Yeah, it's a bit of a shame about the marker fade, but with Toth it's a known thing that for periods he would use these markers that fade which to me as a collector makes it more acceptable.  Plus I think thr page still looks good and you can still see all the lines and details albiet faded.  One day I will hope for a solution that restores black to faded marker lines, but until then I'll just keep it safe and out of light.  Read some interesting "debates" on restoration on such pages.

Marcus,

Totally agree.  This page is showing a man who woke to a terrible day of terrible happenstances when he was wrongfully pronounced dead through beurocratic mistake.  After many other unfortunate events he ends up in the back of a mobsters car and you can see the fear in his eyes.  Next page out of that sheer panic he decides to leap from the moving vehicle and through more bad luck leaps directly into an electric pole dying on the spot.

Monty, from a man with your level of Cerebus collection (and OA collection on general) that is high praise!  Thank you sir!

I see we like the same things :)  nice earth/universe/paradise x pages my friend!

Yeah, I really liked his work on this and also the Elseword Batman Story "Detective 27" and Starman.  I just like how stuff.  My soft spot for heavy inks, strong blacks/whites and white out on pages is fully satisfied looking at his art.

This DPS got a shout out in the Comic Art Live CAF Update #95.  Loved it and speaks to Marco Rudy and Mick Gray's abilities!

Totally agree, I think its an iconic moment at the higher echilons of the Marvel Universe power scale.  Puts Franklin in both power and lore positioned at the top of the heap!

Yeah it caught my eye.  I love crazy almost Lovecraft-esque entities in Marvel books.  The back story added a lot to me as well.  Just a cool layout and the inks were really well done after seeing it in hand.  Never read any Defenders before buying this page but have since bought all Null appearances and really enjoyed this little story arc.

Nathan Essex

What is a man without a drive?

What is left of a man when his child dies?

A wife bereft

A man with nothing left

Naught but the thoughts in his genius mind

To prove his theories he turned to cruelty and crime

No one left to love him, no one left to truly find him

His all condensed like a cold red diamond

He would trade the whole world for what he can't have

So sinisterly would turn it all to broken bits and burnt sand

He chose Apocalypse. To become schemer and pillager.

Mr. Sinister.

Just got the issue since the mail.  Went through an Arnold phase back then and I did/still do think the covers of these issues are cool.  Let's hope the story delivers! 

Thought it was interesting Mike Perkins did the inking.  Until I saw he worked on this I don't think I realized how long he's been working in the comics medium.

Mike Ploog did a good interpretation of the story while making some sacrifices and did lean towards the childhood adventure aspect of it.  To be honest, his style/take on it took me a bit to warm up to but after reading it and putting down the book I must admit I was swept in for the ride.   Not an easy task to interpret the story into a short graphic novel.

Yeah, reminds me of Black Cauldron or perhaps a Ralph Bakshi animation.  If Black Cauldron and Wizard had a baby....

I agree, and I love the composition of this one.  Just has a great presence and the little details in it give it that little extra making it a pretty great piece.

Love the clever analog techniques used to create these effects in comic art.  I really think this page was masterfully done and seeing it in hand really gives you a glimpse into the craft you used to create it.  I just bought Empty Quarter and will be giving it a read this week!

Doom Doom Dr. Doom

Trouble sleeping in his room

The dictator awakens upon a nightmare

Lacking control causes him to despair

Power corrupts

Peace it interrupts

All he opposes must be rended asunder

But deep down, he's a boy who misses his mother

For Cerebus you have to go in prepared to have periods of great fun, interesting anecdotes, some somewhat dated references, some sloggish parts, some philosophical meh-ness, some cringe, some laughs out load and some even touching portions.  It's a journey tfor sure and honestly Cerebus as a series is a true accomplishment being done by one creator mind and one other artist.  So two people made a 300 issue series and if nothing else it is worth reading as a testement to creator passion.  It;s pluses outweigh its negatives and deserves to be read.

