Log In Register
Paul P Spiderversity UNITED STATES
Member Since November 2011
1286 Artworks | Watched by 200
Artwork Details
Location: Other Characters - TEAMS & GROUPS
Title: Marvel Age #139 COVER (Aug, 1994) -- 1st appearance of Fantastic Force!*
Artist:  Mike Gustovich (All)
Media Type: Pen and Ink
Art Type: Cover
For Sale Status: NFS
Views: 468
Likes on CAF: 10
Comments: 20
Added to Site: 1/11/2022

Share This Artwork
Description
I absolutely LOVE 1st appearances!

And this cover is the 1st appearance of the Fantastic Force team, a spinoff of the Fantastic Four:

Psi-Lord (Franklin Richards) was the leader, son of Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four
Huntara (Tara Richards), Franklin Richards' aunt from an alternate future, armed with a scythe that enabled her to open interdimensional portals
Vibraxas, a Wakandan with the power to generate vibratory force
Devlor, an Inhuman who could transform into a large ape-like creature

This cover predates Fantastic Force #1, which came out in November of 1994.

About The Owner

Member Since: November 2011
Last Login: July 2026
Country: UNITED STATES
On CAF:
Paul P's Want List
Artworks Commented On
Liked Art
Site Activity
Contact Paul P Spiderversity

Login or register for an account to email the owner of this artwork.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.
Troy C. Punswick Member Since 2008
1    
Posted On 1/11/2022

I dig it!!!

E DLS Member Since 2005
1    
Posted On 1/11/2022

Bittersweet feelings associated with this one.  It's cool because you don't see a lot of these Marvel Age covers.  But at the same time, it just reminds me of how foolish I was to sell the Byrne Alpha Flight cover for Marvel Age #1.  Sigh!

Duke  Fleed Member Since 2013
1    
Posted On 1/11/2022

Marvel age covers are the best! This is very cool!!

T Shen Member Since 2009
1    
Posted On 1/11/2022

Such a cool cover, congrats Paul!

Ruben DaCollector Member Since 2008
1    
Posted On 1/11/2022

Just like the New Titans #98 page I posted yesterday, this cover is another example that falls into the "Do it like the Image guys!" category. As a fan of the Justice Machine back in the 80's, I really enjoyed the work of Mike Gustovich. But aside from the faces which are still his, literally everything else about this piece is a purposeful attempt to make the art look like it was done for Image. It's an interesting snapshot into what some artists were being forced into doing if they had any hope of continuing their career in the comics industry. Kudos on the 1st Appearance acquisition, btw!

Paul P Spiderversity Member Since 2011
Posted On 1/11/2022

Ruben DaCollector wrote:
"  Just like the New Titans #98 page I posted yesterday, this cover is another example that falls into the "Do it like the Image guys!" category. As a fan of the Justice Machine back in the 80's, I really enjoyed the work of Mike Gustovich. But aside from the faces which are still his, literally everything else about this piece is a purposeful attempt to make the art look like it was done for Image. It's an interesting snapshot into what some artists were being forced into doing if they had any hope of continuing their career in the comics industry. Kudos on the 1st Appearance acquisition, btw!
 "

Thank you for the comment, Ruben!  Though to me, this one doesn't scream "Image!" as much as you suggest.  That being said, I'm not very familiar with Gustovich's style, so I probably shouldn't weight in.  i just really like the level of detail, and I love the spacey background.

Ruben DaCollector Member Since 2008
1    
Posted On 1/11/2022

Oh, this came out in 1994, so right at the "beginning of the end" for the industry and Marvel and DC, but especially Marvel, were convinced that having their artists make their finished work look like what the Image guys were doing, was the way to go. As I mentioned, I was a fan of Gustovich since the early 80's. Aside from a hint of his usual style in the faces, he absolutely did his best to emulate the Image style in his inks here and it looks nothing like the rest of his work. Regardless, I love outer space backgrounds too, so this is a winner for me as well!

1    
Posted On 1/11/2022

Congrats Paul!  This is FANTASTIC! A Force!  Seriously, just beautiful!

West Stephan Member Since 2007
1    
Posted On 1/11/2022

Fantastic cover... pun intended!

Wolvie Fan Member Since 2020
1    
Posted On 1/11/2022

The nineties were great!  Pure nostalgia with this cover, awesome

Michael  McIsaac Member Since 2020
1    
Posted On 1/11/2022

Always cool to see an original Marvel Age cover, although I was annoyed at the time this issue came out that they had aged up Franklin Richards to such a degree.  I had been a big Power Pack fan in my youth, and I didn't like DeFalco messing with the character like that.

Simon . K Member Since 2020
1    
Posted On 1/11/2022

You and I are perhaps the only two people who love Psi-Lord haha! This is such a cool cover and I've given up asking how you find such gems haha

Marcus Wai Member Since 2005
1    
Posted On 1/12/2022

Marvel Age with that cover price meant that it was going to go extinct soon.  And I checked, it ended with #140.  A birth cover and a last rites cover all in one.

Andy Wurst Member Since 2004
1    
Posted On 1/12/2022

Simply said, that one is pretty cool.

Dave W Member Since 2006
1    
Posted On 1/12/2022

Loved Marvel Age covers back in the day, always interesting artwork! Congrats, thanks for sharing!

J H Member Since 2019
1    
Posted On 1/12/2022

That's a clever metaphor they worked into the cover, imo, with the future FF doing the "look towards the future/horizon" pose. I like the precise inks, too, and I really dig the full background. I had never really thought of the cover as true first appearances of these characters until I came here, and I don't know why it never occurred to me. Great find, Paul. Congrats!

K Gearon Member Since 2011
1    
Posted On 1/12/2022

Very cool, Paul! Not familiar with this FF at all but in any case it's always cool seeing brand new takes/versions of established characters! Pretty curious about Vibraxas here - wonder why :) Congrats! Sweet 2nd add of '22!

Marc W Member Since 2014
1    
Posted On 1/13/2022

Pure 90´s magic! Thanks for sharing, Paul!

David Askani’Son Member Since 2012
Forum Moderator
1    
Posted On 1/16/2022

Spectacular Cover Mentor!

J M Member Since 2010
1    
Posted On 1/17/2022

Never heard of the artist but I love his style ,congrats

You must be logged in to make comments.