Museum, The You Seen 'Em :: Marvel Comics

Marvel Fanfare #10 Prelim - The Black Widow - George Perez

Artist: George Pérez (Penciller)

2 Comments - 58 Views - 0 Like

Marvel Fanfare #10 Prelim - The Black Widow - George Perez Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	Marvel Fanfare #10 Prelim - The Black Widow - George Perez
Artist:	George Pérez (Penciller)
Media Type:	Pencil
Art Type:	Prelim
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	58
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Comments:	2
Added to Site:	8/25/2025
Comic Art Archive:

Description

It's my belief that this is a rejected preliminary idea for what would later turn out to be the grail-level Page 5 splash from Marvel Fanfare #10. My reasoning is as follows:

1) This was purchased from Vault Collectibles, who are selling off individual pages from George's sketchbooks. It's unsigned but they include a card/certificate certifying that it is George's work. It's on thin sketchbook paper, and we all know how some artists would sketch ideas that would evolve into finished panels or pages.

2) Clearly, this is in George's earlier style. It's looser, rougher, and not as detailed as he would later become. The Black Widow story was originally scheduled for the Marvel Premiere title, as seen stamped on the published pages. I remember reading somewhere that the story was originally slated to start in Marvel Premiere #51 but someone decided it was time to wrap up the Black Panther storyline that was abandoned when Jungle Action was canceled. So, George was probably working on The Widow story around 1978-1979, before he 'turned the corner' while working on New Teen Titans.

3) The character is definitely The Black Widow. Look at (what I'm calling) "the 3 B's," bangs, bracelets, & belt. Just enough of the hair is there to see the bangs in front, with the rest of her hair going down the back. Standard hairstyle for Natasha at the time. Just look at the rest of the story in Fanfare, The Champions, or Daredevil back then. Clearly, the figure is putting something on her hand/wrist. And, judging by the lines on the opposite wrist, it's not just a glove, it's something on the outside of the suit. Finally, and most telling, look at the discs around the waist. Definitely The Widow's belt.

4) Look at the framing and backdrop of the image. Clearly, the rectangular framing is the same idea. And, in the background, you can clearly see a window, a mantle, and other items associated with a home or apartment, where the fight scene with the S.H.I.E.L.D agents takes place.

5) Though the scene from the published image is different, the stance and the attitude are roughly the same. One leg in front, the other slightly turned and behind. And, with the hashmarks around the top half of the figure, you can certainly see the published dialogue working here.

6) Operating under the assumption that it was done in the mid-late 70s, how often did George draw The Widow? Answer: Not much. There were some flashbacks in Avengers #150-151 and the cover of #181 but, to my recollection, that was about it. Could this have been a prelim for a commission? I suppose so but, with everything else I've pointed out, I think this is walking and quacking like a duck.

So, agree or disagree, but that's my case, and I'm sticking to it. Sometimes a prelim, even a rejected prelim sketch idea, is as close as you'll get to a grail.

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Last Login:	September 2025
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Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 8/25/2025

Pretty cool! Perez made this look of her in classic cold war spy thriller!

Nick - Barry - Matt - Hal - Namor
Member Since 2015

1 - Posted on 8/26/2025

Wow! Historic!

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