The Hulk and Spider-Man! Together?! 1978 Albert Bigley Art! Marvel?!

Ah, one of the great duos of all time! The Hulk and--Spider-Man?! Why not? I decided to stage my own "Marvel Team-Up" in this 1978 pencil drawing (I was 13), as Marvel's two titanic "TV sensations" appear to be wrapping up a skirmish by casually tossing one of the remaining bad guys into the deep blue sea! Neither ol' Jade Jaws or Spidey seems to be too concerned! Looks like the complacent companion piece to this dynamic drawing! Click to enlarge!

Peter Parker Poses in Pensive Posture! Spider-Man?! Marvel Comics?! 1978 Albert Bigley Artwork!

Ah, here is that part-time photographer, problem-plagued Peter Parker, caught daydreaming about his other part-time job, in this 1978 masterwork, drawn by me, at age 13! I was trying to depict a rare quiet moment in the life of the always on-the-move web-slinger, and kinda sorta succeeded! Spidey (seen here tragically caught in my attempt at foreshortening) does look as if he could use some time with the Weight Watchers program, tho!  And, hey, how about that detailed background scene, huh? Click to enlarge!

Here Comes The MONKEEMOBILE! The Monkees' Custom Ride! 1976 Albert Bigley Art!

Ugh. Dig my 1976 drawing of the fabulous custom "muscle car," The Monkeemobile! I was inspired by the then-recent re-issue of the model kit (inexplicably re-purposed as "Fonzie's Dream Rod"--See pic below!) of the famous modified 1966 GTO, but my art skills had a long way to go yet! I tried to capture the sleek curves, the wild exposed engine and blower, and the elongated front and rear fins, but the car ended up looking more like an oddly smashed station wagon! NOT something the Monkees would be seen riding in! Click to enlarge!

Below: The odd re-casting of the Monkeemobile kit it in 1976, into "the Fonz Dream Rod!? FUN FACT: The Monkees' own Micky Dolenz auditioned for the role of "Fonzie" when HAPPY DAYS was first being cast!

1980 Albert Bigley HULK Oil Painting! Original Marvel Comic Art!?

Yikes! This time we dig deep to bring you this 1980 oil painting of ol' Jade Jaws himself, the Incredible Hulk!  I was 15, in 9th grade then, and having already "conquered" tempera and acrylic paint mediums, was ready to tackle the ever-fickle world of oils! How'd I do?  Heh. I recall working on this beauty every day after school for a couple of weeks, fussing and changing this and that. Well, Bob Larkin I wasn't, but at least I tried! Click to enlarge!

MORE "Bigley Tire" Rarities! 1982 Albert Bigley Art and Pics!

You read right! More recently unearthed art, pictures, and ads from the early 80s heyday of Laurinburg's own BIGLEY TIRE! Click below to see more of my comics-styled artwork for ads in the local North Carolina newspaper (my first published work)! Plus: Rare ads spotlighting my dad, Don Bigley, and a young me (age 17) and my work from that period! What more can any Big Glee! fan ask for in this life?! Click here to read earlier posts about the tremendous "Tire Man" and his tireless (heh) mission!

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

Wow. I just had to draw like Neal Adams if it killed me! Almost did. Here is a companion piece to this artwork, both drawn by me around 1976 (age 11)! I was so trying to catch that all-encompassing Neal vibe that dominated comic art then, so I ladled on tons of lines, scrapes, shading, and solid black areas to my figures and faces! But, what I got was a mess. What is Robin's problem, anyway? Is Batman goosing him? Why is Batman so darned happy? Maybe you can provide the answers, Big Glee-phile, so click to enlarge!

1979 Albert Bigley IRON MAN Portrait Painting?! Marvel Comics?!

Yep. Another one of my golden oldies! This time, it's one starring the "Golden Avenger" himself, Iron Man! At this time (1979, at age 14) I was experimenting with paints of all kinds, including oils, acrylics, tempera, and (as seen here), watercolors! I tried to get a real metallic sheen effect on ol' Shellhead's armor, and did OK...I was inspired by the tremendous then-current work of artists John Romita Jr. and Bob Layton, during their memorable run on the IM book for several years in the late 70s, and well into the 80s! Click to enlarge!

