Mark V :: 1980s Indies

Whisper #18 Cover (First Comics, 1988)

Artist: Neil Hansen (All)

590 Views - 11 Comments - 9 Likes

Whisper #18 Cover (First Comics, 1988) Comic Art

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Whisper #18 Published Cover

Amazing Heroes #145

Amazing Heroes Preview for Whisper

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Artwork Details

Title:	Whisper #18 Cover (First Comics, 1988)
Artist:	Neil Hansen (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	590
Likes on CAF:	9 10
Comments:	11
Added to Site:	1/11/2022
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Featured as a top pick on CAF Update #78. Thanks, Bill!

"Only true ninjas can balance a liquor bottle on their leg in a driving rainstorm�"*

Bear with me...this is a long writeup for a piece that only a fraction of CAF gallery owners might remember but it's worth highlighting pieces of art that might otherwise slip through the cracks.

I returned to the U.S. in the late '80s after spending a few years living in Japan. While there, I'd kept up with the usual mainstream superhero books that were readily available on military bases, but without access to a comic shop overseas I lost touch with vibrant work from independent publishers like First Comics, Eclipse Comics, and others. In particular, I was a huge fan of First's lineup that included Nexus, American, Flagg, Jon Sable, and Whisper. Nexus, Badger, and Whisper were carryovers from Capitol Comics.

One of the first things I bought after returning to the U.S. and going to a comic shop again was Amazing Heroes #145, their semi-annual Preview Special which offered a preview of nearly every comic that would be published in the next six months. Pre-internet, the Preview Special was as good as it got when it came to understanding the comics publishing universe. I bought countless books as a direct result of reading about them in these Preview Specials.

Rather than reading the Preview Special cover-to-cover, I skimmed it and quickly glanced at the entries for my First Comics faves:

- Chaykin wasn't drawing American Flagg anymore.
- Grell had stopped drawing Jon Sable.
- Steve Rude was only intermittently drawing Nexus, although Mike Baron was still writing.

When it came to Whisper, I was never really sure of the direction writer Steven Grant was taking the series when I stopped reading during my Japan years. Lead character Alexis Devin had an ambivalent relationship to her costume and ninja abilities, and only suited up irregularly. At one point, she chucks her life as Alexis and takes on a new identity as Diane Young. There were Japanese and Bolivian crime lords, rogue national security operatives. It was a whole thing.

But then I saw the preview of Whisper in Amazing Heroes, accompanied by an early look at the glorious cover to issue #18 (see accompanying screenshot). I remember coming back to the cover and how infused it was with big brooding energy. Okay, I remember thinking, guess I'm reading Whisper again!

Unfortunately, Whisper the comic couldn't live up to the promise of that amazing cover by Neil Hansen, working under his pen name at the time, "Spyder." Hansen turned in terrific work in his short stint on the series and later went on to work on such characters as the Punisher, the Badger, and even his own creator-driven book for Marvel's Heavy Hitters Epic Comics offshoot, Untamed. All of Hansen's strengths as an artist are reflected in his cover to Whisper #18. A beautiful composition, lush linework, and a barely restrained intensity that would serve him well on characters like the Punisher.

Even though I have focused on artists like Jaime Hernandez during my short time as a collector, this was the first piece I considered trying to track down. I was lucky to strike up a correspondence recently with Neil, who left comics long ago but who held on to a small collection of pieces of his original art, including this cover. What can I say? Some things just stick with you and unlock a particular time, place, and mood.

* I once tried balancing a liquor bottle on my leg. Never quite got the hang of it. Respect to Whisper.

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About the Owner

	Mark V Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	March 2021
Last Login:	January 2026
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Mark's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Michael McIsaac
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 1/11/2022

Stunning cover! I missed Whisper when it was new, but picked up the series (along with most of First's output) in the late 1990s as early eBay purchases. I also have to agree that those Amazing Heroes preview issues were, well, amazing to me back then since there really was no other place to get so much info about so many future comics. Good times.

Mark V
Member Since 2021

1 - Posted on 1/11/2022

Michael McIsaac wrote:

Stunning cover! �I missed Whisper when it was new, but picked up the series (along with most of First's output) in the late 1990s as early eBay purchases. I also have to agree that those Amazing Heroes preview issues were, well, amazing to me back then since there really was no other place to get so much info about so many future comics.� Good times.

Thanks, Michael. Those were the days. Of all the comics companies that have gone belly up, I think I miss First Comics the most. They were firing on all cylinders for a while. You're so lucky to have picked up a good chunk of their published output. Some really choice material that stands the test of time.

Duke Fleed
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 1/11/2022

Very cool to have found one of these covers out there. Gives one hope. I always loved the female ninja look and was a fan of many of the indy titles of the late 80s. Congrats on this really nice pick up!!

Mark V
Member Since 2021

1 - Posted on 1/11/2022

Duke Fleed wrote:

Thanks, Duke. So much great work from those 80s indie publishers (along with a lot of junk, of course). Would love to see more of ithe good stuff collected.

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

3 - Posted on 1/12/2022

Time can kick rear ends
Mark shows us Whisper like a good friend
What great artwork find
Inking line is kind
There's no comfort on the roof
Rain is all you'll find

I'll never Spyder dance again
Raining sleet has got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know I’m just a fool

I should've had a bottle on my thigh my friend
Read Steven Grant that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, ohh

Mark V
Member Since 2021

1 - Posted on 1/12/2022

Marcus Wai wrote:

Time can kick rear ends
Mark shows us Whisper�like a good friend
What great artwork�find
Inking line�is kind
There's no comfort on the roof
Rain�is all you'll find

I'll never Spyder dance again
Raining sleet�has got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know I�m just a fool

I should've had a bottle on my thigh my friend
Read Steven Grant that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, ohh

George Michael would be proud.

F M
Member Since 2005

Posted on 1/12/2022

I personally discover Neil's art on Untamed and went backwards.

This is a very strong cover indeed, very intense 80s.

But then again, if there is one word I'd use to describe his art, intense would be a good fit.

Now, following up on your tease, what happened to him ?

Mark V
Member Since 2021

1 - Posted on 1/12/2022

F M wrote:

I personally discover Neil's art on Untamed and went backwards.

This is a very strong cover indeed, very intense 80s.

But then again, if there is one word I'd use to describe his art, intense would be a good fit.

Now, following up on your tease, what happened to him ?

�

Will probably share more on this when I post some of Neil's pieces. I'm also going to encourage him to chime in.

It's funny you mention Untamed. Arguably some of Neil's finest art. He's held on to some of the covers, including #1, and that may be offered soon too.

Yo Kuri
Member Since 2019

1 - Posted on 1/12/2022

Love it! Thanks for sharing the art and the background behind your personal attachment to it. Such a cool story. Congrats on hunting it down.

Bob Kopman
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 1/12/2022

Congratulations on geting something so meaningful to you, Mark. The cover however is quite cool and your story about tracking Neil down is really something.

kent mansley
Member Since 2015

1 - Posted on 1/12/2022

Man, that's a cool cover! I love the rain elements and all the detail. And your backstory in relation to the art makes it even better. Stories like this are why I love CAF. Huge congrats!

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