Howland, Mark :: Has left the building

Doctor Strange 170, page 6: Dan Adkins

Artist: Dan Adkins (All)

12 Comments - 1,691 Views - 10 Likes

Doctor Strange 170, page 6: Dan Adkins Comic Art

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Doctor Strange 170 Cover

Panel One Close-up

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Artwork Details

Title:	Doctor Strange 170, page 6: Dan Adkins
Artist:	Dan Adkins (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	1,691
Likes on CAF:	10 11
Comments:	12
Added to Site:	10/8/2020
Comic Art Archive:

Description

I�m going to go to town a bit on this one. Apologies in advance.

With regard to drawing Doctor Strange, Stan Lee told Dan Adkins to �swipe Ditko,� and apparently Adkins followed his boss�s orders. Look at that left hand in panel one, for example. And look at the psychedelic cloak hem which mirrors the trippy background swirls.

Adkins cut his teeth on Doctor Strange. After drawing the character for more than half a dozen issues of Strange Tales, Adkins debuted as the lead artist when Doctor Strange gained his own title in 1968; and while he did some Ditko-swiping, Adkins left his own mark on the character as well in the shape of the head and the weight of the body, in his poses, and particularly in the rich inking. Something clean and pure and personal and individual occurs when an artist inks his own pencils.

In any event, I love how that single finger breaks the top panel, extending ever-so-slightly into the gutter as if crossing the plane between phenomenal and noumenal realms. And I also love how Adkins or the letterer contrasted the zig-zaggy outlines of the word balloons in panel one - as Strange tries to communicate with mystic spirits - with the traditional, ovoid shape of the word balloons in the following three panels as he communicates with the earthly servant.

And two smaller choices in the top panel that reflect Adkins� close attention: first, the small area of cross-hatching in the lower right corner of the pillow, and, second, the folds of the cloak that continue under Strange�s right arm. How easy it would have been for Adkins to continue to brush black ink into both areas; however, had he done so, he would have lost those additional textures.

So many small, artistic choices go into each page, each panel.

Thank you, Bechara and Nostalgic Investments!

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About the Owner

	Mark Howland Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	December 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	howmark
Website:	http://www.comicartfans.com
Country:	UNITED STATES
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Comments on this Artwork

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robert frey
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 10/8/2020

nice pickup! that top panel is out of this world.... or is it this dimension?

George Hagenauer
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 10/8/2020

That's interesting because Swiping Ditko got Adkins fired! I was there when I fan brought in age after page of notes showing where it was done. Adkins swiped everywhere he did pencils not jsut at Marvel but in sci-fi mags , warren etc.

J H
Member Since 2019

1 - Posted on 10/8/2020

Very cool Dr Strange page. I love the magic depiction in the first panel, and the artistry is so clean. Great page! Congrats

Mark N.
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 10/8/2020

Mark, knockout!

j. david spurlock
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 10/8/2020

Very nice page. Congratulations.
re swipping: Dan knew the good stuff and swipped from the best. He used to gift me all kinds of things including a big swipe file that was mostly clippings of Buscema and Al Williamson newspaper strips. I'm working on a book on Dan and have launched an Art of Dan Adkins facebook page in the meantime.

Chris K.
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 10/9/2020

Wow...that is a very cool page, Mark. Granted - I'm an Adkins fan...but, still. Thanks for sharing it!

Carlo M
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 10/9/2020

Beautiful and kind of unusual. Nice catch!

Jason Versaggi
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 10/10/2020

Adkins is incredible. Bravo!

Red Raven
Member Since 2012

1 - Posted on 11/16/2020

Rare pièce silver âge doc strange Adkins - congratulations !!

Lars Teglbjaerg
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 11/20/2020

Fantastic top panel. Dan Adkins learned to swipe from one of the best swipe artists: Wallace Wood!

Terry Doyle
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 11/21/2020

Nice page but the thing is I see more Wood influence thasn Ditko.

Dietmar Krueger
Member Since 2010

1 - Posted on 9/18/2021

Stunning page!!!

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