MORE MIRTH FROM MARIE SEVERIN! - F-F-FROGS!

I know I promised you all bunches of hilarious Marie Severin comic work...and while intentions never seem to match the actual outcome, I think it's about time to post some more Marie! So here you go!

First just look at the cover to SPOOF # 3...with a January cover date, this cover must have gone to press right after the presidential elections of 1972. It makes me wonder if Marie Severin had another version standing by that featured George McGovern as Prez had he won...the funny thing about the cover is that within months, Spiro Agnew would leave office in disgrace from bribery charges, and of course the Watergate story would also break, and we all know what happened to Richard Nixon.

Also on the cover are the rock 'n' roll leaders of that particular time-frame...let's look at them, shall we? From left to right,  there's the Jackson Five, the Osmond brothers, John Lennon is swearing in new president David Cassidy (who was just huuuge at that point) on a copy of Rolling Stone magazine, behind them watching are Yoko Ono and the rest of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones (w/Ron Wood), Elvis Presley, and I do believe that the gent in the fancy jacket is american rocker Tommy James. Another amazing caricature cover that no one else could even attempt to pull off with the apparent ease that Marie Severin had done.

Inside this issue is where we find our story, which is a satire of the horror movie 'FROGS'. Now for those of us who actually saw this fairly awful film, you will notice that the characters don't receive the usual Marie Severin caricature treatment...in fact, none of the stars of the film (Ray Milland, Sam Elliot, etc.) are featured. This is probably due to the fact that Stu Schwartzberg who wrote it also did lay-outs for Marie, and in fact she may not have even seen the film. In any case, it's a very funny look at a drearily boring film. Inked by Herb Trimpe, who had worked with Marie early on with 'The Incredible Hulk'.

Enjoy! ...and I promise more Marie Severin comics to come!

THE RETURN OF MELVIN? - Marie and John Severin show us how it's done

I promised you, and now it's officially really time to begin showing off some of the coolest comics ever made by our Comic Book Artist Of The Week...Marie Severin! And inking her pencils today we have another superb artist, Mr. John Severin! Hmmm...are they related in some way? Just kiddin'  -  of course they are! You already know they are one of the most talented pair of siblings ever to draw comics. You will notice a dedication to Harvey Kurtzman at the beginning of the story. Now, before Marie was drawing comics, both she and John worked for EC Comics, Marie as colorist. She also worked closely with Kurtzman, and learned a lot about comedy and timing by looking over his shoulder while he edited 'MAD'. John had worked for Kurtzman (and Bill Elder) since his discharge from the army, and joining the 'Charles William Harvey' Studio, and drew his first comic in 1947. At one point John Severin was the sole artist on the Kurtzman edited TWO-FISTED TALES, one reason being their mutual attention to details and accuracy in depicting the historical events often featured in TFT. For 'MAD', Severin had illustrated two Tarzan parodies written and layed-out in meticulous detail (as was his way) by Kurtzman -- 'Melvin Of The Apes',  and it's sequel.

Fast-forward to 1972. Marie has become Marvel's top humor illustrator, and Big John was top-'dawg' over at CRACKED magazine, where his incredible artwork was featured prominently. Brother and sister Severin were at this time working together on KULL THE CONQUEROR to rave reviews, and for this story in the 2nd issue of SPOOF, they got together to create hilarious images to add to Roy Thomas' very funny written words. In the story, Tarz, who is living with Jane in London , finds himself forced to return to the jungle, but he finds things have changed just a little bit since he left! You are going to like this one  --  my favorite thing in it? It's so hard to choose, but I love Tarz's monkey sidekick!

Check out that last panel...every actor who played Tarzan is represented there, drawn in perfect recognizable parody ( a skill which both Severins excelled at like no other artists could). I don't remember all the names, but I can recognize Elmo Lincoln, Johnny Wiessmuller, Buster Crabbe, Ron Ely, Jock Mahoney, etc...! It is so easy to take both Severin's for granted because they are able to draw these beautiful parody images so effortlessly and therfore so often, we the reader become spoiled! Wonderful stuff! Well, my stack of comics is callin'! See you next time, comic lovers!