I can see why.  When I see a book done in this style I immediately get the feeling this is going to be special.  To see the art in person it does feel a bit more "high art" in a sense.  His style is also a bit impressionistic and the pieces are completely finished so that also I think leads my eye to that thought.  When I see him involved I get the sense I'm going to get something out of the book; even his Swamp Thing book "Roots" had a simple yet deeper story than the average book.  I think work like this is best when carrying a moodier/weightier subject matter.

When you get it share it here on CAF!   Would love to see which page you picked.  Gave me a tear as well and I really love what they had him do approaching his end and his last "gifts putting his true heart/nature/wisdom at the forefront.  Galactus standing still for days in his honor....just awesome stuff.

Thank ye very much.  I will always have a spot in my heart for Uatu pages as we watch him watch me watch us while watching the watchers.  Also a page like this with recurring backgrounds but no STATS is fun to watch out for the differences.

Yeah, can't help but apply this page's theme/message to us floating around on this little blue dot of ours.  May we never share the fate of the Calishee civilization R.I.P.

Greetings Lee, I've seen those pages and some of them are really great scenes and artwork.  I kinda missed the boat on those pages and now its slim pickins.  I do have a thing for Uncle Sam art and also collect original political cartoon art depicting Uncle Sam.  I like the idea of using the character and giving him a personification/personality and how they use it.  That's why I really like U.S. and Alex Ross's art on the series.  

Amen :)

Yeah, thanks Marcus, not the fanciest of pages but has a creative layout, a shout out to the originators style and cameos of some key characters in a personal setting. Caught my eye. 

Yeah, seeing the coored version adds some impact and colored pencil style coloring is a cool choice that I think works.  The art may seem simple but it emits an emotional scene if you let it.  

Absolutely, proud to do it.  It is one of those neat stories that has you reading along and then at the last page as you finish the last text and read the looping words your mind goes through the endless loop of corrections needed to fix the first time travel mistake.  It depicts very well a classic idea for time travel (killing to stop a historical evil) and takes you along as it spirals out of control.  Of course there is some holes in it, a simple example, why not just go back to when Hitler was alone during his "painter" phase or any other earlier time...why pick a HUGE rally?  But whatever, it illustrates the concepts well in a nice little package.   Also I love Thomas Yaetes art on this story.  I tend to really like his style.  For some reason my mind pairs him a bit with Dan Day.

I love me some zipatone.  Always makes me happy to see it.

Exactly what I thought!

Thank you, I always loved the MODOK throne design.  It's a perfect idea!

Thank you, had quite a debate on which page to buy from what was available.  It really came down to this and one other page that I liked the layout/design a bit more but went with this one ultimately because it had what I think of as a "beautiful" moment.  A hopeful one.  Knew I wanted one from his later graphic novels which are what really had an impact on me.  

Crow is on the menu.

I agree, I am a big fan of his "blended panels" style that he did a good amount of in these three issues of "Invisible People".   The pages almost appear a single image and the panels openly flow/merge between eachother.

I debated between a few pages before picking this one.  Ultimately went with it because of the "blended panel" style and that it depicts a moment of hope towards a new future.

Always enjoy these vs. The Marvel Universe stories.  Good ol crazy fun.  Have one page from Deadpool Vs. The Marvel Universe that shows a dead Nova, Galactus (can you spot him?) and Silver Surfer.https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1573380

Thank you.  I first learned of this story when I saw this for sale.  Since then I found the issue and read it as published and really liked it.  Does a great job in 7 pages setting up a story that may never truly end yet works as a contained piece. 

I collect the old bound Puck books al.ost purely for the art.

And will it ever end?

Great piece of an iconic Frankenstein scene.

Great example of the Easley color pallet.

Ha, I will and as he colors it I'll watch and say "gosh darnit kid."

Yeah, I'm torn on my feelings about it; in the end I still like the look of it, the kid did a decent enough job and I agree it's kind of charming.  It is an awesome and tempting coloring page if I was a kid.  With all that said...gosh darnit kid. 

Moreover, because of that I probably got it for a lesser price than otherwise.  Plus I have a fun quest to go on for that second half, which may never be accomplished, but I will enjoy the attempt nonetheless.  Ill always have my eye open for it.

Thanks Adam, let me know if you ever want to sell any of yours :)

Cool, kind of has a Moebius flair!