SHIELD, BLACK HOOD, AND STEEL STERLING - IRVING NOVICK AND JOE RUBINSTEIN

Irv Novick was the original artist for The Shield when the character was first introduced in PEP COMICS # 1. Novick also had the opportunity to draw the adventures of two of MLJ's other most popular costumed heroes, The Black Hood and Steel Sterling. The pencil-only version of the incredible art shown here of The Shield, Hood, and Steel Sterling first appeared in the pages of Jim Steranko's MEDIA SCENE publication circa late-1970s/early-1980s. When TwoMorrows Publishing planned its MLJ COMPANION, The Complete History of the Archie Comics Super-Heroes book in 2016, Joe Rubinstein was commissioned to ink "blue lines" produced from Novick's pencil art, intending it to be used for the cover. Ultimately, different art [drawn by Rick Buckler and inked by Rubinstein] was used for the cover of the companion book. I was able to purchased the unused Novick art, inked by Rubinstein, through Heritage Auctions in 2018, and I'm thrilled to be able to share this terrific illustration with fellow CAF members.