Anyone who thinks Mike Zeck is just a cover artist really needs to go back to his Captain America run from approximately issue 260 through to 289. It really is outstanding interior work and at a consistent level. Honestly, John Beatty is not the best inker for Zeck. Joe Rubinstein really showcases Zeck's art and takes it to another level altogether. Kraven's Last Hunt may get all the attention but honestly its on par with his Captain America run with J.M. Dematteis. They are wel worth picking up as Epic Collection trades.
I completely agree. Krakens last hunt is great. From his Cap run I love the first appearance of Vermin, the Baron Zemo story, and that story with the Scarecrow, but I enjoyed all of his issues.
Yoooo Mike Zeck drew and inked a Legends of the dark knight comic (around issue 70ish) where batman goes into prison undercover with a fake mustache and it was awesome!
The bike and “All America is his turf” moment is from the era Cap was doing cross country driving and exploring different kinds of environments and stories- since all Marvel stuff was set in NYC, and Cap isn’t Captain NYC
As far as Zeck quality interiors, The Damned w Steven Grant from Image, the Punisher mini (also Grant) and Kraven's Last Hunt w DeMatteis clearly have full effort put in
I JUST started seeking out Mike Zeck work last week! I adore his anatomy. Highly recommend his cover for Spectacular Spider-Man 132, and his Superman art. Everything he does feels so weighted and thought out. Superman is sort of a big square or a long line for most, Zeck keeps Superman to a human body, you can tell he's thinking in first person. I'm glad you guys keep it real and point out what you dont like, you still took 30+ minutes to examine the work, it's a good faith effort.
The tv show you're talking about is actually just two TV movies from 1979. They were split into parts throughout the week, like how they would do the Stephen King adaptations back in the day.
Not the biggest marvel guy here but I think Mike Zeck shines on Kraven's Last Hunt (which you guys have already covered). Anyways, keep being the best cartooning channel ever, cheers
Kraven's Last Hunt is probably his best known interiors, but he absolutely nailed Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 118. That issue really is something else. It's one of the best things Peter David ever wrote too. Bob McLeod is great over Zeck on inks. It's funny because PPSM 118 is the opposite of the Captain America annual in that Zeck nails the interiors and Buckler turns in a really uninspired cover.
I remember my takeaway from this comic when it came out was that the USA had the ability to build an army of robots during WWII, but decided not to because the Super-Soldier program failed. Apparently nobody thought these robots might be handy to, IDK, help win the war?
Yes! My brother had the poster of this cover over his bed and I wanted this comic so bad. I never found a copy as a kid. I read it in a collected edition a few years ago and it was…just like you say! Best Mike Zeck is the first few Punisher issues I think.
Last I checked Mike Zeck's been hanging his hat here in the Philippines, at least temporarily xD. And as stated by @Gootie29, Zeck's definitely "a cover guy." The mention of Master of Kung Fu just activated a random idea: how about covering the old black and white Deadly Hands of Kung Fu magazines that were published by Marvel's sister company, Curtis and later on Magazine Management, back in the '70s. It had early Shang-Chi, Iron Fist, Sons of the Tiger and White Tiger, Daughters of the Dragon stories written by Chris Claremont, Steve Englehart, Bill Mantlo and art by Paul Gulacy, George Perez, Dick Giordano, Jim Starlin, Marshall Rogers and fellow Pinoy artist, Rudy Nebres (so underrated) all in magazine sized pre-Shooter non-comics code glory =).
I mentioned wanting this at our HeroesCon ‘19 panel and it materialized hours later at my table. Early-era Kayfabe Effect. (Shouts to Mr. Coleman.) P.S. Punisher Magazine 1 reprints Zeck’s first issue in b&w, that’s my nomination for a look thru.
I know the two of you typically avoid hot button topics and opinions but I would love to get your perspective and insight on Glenn O'Learys "viral" video. You two are very grounded and the industry should be discussing this.
Fun cover... You guys covered the interior. As far as what I'd like to see more of... I, Lusiphur (Poison Elves), Evil Ernie/Lady Death (Stephen Hughes) , Razor, Kabuki, Cry For Dawn, and all those Indy comics like Elementals, Grendel, Mage, etc. Oh... And ORC STAIN.
I feel the same with his Punisher, really. Great, promising covers and some pretty good panels here and there, but actual interior work is mostly pedestrian boilerplate stuff, along with the story, with even some really ugly looking stuff probably because of an ink rush job. As a non-American, sometimes it's hard to understand some of the stuff regarded as classic for the mainstream audience, specially when they came out around a time where there was actually quality stuff coming out on the Big Two.
