THE MARVELOUS AWARDS: ARTIST AWARDS

THE MARVELOUS AWARDS!!

ARTIST AWARDS

Historically, comic books have appealed to children, who are perhaps “tricked” into the scholastic task of reading by their fascination with pretty pictures. I wonder if when we, at any age, read comics, are we tapping into our Inner Child? Or are we simply enjoying a well-told and well-illustrated story?

Without artists, comic books would be just…books. Books are great, of course, but stories like these demand broad strokes, explosive images, colorful characters, gorgeous depictions of a fantasy world that is yet so like our own. Words can take us away to other worlds, but pretty pictures let us make the trip in comfort and style.

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MOST CREATIVE PAGE LAYOUT

Six equally-sized, roughly square panels to a page. Ho hum…Well, that’s where we start out, but not always where we end up. When the action demands it, page layout can add to the drama.

In the category of Most Creative Page Layout, the nominees are:

• An atomic explosion takes up at least half the page
• Four tall, skinny panels depict Tony Stark attempting to adjust to his new iron suit and falling flat on his face
• “Torch” morphs from Spider-Man to himself under the giant words “FLAME ON!”

And the Award goes to…

The Torch/Spider-Man metamorphosis in Strange Tales #115. The image of Spider-Man under the giant “Flame on!” provides an unsettling yet creative artistic representation of morphing from disguise to reality.

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CREEPIEST IMAGE

It goes without saying that not everything in the Marvel Universe is sunshine and lollipops. But I would be remiss if I neglected to mention that when dark days, off moments and demented demons rear their ugly little heads, Marvel’s artists are up to the task of adding that certain something that makes us do a double take, feel a bit queasy, and ask, “Did I just see what I thought I saw?”

In the category of Creepiest Image, the nominees are:

• Dr. Strange meets his ancient foe, Nightmare, in a ghastly dream of black, white and pepto-bismol pink
• The Puppet Master looks through a partially open door and intones, “Good evening, my dear!”
• Ben Grimm leering at Alicia

And the Award goes to…

The Puppet Master is always creepy…but perhaps never more so than in this panel!

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HOTTEST BABE(S)

From glancing ahead to more modern comics, I know that the female form will not always appear less dramatic and appealing than your bargain basement monster. Perhaps as the Marvel audience matures through the decades, a kind of evolutionary process demands prettier girls. But as we wait to get there, a few notable images are beginning to emerge, suggesting a brighter future for Marvel maidens.

In the category of Hottest Babe(s), the nominees are:

• The buxom blonde beauties that are the Valkyries, who rescue an incapacitated Thor in Journey into Mystery #91
• Machine gun yielding, Freedom Fighter Marie with her long blonde hair and red beret in Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1
• The shapely belly dancer in Tales of Suspense #44

And the Award goes to…

The belly dancer, for having the best figure and showing the most skin.

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MOST IMPRESSIVE CHEST, MALE

Men. Manly men. Manly, manly men.

In the category of Most Impressive Chest, Male, the nominees are:

• Bruce Banner
• Peter Parker
• Sub-Mariner

And the Award goes to…

Sub-Mariner, for a finely sculpted torso, as he forms two muscular biceps whilst offering Sue the honor of becoming Princess Namora!

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MOST IMPRESSIVE CHEST, FEMALE

In the interest of equality between the sexes, I now present a similar award for the gals.

In the category of Most Impressive Chest, Female, the nominees are:

• Sue Storm
• Janet Van Dyne
• Jane Foster

And the Award goes to…

Janet Van Dyne, for throwing back her head to push out her chest, and for wearing red. Jane Foster looks entirely too clinical in her nurse’s uniforms, and while Sue’s chest is indeed impressive in this picture, she looks, perhaps, a bit too matronly.

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BEST BUTT SHOT

These are action stories, not fashion magazines. On occasion, the story demands a less than flattering view of our characters.

In the category of Best Butt Shot, the nominees are:

• Sub–Mariner, on the cover of Fantastic Four #14
• Thing running to his task as the clock “tick ticks” away the seconds till disaster
• Hulk and Rick Jones, for a “double butt shot” when Rick catches a ride on Hulk’s back

And the Award goes to…

Sub-Mariner, because there’s nothing like having your butt take up a large chunk of real estate on the COVER of a magazine. Extra points for the emerald green swimming trunks.

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BEST VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE UNSEEN

The Marvel Universe is full of stuff that is “there…but not really there.” Sometimes the artist must use his imagination to show us the unsee-able.

In the category of Best Visual Representation of the Unseen, the nominees are:

• Steve Ditko, for showing Mordo casting a hypnotic spell with yellow rays coming out of his eye
• Jack Kirby, for depicting the Space Phantom inside the people he possesses and controls
• Steve Ditko, for representing Peter Parker’s dual personality as half-Spidey/half-Peter throughout the Spider-Man series

And the Award goes to…

Steve Ditko, for Spider-Man. Poor Peter struggles so dramatically with the two sides of his personality, and the split image, done repeatedly, is always effective.

