BLOB - Fred Dukes - Hembeck Sketchcard

FRED DUKES aka THE BLOB by Fred Hembeck

Today felt like a good day to post a Hembeck card. Nothing too serious but still pretty fun, kind of like the Blob himself.

Fred Dukes, The Blob, was first introduced early in the X-Men in issue #3 (January 1964). He is one of the X-Men’s oldest foes, adversary, and sometimes friend. His power makes him unmovable, super strong with a pliable mass. He was initially a circus freak, that became an X-Man for a short time, then turned to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and Freedom Force. His latest turn of action was the bartender on Krakoa’s Green Lagoon. But my favorite storyline for him was in the Age of X-Man where he had a great love story with Betsy Braddock. It was simple and beautiful in a complicated time, I have a few pages featuring them.

Hembeck’s work here is great, it honors how the Blob first appears and often appears half naked in just shorts. Hembeck’s take on this oversized character is great, as he comes across as just a chubby boy angry that someone took his pool floatie.