Dick Ayers (1924-2014)

Dick Ayers and John Tartaglione Sgt. Fury Annual #3 Story Page 12 Original Art (Marvel, 1967). Nick Fury was a favorite of co-originator Stan Lee, who kept the grizzled Army Ranger in play from WWII flashbacks into modern times -- from Sergeant, to C.I.A. man, to super-espionage agent. One of Marvel's most ambitious crossover events of the 1960s synchronized the "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." series (in Strange Tales) with this third Sgt. Fury Annual. Here is a 1967 reunion of Fury's Howling Commandos unit -- summoned by President Lyndon B. Johnson for a dangerous assignment in Vietnam. (Ayers captures a grim likeness of LBJ.) While Pop Art upstart Jim Steranko was bringing a radical new look to the "S.H.I.E.L.D." stories in Strange Tales, Ayers rose to the challenge with this dovetailing tale. The present scenario fits in with Strange Tales #158-159. Ayers duplicates the streamlined immensity of Steranko's design for the S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-Carrier (Panel 5). Also pictured are such Fury allies Jasper Sitwell, Gabe Jones, and Dum-Dum Dugan. Ayers' square-jawed depiction of Fury defines a peak period for Marvel's most ambitious and experimental phase of development. Tartaglione, a most sympathetic inker, matches Ayers' expressive pencil-contours with eye-catching 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 notes, and in Very Good condition. HID09710052018 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved