Slurpee Cup art Identification

[METAROG]

A few comic collectors and myself have been trying to identify the art for the 1975 and 1977 Marvel Slurpee cups for a few months now and we have found about 90% of them. There are about a dozen which we either don't have the comics for or we just flat out don't have any idea about. Some are really easy to find as they are famous covers but others come from obscure interior pages, promo art and unpublished covers.

Since the folks on the Board are the best at identifying covers and art styles I hope you guys can help me figure some of these out. I will give as much info on each as I can. I will post a new one up every few days. Thanks for any help you can give and when the list is finished I will post it up here,

First up is the 1975 Red Sonja Cup. It looks like it may be from one of her early Conan appearances or possibly promo art. Good Luck!

http://www2.freepichosting.com/Images/421571392/13.jpg

[Red Oak Kid]

The Red Sonja looks familiar. I'm pretty sure it is by John Buscema. So I would start looking for Buscema Conan stories featuring Red.

I just had a thought. Was there ever a RJ/Howard the Duck team-up? It might be from that.

[Lone Ranger]

I can't really make out the face, which is often how I can spot an artists.

I do believe that John Romita Sr. was doing a lot of the Marvel merchandising art back then.

I get the feeling that art/pose was used in one of those subscription ads you used to see in comics.

[Cei-U!]

There was a John Buscema/Joe Sinnott poster of all the Marvel characters available around the time of the Slurpee promotion. Might it be from that? Alternately, it could be from the Buscema/Giordano Sonja story in Marvel Feature, the second series. Or it could've been commissioned specifically for the cup.

Cei-U!
I summon the suggestions!

[METAROG]

Thanks for trying to help guys. I also think this is Buscema and possibly from Conan #43 or 44. Marvel Feature started late in 1975 so I think it unlikely that its from there. However, it could be some promo art as LR suggests. If anyone has those Conan issues please take a look to see. Good Luck.

[Red Oak Kid]

I just checked, and it is not from Conan 43. I don't have 44.

I was searching Red just before the GCD went "Phffft" and I believe it said there was a Buscema Red Sonja story in Savage Sword of Conan #1 with inks by Pablo Marcos. If someone has this issue please check it out.

The more I look at that pose, the more I think it is from one of her earliest appearances and she is standing on a stairway.

Update: Ok the GCD is back and it says the RJ story from SSOC 1 was reprinted in Conan 78.

[Chris CCL]

I found this on eBay for you, maybe it'll help:

'74 7-11 Marvel Slurpee Cup Checklist VF/NM (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1443&item=2292831199&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

Chris CCL

[METAROG]

ROK did it! The Red Sonja is indeed from Savage Sword #1. I never thought to check Conan #78 since it was from 1977. I knew that you guys would figure this out! The art shows RS with her foot on top of some uncounscious goon. Thanks again ROK. I will post the next cup later.

[METAROG]

Okay here is the next cup up for identification. This could be Buscema art from SS #1-18 or from Thor #193. Anybody have these issues? After this one I think only one or two 1975 cups are left and then I will post up the whole list.

http://www.free-pictures-hosting.com/09122004/133.jpg

[Red Oak Kid]

Silver Surfer will be harder to ID because there are so many more SS appearances, compared to Red Sonja.

I wish we could get a higher resolution scan of this one in order to ID the inker. Knowing who the inker was might narrow things down a bit.

I no longer have any issues of the original SS book, but I think some of them were reprinted in the late 70s early 80s.

[Red Oak Kid]

I believe the entire run of Silver Surfer was reprinted in Fantasy Masterpieces, Vol. 2.

I noticed that the art in question was used on the covers of FM beginning with this issue:

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/2508/400/2508_4_009.jpg

So if anyone with the original SS run or the FM run could check, we could probably nail this down.

[METAROG]

Good eye ROK, I never noticed this was used in the logo area. Does someone out there have this reprint series? Like ROK says this must be from somewhere in this run. I will post up the next cup tomorrow.

[METAROG]

Well lets keep that SS cup in mind but I wanted to post this next cup up tonight. I don't have much to add to this art since I only have 3 Kull comics. Any ideas guys? Sorry for the crummy scan but I will see if I have a better one somewhere.


http://www2.freepichosting.com/Images/421571392/19.jpg

[Red Oak Kid]

Well, I have Kull the Conqueror vol. 1, 8 and 10 and it is not from them. This is definitely by the Severins so after searching GCD I think it would have to be from their 9 issue run on Kull the Conqueror(ish 10 was inked by Frank Chiaramonte). Issues 1 and 2 were reprinted in the magazine Kull and the Barbarians #1.

I found two more issue of Fantasy Masterpieces with Silver Surfer. The SS cup art is not from SS/FM 7,11, and 14.

[METAROG]

Thanks again for you help ROC so you think this is from the first 9 issues of Kull? That would narrow it down quite a bit. Does he wear that crown thingy and those robes in any issue you have? I don't recall Kull wearing so much clothing or am I thinking of Conan. Does anybody have these Kull issues?

[Red Oak Kid]

Thanks again for you help ROC so you think this is from the first 9 issues of Kull? Does he wear that crown thingy and those robes in any issue you have? Does anybody have these Kull issues?

I bought several of the early issues of Kull when it first came out. He was already a king from the beginning of the comic series. He was always sitting on a throne either at the beginning or end of most stories. And he always had that crown on, even when he was out fighting monsters. And as far as I know the Severins only drew Kull in those 10 issues of Kull the Conqueror in the early 70s.

[Cherokee Jack]

And as far as I know the Severins only drew Kull in those 10 issues of Kull the Conqueror in the early 70s.

Hey, I hate to pick nits, but out of those ten issues, the Severins only drew nine. # 1 was by Ross Andru and Wally Wood (if my memory is correct.)

[Red Oak Kid]

Hey, I hate to pick nits, but out of those ten issues, the Severins only drew nine. # 1 was by Ross Andru and Wally Wood (if my memory is correct.)

You're right. I misread the GCD on this title.

So that means we only need to look at 7 issues: 2,3,4,5,6,7,and 9.

So dig out those long boxes and let's solve this for the Gipper!

Update: There was also a Severin drawn Kull story in Monsters on the Prowl 16.

Also, I have a vague memory that John Severin may have done a limited edition portfolio of Kull drawings in the mid 70s.

[METAROG]

Here is the last 1975 cup that needs to be identified (I think). I have the whole Doc Savage series from the 70's and MTIO #21. I think the only other appearances he made in Marvel where in GS Spider-Man #3 and GS Doc Savage #1 which was all reprints I think. Maybe this was one of those pin-ups in the GS Doc Savage.


http://img153.exs.cx/img153/7676/savagecup4hy.jpg

Thanks again to ROK for essentially find the Red Sonja and narrowing down the SS and Kull. After this cup will come the missing 1977 cups. This is a tougher challenge than even I thought when I took up the project.

[METAROG]

I have gotten some info on the Silver Surfer cup... apparently it is from Silver Surfer #4 (1st series) towards the end of the end of the comic. Anybody have that issue to confirm this? Thanks!

[General Loomis]

I have a bunch of those cups. I think I still have 'em :confused:

I haven't gotten a good look at Red Sonja, but is it possible that it's by Frank Thorne? That was his gig for a while.

[METAROG]

Thanks to ROK we did figure out the Red Sonya as an interior page of Savage Sword of Conan #1 by Buscema. However the others are still yet to be identified. The Silver Surfer was a false alarm and it is apparently not from Silver Surfer #4. Any body have any ideas? Thanks General Loomis. BTW I also don't know where the Iron Fist cup is from so I will post that up later.

[METAROG]

Update! The SS cup is from SS#4 page 6. The Doc Savage is apparently a pin-up in GS Doc Savage #1. The only 1975 cup left to identify is the King Kull cup. Here is the image again.

http://img14.imgspot.com/?u=05/60/08/kULLCUP78465.jpg

ROK already did some research and this may be from somewhere in Kull 2-7 or 9. If anybody has these issues please look them up and see if this image is in there. Once this one is found I will post the checklist for all the 1975 cups and start on the missing 1977 cups. Thanks.

[Sean Dulaney]

ROK did it! The Red Sonja is indeed from Savage Sword #1. I never thought to check Conan #78 since it was from 1977. I knew that you guys would figure this out! The art shows RS with her foot on top of some uncounscious goon. Thanks again ROK. I will post the next cup later.

Looking through some old books, I noticed that the same art was used for the original Red Sonja T-shirt.

[METAROG]

Looking through some old books, I noticed that the same art was used for the original Red Sonja T-shirt.

Yes, a lot of the art on the slurpee cups and Marvel Value Stamps were used for T-Shirts, Posters, Toys, etc. Especially Spider-Man, Captain America and Hulk. Marvel recycled lots of art back in the 60's and 70's.

[Cherokee Jack]

Thanks again for you help ROC so you think this is from the first 9 issues of Kull? That would narrow it down quite a bit. Does he wear that crown thingy and those robes in any issue you have? I don't recall Kull wearing so much clothing or am I thinking of Conan. Does anybody have these Kull issues?

As mentioned on another thread, I checked issues 2-5, 7 and 8, with no luck.

[InfoBroker]

I have the entire set of Kulls, both Conqueror and Destroyer, and the B&W magazines. But I don't have access to them at the present time. Sorry.

Besides Monsters, Kull also appeared in Conan #10, but I don't think this face is from there. He was riding a horse the entire time. It is Marie and Johns work though and a very nice visualization of the REH poem.

It might also be possible that Marie did this illustration especially for the cups. She was working on the production side of things at the time.


- jb the ponderin' ib :cool:

[METAROG]

Another collector talked to Paty Cockrum and she also thinks this is Marie Severin. Good call JB. Did she do any art on Kull? I really want to find this last one. Thanks for all the help guys.

[Cherokee Jack]

I bought KULL # 6 this weekend, and the image isn't from that issue, either.

[METAROG]

Okay, I thought I would get this thread active again seeing as there are only 6 cups that have yet been found and the guys on this Board are the best at IDing covers, artists, etc. I will post pics of all of them here along with what I know and we'll see what happens. ROK already helped find the Red Sonja. Thanks again. Here are the rest:

http://usera.imagecave.com/metarog/hulkarmscup.JPG

Just the Hulk image is needed. This was used in an ad for the TV show in June 1978 Marvel comics but since the cup is from 1975 the original must be before then. Any idea on the artist? I have looked at Incredible Hulks back to the Severin era to no avail. Any clue as to where this could be from?

The rest of the cups are from 1977... here is a Conan. The figures around Conan include some serpentine looking thing (Dragon) a Skull figure (Thulsa Doom?), a leopard, some structures and some other funky formations. Based on this I have the following thoughts...

1. Check Conan the Barbarian numbers 48, 50, 57, and 59 as they all have some elements from above.
2. Check Savage Sword of Conan before 1977.
3. Check any pin-ups in either series.
4. Look at what Conan is wearing and his shield... this may narrow it down to a certain story arc and/or series.
Remember all the art has to be sometime before end of year 1977.

http://usera.imagecave.com/metarog/Conancup.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/metarog/Conan_Skull.jpg

Next up is the Iron Fist 1977 cup. I have checked all his comic book appearances before 1977. This is probably from one of his appearances in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu magazine. Anybody have any?

http://usera.imagecave.com/metarog/711ironfist1.jpg

Is it against the rules to give out prizes for anyone that helps ID any of these? I have some Silver and Bronze agers that I would be happy to send out to anybody who helps out with these. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. This has been a project for the past several years.

More scans in the next post...

[METAROG]

Next up is the 1977 Black Panther cup. I have checked just about all his appearances from 1972 to 1977 to no avail. I am not too sure about the artist either. Maybe Byrne?

http://usera.imagecave.com/metarog/TChalla.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/metarog/TChalla_1.jpg

The next cup is the Black Widow from 1977. I have checked almost all her appearances in Spider-Man, Daredevil, Champions, Avengers, MTU, MTIO, and most Amazing Adventures as well. Her early TOS and early Avengers appearances had her old costume. Any ideas?

http://usera.imagecave.com/metarog/711bwidow2.jpg

Here is the last cup that has yet to be IDed... it is the 1977 Dracula cup. This one should be fairly easy if you have the TOD run. It is definitely Gene Colan although the Dracula face is very detailed. There is also a possibility this could be from the Dracula Lives! Magazine series though I doubt it. Don't forget the Giant-Size issues of Dracula and Chillers as well. In the text of the cup Drac states that he has "no thirst for the hunt tonight" and starts writing about some of his past experiences. I thought this could be from TOD #15 but it is not.


http://usera.imagecave.com/metarog/draccup1.jpg

[InfoBroker]

Hey Metarog!

Re: The Black Panther cup.