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SILLIEST IMAGE

Size, color and pattern can all be manipulated by artists. Sometimes the effect is dramatic or startling; other times…just silly.

In the category of Silliest Image, the nominees are:

• The miniaturized animals in Fantastic Four #10
• Sue’s marshmallow man “follower” with pink polka dots in Fantastic Four #17
• The ransom note composed of colorful newspaper clippings in Strange Tales #101

And the Award goes to…

The tiny animals. I just get a kick out of that.

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BEST DEPICTION OF REED RICHARDS WITH HIS PIPE

Many male characters in Marvel comics smoke a pipe, but perhaps none so stylishly as the fabulous Mr. Fantastic, while relaxing in his alter ego of brilliant scientist, Reed Richards. I’m not exactly sure what he’s smoking in that pipe, but…who cares? We don’t have to smell it, and it apparently has no lasting effect on his abilities. Unless, of course, it’s to make him even more fabulous and fantastic!

In the category of Best Depiction of Reed Richards With His Pipe, the nominees are:

• Fantastic Four #1
• Fantastic Four #3
• Fantastic Four #2

And the Award goes to…

Fantastic Four #2, for showing us a rugged outdoorsy-type Reed Richards, totally at home with his pipe. Also, I’m a big fan of flannel, so I like seeing him in green plaid.

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BEST USE OF SILHOUETTE

In movies, there’s lighting. In comics, there’s black ink. Both can add considerable drama to any ordinary scene.

In the category of Best Use of Silhouette, the nominees are:

• Thor, in the shadows, plans to follow his foe, the Human Cobra
• The Melter falls as Iron Man pulls the iron flooring out from under him
• Henry and Jan walk away against a city backdrop
• Pym is attacked by the clinging bands of the Living Eraser

And the Award goes to…

All good choices, but my heart is with Henry and Jan, who appear to have their arms around each other, as they meander off into the urban landscape. There’s something about this shot that screams of the sophistication that so totally envelopes our scientist and socialite heroes.

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BEST MAP OR DIAGRAM

I love maps! Simply can’t resist them. And the artists of Marvel Comics are not shy about stopping the action to cut-away and show exactly how something works. What a delight for us detail-oriented types!

In the category of Best Map or Diagram, the nominees are:

• Johnny’s Asbestos-Proof Bedroom
• The Baxter Building
• Ant-Man’s cybernetic helmet
• Henry Pym’s lab

Hard choice, but in the end, the Award goes to…

The Baxter Building! The ostentatious scope of the Fantastic Four’s facilities and toys is awe-inspiring. If I had seen this picture as a kid in the 1960’s, I would have asked Santa for this, rather than a Barbie Dream House.

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OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC DEPICTION OF A CHARACTER

When all is said and done, Marvel comics are stories about people, about our beloved characters. When an artist captures the soul of a character in a particular set of pen strokes or brush strokes, it’s cause for rejoicing.

In the category of Outstanding Artistic Depiction of a Character, the nominees are:

• Steve Ditko, for Peter Parker realizing he’s ultimately responsible for Uncle Ben’s death
• Al Hartley, for giving us a Jane Foster who looks a lot more attractive than most of the women in these early Marvel comics (Also noteworthy: Thor looks muscle-bound and handsome)
• Jack Kirby, for depicting Doctor Doom disguised as Reed Richards Can use 4panel evil reed

And the Award goes to…

Jack Kirby. I can’t express how impressed I was, the first time I read this story, with Kirby’s depiction of Doom’s personality inside Reed Richards’ body. Looking at that face, there is no doubt this is NOT our lovable Mr. Fantastic behind that leer.

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Closing Remarks

And now, the 1st Annual Marvelous Awards have come to an end.

I’ve enjoyed this immensely. Except, of course, for that brief moment when I feared violent retaliation due to my less than flattering portrayal of certain sensitive and volatile super-villains. But gratefully, with the protection of so many marvelous superheroes, I’ve not only survived, but also live to get back to reading and enjoying even more adventures that take place in the Marvelous Zone!

Thank you for your attention to these awards, and one more time, let me say that I’m sure I have not covered even the half of it. No disrespect is meant to any group of characters or creators–there’s just simply too much to take in!

When it comes right down to it, perhaps the biggest award needs to go to the fans of Marvel comics, who have kept these titles alive through the decades, so that these characters and concepts are now firmly entrenched in pop culture. I’ve only been reading Marvel comics a short time, compared to some others, but I’m glad to count myself in this group.

And now onward to 1964, for more reading, and more contemplation, of the further adventures of superheroes and super-villains in the Marvelous Zone, so that at some point in the future I may present the 2nd Annual Marvelous Awards!!