1973 Albert Bigley BATMAN and ROBIN Original Artwork! DC Comics?!

Hoo! Another early piece of art created by me, at age 8! Drawn (in red Flair marker?) in 1973, here is my moody version of the Dynamic Duo (in the Batcave?) in thoroughly thoughtful repose, before certainly leaping into mind-bending action! I was existing on a steady diet of afternoon reruns of the 1966 live-action BATMAN ABC-TV show, and you can see its influence in this piece! I sure had a loooooong way to go! And, what's so wrong with making your signature bigger than your subject matter in an illustration? I should bring that back! Click to enlarge!

The Hulk vs The Leader's Humanoid! 1979 Albert Bigley Original Comic Art! Marvel Comics?!

Another blast from my past, trotted out for your entertainment and mirth! Here is my full-color re-interpretation of the classic Silver Age 1964 slug-fest we all recall! That's right, its a hapless Hulk fighting the evil Humanoid robot! As any hardcore Marvel fan can remember, the Leader, that deadly high-hat super-genius, sent his indestructible (even Hulk can't put a dent in them) Humanoids to rob, plunder, and create general mayhem in his name! I was (at age 14 in 1979) digging such adventures on the afternoon MARVEL SUPERHEROES cartoon reruns, and, once the episodes were over, wanted to memorialize each mind-bending scene in my art, in those pre-VCR days! Seems like that summer I did nothing but draw inspiration from mid-60s HULK tales, as you can see here! Click to enlarge!

Below: Steve Ditko's actual depiction of the above scene (he did it a tad better), from a Silver Age TALES TO ASTONISH issue!

1976 Albert Bigley COMIC ACTION HEROES Art?! Joker vs Batman! DC Comics?!

I was such a fan of Neal Adams' art in the 70s, not only as seen in many Marvel (X-MEN, INHUMANS) and DC Comics (BATMAN, GREEN LANTERN), but also as used on tons of superhero products, such as record albums, book covers, puzzles, and toys! One such toy line making big use of Neal's art was the Mego-issued "Comic Action Heroes" offering of small all-plastic action figures. The actual toys left a lot to be desired, but the great Adams art seen on the packaging promised the world! I was so inspired by said illustrations, that here is my own attempt (at age 11) to capture some of that Adams' flare! Hey, I tried! Click to enlarge!

Below: My inspiration for the above masterpiece! The actual 1976 Neal Adams-drawn package art for this Batman action figure playset!

Albert Bigley 1977 IRON MAN # 100 Cover Art?! Jim Starlin? Marvel Comics?!

Hoo Boy! You can sorta tell I was inspired by the well-drawn cover (by Jim Starlin) to 1977's IRON MAN # 100, can't ya? Here, below, is my attempt at re-creating that once-in-a-lifetime (twice?) cover art, and, considering I was 12 that year, I guess it ain't so bad. Note that such a dynamic and simple cover was a rarity in those days, with its lack of captions, word balloons, and general hyperbolic ballyhoo announcing ol' Shellhead's anniversary issue! Nowadays, in a failed attempt to create the same kinda vibe, almost every cover looks like this one, with the same characters preening, posing, and grunting in an endless parade of costumes and muscles that blend into one big mush...Click to enlarge!

Here Comes--TIRE MAN?! 1982 Albert Bigley Original Comic Art!

Are you ready for this one? Here is a hand-drawn (no other kind, then) comic strip featuring my own father as--TIRE MAN! Drawn by me in 11th grade (1982) for a run in the local newspaper (THE LAURINBURG EXCHANGE), here is my tire-shop owner Dad in action! The "Tire-Man" character was something I dreamed up for "Bigley Tire" ads and such, and we even had a portrait (painted by me) of the superhero on the side of my father's tire shop! I was inspired by artist Marie Severin's late-60s work in Marvel's NOT BRAND ECHH spoof comic, which I was collecting then via access (hello, driver's license!) to comic shops and conventions at the time! My "Art 3" teacher, Mr. Glenn, even allowed this particular strip/ad to be part of my end-of-semester art project, and, to speed things up, inked my pencils (mostly during class) on this! Click to enlarge!