Frank Giacoia did an issues of the Avengers that focused on retelling the origin of the Black Panther. It's issue #87 from 1971 ayear before your serach window.

The bulk of the story is a lift from Fantastic Four #53, and even some of the art is a direct swipe of Jack's poses. I'd take a peak, but my copy is in storage.

The Kull Cup

So what was the source for that cup? Did I miss ROK's append, or did he PM you?

-jb the (BP artwork has hints of Sal's inking to me) ib-

[METAROG]

Hey IB, I looked in my Avengers #87 but it's not from there. I don't have his FF apearances so if you could look those up I would really appreciate it.

The Kull cup is apparently from a one of two Kull Portfolios that Severin did back in the mid-seventies. I haven't actually seen it but it comes from a reliable source.

Thanks again for your help.

P.S. pm me your want list.

[InfoBroker]

No, it is definitely not Kirby, not even close.

I'd be checking my Jungle Action comics and the Panther's Rage if I had access to them.

Maybe Howyadoin' can shed some light here...

re: the Black Widow cup:

This sure looks like something from 1972-73 or thereabouts.

The widow pose has lots of Gene Colan traits, while the thug being slugged looks like a Rick Buckler construct. The Widow might be Rich pose swiping Gene. or perhaps Rich did some finish work from Gene's breakdowns or something. I know you mentioned checking the DDs that had BW appearances, but this really looks like some from a DD comic in that run. Especially issue #100.

-jb the totally speculating ib-

[Red Oak Kid]

The Black Panther looks like Sal Buscema to me, with a heavy Marvel inker like Giacoia.

[dr_cyclops]

Next up is the 1977 Black Panther cup. I have checked just about all his appearances from 1972 to 1977 to no avail. I am not too sure about the artist either. Maybe Byrne?
The art really looks like Byrne to me. The way the art wraps around the cup gives me the impression it may have been drawn for the cup. I don't recall the DC Slurpee cups using any original art, but for some reason, I remember some Marvel Slurpee cups with art I believed (at that time) was original. :)

[The Wayner]

I have no idea concerning the BP cup, save to say that I really want to get my hands on that bit of memorabilia! That looks pretty darned nifty.

[InfoBroker]

John Byrne did do a cover for Jungle Action, but the more I look at it, the more I'm favoring Billy Graham for the Black Panther cup.

-jb the second guessing ib-

[METAROG]

I checked DD #99 and 100 again but no dice. I also checked 101 since Buckler penciled it but the inking is very different.

Thanks to all you guys who have given this some thought. Just to show how tough this can be-the Black Panther image has 3 different artists guesses by some real knowledgeable poeple.

I will recheck my Avengers in the 80's for ROK and the JA for IB.

Any chance this could be from FF 119? I don't have that issue... can somebody check?

[Red Oak Kid]

Thanks to all you guys who have given this some thought. Just to show how tough this can be-the Black Panther image has 3 different artists guesses by some real knowledgeable poeple.

I will recheck my Avengers in the 80's for ROK and the JA for IB.



Aww hell, don't go by me. These are really tough to id. Now i'm leaning toward Billy Graham as the artist on BP.

I can easily see where the thug on the Black Widow cup could be by Buckler. But the Widow herself looks like an entirely different style. I can recognize Buckler's males, but he really doesn't have a distinct way of drawing females.

[telerites]

Is it possible for the Black Panther to be Buckler? I checked Jungle Action #7 with art by Buckler and Janson and the Panther seemed pretty close to me but that image is not in #7. In front me I also have #5 by John Buscema and #s 15, 17, 18 and 19 (all by Graham) so I'll give those a quick look.

[telerites]

OK - Checked Jungle Actions #5,7,15,17,18, 19 with no luck for the BP.

[METAROG]

Thanks Telerites, I just checked the entire "Panther's Rage" storyline but no luck. I agree that Buckler is similiar but none of his JA's have that image either.

BTW, anybody have some "Deadly Hands of Kung Fu" with Iron Fist stories? I have all his appearances except for those so I am pretty sure that cup art is in there.

[InfoBroker]

I'll throw one more thought out for consideration on these cups. It's quite possible that they are composite work. A main pose, or a set of poses may have been the starting point, and then the backrounds, or incidental characters may have been added and arranged to fit the dimensions of the cups.

The Conan cup in particular got me thinking this way. While the poses, the line quality, the use of light and shadow are strongly John Buscema's styles and sensibilities, the overall compostion is very clumsy and not in tune with John's excellent design skill. Especially the way Conan floats over the environment, and the clumsy placement of the the character on horseback beneath and between Conan's legs.

It would also explain the dicotomi between the Widow and thug. The BW pose might be John Buscema's or Gene Colan's, and Rich came into to add the thug and stretch the composition horizonally.

So it might pay to just look for the poses, not the entire compositions.

-jb the ib-

[dr_cyclops]

My brother was over tonight and I showed him the Black Panther cup images. he says no on Byrne. He says the hands and feet look more like Buscema, John or Sal. :)

[Red Oak Kid]

I'll throw one more thought out for consideration on these cups. It's quite possible that they are composite work. A main pose, or a set of poses may have been the starting point, and then the backrounds, or incidental characters may have been added and arranged to fit the dimensions of the cups.

The Conan cup in particular got me thinking this way. While the poses, the line quality, the use of light and shadow are strongly John Buscema's styles and sensibilities, the overall compostion is very clumsy and not in tune with John's excellent design skill. Especially the way Conan floats over the environment, and the clumsy placement of the the character on horseback beneath and between Conan's legs.

It would also explain the dicotomi between the Widow and thug. The BW pose might be John Buscema's or Gene Colan's, and Rich came into to add the thug and stretch the composition horizonally.

So it might pay to just look for the poses, not the entire compositions.

-jb the ib-

I agree with this idea. I think the first set used stock poses that Marvel had already been using for it's own ads and other stuff. This left a lot of blank area on the cups.

So for the second set, the customer probably asked that they supply art that wrapped completely around the cup.

The Conan is definitely a collage of Buscema drawings.

I don't know if Buckler would have been used just to draw one thug. It could have been someone like Ed Hannigan who had a similar style. I'd like to get a closer look at the Widow. It almost looks like Bill Everett inks, but that could just be the result of a fuzzy scan. Didn't Everett ink Colan on those Amazing Adventures Widow stories?

Thanks to Doc Cyclops' brother for seeing the Buscema influence on the BP figure.

[METAROG]

What IB and ROK are saying may be true. There is a 1977 Avenges cup which has images from 3 or 4 different issues. Another thing to look for is that sometimes the images are flipped, cropped, mirrored or slightly altered.

I have asked another guy who has helped on this project and has most of the cups to send me a nice scan of the Black Widow so I will post that up when I get it.

Good discussion guys... sooner or later one of these will be found.

[Cherokee Jack]

I'd like to get a closer look at the Widow. It almost looks like Bill Everett inks, but that could just be the result of a fuzzy scan. Didn't Everett ink Colan on those Amazing Adventures Widow stories?

.


He did at least one issue, and it's reprinted in a Marvel Treasury Edition that features Christmas stories.

And this is for another thread altogether, but I think Everett was the best inker ever on Colan.

[Red Oak Kid]

I just remembered I have some of those Amazing Adventures issues(DUH!) and I checked them out. No luck.

I was right about Colan/Everett. Also Don Heck did some of these Widow stories. One was even inked by Everett. But I didn't find the pose in question.

[METAROG]

Well, I checked Avengers 69-87 and no Black Panther cup image in those. I don't have any Avengers before 69 so it could still be in one of those.

[METAROG]

Good news... Roquefort Raider found the art for the KULL cup in Savage Sword of Conan #1! So that one can be knocked off the list. I will post a pic once I get his consent.

The Black Widow, Black Panther, Iron Fist, Hulk and Dracula cups are still unidentified. Anybody else have any ideas on those?

[METAROG]

Okay, here is that long looked for Kull image that RR found. Thanks again for your help!

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=27457&d=1152054491

[Roquefort Raider]

The Black Widow, Black Panther, Iron Fist, Hulk and Dracula cups are still unidentified. Anybody else have any ideas on those?

I'm pretty sure that Dracula is from tomb of Dracula #30: I remember Drac writing his journal with a feathered quill. I'll check it out tonight.


Edit: Yep, there it is.

It's a funny coincidence, because I hadn't read a single issue of Dracula in years and happened to leaf through that one earlier this week.

[Roquefort Raider]

The Conan image comes from a pin-up first published in Savage sword of Conan #15, and reprinted (in color) in Marvel Treasury edition #23. As the latter was published in 78, I suppose the first one is the actual source.

