Page Turners: The double page splash page - Buscema, Adams , Steranko, Kirby and others

One of the many things that made US comics so special back in the day was when they featured a double page spread. Below are a selection of some of my favourites to go along with the above classic from John Buscema from "Avengers Annual" #2 (September 1968) sadly I do not own that issue but the above page is taken from the Avengers Epic collection - enjoy:

Above: "Captain America Special Edition" #1 by Jim Steranko - This was originally published in "Captain America" # 113 and reprinted in the 1980's in the excellent two issue "Captain America Special Edition".

Above: "Conan the Barbarian" #16 (July 1972) by Barry Smith

Above: Jack Kirby - Originally published in "Fantastic Four Annual" # 6

Above: "Our Army at War" #253 by Russ Heath.

Above: "Avengers" #93 by Neal Adams - Probably my all time favourite double page spread.

Above: Detective Comics #526 by Don Newton and Alfredo Alcala

Above: "Not Brand Echh" #13 (May 1969)by Marie Severin.

Favourite Comics: Kull the Conquerer issue 9

I picked up the above copy of "Kull the Conqueror" along with "Conan the Barbarian" issue 26 (both my first issues of these respective titles) on a long weekend holiday with my mum, dad and brother in Blackpool. I can still vividly recall passing a small market type stall full of comics while on a late evening family stroll on a hot August night in1973. The stall was literally creaking with comics but the cover to Kull issue 9 by Marie and John Severin stood out and as I picked it up I also noticed Conan issue 26 - my fascination with sword and sorcery comics and books started on that day. Although I lost my original copy of Conan issue 26 about 20 years ago (buying a replacement soon after) Kull issue 9 has remained in my collection for nearly 50 years and in that time it has remained a firm favourite of mine not only for the great art and story but also for the memory it instantly provides of a great holiday break with ny late family every time I see that cover.

The story by Gerry Conway, “The Scorpion God” is based on the Robert E Howard short story “Swords of the Purple Kingdom” an adventure tale where a maiden (Nalissa) asks Kull for permission to marry a young warrior (Dalgar of Farsun). Both are from different nation tribes but despite this Kull and the local tribal leaders agree to the marriage.... but some are unhappy. As a result Kull is then kidnapped in a coup attempt but is later released by Dalgar and a battle rages between the masked leader of the coup known a the “Scorpion” (who in reality is Donal who prepared the marriage agreement). As the battle ensues Kull chases the Scorpion to the old abandoned temple of the Scorpion God where he confronts the Scorpion (now unmasked as Donal) . Just as Donal is about to crush an unconscious Kull with a large piece of temple rock a large scorpion appears and kills Donal who with his dying words proclaims “By the Gods no scorpion has walked Valusia …in a thousand…yeaaaarssss” . 100% teenage action drama that no 13 year old boy (as I was in 1973) could fail to be impressed by!

The above is one of my all time favourite comic book pages which I used to spend hours (days!) trying to copy. Stunning action art by the Severins.

The entire first volume of Kull the Conqueror (issues 1- 10) is excellent and some of these back issues can still be picked up for relatively little money. Incidentally, I revisited that Blackpool stall several times and picked up a whole batch of other comics including Amazing Adventures (Ka-Zar) #18 , Sub-Mariner #63, and Avengers #112.