Dick Ayers (1924-2014)

Dick Ayers and John Tartaglione Sgt. Fury Annual #3 Story Page 6 Original Art (Marvel, 1967). Even as editor Stan Lee was assuming a more liberal political stance in the Marvel books, he still accommodated an occasional touch of Cold War propaganda -- seen here in writer Gary Friedrich's gung-ho take on the Vietnam War: "Them Viet Cong wouldn't stand a chance!" Here is an inventive crossover between Nick Fury's wartime exploits and his then-current adventures in Strange Tales' SF-based "Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." series, taking place in 1967. Ayers recaptures the look of Jim Steranko's newly designed S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-Carrier craft (Panel 3). Hawkish President Lyndon B. Johnson appears (mostly off-camera), along with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Jasper Sitwell and Fury croneys Gabe Jones and Dum-Dum Dugan. Ayers' rock-solid, deep-perspective compositions and his square-jawed interpretation of Fury make the page a classic example of a peak period for Marvel. Tartaglione is a most sympathetic inker, honoring Ayers' pencil-contours by adding the right amounts of black-ink gravity. Autographed at lower margin. Ink over graphite on Bristol board, with an image area of 12.5" x 18.5". Toned, with handling wear and marginal notations, and in Very Good condition. HID09710052018 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved