Superman #400 Pin-Up Gallery: Bolland, Wrightson, Kirby, Byrne, Chaykin

On July 4th, I posted a Steranko page from Superman #400.  There were a number of great artists that editor Julie Schwartz snagged for drawing pin-ups in this landmark 1984 issue.  Here are just a few of them...

Howard Chaykin painted a wonderful cover with all the classic elements of Superman's origin.

Here's probably my favorite and most off-beat pinup, by Berni Wrightson.  I always wanted to see Wrightson tackle Superman.  I think he did a wonderful job by focusing on Kal-El's face here.

Jack Kirby provided a nice Superman illustration--inked by Terry Austin.

Brian Bolland's pinup freeze frame's another famous Superman motif--taking off his business man uniform to reveal the S emblem.

John Byrne, a Marvel creator, was even allowed to draw this pinup of his favorite character.  This was a portent of things to come--Byrne would take over Superman just two years later in 1986 with the Man of Steel limited series!

You can see a few more pinups on my Flickr Superman set.  You can also read the story behind Superman 400, plus a number of full story pages, at superman.nu.  I am amazed at how many websites/blogs actually repost full scans of every single page of comics.  Nuff said.

Celebrate July 4th with a Steranko Superman

On July 4th, most people celebrate with barbecues and fireworks.  Sometimes I go do those things too...but usually my mind is trying to pull out images of super-heroes with the American flag.

This image of Superman holding the flag is taken from Superman #400, a giant-sized anniversary issue featuring the biggest names in comics at that time.  DC Comics managed to get Jim Steranko (an artist more associated with Marvel than DC) to write and draw a short Superman story, The Exile at the Edge of Eternity.  The story was about Superman's legacy as mankind expanded throughout the universe.

Sorry for the poor scan, but it's one of the most patriotic illustrations of Superman I've ever seen.  Nuff said.