[METAROG]

Wow, you are amazing RR... lots of very knowledgable collectors have been looking for these images for quite awhile and you found three in a day or so. Many thanks again!:eek:

[Roquefort Raider]

Luck, just luck.

So, how many of these slurpee cups are there?

[METAROG]

Luck, just luck.

So, how many of these slurpee cups are there?

There are two series of cups... one from 1975 with 61 cups and one from 1977/78 with 57 cups( I believe). Thanks to you we are down to 4 cups that need IDing.

I am posting up the Black Widow again with a lttle more of her left side showing just in case someone can recoginize it. She only had a limited amount of appearances in this costume up to 1977 and we have checked out all her known appearances so this one is very frustrating.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v89/metarog/Bwidow2.jpg

[Batroc]

Batroc the Leaper, here, normally from the Alvaro Boards. I am also a silient collaborator on the Slurpee Project. Congrats on finding Kull, Conan, and Dracula. Someone is a real Barbarian or monster......;)

I did want everyone to know that I changed my mind on the 1975 Human Torch logo (the one used in most of his Marvel Team-Up and FF cover logos of the 1970's), an ebayer gave information that it appeared in Mighty World of Marvel #1, UK (1972) as a premium. If you clipped some coupons, you got the poster. This was the same poster you could get in the states around 1974 if you subscribed to 5 or so Marvel Mags. The image on the stateside comic ad was so small, I couldn't ID it. Anyway, the poster has the FF, Spidey, and the Hulk coming at you. It looks like John Buscema work,,, but it is not the John Buscema someone mentioned as a poster for a later Marvel Comic Convention.

If my memory is correct, we still need to ID Black Panther (1977), Black Widow (1977), and the Hulk (1977) walking/stomping with jets in the background, and the Hulk (1975) about to jump with arms aerodynamically back. I am very impressed with the comic knowledge here, but, it ain't called COMIC BOOK [B]RESOURCES[B] for nothing!

Repectfully,
Batroc the Leaper

[METAROG]

Welcome, Lex! Batroc is the one who got me started on this project a few years back and he has found the majority of them I believe. The people on this board are just incredible in their comic knowledge. Some are able to ID covers from little bitty images that I am still amazed by.

Post up the Hulk with Jets pic when you have a chance as I thought you had found that in a Marvel Treasury. We still need the Iron Fist too and I only need to check out Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #28 to cover all his appearances prior to 1977. Good to have you stop by.

[METAROG]

[QUOTE=METAROG]Okay, I thought I would get this thread active again seeing as there are only 6 cups that have yet been found and the guys on this Board are the best at IDing covers, artists, etc. I will post pics of all of them here along with what I know and we'll see what happens. ROK already helped find the Red Sonja. Thanks again. Here are the rest:

http://usera.imagecave.com/metarog/hulkarmscup.JPG

QUOTE]

I found the Hulk art on the cover of Mighty World of Marvel (UK) #19. Anybody know if Black Panther, Black Widow or Iron Fist were featured on any UK comics prior to 1977? Those are the only ones left to ID.

Attached is a copy of the cover.

[METAROG]

Okay I am going to give this one last try. Everyone was so helpful last time and it has been a year and a half since I put these up so let's see if we can knock off these last three! I also have better scans and different angles to see if that helps any.As stated previously I'd love to send some comics that interest you for your help in figuring these out. I have from most all genres, ages and publishers. Here are the last three toughies:

http://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/1977BlackPanther1.jpghttp://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/1977BlackPanther2.jpg

To recap some of the theories and possiblities-Buscema, Byrne, Graham and Buckler have all been mentioned. The figure seems very posed to me like it may have been for a poster, promo or something similar. It looks like bronze-age art to me but except for his FF 119 appearance and the 1970 Ka-Zar 1- all have been checked. If anybody knows of any pin-ups or promo art from the 70's that might be a possibility. Did he have any covers in British Marvels like Mighty World of Marvel? Any theories no matter how wild are appreciated.

[METAROG]

Here is the Black Widow cup...

http://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/1977Blackwidow1.jpghttp://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/1977Blackwidow2.jpg

For this art Colan, Buckler and Buscema have been mentioned. I must say that have next to no clue about this one. I am pretty sure I checked all her appearances in this costume previous to 1978 but nothing has come close. Didn't she have an aborted series that Colan was drawing? As always any help is appreciated.

