| Slot: |
Ironjaw 1 |
| Item: |
Ironjaw 1 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3803395016
|
Owner Comments
Compositionally similar to Frazetta's cover for Conan the Warrior paperback (1969) - Neal does manage to make this cover enough different in content to not feel like a total swipe of the Maestro's work. I think all the Atlas titles are a little odd - but Ironjaw is pretty standard sword and sorcery fare based on the cover art, right? I think the use of color for the background is better than Marvel, and the absence of text boxes and word balloons helps the art stand out, but I never felt like the actual iron jaw looked all that interesting. I mean, he's not biting peoples hands off or catching a sword in his mouth, so...yeah - who cares? The cover art is rendered with Neal's recognized attention to detail. And the obligatory damsel in a bikini looks good - although very 70s with the long, blonde hair and waspish waist. In looking closer - I think it might be the same bikini babe as is on the Wulf the Barbarian covers too. Very similar chippie, different artists. I like the variety of spears and swords and the use of helms (helms save lives), and I have to admit that except for his upright stance, Ironjaw actually looks like he might know how to melee. He is standing up too tall though, and exposing his legs and important bits to dudes with spears. They should be stabbing him in the femoral. Or just in the junk. Wear a cup.
Overall - I have to say a young me would have likely parted with his hard earned quarter to take this home off the spinner rack.
|
| Slot: |
Ironjaw 2 |
| Item: |
Ironjaw 2 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3803395021
|
Owner Comments
Look at that absolute masterpiece by the almighty Neal Adams, who can do no wrong, and which owes nothing to the Frazetta masterpiece from the cover of Conan Vol 5, 1967. Nothing at all. But we already know I think Neal had exactly zero original ideas ever - just rehashed other people's work and reused their compositions. Anyway - obviously the part of the image that is a huge ripoff of the master is pretty good. I mean, it's not done as well as if Frank had done it - but that bar is a bit too high for most anyone. As for the remainder of the image - it's pretty good. The obligatory damsel in distress is believable, which is to say, her boobs hang naturally. The crowd in the stands is good - for some roughed in figures, and the snarling beasts? OK. I guess. Really, I'm kinda underwhelmed but the total image. It think it is too light in color & tone, and the bear that is tied up in combat with IJ is not particularly impressive. Just not all that original.
Overall - well, it is good - but I don't know if I see it competing on the spinner rack with all the other awesomeness of 1975 and separating me from my hard earned quarter.
Frazetta forever!
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| Slot: |
Ironjaw 3 |
| Item: |
Ironjaw 3 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3803395022
|
Owner Comments
Okay - Pablo Marcos is awesome. I mean, he really knows how to draw sword & sorcery. Here we are laying into a henchman of the "Lizard King" with a battle axe and a long dagger while a unicorn (seriously?) takes on another and our horde of barbarians helps out in the background. And then, we've got a flaming tower of doom (do you owe rights to Tolkien on that?) - probably not - it is a pretty generic tower with flames, not a special all-seeing tower with flames. Totally different. The colorist on the cover really adds to it with that sky though - that might be the highlight of the cover; it works extra well with the yellow-ochre colored ground.
One of the special nice things about this cover is the double-bitted battle axe. Not just the axe itself or the massive spike on the butt of the weapon - but specifically the length of the haft. It's short enough that it would actually be something a strong person could effectively wield one-handed. We often get these sword & sorcery covers where there's a huge-ass axe head on a really long pole and either they are wielding it one-handed or it is obvious the artist wants them to use it one-handed and that just doesn't work for me. Even if they could swing it, they'd have limited to no control and be totally ineffective. (I'm looking at you Cho).
Overall - yeah, just take my quarter. This one's a winner.
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