Sal Buscema - Sub-Mariner 35 (Recreation)

Oh boy! This is pure Silver Age magic, for sure!

Our Pal Sal did a very affectionate trip to his/our younger years and came back with this staggering recreation of, arguably, one of his more power-packed covers: Sub-Mariner 35.

While drawn in 2003, this is a perfect note-for-note rendition that sends electric shocks of excitement through my spine. So much, in fact, that I immediately dived into my own comic rack and came up with the 2-part story whose most dramatic moment is depicted here in a grandiose way!

A trio of heavyweight Avengers, Thor, Iron Man and the Clint Barton/Hawkeye incarnation of Goliath (I always thought he was the ultimate and best-looking Goliath ever!) are dispatched to line up against another trio of "tragically misunderstood" heroic characters: The Hulk, The Sub-Mariner (who must be thinking his own mag is leaving not just enough breathing space for him) and... The Silver Surfer in one of his very rare outings!

For those new to the story, Stan Lee was, at the times, keeping the Surfer mostly for himself, so his appearing under other artistic hands were very infrequent! So much, in fact, that, even if these "Proto-Defenders" were successful enough to generate their own series a few months later, the Silver Surfer would have been replaced by Dr Strange by then. Not a bad choice, mind you...

But I digress...

Anyway, a 6 of the best package on a cover lovingly crafted by an artist who has depicted some of their most major adventures: where could I go wrong? Way to go, Sal!