This is a problem with a lot of comics where the cover looks amazing 😍, but crack open the book and... 😕 flat tire. Either the interiors have zero to do with what was shown on the cover, or the cover art is done by someone else to advertise the book that it feels misleading when the interiors don't match at all. Worse is when the story just doesn't deliver. This isn't just Marvel and DC, but a lot of comics all around new and old. Hopefully you two had a palate cleanser after reading this.
Have to agree with Ed about the jump in quality when it comes to cover and interiors (same artist). Makes me wonder if Zeke had other deadlines and simply rushed this one through.
I've never really looked closely at this cover before (not a huge Cap or Wolverine reader). It really is well put together. I'd like to add that the framing here is really well done, and the play with depth of field is fantastic. You can easily imagine Wolverine's starting position, with his left hand high and his torso untwisted, and visualize Wolverine's entire movement of the strike.
Love the content guys! It's definitely different to hear artist's take on the books. I just bought a copy of Red Room #1. It's a second printing with a sketch cover......dude it's fucking epic!
Agree totally about this comic. Bought it a while ago and had almost exactly the same feeling as Jim expresses. And I say that as a big Mike Zeck fan. As for best Mike Zeck interiors Kraven's Last Hunt without a shadow of a doubt. Miles ahead of the work here - and the regular Capt A run as well if I'm honest.
This comic is clearly a turd aside from the cover and Cap-sled but it's the problem of Annuals and deadlines to a large degree I think. 12 monthly issues plus long ass annual for Cap, four issue punisher, at least 16 covers (probably more) dude WAS cutting corners by necessity. Only Perez and Byrne seemed capable of churning out so much product at a consistently high level (and Byrne gets dogged for short cuts, too, though I think they're much less notable than what I see in most monthly artists of the time).
I never read this book when it came out! Love the cover though and last year I got a readable copy and finally read it! Ugh! Gd flexographic washed printing and a lot of exposition! Too much! Definitely should’ve been a bigger dynamic brawl between Cap and Wolverine! 2 dynamically opposed characters and it’s a Marvel comic how’s about some slambam action! Zeck was a godsend back in 78 on Master of Kung Fu especially after Gulacy left the book floundered! Add Gene Day inks👍! If you want to see Zeck cut loose there was a mini series from Image called Damned 1-4 ! Very under appreciated in my opinion and can probably be found in a discount box somewhere? Steven Grant wrote it and Zeck did painted covers! Cap Annual beautiful cover and that’s about it! And I can piss a few more over grown (groan)fanboys? Secret Wars is unreadable padded coloring book to shill shitty toys! Zeck is way too damn talented to wasted on watered down events and just look at Secret Wars 2!🤢💩🧻🚽
Kraven's Last Hunt is solid. Collected in a tradeback. Six issues. Considered one of the best Spidey stories ever written. Worth checking out.
They should put Kraven’s Last Hunt under the scope. It’s a great story. McFarlane references it in his first few issues of Spider-Man.
Anyone who thinks Mike Zeck is just a cover artist really needs to go back to his Captain America run from approximately issue 260 through to 289. It really is outstanding interior work and at a consistent level.
Honestly, John Beatty is not the best inker for Zeck. Joe Rubinstein really showcases Zeck's art and takes it to another level altogether.
Kraven's Last Hunt may get all the attention but honestly its on par with his Captain America run with J.M. Dematteis.
They are wel worth picking up as Epic Collection trades.
I completely agree. Krakens last hunt is great. From his Cap run I love the first appearance of Vermin, the Baron Zemo story, and that story with the Scarecrow, but I enjoyed all of his issues.
Yoooo Mike Zeck drew and inked a Legends of the dark knight comic (around issue 70ish) where batman goes into prison undercover with a fake mustache and it was awesome!
If you want dynamic Captain America art, you need to review Kieron Dwyer's run on the title, especially The Bloodstone Hunt.
The bike and “All America is his turf” moment is from the era Cap was doing cross country driving and exploring different kinds of environments and stories- since all Marvel stuff was set in NYC, and Cap isn’t Captain NYC
Your guy’s commentary always cracks me up so much.
It was comics like this that made me start reading Larry Marder's Tales of the Beanworld instead.
