Steel by Don Heck

I don't know what the story behind this work is...its a puzzle. I don't believe this is a recreation by Don Heck since this intended (?) cover has a DC stamp on the back side, please note as Roy Johnson points out there is a box for the UPC code. I wonder if this is possibly a rejected cover, it does have a strong resemblance to the first page of issue 1?

Also as Roy points out the uniform design is slightly different, with stars on the boots. Perhaps this was a preliminary piece that was refined for the ultimate cover image and used as the basis for the first page of the issue with the head shots reversed.

No matter, I am thrilled to actually own some vintage pencils by Don Heck, one of the most underrated founders of the Marvel Universe. Especially since I think his work on Steel accompanied by Joe Giella was some of the best of his work in the 70s.

I admit I was one of those who did not appreciate Don's work as a kid, because, really, how do you follow Kirby? That has changed and I just wish Don was still alive so enlightened fans like myself could let him know how much his work meant to us as he helped construct the ground floor of Marvel's House of Ideas.

Enjoy!

July 4, 2011

Ask and you shall receive... I was recentlycontacted by the "Famous Steel Art Collector "who had as Paul Harvey used to say..."The rest of the story," regarding this mysterious Steel page by Don Heck.

Here's the explanation.

"What you have is not only the rejected pencils to the cover to Steel #1, it was also the rejected page 1.

While I had the opportunity to pick up this unpublished work, I declined your excellent penciled page as there were just too many "grails" and near-"grail"'s for me to focus on. Sadly, I missed out on the cover to Steel #1 as someone else was able to purchase it before me."

Many thanks to the "Famous Steel Art Collector" for answering this mystery and sharing the color guide to the published first page.

09-24-13