Doctor Strange, No. 1

Written by - Steve Englehart

Pencils by - Frank Brunner

Ink by - Dick Giordano

Cover by - Frank Brunner

Published in June 1974 is issue number 1, Volume 2, of Doctor Strange; featuring Stephen Strange 'Master Of The Mystic Arts'. There are 81 issues in total in volume 2 and throughout the run I would say that the art maintains a very high standard. I find the look of these Doctor Strange issues very appealing due to their psychedelic nature; the page layouts and general movement with the page are always visual stunning and very dynamic; a testament to the quality of Frank Brunner's impeccable skills as a penciller.

The title of this story is 'Through An Orb Darkly' and features the very first appearances of both Agamotto (and Agamotto's Dimension) and Silver Dagger. Silver Dagger infiltrates Doctor Strange's Sanctum, stabs him in the back with a mystical dagger and makes off with the Eye of Agamotto and Clea. Doctor Strange survives the attack, attempts to use the Orb of Agamotto but is transported to the Land of Agamotto which is very similar in appearance to Alice in Wonderland. Very Strange indeed...

Action Comics, No. 425

Action Comics, number 425, is from 1973 and contains three stories; the fantastic cover art was taken care of by Nick Cardy. All three stories in this issue are good but it is the last one I am more concerned with, so I shall start with that. Although the first one does feature Superman having a fight with an Ostrich...

The Short-Walk-to-Disaster Contract!

Written by - Len Wein

Pencils by - Neal Adams

Ink by - Dick Giordano

The reason my interest lies mainly with this story is because the art is by the legend that is 'Neal Adams'; famous for his many other contributions over the years to comics such as Batman, Superman, X-Men and Green Lantern. His layouts, use of perspective and the motion he is able to deliver on the page is astounding.

This isn't the first time Neal Adams' work has appeared within the Visual Exegesis, in fact it's the third; the first was for his cover on JLA no.79;
http://thevisualexegesis.blogspot.com/2011/03/justice-league-of-america-part-2-no-79.html

The second was for his cover on The Flash no.195;
http://thevisualexegesis.blogspot.com/2011/03/flash-no-195.html

This story is a two-parter but the second part isn't by Neal Adams so I'm not going to bother with that. The basic premise for this story features the Human Target who is hired by his servant Luigi to pose as his cousin, Antonio. He is a circus artist and his act has been sabotaged several times...

As an added bonus, here is a video I stumbled across on Youtube which shows how Neal Adams draws Batman!

The Last Moa on Earth!


Written by - Cary Bates
Pencils by - Curt Swan
Ink by - Frank Giacoia

This is the first story in the comic and features Superman being attacked by a giant bird called a Moa which is supposedly the last one of it's kind on the planet!

13 Old Men Who Run The World!


Written by - Elliot S Maggin
Pencils by - Dick Dillin
Ink by - Mike Esposito

The second story in the issue features The Atom who has to save Jean Loring from a ganglord who wants a man she is defending in court sent to prison for a crime the ganglord committed.