Showing posts with label Steve Rude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Rude. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

How Reed and Sue spent Valentine's Day

Today, we present a very special pictorial about how Reed and Sue Richards (of the Fantastic Four) spent Valentine's Day. 

The day began with a message from their sworn enemy (and Reed's old college roommate) Dr. Doom in which he stated, "Doom shall not threaten you on this day, because I respect the love and dedication you have shown each other through the years. Tomorrow is soon enough for my revenge."

Portrait of Doctor Doom by Bob Layton


And then it was off for a day of fun and romance, without the chaos that seemed to follow their teammates Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm around. (Johnny and Ben watched the kids while Reed and Sue relaxed.)

Reed and Sue Richards by Steve Rude






















But it was the night that was truly eventful... and Sue may be announcing another period of maternity leave from the FF in a few months.

Sue getting frisky with Reed by Neal Adams

 




Friday, July 22, 2022

Friday, February 11, 2022

Fantastic Friday!

Fantastic Four group headshot by Jack Kirby

"The Fantastic Four" first appeared in 1961, in a comics magazine published by Marvel Comics. Created and co-plotted by Jack Kirby (artist) and Stan Lee (writer), their early appearances were reminiscent of DC Comics' sci-fi/adventure title "The Challengers of the Unknown" (which Kirby illustrated, and possibly co-plotted, for a while before creating this group). The Fantastic Four, however, quickly evolved into something wholly unique, with Kirby and Lee spinning tales featuring equal amounts of cosmic mysteries, superhero action, and down-to-earth--if tending toward the soap-operatic and melodramatic--family dynamic between the characters and their growing supporting cast.

A Fantastic Four family portrait by Steve Rude


Lee and Kirby wrote and drew the "Fantastic Four" for roughly 110 monthly and annual issues. These issues, and the 200 or so that followed, still remain my favorite Marvel Comics... and the Fantastic Four (as they existed in the stories told by Kirby & Lee, followed by Marv Wolfman, Doug Moench, and a variety of a artists, and, ultimately, John Byrne) was a cornerstone of the entire Marvel Universe.

The Fantastic Four in action, by John Byrne

The Fantastic Four began to drift as a property as of issue #301 and by the mid-1990s, they had fallen from their position as Marvel's First Family. Over the past 30 years, there has been numerous reboots and re-inventions of the Fantastic Four, in addition to several cancellations and revivals of their title... but none of the creators that have brought us those tales have been able to recapture the Golden Age of the first 25-30 years of the characters. (As a big fan of Sue, Reed, Johnny, Ben, and all their family and friends, I have kept hoping someone might... but so far, I've only been disappointed.)

The Fantastic Four in action, by Paul Smith

This post series presents drawings that celebrate the glory years of the Fantastic Four! This year, I hope to make at least one each quarter.

The Fantastic Four by Pat Lee


Friday, July 20, 2018

Fantastic Friday!

Looking back on the Fantastic Four that was, along with two of their greatest frenemies--Doctor Doom and Prince Namor--in anticipation of the Fantastic Four that will come on August 8, 2018!
By Sandy Plunkett & Kevin Nowlan

By Steve Rude

And here's a group portrait of the First Family of Comicdom, by their co-creator!
By Jack Kirby