F.M. :: RUDE STEVE

MARVEL FANFARE 45 BLACK PANTHER PIN UP BY STEVE RUDE

Artist: Steve Rude (Penciller)

9 Comments - 234 Views - 17 Likes

MARVEL FANFARE 45 BLACK PANTHER PIN UP BY STEVE RUDE Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	MARVEL FANFARE 45 BLACK PANTHER PIN UP BY STEVE RUDE
Artist:	Steve Rude (Penciller)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Pin Up
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	234
Likes on CAF:	17 18
Comments:	9
Added to Site:	2/14/2025
Comic Art Archive:

Description

What we have here is a magnificent illustration of Black Panther on the hunt of his nemesis, Ulysses Klaw that was published in 1989 in the famous all pin ups issue of Marvel Fanfare (45) (by a lineup of all-star artists).

There is so much to appreciate in this peak Rude piece.

Scenery! The lush Wakanda jungle is fantastic, with great use of high contrast black & white and negative space. You really feel like Klaw has to force his way through its density to make his progression.

Animals! Some exotic birds throughout the piece and even a snake.

Architecture! That amazing Black Panther themed temple with a greatly stylized BP statue breathing fire, that is seemingly aggressively looking down on Klaw as if it was also its prey by proxy of the jumping BP, some BP motifs at its base and some smaller statues in the jungle with African imagery and another BP one.

Figure work! Klaw looks extremely dynamic while trying to be stealthy, knowing that his enemy is not far whereas BP is on the hunt in a fantastically acrobatic pose. I LOVE how stealthy he looks with but a touch of his fingers on the stone to help him execute his jump. I also love how Rude used negative space on his mask to delineate the eyes and ears (which are round and not pointy, something I would not like if it was not done in Rude�s expert retro-style).

Masterful composition! EVERYTHING is staged between the two points that are the characters to give you a sense that BP is just going to SLAM Klaw to the ground when he connects with him.
It begins with BP�s cape that initiates the movement and which is opposed to a succession of lines forming a counter clock ellipse, half a circle between the 2 characters: BP�s body position mirrored by the vines, the flames, the flying birds and the path of the statues in the bushes. Just pure brilliance.

Exceptional execution! Look at those extra confident and faultless inks. I mean we obviously all love b&w art but I find that due to the very graphic quality of its execution that it really pops out of the paper.

This piece and I have some kind of history in the sense that it was one of the comics I brought for Mr Rude to sign when I met him in 2001 in Brussels at a store signing. He had not done a lot of Marvel work by then but his contribution in MF 45 always stood to me for its sheer graphic quality of for featuring my fav� character.

(and what did I get Steve to draw for me in 2001? A BP of course. Talk about synchronicity. But that�s another-fun-story for another time when I finally get to post that one).

That the piece is huge is a welcome bonus in that it is 12 by 18.

Finally, I need to mention that Marvel cheaply and crassly made a cover out of this pin up in 2023 in relaunching the series for whatever yearly volume before cancelling it with number 8 and relaunching it with �grand fracas� the following month. While the vast majority of collectors will welcome that fact as a shot in value of their art, I really dislike the process in the sense that any artist worth his/her storytelling salt will tell you that designing an illustration and a cover is not the same exercise if done well (not to mention a commission or even worse, a repurposed splash page of part of a page). And we would have to ask Steve but considering how demanding he is on (his) art, I suspect he would not approve, if only for the fact that this �covah� had probably nothing to do with what happens inside the book. Not to mention that for me as a customer, it meant it bumped my price of purchase. And to be frank, while it makes for a superb illustration, I don�t find that it makes for a particularly good cover for the previous reasons I stated and considering the figures are quite small.

Anyway, it�s not going anywhere so whatever (any fabricated argument to mark up its value or publishing effort designed to save having to pay an artist for a new cover).

This is part 8 of my 2025 CAF birthday party, incidentally also my 20th year on CAF.

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Joined:	May 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	BELGIUM
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Comments on this Artwork

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Kavi H
Member Since 2018

1 - Posted on 2/14/2025

A Black Panther pin-up worthy of awe, Kirby would've been proud. Interesting to hear your thoughts about it working as a pin-up but not necessarily as a variant cover (even though it was used as one), I didn't read that book so it would be tough to have an opinion until I did but definately an unexpected viewpoint. Curious to see the other Rude BP piece you teased about him drawing. congrats and HBD Pt 8!

Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 2/14/2025

Ever since I sat to read Marvel Fanfare #45 back in the late 80's, turned the page and saw this, I've been in awe. It is to this day, one of the all-time greatest single scenes of Black Panther art ever produced. Rude's abilities are genius. I love that he thought to show the Panther's acrobatic skills through the wonderful pose he placed him in. Including Klaw into the proceedings is always great for Black Panther fans and showing him facing us but with his back turned to the Panther evokes an air of suspense, as we wonder if Klaw will hear or sense him in time to evade the first assault! Congrats on landing this masterpiece!

Andr� .
Member Since 2015

1 - Posted on 2/14/2025

Man, this slaps! The plant details might be my favorite part, and there's lots to like here.

Benedict Judas Hel
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 2/14/2025

Watch out, Klaw! That do-gooder, Black Panther, is about to get the drop on you!

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 2/15/2025

80's Rude is awesome! A character like Black Panther drawn in all black is well suited to be drawn by Rude who worked on Nexus making the b&w contrasts feel stronger.

Mark V
Member Since 2021

1 - Posted on 2/16/2025

Very memorable piece from Rude, when I was looking at nearly everything he produced, Nexus or otherwise. Seeing this piece inspired me to pick up a Rude piece from this era!

K Gearon
Member Since 2011

1 - Posted on 2/18/2025

I'm glad to see it in your collection, F! Was mulling this one and it's not hard to see why by just looking at it. Scene setting, composition, BP vs archenemy, a throwback quality while still feeling fresh...yup, it's a stunner. Huge congrats, bud!

Kevin Koch
Member Since 2015

1 - Posted on 2/25/2025

Fantastic writeup for a fantastic piece! Thank you from another big Steve Rude fan.

Michael Kenyon
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 3/30/2025

Wakanda. Art for art sake. Rude gets it.

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