This is the first video I’ve seen where you guys just really tear into the work
As far as Zeck quality interiors, The Damned w Steven Grant from Image, the Punisher mini (also Grant) and Kraven's Last Hunt w DeMatteis clearly have full effort put in
Kraven's Last Hunt from Spiderman was nicely drawn. His Master of Kung Fu was mostly good. Zeck is a cover guy more than a comic guy
There are some great Mike Zeck interiors out there, but once he's up against the deadline, quality drops off fast
I JUST started seeking out Mike Zeck work last week! I adore his anatomy. Highly recommend his cover for Spectacular Spider-Man 132, and his Superman art. Everything he does feels so weighted and thought out. Superman is sort of a big square or a long line for most, Zeck keeps Superman to a human body, you can tell he's thinking in first person. I'm glad you guys keep it real and point out what you dont like, you still took 30+ minutes to examine the work, it's a good faith effort.
The tv show you're talking about is actually just two TV movies from 1979. They were split into parts throughout the week, like how they would do the Stephen King adaptations back in the day.
Not the biggest marvel guy here but I think Mike Zeck shines on Kraven's Last Hunt (which you guys have already covered). Anyways, keep being the best cartooning channel ever, cheers
Did they cover it? Must have missed it, And I can't find it with a search. Eh well. But if you're wrong, they def need to.
@@gregtripodi7719 my bad, They havent done a video on it yet which suprised me tbh, I have a fake memory of them pointing out stuff about the book
This cover and his Deathlok/Cap cover are all time icons!
Kraven's Last Hunt is probably his best known interiors, but he absolutely nailed Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 118. That issue really is something else. It's one of the best things Peter David ever wrote too. Bob McLeod is great over Zeck on inks.
It's funny because PPSM 118 is the opposite of the Captain America annual in that Zeck nails the interiors and Buckler turns in a really uninspired cover.
I remember my takeaway from this comic when it came out was that the USA had the ability to build an army of robots during WWII, but decided not to because the Super-Soldier program failed. Apparently nobody thought these robots might be handy to, IDK, help win the war?
Yes! My brother had the poster of this cover over his bed and I wanted this comic so bad. I never found a copy as a kid. I read it in a collected edition a few years ago and it was…just like you say!
Best Mike Zeck is the first few Punisher issues I think.
The place full of crazy traps was done so much better in Daredevil #208 written by Harlan Ellison and drawn by David Mazzucchelli.
Kraven's Last Hunt is my favorite Zeck. Also there is a Zeck Artist Edition. It is great.
Kravens last hunt would be Zeck’s best. I’m also a fan of his work on Punisher.
Kraven's Last Hunt is a great Zeck story
love that you guys are real with your opinions
Last I checked Mike Zeck's been hanging his hat here in the Philippines, at least temporarily xD. And as stated by @Gootie29, Zeck's definitely "a cover guy."
The mention of Master of Kung Fu just activated a random idea: how about covering the old black and white Deadly Hands of Kung Fu magazines that were published by Marvel's sister company, Curtis and later on Magazine Management, back in the '70s. It had early Shang-Chi, Iron Fist, Sons of the Tiger and White Tiger, Daughters of the Dragon stories written by Chris Claremont, Steve Englehart, Bill Mantlo and art by Paul Gulacy, George Perez, Dick Giordano, Jim Starlin, Marshall Rogers and fellow Pinoy artist, Rudy Nebres (so underrated) all in magazine sized pre-Shooter non-comics code glory =).
I think the Punisher return to big nothing he had more time in the interiors. His covers were very solid but the inside had less time spent per page.
I mentioned wanting this at our HeroesCon ‘19 panel and it materialized hours later at my table. Early-era Kayfabe Effect. (Shouts to Mr. Coleman.) P.S. Punisher Magazine 1 reprints Zeck’s first issue in b&w, that’s my nomination for a look thru.
One of the best drawn Wolvie featurings must be the Rick Leonardi one on Daredevil.
I know the two of you typically avoid hot button topics and opinions but I would love to get your perspective and insight on Glenn O'Learys "viral" video. You two are very grounded and the industry should be discussing this.
Fun cover... You guys covered the interior.
As far as what I'd like to see more of...
I, Lusiphur (Poison Elves), Evil Ernie/Lady Death (Stephen Hughes) , Razor, Kabuki, Cry For Dawn, and all those Indy comics like Elementals, Grendel, Mage, etc.
Oh... And ORC STAIN.