[JKCarrier]

That Black Widow looks like Kerry Gammil's work to me. I think it's very possible that this one and the Black Panther were new art drawn especially for the cups. Notice how each is a complete scene (with background) that perfectly fits the horizontal format.

[METAROG]

Okay last one-Iron Fist

http://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/1977ironfist1.jpghttp://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/1977IF2.JPG

This one is especially frustrating to me because this is one of my favorite characters and I have every single one of his appearances through the late 80's. Some of the thugs on the cup look very similar to some of his enemies in Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu but there is no match. I suppose this could come from some unused art or promo but I am totally stumped. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. I am working on a gallery of all the 1970's Marvel Slurpee cups along with the original art so these last 3 are all that's holding me up. I will share the 1975 cup gallery when I get it together-hopefully by next month.

[METAROG]

That Black Widow looks like Kerry Gammil's work to me. I think it's very possible that this one and the Black Panther were new art drawn especially for the cups. Notice how each is a complete scene (with background) that perfectly fits the horizontal format.

Thanks for your input. The only problem I see with that theory is I believe that Gammill did not start drawing for Marvel until the early 80's... at least that I remember. I also think it is possible that this art was commissioned for the cups but all the rest come from somewhere so I'd like to exhaust all possibilities and I can't shake the feeling that I have seen the Black Panther image somewhere else.

[METAROG]

Here is the Black Widow cup...

http://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/1977Blackwidow1.jpghttp://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/1977Blackwidow2.jpg

For this art Colan, Buckler and Buscema have been mentioned. I must say that have next to no clue about this one. I am pretty sure I checked all her appearances in this costume previous to 1978 but nothing has come close. Didn't she have an aborted series that Colan was drawing? As always any help is appreciated.

After looking at the cover of Amazing Adventures #2 I think this cove is connected to the cup. Take a look at this scan- http://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/aa2cover.jpg

Notice the similarities? First of all take a look at the crouching gunman firing at BW on the second cup scan... he is almost in the exact same position as the thug on the AA #2 cover. She is also hitting a thug with a Tommy Gun and a handgun just like in the AA #2 cover although they are in different positions. BH is also swinging in with urban buildings around and finally the logo on the cup is the same as the one in AA #2. Although this is nowhere near an exact match-it was either the inspiration for the cup or perhaps an alternate cover that was rejected. If anybody has an AA #2 and can take a look inside just in case that would be great.

[benday-dot]

After looking at the cover of Amazing Adventures #2 I think this cove is connected to the cup. Take a look at this scan- http://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/aa2cover.jpg

Notice the similarities? First of all take a look at the crouching gunman firing at BW on the second cup scan... he is almost in the exact same position as the thug on the AA #2 cover. She is also hitting a thug with a Tommy Gun and a handgun just like in the AA #2 cover although they are in different positions. BH is also swinging in with urban buildings around and finally the logo on the cup is the same as the one in AA #2. Although this is nowhere near an exact match-it was either the inspiration for the cup or perhaps an alternate cover that was rejected. If anybody has an AA #2 and can take a look inside just in case that would be great.

I just took a good look through the Widow stories in issues one through eight of Amazing Adventures Rog. Though sidetracked a bit by the lovely Bill Everett inks I'm sad to say I couldn't spot a panel resembling the one on your Slurpee Cup.

[METAROG]

I just took a good look through the Widow stories in issues one through eight of Amazing Adventures Rog. Though sidetracked a bit by the lovely Bill Everett inks I'm sad to say I couldn't spot a panel resembling the one on your Slurpee Cup.

Thanks, I really appreciate your efforts. I know that if the eagle-eyed members on here don't recognize the art on these cups I may have just to mark them down as unsolved mysteries. With all the promo art, unused art and marketing pieces Marvel put out it is possible that we may never know.

[MWGallaher]

This one is especially frustrating to me because this is one of my favorite characters and I have every single one of his appearances through the late 80's. Some of the thugs on the cup look very similar to some of his enemies in Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu but there is no match. I suppose this could come from some unused art or promo but I am totally stumped.


