Monday, November 29, 2010

The 1974 SPIDER-MAN/GREEN GOBLIN Saga! Original Comic Art by Albert Bigley!

Harry Osborn is the new Green Goblin?! Sure, I was inspired by the then-current SPIDER-MAN storyline (today, they call them "story arcs") running in Marvel Comics in 1974, but here are 4 pages from my OWN (age 9) original take on the ever-present Spidey/Goblin entanglement! Even at that young age, I had many of the "Marvel method" tropes down. Spidey's patter. The pacing and cliff-hangers. The over-dramatic story titles. The details, such as Spidey running out of web fluid. Heh. I had fun, in this dry run for my future as a comics artist! Click to enlarge!





Monday, November 22, 2010

The Early Painted Art of Albert Bigley! Hulk! Captain America! Marvel Comics!

At long last! I was finally able to photograph these over-sized (around 2 by 3 feet) masterpieces for the panting public to view! That first Hulk "origin" image was painted by me in late 1978, with tempera paints, based on and inspired by the ubiquitous HULK magazine covers painted by Ken Barr, Bob Larkin, and others! Done simply on drug store poster board (then fully framed under glass yet!), I spent weeks studying shading, cast light, rim lighting, even Bill Bixby's caricature from a recent issue of MAD! Don't laugh too much now--this won not only first place in my 8th grade school-wide art show, but GRAND PRIZE as well! Heh. Click each image to enlarge!



Below is the follow-up painting. Based on a 60s TALES TO ASTONISH tale  (I saw the MARVEL SUPERHEROES cartoon adaptation rerun, not the original comic at the time), I included all the players from that comic! The Leader, Watcher (lifted from the cover of SON OF ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS). A big improvement over the debut painting (same media, all bought from the local Revco. I can still smell that pungent egg-based tempera paint!), this baby won awards and acclaim at the local "Arts in the Park" 1979 spring event! It was a small town.



I've skipped ahead here, as I could not locate a few paintings, but this Captain America image was done in early 1980, using acrylics this time, still, alas, on cheap poster board (my discovering canvas was right around the corner)! Based on then-recent CAPTAIN AMERICA comics, I recall struggling to get more "pop" and realism into that mountain range in the background. Didn't work. You can even see the slathered-on layers used in this one, as I made constant "improvements" over and over...Never entered in any contests, but seen widely in my 9th grade "Art 1" class, this piece still made the rounds!



It's fun to look back at my early attempts to be like the painted cover superstars of the day, but now I marvel at the amount of time I could put into these pieces, and still make good grades in school, draw other things, read, enjoy hobbies, experiment with other art mediums, etc...None of it ever felt like work or making time for each discipline...Now it seems hard to multi task for only TWO projects running concurrently!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Albert Bigley 1976 "Neal Adams" Batman Artwork! DC Comics!?

Inspired by Neal Adams and his artwork done for the Power Records line of superhero LPS, here is my (age 11) illustration of B&R, in the best Neal-like style I could muster, mister! Not too bad for an illo that was not a direct lift from existing art! Click to enlarge!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Batman Original Pastel Art! Special Guest Artist: Don Bigley! DC Comics!

You heard right! Not only did I get my Mom involved in my comics hi-jinks, but my own father, Don Bigley, illustrated this master pastel image of the Caped Crusader! Done in 1976, I was there as my Pop threw done the colored chalk sticks to impress an 11-year-old me! He understood how to capture mood and drama, but reversed Batman's famed chest insignia, as he also did on the Aurora Batman model kit he assembled for me years earlier! Dad had some interest and training in art, and it really shows! Click to enlarge this rare piece of Batman memorabilia!


Monday, November 1, 2010

1976 Batman and Robin Original Comic Art! Albert Bigley! DC Comics! Riddler!

Based on the Ernie Chan-drawn DC comics of the day, here is my drawing (done at age 11) of the Dynamic Duo in action! We see them creating business for local chiropractors, all the while stopping the evil machinations of the Riddler and his henchmen! I was going for a "ripped out of a comic book" overall "pop-art" look for this one...Click to enlarge!