There’s been a bit of discussion on the web lately of the relative merit of comics from the 1970’s. These folks make some interesting points… and I agree with a lot of what they say. What it comes down to for me, though, is that I headed into the double-digits, age-wise, in my life reading comics in the 1970’s… and they were instantly imprinted on my psyche as wonderful, inspirational and utterly enjoyable. They’re why I’m doing what I’m doing for a living now. My love for the medium was born during that time– and whether there were any ground-breaking, industry-influencing events and/or books to come out of that period or not isn’t really important. They were my entry into an art form that I have loved (some times more, some times less) from that beginning. I’m betting I’m not alone in that feeling, as the sales on the MARVEL ESSENTIALS from that time have been pretty brisk. When I re-read that stuff…. it’s so obviously goofy in places– but that’s not a bad thing. It still makes me feel like that 10-11 year old kid who first bought those comics all those years ago.

And that’s enough for me.

So today’s sketch is of the ‘Blacksploitation’ era LUKE CAGE inspired by this recent wave of discussion (and because I’ve always wanted an excuse to draw him).

OK… have a great weekend, all.

This is Entry 355.

Mike