Redartz: Good day, everyone! For any reader of comics during the Bronze age, especially Marvel comics, the name Gil Kane is very familiar. As are his covers. It seemed no character, no genre, no title could be named that didn't have an example or two of Gil's work gracing the cover. And I must be honest here: at the time, I really wasn't a fan. Which was sometimes frustrating, as frequently as Kane's images were found standing out among the spinner racks.
However, as years went by, my opinion changed. Now I love Gil's work, and find it dramatic, energetic and unique. Granted, the choice of inker always makes a big difference on the final effect of the art. Therefore, as we pore over the following gallery of Kane Kovers, note that only the inker is listed beneath the images. Of course this is due to Gil being the penciller in all examples (and it saved your humble host a lot of typing).
Let's start out with a few DC works. Kane worked for DC prominently during the Silver Age, and later returned there during the 80's. During which time, incidentally, I greatly enjoyed his work on Action Comics with Marv Wolfman scripting.
| Gil Kane inks |
| Gil Kane inks |
| Murphy Anderson inks |
| Gil Kane inks |
| Gil Kane inks |
| Murphy Anderson inks |
Next, we have a generous selection of Kane's Marvel cover work. Again, note that every type of comic you can think of has some of his touch upon it (with the exception, perhaps, of teen humor; anyone know if Gil ever did a cover for Millie the Model?),
A couple personal preference notes: on everyone's favorite web-slinger, the combination of Gil Kane pencils and John Romita inks is just about as good as it gets. Their work goes together like, say, chocolate and peanut butter (for all you fellow Reeses Peanut Butter Cup addicts).
Another observation: Vince Colletta was never one of my favorite inkers, but he seemed to be a good fit for Gil Kane. The two Conan covers they did below are phenomenal.
Indeed, Kane really seemed to shine on his covers for Conan the Barbarian. He really had a knack for those monsters and 'damsels in distress'. On that title, if the cover art wasn't by Barry Smith or big John Buscema, you could almost be guaranteed a Gil Kane cover. And he didn't disappoint...
| Frank Giacoia inks |
| Bill Everett inks |
| Pablo Marcos inks |
| Bill Everett inks |
| Dan Adkins inks |
| John Romita, Joe Sinnott inks |
| Klaus Janson inks |
Frank Giacoia inks John Romita Sr inks
| John Romita Sr. inks |
| Vince Colletta inks |
| Frank Brunner inks |
| Frank Giacoia inks |
| Dave Cockrum inks |
| Mike Esposito inks |
| Joe Sinnott inks |
| Mike Esposito inks |
| Gil Kane inks |
| Tom Palmer inks |
| Klaus Janson inks |
Finally, here's a few examples of Gil's cover work as seen in the original art. You can never ogle enough original comic artwork, in my opinion. Especially when it is this pleasing to the eye...
Kane pencils, Frank Giacoia inks
| Kane pencils, Klaus Janson inks |
Kane pencils, John Romita Sr. inks
Now that you have had your fill of Kane Kandy, let's have your thoughts. What Kane work did you like; or didn't? What other covers grabbed your notice? Which inkers worked best with him, and which were....less successful? The table is wide open, have at it!