COMIC BOOK ARTIST OF THE WEEK (and 1/2) - Marie Severin

"The humorous artwork of Marie Severin is sure to bring a smile to any face, and if it doesn't, your face must be broken."

- The APOCOLYTE Speaks

_______________________________________

Since beginning this blog ( for the past month or so) I have been trying to begin a regular 'Artist Of The Week' feature, but lightning storms and computers don't mix, my friend, so I have been forced to use my old computer (made of paperclips, chewing-gum foil, and old coffee cans) while the Geeks at that squad repaired my better computer (the fancy expensive one that got fried by one of Odin's mighty thunderbolts last month...)

So, working on a junky PC makes things a little slower (a lot slower) than one would like, therefore some of my hopes and plans have been delayed...until now! No longer does my computer run on hamster power...the good one is finally back, and it plugs right into the wall socket! Wow!

So, rather than wait another 3-4 days, I am declaring that, starting right this very moment, Marie Severin is the 1st officially featured COMIC BOOK ARTIST of the WEEK (and 1/2)!  I have a lot of cool stuff to show ya, so a week or so may be enough time! Now, let me start the way I was gonna last month  --

drum roll...................................................

[ Spotlight on! Every week the Apocolyte plans to focus on one of those creative individuals who warp the minds of so many -- the comic book creators! Lately I have been re-enjoying the work of Marie Severin, and I discovering that she has so much worthy material, that it would be better to spread the posts out all week (and 1/2) and thereby not overwelm any haphazard souls who may chance upon this old blog! ]

- The Apocolyte speaks

________________________________________________

 COMIC BOOK ARTIST OF THE WEEK 

(and 1/2)

- Marie Severin -

_________________________

“MARIE, UH, I JUST MET A GIRL NAMED MARIE, UH…”

A little over two months ago, on August 22, the talented Marie Severin celebrated her 80th birthday.

On behalf of The Blog At The End Of Time I would like to extend to Marie a (belated) Happy Birthday, and all the best wishes for good health, happiness, and joy. That doesn’t even begin to repay the joy and happiness she has provided throughout her years as one of histories greatest humorous illustrators at Marvel comics.

Mirthful Marie! The First Lady Of Comics! Queen Of Comics! Sweetest Person In The World! Although I have never personally met this talented lady, The Apocolyte asserts that all of the preceding statements are true in regards to Marie Severin. I am not ashamed to say here that …I LOVE Marie Severin!! ... I... LOVE... HER!! I don’t care who knows it! (Yup! Sorry, fella, the Apocolyte likes GIRLS!) Yeah!!

As a time-traveling youth, I would do anything I had to in order to get my hands on her comics! Anything! Things I’m not proud of…things that scarred my psyche for life…but it was worth it, boy! Those are great comics! I am excited (ping! ping!) to post some wonderful examples of Marie Severin’s humorous comic covers and stories this upcoming week.


 THE ‘CUTE’ FACTOR   

When it comes to drawing something funny or cute, some artists have it, and some artists don’t. For example, Walt Kelly had it, and Bernard Bailey did not. [Disclaimer: I am not speaking of here on artistic talent, merely what I have dubbed ‘The Cute Factor’]  For example, if you look at a couple of well-known names from EC comics like Wally Wood and Joe Orlando, on the surface they have similar styles. If I remember right, Wood helped Orlando get hired at EC based on the years of penciling and inking each others work and Orlando was expected to be another ‘Wood’ for EC, and in the beginning their dramatic style was very similar. But, on the other hand, when it came to the humorous comic style required in both MAD and PANIC, Wood had it in spades, while Orlando couldn’t draw cute to save his life. Another example can be found in the world of underground comics. Looking at Robert Crumb, his art undoubtedly has that 'cute factor'. S. Clay Wilson, on the other hand, not so much.

Now let’s talk about Marie Severin.

