F.M. :: RYAN PAUL

Marvel Year in Review 1990 back cover by Paul Ryan & Danny Bulanadi

Artists: Paul Ryan (Penciller) , Danny Bulanadi (Inker)

12 Comments - 679 Views - 9 Likes

Marvel Year in Review 1990 back cover by Paul Ryan & Danny Bulanadi Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	Marvel Year in Review 1990 back cover by Paul Ryan & Danny Bulanadi
Artist:	Paul Ryan (Penciller)
Artist:	Danny Bulanadi (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	679
Likes on CAF:	9 10
Comments:	12
Added to Site:	8/22/2021
Comic Art Archive:

Description

By the power of Grayskull, here is a 90s hidden gem: the back cover to the Marvel Year in review magazine of 1990 (remember those? they offered many reports style articles with reprinted vignettes from the comics we loved but also exclusive new art from then the industry cr�me de la cr�me).

Let me say that as a kid discovering comics in the 80s and experiencing the Image revolution full front in the 90s, Paul Ryan was one of those artists who interested me the less and who made me eyes roll whenever I discovered a fill in from him or a series translated in French offering his art (like Avengers West Coast or FF). To my uneducated young eyes, he was boring and certainly not as flashy/exciting as the Lee, Silvestri, Liefeld of McFarlane. Well, I have since then changed my mind and I would certainly take any of his OA over many of the flashy 90s comic artists (and certainly Liefeld). The constant quality of his art, always solid in structure and storytelling, offering strong figure work and (GASP!) the lost art of backgrounds (remember those?). The comic industry certainly lost a very good and professional artist way to soon with his untimely passing.

Some could find his pairing with Danny Bulanadi to be a bad match as the inker was of the school of many lines which is commensurate with the Filipino school of inking. Well, I personally loved it on Avengers WC and FF as I find he brought a more illustrative and rendered side to Ryan's art without having look too rigid as it can often be with such combinations.

Now about the art. This is advertising for Arkon-IV the movie, starring Simon Williams (wearing a wig?) the Wonder Man. you may remember that Wonder Man was an actor in his civil life. I absolutely love that kind of stuff that gives more depth to the character, creating a sense of real life to them which Marvel did/do so well at its beginning to differentiate it from the Distinguished Competition.

The He-Man type pose, the Schwarzenegger type of musculature, the bodybuilding mags reviews on the color version, the castle in the middle of space (with ton of great rocks and planetoids) and the alien damsel in distress make for a super fun and simply beautiful illustration which I find well balanced and composed (despite the floating head?).

And kids, this fourth sequel was coming straight to videocassettes (remember those? you would open the box, put them in the microwave oven for 30 minutes and voila, instant movie delight on any wall you would placate it to ^^).

Like the last reviews says on the cover: it (this piece of art) doesn't suck 😉

PS:as an added bonus,the art is very big. 12x18 or 13x19.

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About the Owner

	F M Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	May 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	BELGIUM
On CAF:	F's Classifieds Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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James S
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 8/22/2021

Perfect! All those ladies in the 70s and 80s clutching on to bulky hero's legs!

Rick W
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 8/22/2021

Beautifully drawn, poster worthy image with all the promise of barbaric, sword-clashing, space adventure!

Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 8/22/2021

I'm pretty sure Paul was having fun doing an homage to Frazetta with this layout. But you're right about Bulanadi's inks over Ryan's pencils, it could've and maybe even should've been a disastrous combination, but overall I think they meshed together pretty well and produced some fine comic book art together. This piece is is a great example of that!

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 8/22/2021

Incorporating fantasy and sci-fi elements in a grandiose manner, Ryan and Bulanadi recap the year and maybe put a button on the entire decade! It might signal the end of these classic compositions made popular in prior decades.

Duke Fleed aka #1 Groo Fan
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 8/23/2021

Your evolution of appreciation for Paul Ryan is one many of us collectors have had. This is a neat piece and seems to be an homage to the star wars new hope poster. Was this a real cartoon? Or a fair ad? Either way congrats!

J H
Member Since 2019

1 - Posted on 8/23/2021

Heh, Arkon! Was that one straight to video? Paul Ryan was definitely underappreciated at the time. Add me to the long list of people that didn't appreciate him at first, but have grown to love his work. As you said, their styles feel like they shouldn't have "worked," but they did. The inks look nice here, even if I'm not usually the biggest Bulandi fan. By the power of...uh, Arkon! Congrats!

Bill J
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 8/25/2021

Classic! Splendid mash-up of Medieval, Fantasy and Sci-Fi elements! Paul Ryan and Danny Bulanadi did a terrific job here! Great pick-up!

K Gearon
Member Since 2011

1 - Posted on 8/28/2021

Classic sword and sorcery stuff! I like the depth, too. Strong movie poster feel, which is a good thing! Congrats!

Michael McIsaac
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 8/29/2021

I never bought those Marvel Year in Review magazines, so this is my first time seeing this, but I remember well the sublot in West Coast Avengers which had Wonder Man's filming of his role as the villain for this movie being interrupted by his super hero duties, with Simon conflicted over whether to be an actor or a hero. This piece is fantastic, and now I feel like I should track down those Years in Review.

Jason Hussa
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 8/29/2021

Very cool piece, F M. Put me squarely in the camp of "would love to get some Paul Ryan art (after not appreciating him for too long)". Outstanding write up, and your point about the "world building" (by having Simon "play" Arkon in what is basically a glorified 'house ad') shows there were people in charge who were paying attention and investing those fun details into projects like this. Great throwback piece, F M - congrats!

Miki Annamanthadoo
Member Since 2003

1 - Posted on 9/2/2021

Great piece!

Jason Versaggi
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 10/24/2021

Very cool! Paul Ryan was Fantastic! Bravo!

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