Marvel Comics Presents 40 page 20 (feat’ Hercules) by Bob Layton

I loved Layton's work on Hercules and you could tell he was having a blast. Was this MCP story a follow up to the Full Circle graphic novel he did or a prequel?

He did 3 short stories following up his GN :)

I don't know this work very well, but good looking early MCP piece. 

I think Layton reallyl had fun with this character and it showed in the art.  Great action packed page.

As you know, I've always hated this costume. But even that isn't enough to make me dislike the page or the art in general. This is a very 60's inspired, "big action" in fewer panels layout and it is spectacular!

Loved this run!

Herc may be from antiquity, but he knows punching solves problems in modern times, too.  

Really fun Layton layout on this old school story page!  Clean layouts and the figures are too power packed to actually stay within the panels.

Great all action Layton Hercules page in the Merry Marvel Manner!  Always loved Bob's action/ comedy take on the Son Of Olympus!  Well done!

Love it!  Getting charged then literally punched right out of the panel :)  Congrats!

Fantastic four-panel action!

KER-BLAM!

Wow!  The thing I -really- love about this one is the way the lettering is incorporated into the layout and design of the page.  I mean, any project just looks better with John Workman's letters on it, but panel 1's balloon placement is bull-rushing the reader along with Herc and son, and using the (panel busting!) sound effect lettering to provide the very foundation upon which they stand in panel 2 is a great touch.  Panel 3 is just crazy fun with the balloons nestled snugly in the very -middle- of the panel... which works -perfectly- because of the robot's flight path, and then panel 4's elements cascade down perfectly with the reader's eye: robot dialogue, sound effect, action, Herc's dialogue.  A great testament to expert storytellers at work, building something together to create a whole that exceeds the sum of its parts.  A place for everything, and everything in its place... Superb!

And that doesn't even adress the pretty pictures here!  Really terrific work; exciting images working in service of the story they're telling, as bold and brash as the Lion of Olympus himself.  Bob was firing on all cylinders on all his Herc work, and this is another killer Layton Hercules example in your brain-melting collection, F M!  It even has a holiday greeting from Bob written at the bottom!  Timely post, Fred! :) Happy holidays, and CONGRATS, man!  Great page!