1976 Albert Bigley BATMAN AND ROBIN Original Comic Art?! DC Comics?!

Whew. Here is the Dynamic Duo, Batman and Robin, as drawn by me (age 11) in 1976! I was influenced not only by artist New Adams, but specifically his comic illustrations that came with the "Robin Meets Man-Bat" book-and-record set, from the Power Records folks! Neal was, of course, the master of photo-realistic comic art, and you can see I was trying to create that same feel with this anger-drenched image! Why does Robin look like an enraged Ringo Starr, and why is he mad at Batman, even attempting to strike him?! What is Batman yelling about?!  Who cares? It was angst and anger and "in your face" excitement, and all that other nonsense the young comic artist cares about at age 11! Click to enlarge, if you dare!

Above: The original art to 1976's "Robin Meets Man-Bat" book-and-record
comic, for the Power Records folks!

1980 Albert Bigley X-MEN vs HULK Original Comic Art! Marvel Comics?!

Another biggie from me, drawn at age 15 (in 1980)! Hulk vs the still-new "new X-Men," in an blazing (?) action scene! Looks like I used markers, Flair pen, and maybe even brush, on this bumbling, fumbling, attempt! The revived X-MEN book was the hottest thing going at the time (due to it simply being amazingly good), and I wanted to try my hand drawing these well-designed (mostly by artist Dave Cockrum) characters! Click to enlarge!

1977 Albert Bigley BATMAN Epic! "Best Cop in Gotham City?!" DC Comics?!

Another attempt to draw (and write) my own comics, this one from early 1977! You can see that I (age 11) was very influenced by Neal Adams' BATMAN work, but also by my back issue of DETECTIVE COMICS # 428, from 1972, which introduced a new supporting player to the Batman books. That issue introduced a tough cop called "Shotgun Smith," created in the mold of then-current movie cops such as DIRTY HARRY and such. So, I tried to add my OWN law-enforcing thorn-in-the-side for the Caped Crusader in my own tale! I decided to give Batman a dapper, by-the-book kinda policeman, one who wouldn't take so kindly to vigilantes, the way Commissioner Gordon and his crew did!  Also, in the tradition of all the cop shows of the day, my new character needed a very visual accessory, ala IRONSIDE (and his wheelchair) or KOJAK (and his lollypops and bald pate). Alas, only 2 pages were ever produced before I moved on to other things. But, get a load of that great dialog! Batman holds the murder weapon in front of his face and mutters, "probably a .45 caliber?!" That's "the world's greatest detective?!" Click to enlarge!

Below: My inspiration! A page from the aforementioned DETECTIVE COMICS # 428, showcasing the friction between Batman and newcomer "Shotgun Smith!" Art by Bob Brown and Dick Giordano!

1980 Albert Bigley CAPTAIN AMERICA Original Artwork?! Marvel Comics?!

Yup! In this look at another hand-drawn comic book from my past (1980-age 15), here is the watercolor/ink illustration for my own CAPTAIN AMERICA comic book! You can tell I was influenced then by artist Jim Steranko, most specifically his cover to the Marvel CAP index (below, right), hence the many vignettes and oh-so-serious design! I would tape the audio from the afternoon MARVEL SUPERHEROES cartoon reruns, then use that as a "script" for my own comics! This issue was based on the famous mid-60s Stan Lee-penned tale, "The Girl From Cap's Past!" I also completed a full comic featuring the Hulk, as well as another CAP, FANTASTIC FOUR, and others! Whew! Click to enlarge!

The Bifurcated Behemoth Know as--the Bi-Beast?! 1979 Full-Color HULK Artwork by Albert Bigley?! Marvel Comics?!

You read right. The Incredible Hulk once fought an oversized foe who was tagged with the unfortunate title, "Bi-Beast." The idea was that this poor soul sported two heads, and ones that were always at odds, to boot. But, the big bi-headed brute made for some interesting visuals, so here is my own fabulous rendering of the behemoth grabbing his mismatched opponent! I used colored pencils to add a variety of haunting hues to this mini-masterpiece (drawn by me at age 14, in 1979), and had just discovered using straight-edged drawing tools to make nice and smooth lines, so...Yeah. Click to enlarge!

Rare Jack Kirby CAPTAIN AMERICA Pencil Art! Al Bigley Color Art! Marvel Comics!

Help kick off CAPTAIN AMERICA week with this fantastic 80s Jack Kirby sketch of Cap himself! Jack was the co-creator of the good Captain back in the 40s, of course, and had helped revive him in the sensational 60s and (for a short return run) in the 70s, also! To many fans, Kirby's version of Cap is the only version of Cap! BONUS! Take a look to the right, and see my own painted image, based on Kirby's sketch! I used watercolors, inks, and some slight PhotoShop manipulation to make Jack's Cap come alive! Click to enlarge!

A Loving Portrait of Mr. Jim Wilson and--THE HULK?! 1978 Albert Bigley Art?! Marvel Comics!?

Ahh, what's better than a break from the usual mile-high mayhem here on this site, than a nice, quiet, and simple portrait of a young man and his dear friend? Here is a staid and sober pencil drawing done by me, at age 13 (1978), of the ever-Incredible Hulk, in a tender clinch with long-time pal, Jim Wilson. Feel the serious and tranquil vibes emanating from this peaceful, but heavy, scene of brotherhood and sincerity. Jim was then a major supporting player in the HULK comic, one of the few African-American characters, and would later even be revealed to be a relative of Sam Wilson (TheFalcon)! One of the few folks Hulk could call his friend in those turbulent days! Click to enlarge and relax!

Batman! In the Burbs?! 1977 Albert Bigley Art?! DC Comics?!

Hoo boy. Using a technique I had only tried a few times, here is the Dark Knight himself, the Batman, standing triumphantly among the crime-ridden dark streets of the--suburbs of North Carolina?! Yep, I wanted to meld my drawings with some actual photos, such as I had seen on a few comic covers then, using some "real" backgrounds, but in 1977, before the internet and such, all I had were a few issues of WOMAN'S DAY magazine (thanks, Mom!) and the local NC newspaper. So, my Neal Adams-inspired Caped Crusader gets to pose in front of some random houses that were up for sale then. Perhaps I shoulda used SOUTHERN LIVING magazine, instead? Sigh. Click to enlarge.

1977 Albert Bigley SHAZAM! Artwork?! Captain Marvel?! DC Comics?!

Yet another blast from my artistic past! Here is my own drawing of young Billy Batson and his invincible alter-ego, Captain Marvel, as they take off for fabulous new adventures! Drawn by me at age 12, in 1977, I was certainly inspired by Neal Adams' wonderful rendering of the mystical duo, as it appeared in the 1976 DC Calendar, and also on tons of shirts, toys, and merchandise during that period! Click to enlarge!

Not the WORLD'S FINEST COMICS Cover! 1976 Albert Bigley Comic Art?! DC Comics!?

All right. I'm not even gonna comment on this one. I'll leave that to you, faithful follower. Drawn by me at age 11, in 1976, this is sorta based on a 60s WORLD'S FINEST COMICS cover (or maybe a BATMAN comic?), obviously, but--?! Click to enlarge.

Superman and Batman!? 1973 Albert Bigley Art! DC Comics?!

My work again! This time, it's a 1973 Superman and Batman illo I scribbled, at age 8! Dunno why I was hankering to draw the WORLD'S FINEST duo, but here they are, in full gallivantin' glory! Was this another first attempt at a collection of similar superhero drawings? A comic book cover? What exactly is Superman doing? And what's with Batman's legs? Click to enlarge and wonder why!

The History of Ant-Man! Giant Man? Goliath? YellowJacket? 1985 Fred Hembeck Special Feature!

Holy identity crisis! Here's a fun and funny look at the checkered past of Hank Pym, alias the size-(and name) changing Ant-Man! As most hard-core fans know, Hank hasn't had the smoothest of super-hero careers, and super-cartoonist Fred Hembeck chronicles all of his ups and downs (sorry) in this great feature from MARVEL AGE fan magazine! Maybe Ant/Giant Man/Goliath/Yellowjacket will finally get his due in upcoming AVENGERS movies? Click to enlarge!

BONUS! Lest you think I'm exaggerating Hank's severe identity confusion, click below to glare at a 1967 Pym-parodying panel from NOT BRAND ECHH!

Albert Bigley 1977 FANTASTIC FOUR Artwork!? Marvel Comics Calendar?!

Another brain-blistering look at my early work! This time we view some not-so-fabulous FANTASTIC FOUR artwork, drawn by me in 1977, at age 12! Fully cribbed from the then-current 1977 MARVEL MEMORY ALBUM calendar, here is my attempt (using crow-quill pens and nibs) to re-create that good old Jack Kirby/Joe Sinnott magic you see beneath my art, in the image below! How'd I do? Never mind. Just click to enlarge!