Kraven's Last Hunt is his best interior work
Secret Wars #10 is my favorite Zeck cover
I feel the same with his Punisher, really. Great, promising covers and some pretty good panels here and there, but actual interior work is mostly pedestrian boilerplate stuff, along with the story, with even some really ugly looking stuff probably because of an ink rush job.
As a non-American, sometimes it's hard to understand some of the stuff regarded as classic for the mainstream audience, specially when they came out around a time where there was actually quality stuff coming out on the Big Two.
Seconded and thirded KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT, I'll also throw in PUNISHER RETURN TO BIG NOTHING. Good stuff!
This is a problem with a lot of comics where the cover looks amazing 😍, but crack open the book and... 😕 flat tire.
Either the interiors have zero to do with what was shown on the cover, or the cover art is done by someone else to advertise the book that it feels misleading when the interiors don't match at all. Worse is when the story just doesn't deliver. This isn't just Marvel and DC, but a lot of comics all around new and old.
Hopefully you two had a palate cleanser after reading this.
I think Zeck's best work was the "Punisher: Circle of Blood" mini series...i would love to see this reviewed if you haven't already.
Have to agree with Ed about the jump in quality when it comes to cover and interiors (same artist). Makes me wonder if Zeke had other deadlines and simply rushed this one through.
I've never really looked closely at this cover before (not a huge Cap or Wolverine reader). It really is well put together. I'd like to add that the framing here is really well done, and the play with depth of field is fantastic. You can easily imagine Wolverine's starting position, with his left hand high and his torso untwisted, and visualize Wolverine's entire movement of the strike.
this is one of the more outstanding post bronze age superhero covers out there. I had no idea the interior story and art was such a let down, though.
By all accounts, Gruenwald was a great guy, and he definitely had lots of cool lasting ideas. But my man could not write, I'm sorry.
Didn't Mike Zeck work on the famous Spider-Man and Kraven storyline by writer JM DeMatties? Did he do a better job on that one?
Love the content guys! It's definitely different to hear artist's take on the books. I just bought a copy of Red Room #1. It's a second printing with a sketch cover......dude it's fucking epic!
Agree totally about this comic. Bought it a while ago and had almost exactly the same feeling as Jim expresses. And I say that as a big Mike Zeck fan. As for best Mike Zeck interiors Kraven's Last Hunt without a shadow of a doubt. Miles ahead of the work here - and the regular Capt A run as well if I'm honest.
😂 Jim's pained sighs had me dying though. Yeah not the best interior there
I see a bit of early Joe Madureira in Mike Zeck
Moench/Zeck/Day on MOKF are top❤
I tend to agree with your take on MZ. He does legendary covers and posters, but kinda meh interiors. Still a huge fan of his, though.
This comic is clearly a turd aside from the cover and Cap-sled but it's the problem of Annuals and deadlines to a large degree I think. 12 monthly issues plus long ass annual for Cap, four issue punisher, at least 16 covers (probably more) dude WAS cutting corners by necessity. Only Perez and Byrne seemed capable of churning out so much product at a consistently high level (and Byrne gets dogged for short cuts, too, though I think they're much less notable than what I see in most monthly artists of the time).
Gosh the impotence of this comic. For pretty good Zeck interiors check out Kraven’s Last Hunt.
Completely agree. Re-read this last year.......trash, lol. But what a cover!
It's true. This comic was awful. You could've made the entire video just about the cover.😄
If you want good Zeck interior art look no further than Kraven's Last Hunt.
I never read this book when it came out! Love the cover though and last year I got a readable copy and finally read it! Ugh! Gd flexographic washed printing and a lot of exposition! Too much! Definitely should’ve been a bigger dynamic brawl between Cap and Wolverine! 2 dynamically opposed characters and it’s a Marvel comic how’s about some slambam action! Zeck was a godsend back in 78 on Master of Kung Fu especially after Gulacy left the book floundered! Add Gene Day inks👍! If you want to see Zeck cut loose there was a mini series from Image called Damned 1-4 ! Very under appreciated in my opinion and can probably be found in a discount box somewhere? Steven Grant wrote it and Zeck did painted covers! Cap Annual beautiful cover and that’s about it! And I can piss a few more over grown (groan)fanboys? Secret Wars is unreadable padded coloring book to shill shitty toys! Zeck is way too damn talented to wasted on watered down events and just look at Secret Wars 2!🤢💩🧻🚽