Fantastic Four #152 (Pt 2) Reed and Sue

Let's take a look at this three panel sequence from FF #152. By the way, these are Jim Mooney finishes over Buckler layouts in #152. Marvel thanked Mooney for stepping in and saving "us at the last minute."

During this time Marvel was producing a large number of comics; and Buckler, Sinnott, Sal Buscema and others were working on multiple assignments including 1974's Giant-Size issues! With such a large output, looming deadlines, etc., it's not surprising there were some rush jobs and last minute "rescues"  along the way. 

Top of page 10,  Fantastic Four #152

Panel one is a combo of two panels from FF #43. 

Fantastic Four #152 (1974) Buckler

Fantastic Four #43 (1965) Jack Kirby/inker Vince Colletta

Fantastic Four #43 (1965)

Kirby/inker Colletta

                                              Panel two is modeled after this one from #43.

Fantastic Four #152

Fantastic Four #43

And panel three is based on a panel from--yep, you guessed it-- FF  #43.

Fantastic Four #152

Fantastic Four #43

Fantastic Four #152 (Pt 1) Medusa Musings

Fantastic Four #152 (1974) Rich Buckler / Jim Mooney

Fantastic Four #43 (1965) Jack Kirby / Vince Colletta

Fantastic Four #151 (Pt 10) Mahkizmo and Galactus

Yeah, I know I've posted this before elsewhere--but it's a classic so here it is again!

Fantastic Four #151 (1974) Rich Buckler

Fantastic Four #49 (1966) Jack Kirby

Fantastic Four #151 (Pt 9) Thundra and Lightning--and Crystal

Fantastic Four #151 (1974) Rich Buckler

Fantastic Four #68 (1967) Jack Kirby

Yeah, these look similar mostly due to the Sinnott-inked faces. But there's also the matter of the elongated arms. What do you think? 

Fantastic Four #148 (Pt 12) Sandman Strikes Again

Fantastic Four #148 (1974) Rich Buckler

It's Bastille Day, so here you go! And we've seen this image of Batroc used as a template in another FF issue, remember? 

Tales of Suspense #85 (1967) Jack Kirby

Fantastic Four #151 (Pt 8) Mysterious Medusa

Fantastic Four #151 (1974) Rich Buckler

Fantastic Four #44 (1965) Jack Kirby

Fantastic Four #151 (Pt 7) Medusa on the Move

Fantastic Four #151 (1974) Rich Buckler

Fantastic Four #44 (1965) Jack Kirby

Fantastic Four #151 (Pt 6) Don't Mess with Ben

Fantastic Four #151 (1974) Rich Buckler

Fantastic Four #9 (1962) Jack Kirby

Fantastic Four #151 (Pt 5) Ain't No Mountain High--'Nuff Said!

Fantastic Four #151 (1974) Buckler

Fantastic Four #69 (1967) Kirby

Fantastic Four #151 (Pt 4) Ben Is Bustin' Out All Over

Fantastic Four #151 (1974) Rich Buckler

Fantastic Four #68 (1967) Jack Kirby

Back in 1974, Marvel's Greatest Comics #51, which reprinted FF #68,  was on sale at the same time as Fantastic Four #150--so, about a month prior to FF #151 hitting the stands. I wonder, did readers of both mags connect the dots and notice the source panel?

At any rate, fans seemed to have really enjoyed the art on this mid-70s FF run. The Buckler-Sinnott Kirbyesque art was often lauded in the FF letter columns; and as one letter writer put it in Fantastic Four #164: "It's Rich Buckler's tribute to the style and excellence of the F.F. in their former day of greatness." 

Fantastic Four #151 (Pt 3) Ben and Johnny, Two For the Road

This one's a combo. The trench-coated Ben seems to be adapted from FF #68, while Johnny is from #44.

                                            Ben

Fantastic Four #151 (1974) Rich Buckler

Fantastic Four #68 (1967) Kirby

Johnny

Fantastic Four #151 (1974) Rich Buckler

Fantastic Four #44 (1965) Kirby

Plus, because FF #68 is used above, I feel it's the inspiration for this panel too. 

Fantastic Four #151

Fantastic Four #68

Fantastic Four #151 (Pt 2) The Salesman

The salesman in FF #151 reminded me of the (fake) Dr. Santini in #68.

FF # 151 (1974) Buckler

Fantastic Four #68 (1967) Kirby

Fantastic Four #151 (Pt 1) Ben Tells It Like It Is

Not only will we see this panel from Fantastic Four #9 used again in another issue, but pay attention to the salesman ;) -- does he look familiar? Stay tuned for the next installment!

Fantastic Four #151 (1974) Buckler

Fantastic Four #9 (1962) Kirby

Thor #228 (Pt 2) Galactus-The Eyes Have It

I can't resist posting this iconic image of Galactus by Kirby. It's been adapted by many artists; one version was seen in the opening of the Hanna-Barbera Fantastic Four cartoon. Man did I love that show!  

Here's Buckler's version in  1974's Thor #228.

Fantastic Four #49 (1966) Kirby

Thor #228 (1974) Rich Buckler

Thor #228 (Pt 1) Galactus Surveys the Scene

Before we embark on Fantastic Four #151, let's take a quick look at a different Marvel mag that was published at around the same time in July 1974, namely Thor #228. 

Fantastic Four #49 (1966) Jack Kirby

Thor #228 (1974) Rich Buckler

As is obvious, Buckler used Kirby panels for his Thor work too. I was never much of a Thor reader so I'm not going to post his Thor work--just a couple more--but you can rest assured: this is just the tip of the iceberg.  If you have some spare time, check out Buckler's  stint on Thor #227-230 for yourselves and you'll see what I mean  :)