MARVEL FANFARE 45 BLACK PANTHER PIN UP BY STEVE RUDE

A Black Panther pin-up worthy of awe, Kirby would've been proud. Interesting to hear your thoughts about it working as a pin-up but not necessarily as a variant cover (even though it was used as one), I didn't read that book so it would be tough to have an opinion until I did but definately an unexpected viewpoint. Curious to see the other Rude BP piece you teased about him drawing. congrats and HBD Pt 8!

Ever since I sat to read Marvel Fanfare #45 back in the late 80's, turned the page and saw this, I've been in awe. It is to this day, one of the all-time greatest single scenes of Black Panther art ever produced. Rude's abilities are genius. I love that he thought to show the Panther's acrobatic skills through the wonderful pose he placed him in. Including Klaw into the proceedings is always great for Black Panther fans and showing him facing us but with his back turned to the Panther evokes an air of suspense, as we wonder if Klaw will hear or sense him in time to evade the first assault! Congrats on landing this masterpiece!

Man, this slaps! The plant details might be my favorite part, and there's lots to like here. 

Watch out, Klaw!  That do-gooder, Black Panther, is about to get the drop on you!

80's Rude is awesome!  A character like Black Panther drawn in all black is well suited to be drawn by Rude who worked on Nexus making the b&w contrasts feel stronger.  

Very memorable piece from Rude, when I was looking at nearly everything he produced, Nexus or otherwise. Seeing this piece inspired me to pick up a Rude piece from this era!

I'm glad to see it in your collection, F!  Was mulling this one and it's not hard to see why by just looking at it.  Scene setting, composition, BP vs archenemy, a throwback quality while still feeling fresh...yup, it's a stunner.  Huge congrats, bud!

Fantastic writeup for a fantastic piece! Thank you from another big Steve Rude fan.

Wakanda. Art for art sake. Rude gets it. 

Just astonishing.  You know, when you started posting your recent string of Panther-related pieces, I thought I knew where you'd end up - this piece! - and I ran into your gallery just to make sure you hadn't posted this yet... and here it is... :) D'oh!  SO sorry I missed it on the first go-around, but happy for the chance to add a comment to this beauty here.  Not much I can add to your exemplary (as usual) write-up, but I'll echo your thoughts on the confident composition and execution by Rude here.  From the negative space "fireworks" of the flora in front of the black statuary (that seems to have noticed the intruder and glares down impassively at Klaw here) to the whole upper right corner of the page (blank except for a lithe T'Challa arriving on the scene to put things right), to the streaming vines and fleeing birds that balance everything on the left of the page, it's just... so good.  So Rude.  And you make a perfect point about this being an "Illustration" rather than cover scene, as the space given to the staging of the "larger dance" of the players and situation here feels completely at odds with the primary intent of a cover: this thing -breathes- and rewards the viewer with depth and subtlety, as opposed to providing a dopamine hit to loosen the purse strings and compel a purchase (auction win aside... ;) ).  Covers are awesome - don't get me wrong - but this is just... something else.  My favorite few square inches of this one are the snake wrapping around the black and white-checkered statue (and the other statue behind it): what incredible visual texture!  Phenomenal piece, FM.  Superb Rude example - congrats!! - and, um, happy birthday, a -trifle- bit late... ;) 

At this point, I believe you actually are early and not late for the (next) b-day ;p

Okay, another thing that just struck me that I do love about it is that (to your point) it's so obviously -not- a cover.  Kirby was never afraid to have his main character(s) turn their backs to the camera (or cover their faces, etc.) if the truth of the drama of the moment compelled such a move - it was design and composition over everything - and that is SO clearly what Steve is doing here.  T'Challa's presence and power are undeniable (Klaw's too, for that matter), but they're not -central- (just "central enough").  It's deliberately not splashy and not showboat-ey (which you'd expect from a cover); it's something bigger, deeper, richer, more truthful...  Rude was not so much illustrating a moment (if that makes sense): he was sculpting a -scene-.  Just... phenomenal, Fred.  What a whopper.  Love it.