite art books.
Kent Williams: Drawings & Monotypes, 1991

Killing
Probably the 'artsiest' Wolverine has ever been. You can almost forget that it's a Wolverine book.
Wolverine: Killing, 1993

Early Spring
Kent showcased on the cover of the North Carolina Literary Review. This huge painting is owned by a famous actor. Damn.
North Carolina Literary Review, 1997

Converse
A recent billboard painted by Kent on display
in Los Angeles.
Billboard, 2005

Grant Morrison

2005-11-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

From Indie Spinner Rack Issue #9

Bible John: A Forensic Meditation
Morrison's haunting exploration of evil based on the notorious uncaptured murderer who killed three women in Glasgow in the late 1960's. Excellent atmospheric art by Daniel Vallely, showing great range in his use of mixed media painting and collage. It's like a modern, Scottish From Hell.
Crisis Magazine #56-61, 1991

The Coyote Gospel
Grant does the impossible. He finds a way to make you feel guilty each time you watch a Wile E. Coyote cartoon. Surprisingly touching, unforgettably heartbreaking.
Animal-Man #5, 1988

Dare
Morrison's revisionist version of Britain's famous
Dan Dare. Animal-Man fans in particular should
enjoy this.
Revolver Magazine #1-7, 1990-91
Crisis Magazine #56, 1991

A Glass of Water
A middle-aged librarian reflects on her life of lonliness and a recent humiliation. Dave McKean employs a variety of stylistic changes throughout this static scene.
Fast Forward #1, 1992

Matt Wagner

2005-11-14T00:18:00.000-08:00

From Indie Spinner Rack Issue #8

The True North
Matt provides a full-color centerfold pin-up to this
anti-censorship benefit comic. The second issue,
from 1991, saw Matt return with a quasi-sequel to
Exquisite Corpse (which we discussed in
Indie Spinner Rack Issue #1).
The True North #1, 1988

Eb'nn the Raven
A very nice early Wagner painting wasted.
Eb'nn the Raven #5, 1985

Nexus
An early piece featured in the letter column gallery.
Nexus #6, 1984

Devil Eyes
Hunter Rose visits Tommy Nuncio in Wagner's bug-eyed homage to Harvey Kurtzman.
Grendel #19, 1988

Dave Stevens

2005-11-14T00:17:00.000-08:00

From Indie Spinner Rack Issue #8

Sheena: Queen of the Jungle
What needs to be said about Dave Stevens' work?
Exactly - nothing. So just enjoys the images, folks.
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle 3-D Special #1, 1985

Lust and the Dust
A print included in a combo-repackaging of Comico's graphic novels Rio and The World of Ginger Fox.
Lust and the Dust, 1988

Legends of the Stargrazers
Vanguard Illustrated #2, 1984

Crossfire & Marilyn
The Norma Jean Conspiracy
Crossfire #12, 1985

George Perez

2005-10-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

From Indie Spinner Rack Issue #4

Avengers #195
One of the very first comics I bought as a young boy,
this is only one of a great run by an excellent artist.
Avengers #195, 1980

Sachs & Violens
Perez and Peter David dished up the T&A along with
plenty of gunplay and blood in this 4-issue mini-series from Epic Comics' Heavy Hitters line.
Sachs & Violens #1-4, 1993