As my deadline looms, more paintings have been completed & the volume of work has lessened. It feels more manageable now. Getting closer.....

What do we have from the collection today? Well, since a certain movie killed it at the box office over the weekend, let's go with something with a friendly neighbourhood kind of vibe. Published in 1975, this edition reprints stories from Spider-Man 6, 35 and Annual 1.

Tales to Astonish becomes The Incredible Hulk. For the first time since 1963, the Hulk has his own title. Even though the original run didn't last, it's fortunate that Marvel saw the potential in the character and continued to feature him leading up to the expansion of 1968.

One of my all-time favorite FF covers. I saw this in a comic shop around 1983-84. I didn't get that copy, but tracked down one soon enough. The interior story did not disappoint, what a battle. The team won by the skin of their teeth. I added this one back to the collection about a year ago.

From the collection: Lots of guest stars in this issue. Little did the fans know that Jack Kirby was nearing the end of his amazing run on the title and with Marvel.

From the collection: I got this one at con dirt cheap, just love the Sal Buscema cover. Reprints the Hulk story from Tales to Astonish 69 and the Sub-Mariner story from issue 77.

From the collection: I am and always will be a sucker for squarebound books. It's always a treat to find them in high grade, and MCIC was such a great series and a fantastic way for Marvel to draw in new readers who may have missed the original printings.

From the collection: The Cimmerian Warrior meets Belit, in her 1st full appearance in the title. And by Crom, what a cover! I stumbled across this at a convention when I was flipping through a sellers' books. I don't collect Conan, but knowing the significance of the issue, I grabbed it.

From the collection: Did you ever wonder how MODOK wound up being so handsome, with his massive head and little baby limbs? This issue answers all your questions! Action and intrigue await you....

From the collection: The Hulk takes on the muck encrusted menace of the Glob! I first read this titanic tale in Marvel Treasury Edition 17 at the tender age of 8. I couldn't believe that something out there might be stronger than the Hulk, but ol' Globby was hanging with him.

From the collection: A great cover and issue from John Byrne's brief run on the title. Cap has his hands full with Dragon Man! Talk about punching above your weight class...

From the collection: Are you ready to feel the might of Gorgolla? Get ready! Reprints Strange Tales 74.

I took a week long oil painting workshop around 10 years ago where we were tasked with doing a master study. Original is on the left. I picked this Bouguereau piece to do. It didn't get completed but I made a pretty good dent in it. It'll stay unfinished since I don't paint with oils anymore.

From the collection; The Hulk has found himself in the Savage Land and now must contend with Ka-Zar and his somewhat unfriendly fanged kitty, Zabu. Jungle adventures await!

Is it any wonder why people hate politicians? ca.yahoo.com/news/ontario...

Ontario MPP charged riding association for restaurants, hotels and limo rental

Detailed disclosures from Stan Cho's constituency office show, between 2023 and 2026, the MPP billed the office for pricey dinners, airline tickets and hotel stay.

ca.yahoo.com

From the collection for this lovely Sunday; The Hulk battles the Missing Link, high above the streets of NYC. Has the Hulk met his match? Only one way to find out!

From the collection: Captain Marvel takes on one of my favorite baddies, the Super Skrull. Poor SS got used as cannon fodder as the years went on, losing a lot of his aura. He was redeemed in the 2-issue arc of Alpha Flight 9 & 10, where John Byrne wrote him as a merciless killer.

From the collection; Werewolf by Day had a prior committment, so Werewolf by Night was tagged in to take on the Transylvanian troublemaker, Dracula!

From the collection; The FF battle the Nega-Man, who wants to rule the Negative Zone as well as the earth. From the looks of the cover, it's not going so well. And to top that, the Thing's mental state continues to decline as a result of his new ability to change back and forth from Ben Grimm.

From the vault: One of my favorite Bronze Age covers and a tremendous issue to boot. John Buscema was on fire as the new artist with the FF, and he did the group proud on his run. The Thing can now change back & forth at will, but is there a sinister price to be paid for this newfound freedom?

From the collection: Always loved this cover, and with Big John Buscema handing the art chores, how could you not like this book? 2nd appearance of Man-Thing. A very tough book to find in 9.2 or better.

Not to jinx myself, but last night I crossed the halfway mark of my current art project. Deadlines give zero shits, so back at it today.

One of my favorite 70's monster covers. It was also the last issue of the series. Reprints Tales to Atonish 31, which I also own.

It is with regret that I have to cancel my appearance at Terrificon in August. Professional commitments are the larger culprit, but some other factors have pushed me to the point of having to bow out. I'm extremely disappointed, but it's the way it goes sometimes.