Jesus Christ! Original 1976 Albert Bigley Easter Art!

That's right! Here is a 1976 Easter card, drawn by me, at age 11. Man does not live by Batman alone, folks! Happy Easter!

ISIS! Original 1976 Albert Bigley Art! Shazam Cover Art! DC Comics?!

Here we go again with another original drawing from my past! This is the cover (sorta) to SHAZAM! #25, but I re-configured it (at age 11) to become an indelible ISIS cover! The Saturday-morning super-heroine had JUST gotten her own magazine from DC Comics, and I supposed it woulda been more effective to have her make her dramatic debut with THIS cover image! Did it work? YOU be the judge! BONUS: The original comic art (by Kurt Schaffenberger) for the cover in the spotlight! Click images to enlarge!

The Monkees! Drawn by--Jack Kirby?! True! Who Says a Comic Has to Be Good? Not BRAND ECHH!

What?! The same comic artist who breathed life into Captain America, Hulk, Fantastic Four, X-Men and Thor, once drew the pop superstars, the Monkees? True! Dig this pandemonium-producing panel from Marvel's humor mag NOT BRAND ECHH # 3, from the swingin' summer of '67! Not only do the Monkees appear to be touring Thor's Asgardian home, but so do many other luminaries of the era! Bobby Kennedy! Muhammad Ali! Bob Dylan! How many more can YOU name, old timer? A rare glimpse at the "King's" humorous caricature abilities! Click each to enlarge, and remember: Irving Forbush lives!

The X-MEN?! 1980 Albert Bigley Original Comic Art! Wolverine! Cyclops! Marvel?!

Another blast from my art-ridden past! Here is my version of not only the "original" X-Men, but also the (then) new team! Achieved by (what else?) taping two standard drawing sheets together side-by-side, this extra big illustration is jam-packed with such Marvel Comics favorites as the Beast, Cyclops, Angel, Wolverine, Iceman, Storm, and Nightcrawler! You even get TWO great shots of the ever-sexy Professor X! Drawn by me in 1980 (age 15), I was inspired by the super-hot ('cause they were so good) Chris Claremont/John Byrne X-MEN comics, then gaining major attention due to the quality of the book. I was still struggling with anatomy, composition, and inking (all inked by Flair pens bought from the local Eckerd drug store), to the extent that this now looks sorta like a precursor of the over-cooked "Image style" to come in ten years time! Glad I learned that "less is more!" Click to enlarge!

The Monkees?! 1977 Albert Bigley Art! Davy Jones!?

Another 70s attempt (by me, age 12) to depict The Monkees in pencil form! Culled from a then-recent teen magazine article on the group (their popularity re-ignited due to after-school reruns of the show), here is the group in all their psychedelic glory! Dig that KISS-like logo I also provided! One of my early stabs at celebrity caricature (always difficult)...At least the composition is interesting! Sheesh! Click to enlarge!

Star Trek MR. SPOCK 1973 Model Kit Re-Issue! AMT! Aurora! Nimoy!

Yes! Here are pics of my newly-assembled STAR TREK "Mr. Spock" figural model kit! Actually a re-issue of the famous 70s kit from both AMT and Aurora, this iconic kit was re-issued last year, using all the old molding and tooling from the original! A great kit, and one I've never made before (and I've made ALL the Aurora "Monster" kits, the "Superhero" line, and even some APES, SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN kits)! Click all images to enlarge!

As you can see, I chose to greatly customize the base, adding tons of grit and rubble during the priming phase, as well as gradations on the rocky areas, all in an effort to make it seem as "alien" as possible... I also decided to paint the serpent a black/deep red/orange color, emerging from a deep rock pit (pebbles added from model railroad accessories helped) ...

I paid attention to high-gloss areas (Spock's hair, weapons, and boots as well as the serpent), and matte surfaces (base, Spock's pants and shirt, etc...). I hand-drew facial details, as well as Spock's shirt insignia and sleeve piping...

The kit was a lot of fun, but, based on the box art, I painted and detailed the kit to be displayed from Spock's right side, tho you can't see much of his body unless displayed from the opposite side! If I had considered this from the start, I would have turned the figure more to the right before affixing it to the base, or the serpent to the left, depending on how I wanted it displayed...Something you learn only after assembling the kit many times, and seeing how this was my first time with it...