Jim Steranko (Marvel Visionaries) Paperback – Import, 1 October 2002

A classic MAsterpiece by Jim Steranko.

This volume is quite a bit thinner than the usual Marvel Visionary graphic novel, but it does have some groundbreaking work by a young artist who had a staggering impact on comics history. The implications of this impact is even more amazing when you realize he had no real professional experience and the collective body of his work is relatively sparse. Stan Lee's Marvel comics had three visionaries whose artwork "saved" the doomed comic book industry; these were Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and Jim Steranko. Kirby and Ditko were long time comic book professionals who continued in the industry after the collapse of the late 1950's. According to legend, Steranko walked into Marvel's offices with his portfolio and Stan Lee told his right hand man Roy Thomas to " get rid of this guy". Roy looked at Steranko's work and called over Sol Brodsky who was Marvel's production manager. Both felt sheepishly brooked Stan in his office and told him that he really needed to look at "this guy's work". Stan started turning through Steranko's pages and told him " we don't really have anything right now but your too good to let get away". Thsi volume captures in one volume all of Steranko's published non Nick Fury work. Along with the Shield volumes that are out there, a collector can have a very readable way to enjoy this groundbreaking work.

往年の名漫画誌・ＣＯＭにコラムを寄せていた小野耕世氏。彼こそは日本のアメコミ・シーンでの重要人物、斯界のパイオニアだ。その耕世氏が目利きの紹介者としてプッシュしたアーティスト、それが本書の“主人公”ジム・ステランコである。────独特のサイケデリックでキャムプな原色世界を縦横に駆けるヒーロー＆ヒロインに悪役。それはかつて耕世氏が「官能的ですらある」と評した通り、まさに唯我独尊のステランコ・ワールドだ。しかもお得なことに、本書に収録されているのはそういったヒーローコミックだけではない。故・あすなひろしを思わせる様な繊細タッチのロマンス・コミック、それにゴシックムードの正調ホラー作品に数々のカヴァーアートも収録されている。コマを目で追う度に感じる驚き、それを実現させる大胆で革新的な発想の技法。コミック史を変えたステランコの流儀、そこから湧きいでるコミックの楽しさ。それはまさに「ランチボックスに詰まった幕の内弁当」を目の前にしたようなビックリ感覚だ！そんな驚きのワクワク感に満ちた１冊、ここにまとめられたステランコ・コミックはアメリカン・サイケデリック・ポップの真骨頂、スピードとパワーで自由を抱きしめたカルチャー賛歌そのものでもあるのだ。

Jim Steranko and his art work has been a favorite of mine sense the 1970s. This book I think completes the works by him in Marvel Comics from that decade. It has the X-Men reprinted and the Captain America which i was never able to find. So I love it.

Are some find.