Thursday, April 30, 2015

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENT NOMAN -- MAKING OF A MONSTER !!!


You never knew where Steve Ditko would pop up at times (like Wally Wood for that matter.)

Another Ditko cover for Blue Ribbon #1, heavily inked by Rudy Nebres!


Archie Comics published The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents  for a short while. The previous year several comics had been published by JC Comics with new and reprint stories, including one NoMan cover by Steve Ditko with inks by Willie Blyberg. 
Here's a recap of NoMan's origin!
 
Original artwork for the splash page!
Blue Ribbon #12,
"The Making Of A Monster"
NoMan goes to a remote island after getting a letter from Wildey, an unstable old associate (who isn't aware of his current robotic state). On the island he finds that his old friend has set himself up as a modern Doctor Moreau, creating hybrid beasts in out of control genetic experiments, and buying human slaves to experiment on.
Written by by John Carbonaro and Charlie Boatner with art by Steve Ditko and inks by Willie Blyberg. 


Great work by Ditko in this one, with complementary Blyberg's inks. The strange creatures are classic Ditko. That faceless gorilla is just creepy, and that horned cat looks like something out of Watchmen a few years later. There are some good action scenes of NoMan fighting them.

How the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents story began!
 


Definitely one of the better examples of Ditko's commercial work in the mid-80s, this issue is well worth picking up, if you see a copy.
Nice profile of NoMan from Wally Wood!
A favorite T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents story of mine, from Paul Gulacy!
The only issue Solson came out with, unfortunately not one of the most memorable!

Live Large My Friends!


Thank You!

Tower Comics NoMan comics!


I especially liked the paperbacks Tower came out with!
 

2 comments:

  1. I have of late been re-reading my THUNDER Agents Archives collection. Such a shame the Tower series didn't stick around longer and expand more! NoMan is such an original character concept. And Dynamo, though power-wise is a dime a dozen, is such fun as poor put-upon Len Brown and his unique dynamic with Iron Maiden. I prefer the Tower comics to anything DC or Marvel were publishing at the same time.

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  2. Dynamo is a favorite of mine, because as a human with temporary powers, he always knows what it's like not to have them.

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