Roach, Paul :: Defenders

Defenders #21 page 32 – plus a note from Sal Buscema to Steve Gerber (reverse) about the script missing a page

Artists: Sal Buscema (Penciller) , Sal Trapani (Inker)

8 Comments - 624 Views - 6 Likes

Defenders #21 page 32 – plus a note from Sal Buscema to Steve Gerber (reverse) about the script missing a page Comic Art

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Note on the reverse from Sal Buscema to Steve Gerber about the script missing a page

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Defenders #37 page 15

Artwork Details

Title:	Defenders #21 page 32 – plus a note from Sal Buscema to Steve Gerber (reverse) about the script missing a page
Artist:	Sal Buscema (Penciller)
Artist:	Sal Trapani (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:
Views:	624
Likes on CAF:	6 7
Comments:	8
Added to Site:	6/25/2021
Comic Art Archive:	The Defenders Issue: 21 Page: 32 View

Description

The Headmen, the most enigmatic of all of the Defenders’ adversaries, have succeeded in committing a robbery ‘without confrontation’ (albeit with great risk to life and limb on the part of the New York populace). The black rain Chondu the Mystic brought into existence enraged those touched by it into a frenzy – including the Hulk, who turned on Valkyrie. I love the panels of the Hulk looking deeply regretful on this last page of the story. And the banner of the ‘Next’ story to come – the classic 'Sons of the Serpent' – is still exciting to see now.
On the reverse of the page, there is a note from Sal Buscema to Steve Gerber about the script for this issue having one page too few. I have attached a second scan of the note, but as the text isn’t very easy to read I’ve typed it up below. Sal describes it as ‘no big deal’, but I guess it was enough of an irritation to be worth mentioning – particularly as this had happened for (at least) a second time – perhaps on Defenders #20? It is really interesting to read about the extra storytelling job that Sal had to do, but as he was the consummate storyteller perhaps it was just impossible to notice that the story was stretched over an extra page. I wonder how often he had to do that when working with Gerber?

Text: "Steve, You did it to me again. Your script didn’t have a page nine. So the book would only have 17 pgs. I stretched it to 18, but it makes the job a little tougher. It’s no big deal, but I just thought I’d mention it. Best regards, Sal."

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About the Owner

	Paul Roach Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	April 2014
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED KINGDOM
On CAF:	Paul's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Dave W
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 6/25/2021

Great page and great peak into the creative process via the back page. Congrats and thanks for sharing!

Steve Day Vich
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 6/25/2021

I happy to say that I was the underbidder on this and cost you more money (of course in the nicest way possible).

Paul Roach
Member Since 2014

Posted on 6/25/2021

Steve Day Vich wrote:

I happy to say that I was the underbidder on this and cost you more money (of course in the nicest way possible).

Thanks Steve! (I think that's my wallet I can hear groaning in the background.)

Sean Clarke
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 6/25/2021

Great page from a great comic... big congrats!

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 6/25/2021

Apologetic Hulk's face and posture by Sal is fantastic here. The work on Strange is special too. That interplay of uncertainty between the team concluding the issue to set up the next one is good salesmanship. Any page without a script should have a giant splash where Hulk yells "GERBER!" while smashing some poor harpy.

Paul Roach
Member Since 2014

1 - Posted on 6/25/2021

Marcus Wai wrote:

Now that's a superb idea! Who wouldn't bid on a page like that? And if Steve Gerber had 'ironically signed' the page he hadn't written, right under the word balloon, that one would really break the bank.

Carlo M
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 6/26/2021

Great page from a great run ! Great storytelling by Sal

J H
Member Since 2019

1 - Posted on 6/28/2021

"It's no big deal..." Translation: :Uppercut: KARAKA-THOOM!!! The Headmen were such bizarrely awesome baddies. I mean, I'm sure at least a few kids had a nightmare about a human-headed gorilla. This is a fantastic Defenders page. And you even got a Sal B Sad Hulk. Congrats!

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