She was certainly able to draw straight superhero action wonderfully, as she drew many of Marvel’s top titles such as the Hulk, Dr, Strange, and the Sub-Mariner, as well as drawing hundreds of covers over the years for nearly every comic title published by Marvel. Nevertheless, it was when Marvel came out with their ‘MAD’-style parody comic featuring Marvel’s own characters, “NOT BRAND ECHH” in the mid-sixties, that Marie showed the world that she owned ‘cute’ and ‘funny’. Like her brother John Severin, who used his talent for MAD and later, CRACKED, Marie was gifted with the uncanny ability to draw realistic and recognizable celebrity portraits, or parodies of the well-known stars of the day, in a way like no one else could. Almost every issue of NOT BRAND ECHH featured covers and stories by Marie, each one of her contributions being utterly charming and entertaining. Later on, Marvel would utilize her skills for another pop culture parody comic, “SPOOF”, where yet again Marie contributes lioness-share of the art and is clearly the star artist. Marie would continue to be called upon, as Marvel ventured into the black and white humor magazine market with it's publication of “CRAZY”, which also highlighted her considerable talents.

-click on images to enlarge-

NOT BRAND ECHH # 3 Cover by Marie Severin.

A hilarious take on three big names in Marvel Comics. Give yourself an extra second ...did you notice that, besides the money that's being 'laundered', there is a shirt with four sleeves, a glove with six fingers, and a pair of long-johns with three legs! Pure Marie Severin extra-loving wackiness!

-click on images to enlarge-

SPOOF # 2 . Cover art by Marie Severin.

Here she displays the amazing Severin gift for caricature.

-click on image to enlarge-

NOT BRAND ECHH # 6. Cover art by Marie Severin.

-click on image to enlarge-

NOT BRAND ECHH # 8. Cover art by Marie Severin.

-click on image to enlarge-

NOT BRAND ECHH # 9. Cover art by Marie Severin.

-click on image to enlarge-

NOT BRAND ECHH # 10. Cover art by Marie Severin.

For now in this initial post, just to whet your appetite, we're only taking a look at some of Marie Severin’s exquisite covers.  Lots more fun things coming up ALL WEEK (and 1/2)!

-click on image to enlarge-

NOT BRAND ECHH # 9. Cover art by Marie Severin.

Halloween Spectacular - WEREWOLF TRIPLE FEATURE! HOOOWWLL!!

In honor of Halloween tomorrow, and for that extra dose of horror and sugar we all crave this time of year, I have plucked not 1, not 2, but 3 fantastic, fur-covered fright fables out of my goodie bag for you!! Hooowwwwllll you like that??!!

The first tale is from Atlas/Marvel, and features the first appearance of their most famous werewolf, WEREWOLF BY NIGHT! The second chiller is also from Marvel and shows the Werewolf character revived and in his own title. And for the finale I have saved the best for last. Also from Marvel, this is my all-time favorite werewolf story, drawn with cinematic perfection by Reed Crandall. You are in for a treat!

It was 1953. That month MARVEL TALES # 116 sported an amazing transformation cover by Joe Maneely, and the caption beneath said "WEREWOLF BY NIGHT!". Inside was a 5 page story drawn by Jack Abel that featured the cover character and the obligatory twist ending. But this was only the beginning.

_____________________________________________

Almost 20 years later Marvel resurrected the cleverly named character in Marvel Spotlight, and with a few tweaks here and there, the reborn WEREWOLF BY NIGHT had his own comic title by September, 1972. Initially drawn by Mike Ploog, soon after Atlas veteran Don Perlin would become the regular penciller until the series folded in 1977. This story is from WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #3 and includes such horrific treats as burning at the stake, flesh melting off of bones, a sword-swinging demonic dragon, and a mad Karloff-ian monk, to name a few. Art by Mike Ploog.

___________________________________________

In 1971 a young lad went to the local drugstore and took a comic book off the rack. He then walked over to the counter, and layed down his fifteen cents for Marvel's CREATURES ON THE LOOSE #13. Within the hour his mind would be blown forever after reading a story entitled WHERE WALKS THE WEREWOLF. Reed Crandall was the artist, and what an artist! The image of Crandall's werewolf has remained burned into my psyche. I hope you're ready to be horribly delighted to death! Snaarrrll!!

I told you that was GOOD STUFF, man! Well, that's all for now, fiends!

Right now I have to go get my flea collar let out! Go bob for apples, remove the razor blades, and I'll meet you back here in a few hours! HOOOOOWWWWWWLL!!!