CARREZ, Lionel :: 03 - SUPERHEROES, MASKED VIGILANTES & OTHER CRIME FIGHTERS

Steel Claw vs The Builder (Jesús BLASCO)

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Artwork Details

Title:	Steel Claw vs The Builder (Jesús BLASCO)
Artist:	Jesús BLASCO (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	1,568
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Comments:	3
Added to Site:	8/3/2012
Comic Art Archive:

Description

One of the most popular british strips, The Steel Claw made his debut on October 8th, 1962 in British magazine VALIANT in a story scripted by science fiction author Ken Bulmer. After the first three serials, Bulmer left the title, and was replaced by Tom Tully who wrote the series for the remainder of its run.

Spanish master Jesús Blasco was the first and main artist of the strip for which he provided superb chiaroscuro art.
When Blasco left the strip in 1968, the Rosi Studio in Rome took over the job with Giorgio Cambiotti’s pencils, Sergio Rosi’s inks and Massimo Belardinelli’s backgrounds.
In January 1967 was launched the digest sized "Fleetway Super Library", a collection of 132-page series. One of them was the Fantastic Series (which was to be renamed Stupendous Series with its second issue) featuring brand new Steel Claw stories illustrated by artists such as Carlos Cruz and Massimo Bellardinelli who tried to ghost Blasco's style.

The Steel Claw was Louis Crandell who, following a laboratory accident, was able to turn invisible (except for his artificial right hand, which was made of steel), whenever he received an electric shock through his metal hand.
He was initially a criminal but quickly reformed and fought crime as a secret agent of the Shadow Squad.

Briefly, he became a superhero and donned a full covered suit, with antennas on the head, and a Flash like symbol on the chest. He even gained a secret identity (a taxi driver).
During this period, he faced The Builder, leader of F.E.A.R., the Federation for Extortion, Assassination and Rebellion (love these acronyms).

The page presented here, originally published in Valiant in 1968, comes from this brief "superhero" period.

To be honest, I have no assurance about the artist's identity. 1968 was the year when Studio Rosi took over the strip after Jesús Blasco's departure.
BRITISH COMICS SPECIALISTS AROUND, ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED !!!

This page was cut in 3 pieces between panels and has been re-assembled.

Approximative size: 15" x 19"

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About the Owner

	Lionel CARREZ
Joined:	February 2011
Last Login:	September 2020
Country:	FRANCE
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Hart R.
Member Since 2004

Posted on 8/4/2012

Wow! What a talented artist! Thanks for sharing this amazing art with us.

Roy Johnson
Member Since 2010

Posted on 11/15/2012

Hart R. wrote:

Wow! What a talented artist! Thanks for sharing this amazing art with us.

Agreed, whoever the artist, he (or she) was really good. Nice stuff.

Chris Wright
Member Since 2017

Posted on 2/26/2021

Hi Lionel.

Several different artists and studios worked on this particular story. If you can message me with the publication date on the back of the artwork, I'll try and help.

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