Journey Into Mystery

Thanks for this opportunity to look at side-by-side comparisons of one of the greatest Kirby splash pages. First, I am stating my unequivocal preference for the Vinnie Colletta inked version from the musculature of the characters to the inking and white-out effects in the waves and water. Look at the arms of the uppermost character. Royer did a very nice job inking there but switch back to the Colletta version and the artistic differences are instantly appreciable - and that's just on an unimportant figure. Royers inks are bolder but Colletta's are raw. They have more depth. A note to his detractors - I did notice that Vinnie omitted the head of a character at the bottom of the page between Odin's feet. Surprised that one hasn't been published ad nauseum like the tiny Reed Richards. Bear in mind also that Royer probably had a month to get this page just right. How long do you think it took Colletta to ink it?

Great, great Kirby page.

Totally agree with you, Dan. While I really dislike Vince's inks on practically all of his other Kirby work (FF, New Gods, Forever People) I still think Mr Coletta's inks on Jack's classic Thor run really suited the archaic flavor of that series (despite all his numerous infamous short-cuts & 'deletions'), and I think this recreation shows why that is. Thanks.

… for sore eyes.
That's what Colletta's ugly irritating scratches will forever mean to me.

Thank you Mr Royer (and Tom!) for bringing Kirby's art back from limbo and eternal punishment!