James Meeley :: Potpourri

Fantastic Four #405, page 1 (1995)

Artists: Paul Ryan (Penciller) , Danny Bulanadi (Inker) , Tom DeFalco (Writer)

2 Comments - 345 Views - 9 Likes

Fantastic Four #405, page 1 (1995) Comic Art

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Fantastic Four #405 published cover

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Betty #12 Cover (1994)

Artwork Details

Title:	Fantastic Four #405, page 1 (1995)
Artist:	Paul Ryan (Penciller)
Artist:	Danny Bulanadi (Inker)
Artist:	Tom DeFalco (Writer)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Title Page
For Sale Status:	NO!
Views:	345
Likes on CAF:	9 10
Comments:	2
Added to Site:	11/9/2023
Comic Art Archive:

Description

There are some artists who are just inexorably tied to a specific character or property. Take Todd Mcfarlane with Spider-Man, or Jim Lee with the X-Men, or Neal Adams with Batman. Just hearing the artist's name alone will make you immediately think of that characater. Well, another one of those, for me, is Paul Ryan and the The Fantastic Four!

Fantastic Four is a series that at the start of the Marvel Age of comics was a litchpin for it, with many characters first appearing there. But as the decades went by, they never really gave the series the respect due it. After John Byrne's epic run in the mid-80's, the book never managed to reach those kind of heights afterwards. And while some might say the DeFalco/Ryan era also failed to do so, their long run was one of fun and interesting adventures, with lots of soap opera-style character interactions. So, I had to get something from this solid run, made most memorable by the great artistry of Paul Ryan.

Of all the characters shown in his five year tenure on the book, it was, of course, the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing that Ryan made stand out more than any other. This page, with a central figure of old Ben Grimm, might seem a bit simplistic, but there is far more detail in it, than you might otherwise notice. This was nearing the end of Ryan's run, where the Thing had his face scarred (making him even more monsterous than ever before) from getting struck by Wolverine's claws. I love the little fine line detail in his stone-scaly skin,
indicating the unhealed injury. And who doesn't love a bit of "Kirby Krackle" (something that is very fitting, as Jack Kirby was the series original artist)? And I will always love the slick and sharp inking of Danny Bulanadi, my favorite from the Southeast Asian group of artists who blew up in the 70's.

I've been wanting a great example of Ryan's Fantastic Four run and this splash page nicely scratches that itch for me. So, another of my comic art desires has been checked off. Something made even more important to me, since both Ryan and Bulanadi are no longer with us. But their great body of work on the premiere Marvel Comics series, that lauched off a whole new era of comics, always will be. Just as this specific page will be so with me!

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About the Owner

	James Meeley ( 7 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	December 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Website:	https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3mxE1-a83M8c6l1MZXXmeg
Country:	UNITED STATES
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Comments on this Artwork

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K Gearon
Member Since 2011

Posted on 11/9/2023

Krackle, baby, krackle! And combined with the lighting effect... GOOD stuff. Congrats!

Shelton Bryant
Member Since 2005

Posted on 11/9/2023

FIERCE!!!!! (...Congrats!!)

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