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Dynamic Comics #300 - Plastino/Chris Ivy Distressed

Artists: Al Plastino (Penciller) , Christopher Ivy (Colorist) , Christopher Ivy (Inker)

3 Comments - 3,341 Views - 0 Like

Dynamic Comics #300 - Plastino/Chris Ivy Distressed Comic Art

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Dynamic Comics 300 Inks

Adventure Comics #300

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Artwork Details

Title:	Dynamic Comics #300 - Plastino/Chris Ivy Distressed
Artist:	Al Plastino (Penciller)
Artist:	Christopher Ivy (Colorist)
Artist:	Christopher Ivy (Inker)
Media Type:	Computer Art
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	3,341
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Favorited on CAF:	1
Comments:	3
Added to Site:	4/27/2011
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Dynamic Comics #300 (September, 1966):

Standard's "Dynamic Comics" #300, cover by Al Plastino, which features his Dynamic Man character and an array of Golden Age greats as they appeared in the Silver Age.

Obviously, with Dynamic Man being one of the big-guns of the Standard Universe he get's top billing, but let's not forget the great Magno/Lash Lighting team-up that harkens back to their WWII adventures. Orchid's still in her full length skirt, but that was soon to change. Good to see Fantomah again too.

The issue is one of those old-fashioned anthology issues, including the "At the Drawing Board" feature and a pin-up by Ramon Fradon.

One of the peach-basket full of old comics my uncle brought over one day when I was kid.

Roll Call: The Flame, Black Orchid, Magno, Dynamic Man, Lash Lightning, Fantomah, Duke of Darkness.

Fred Hembeck later did his own version of the cover.

Setting the Standard in Comics!

~~~~~~~~~
Al Plastino was an artist who operated in the Golden Age and Silver Age.* During the 1940s, he worked for Harry "A" Chesler Comics on the Dynamic Man character in "Dynamic Comics". He is credited as penciller on issue two, I'm not sure if he actually worked on #1 or co-created the character.

In 1958, he was working for DC Comics where he co-created the original Legion of Super-Heroes, in "Adventure Comics" #247 (interiors, the cover was by Curt Swan).

This cover is a re-imagining of a format used by DC Comics on many of its titles during the 1960s. I specifically had "Adventure Comics" #300 (featuring Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes) in mind, originally published in 1962. Curt Swan drew the original cover, but Al did pencils and/or inks on one of the interior stories, "The Face Behind the Lead Mask".

I wanted to a do a similar cover, but with characters from various WWII/Public Domain comic books. I sent Al a few reference images for each of the characters. He initially declined to do it as he'd never drawn any of them except Dynamic Man, but changed his mind the next day, sending me an email he was working on it. He had just turned 89 at the time.

I spoke with him on the phone (during SNOWMAGEDDON 2011!!) about his work, history, and the piece. Very interesting guy - a no-BS type of fellow, which I admire.

I tried to choose characters whose powers mirrored the Legion members on the cover. I couldn't figure a Saturn Girl stand-in (damn telepaths!), so I used Black Orchid, an obscure favorite from the 1940s. Triplicate Girl was replaced with Fantomah transforming in three states (a normal looking woman to a skull-faced freak and in-between). Coincidentally, these two characters were drawn the least like the layout of the references I provided. The others were much more similar, but with tweaks that make them work better together, primarily to the backgrounds.

Centre in the image is Dynamic Man himself (rockin' the short pants!), who Al originally drew around the age of 20!

So, we have the artist who designed the original Legion members (!), drawing a comic cover based on a Legion cover, but using characters that were around when he started in the industry, including Dynamic Man who he worked on quite a bit. A convoluted approach perhaps, but I thought it was pretty neat.

Then, it was inked (via light-box, the original pencils are untouched) and digitally colored by Chris Ivy with the kind of color palette/shading that would have been available in the mid-60s. I whined enough to make him use the little dots that made up color in those days. :-) Then, he added the distressing to make it look vintage. Sweet!

Original size: ~15"x21", Chris worked on a scan printed out same size, the final distressed version is printed out actual Silver Age comic size.

Next up - getting the whole thing framed.

*(as of 2011, retired but taking commissions - I don't think generally anything as esoteric as I asked for though. See www.alplastino.com. Great interview)
** Incidently, my uncle really did bring over a bunch of 60s comics in a peach basket one day. Wish I still had all of them (and this one!)

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	Roy Johnson
Joined:	December 2010
Last Login:	July 2023
Country:	CANADA
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Adam Ianbarry
Member Since 2010

Posted on 4/28/2011

That is INCREDIBLE!!!!!!! Love it!!!!!

Aidan (Re-Legion ) Lacy
Member Since 2005

Posted on 10/16/2011

Now that is what I call a true Homage. Classic

Larry Guidry
Member Since 2004

Posted on 2/10/2012

I LOVE THIS!!!!

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