Another new "Continuation Project" commission for All-Star August - issue #83, art by Stephen Baskerville, based as always on the cover of a comic written, plotted or scripted by Roy Thomas, in this case Fantastic Four #161, original art by Rich Buckler and Joe Sinnott.
This one has had a bit of a traumatic genesis - I originally commissioned another artist to draw this cover in February 2019, and they did warn me that they had a bit of a backlog - but in February this year they told me that I was at the top of their list, and I'd be seeing something shortly. However, after six months I'd seen nothing, so I got a refund and asked Stephen if he'd step into the breach for me --- and I think he's done a spectacular job!
Story: In #82, Paul (Manhunter) Kirk and Joan (Miss America) Dale were confronted by the revived living relic from Dinosaur Island, still controlled remotely by the Ultra-Humanite even after his brain had been removed from it (in Young All-Stars #14). After a frantic chase across Manhattan, the heroes were cornered by the dinosaur in Central Park, when they were surprised by the arrival of Hourman!
Back at the Perisphere, the Atom hears radio reports of a dinosaur rampaging in New York but dismisses it as another Orson Welles hoax - until Robotman arrives, telling Wonder Woman about his (and other team members) encounter with the beast, in the Young All-Stars issue. The Amazing Amazon's magic sphere shows the Ultrasaurus about to devour Manhunter and Miss America, until Hourman uses his Miraclo-induced strength to lever the dinosaur's jaws apart --- and the Atom, Robotman and Wonder Woman race to help out!
Arriving in Central Park, the Atom joins Manhunter and Miss America in fashioning a trap (using former big-game hunter Paul Kirk''s experience) while WW, Robotman and Hourman battle it, and the giant creature is eventually caught and knocked unconscious by the combined power of the three super-strong heroes. With the beast captured - and the Ultra-Humanite no longer in control - Project M's scientists arrive to take it back into their custody, leaving the heroes to try to explain what's happened to a curious press.
Hope you agree that this one has been well worth the wait - I'm delighted with it! One of the things I'm most pleased with was using an FF cover as the source and *not* falling back on Plastic Man and Firebrand, the obvious stand-ins for Mr Fantastic and the Torch --- and as soon as I saw the circular viewscreen on the original cover I knew this gave me the opportunity to use the Magic Sphere. 😉
