Black Panther Bonanza! By Buscema, Buscema, and Buckler

First of all, isn't the magnificent, magisterial, glorious, gorgeous, and altogether amazing Chadwick Boseman the perfect Black Panther?  What a performance, and what a film! 

Now as for comics, who's your favorite delineator of the Black Panther? There've been some great work over the years by many excellent artists, but for my money no one drew a more regal, powerful Panther than John Buscema--though others have come mighty close. 

Below, some classic T'Challa art by Big John and disciples.

Top: John Buscema - Avengers #74 (1970)
Bottom: Sal Buscema - Avengers #78 (1970)
Inker on both: Tom Palmer

Top: John Buscema - Avengers #56 (1968)
Bottom: Rich Buckler - Avengers #106 (1972)

Classic Goliath Pose--Clint Barton Style! By Colan and Sal Buscema

1969--Avengers #63 by Genial Gene Colan                      and Avengers #68 by Our Pal Sal Buscema      

Standard strongman shot.      

Captain America--Standing Tall and Proud!

Cap speaks no evil...

July 1967:  Tales of Suspense #91/Captain America  - Gil Kane

...sees no evil...

Nov. 1968: Captain America #107 - Jack Kirby

...and hears no evil 😉

June 1973: Captain America #162 - Jim Starlin

Bonus!

Nov. 1972: Captain America #155 - Sal Buscema

Now for a slightly off-kilter stance

Nov. 1977: Captain America #215 - Gil Kane once again

This looks a bit painful😨

Dec. 1964: Tales of Suspense #60/Captain America - Jack Kirby

Buscema Busses!

♥ Valentine's Day is coming up, so here's some Buscema goodness ♥

The panels in context:

1971: Avengers #84     by Big John Buscema

  1973: Defenders #4      by Our Pal Sal Buscema

Avengers: Ages of Ultron

 Hey, even Panelocity's not immune from the hype ;)

Look on these works, ye Mighty...
Visages of Ultron by John Buscema, Barry Windsor-Smith, Sal Buscema, Rich Buckler

Giant-Size Avengers #1 (Pt 28) Scarlet Witch, Bothered and Bewildered

(l) 1974  Giant-Size Avengers #1 - Buckler
(r) 1971  Avengers #86 - Sal Buscema

Mad Maximus by Our Pal Sal and Pepe Larraz

You know, I always get a kick out of Maximus so I couldn't resist posting these: a panel from the very recent Inhuman #7, plus Sal Buscema's Max from a Bronze Age gem, Avengers #127. Not a swipe, but a nice use of reference IMO.

Inhuman 7 (2014) Pepe Larraz

Avengers 127 (1974)
Sal Buscema 

Captain America #176 - Let's Rap With Cap

Today's Election Day in the USA, so let's take a look at the star-spangled Avenger himself--courtesy of the Buscema brothers!  Here's Sal Buscema, Steve Englehart and colorist Linda Lessmann's tribute to Big John, Roy Thomas and John Donne. ;)

Avengers #56 (1968) John Buscema

Captain America #176 (1974) Sal Buscema

Giant-Size Avengers #1 (Pt 1) Opening Splash

Sure, on the face of it this is a fairly standard superteam group shot. But there was something awfully familiar about the characters' positions, especially Cap's dramatic pointing finger and Iron Man's very awkward crouch.  And then--it hit me!

Giant-Size Avengers #1 (1974) Rich Buckler

Fantastic Four #82 (1969) Jack Kirby

                                             

Panelocity Plus! GSA #1's Cap figure also seems based in part on Sal Buscema's dynamic, Kirbyesque Cap on the cover of Avengers #71 (1969). 

Roy Thomas wrote GSAvengers1 and Avengers 71--as if you didn't know already know that, since both issues spotlight some legendary Timely Golden Age characters...you know 'em as the All-Winners Squad/Invaders.  ;)  

And I'm sure all you True Believers noticed and appreciated Buckler's fine recreation of the very famous All Winners Comics #19 cover (as the Whizzer relates his days with that fabled team).