A Fin Fang Foom-tastic Cover

It’s October and it’s time for a cover fitting to the holiday that caps this the best month of the year. (I sure hope there will be a Halloween this year. Wash your hands, social distance, and wear a mask!) I feel in the mood for a classic comic book monster. So, let’s look at another great cover by the King – Jack Kirby.

I think it is fairly common among comic book collectors and artists to have come to appreciate Kirby’s artistry later in their lives. As kids, they weren’t big fans of the King. I’m among those folks. I thought Jack’s drawings were clunky. I grew out of that and learned to really appreciate and love his work.

But, even in my misguided youth, I did like the way Jack Kirby drew monsters. I always thought they were cool. I loved the way they looked. The scales, gills, fin, craggy skin, and those squared off claws. I loved all of that. Jack Kirby, as far as I was concerned, was one of the best monster drawers.

And Fin Fang Foom was such a great looking monster.

This cover of Strange Tales #89 (October 1961) was drawn by Kirby, inked by Dick Ayers, and colored by Stan Goldberg. It demonstrates Jack’s masterful command of action and his great monster drawing. And notice the destroyed buildings in the background. That little detail shows that FFF has already done considerable damage and show he is the “most fearful menace of them all!”

I just love these silver age Marvel Comics covers. So much more action than the DC Comics’ covers of that time period. All due respect to Curt Swan, of course, but I just think Jack Kirby was better.

Packing Peanuts!

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Warehouse Find is the official blog of NostalgiaZone.com, where you can find books, games, toys, cards, and a huge selection of Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Modern Age comic books. Jim also has a podcast called Dimland Radio. He’d love it if you checked it out. It’s available on Apple Podcasts.