One possibility I thought of: I remember Marvel advertising an IRON FIST black and white magazine that they ended up not publishing (I remember an editorial apologizing for its never reaching the stands in which they stated, frankly, that the product just didn't turn out all that well! Refreshing appearance of candor.) My recollection may be wrong, but I think I remember one or more spot illustrations advertising the upcoming magazine (appearing in a few of Marvel's other B&Ws--possibly not DEADLY HANDS, since I rarely bought anything but the monster mags). Maybe this art is from one of those ads? The thugs in the background look to me like they may be the work of Ron Wilson, who seemed to do a lot of incidental art for the B&W mags?

[METAROG]

One possibility I thought of: I remember Marvel advertising an IRON FIST black and white magazine that they ended up not publishing (I remember an editorial apologizing for its never reaching the stands in which they stated, frankly, that the product just didn't turn out all that well! Refreshing appearance of candor.) My recollection may be wrong, but I think I remember one or more spot illustrations advertising the upcoming magazine (appearing in a few of Marvel's other B&Ws--possibly not DEADLY HANDS, since I rarely bought anything but the monster mags). Maybe this art is from one of those ads? The thugs in the background look to me like they may be the work of Ron Wilson, who seemed to do a lot of incidental art for the B&W mags?

Wow, I just saw an ad for that magazine in the treasury-sized Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu Special Album Edition yesterday. It was the cover art for Marvel Premiere #15 but another ad may have been made. I have all the DHOKF, Marvel Preview Magazines and some miscellaneous mags like Marvel Super Action but I don't have any of the Horror, Doc Savage, or Sci-Fi mags so that may be where it could be. Thanks for bringing forth this fine theory.

One other thing is that I am missing the Iron Fist appearance in Master of Kung Fu Annual #1... I need to get it but if someone has it handy please take a look and let me know. :)

[Red Oak Kid]

OK, here's my theory on the Widow cup art. This is strictly my overall impression and I can't really prove anything.

I am 99 percent sure this art was done specifically for the cup. I think it was done by someone like Ed Hannigan or Arvel Jones. Whoever did it, used various sources for the poses and the cover of AA 2 is as good as any. The one weird thing that jumps out at me is Widow's face. It looks positively Kirbyish. And her body looks the way Everett inked Colan in those AA issues. But I'm not saying this is a paste-up. It's one piece of art done by a beginner who had several examples of Widow art done by various pros as inspiration.

Also, I think there is a distortion factor in printing art on a round cup which is tapered from top to bottom. I don't think you can draw a rectangular piece of art and have it look right when applied to a tapered cylinder. If you do, it will look distorted which might explain the weird angle of the Widow's face.

Or not.

Note to the ReaderIn the first paragraph above, the name Ed Hannigan should be replaced with the name Keith Pollard. Anytime the Red Oak Kid uses the name Ed Hannigan he is actually thinking of Keith Pollard.

[METAROG]

OK, here's my theory on the Widow cup art. This is strictly my overall impression and I can't really prove anything.

I am 99 percent sure this art was done specifically for the cup. I think it was done by someone like Ed Hannigan or Arvel Jones. Whoever did it, used various sources for the poses and the cover of AA 2 is as good as any. The one weird thing that jumps out at me is Widow's face. It looks positively Kirbyish. And her body looks the way Everett inked Colan in those AA issues. But I'm not saying this is a paste-up. It's one piece of art done by a beginner who had several examples of Widow art done by various pros as inspiration.

Also, I think there is a distortion factor in printing art on a round cup which is tapered from top to bottom. I don't think you can draw a rectangular piece of art and have it look right when applied to a tapered cylinder. If you do, it will look distorted which might explain the weird angle of the Widow's face.

Or not.

Note to the ReaderIn the first paragraph above, the name Ed Hannigan should be replaced with the name Keith Pollard. Anytime the Red Oak Kid uses the name Ed Hannigan he is actually thinking of Keith Pollard.

I am also starting to think this may have been done specifically for the cup. What you say about drawing for a cylinder makes a lot of sense and to me it is obvious that the cover of AA #2 is what they wanted to depict... even the widows hair is flying around just like the cover an may have even been copied and slightly modified. The face on the cover is too distant so that would have to be zoomed and detail added. It all seems very plausible on all fronts. I will try to find some art by Hannigan or Jones just in case these were added from somewhere else. Thanks, ROK!

[MWGallaher]

Not only is the hair flowing out into much the same shape, the tommygun looks like a direct swipe from the AA cover (although the Slurpee artist fixed Buscema's mistake by adding in the handgrip behind the trigger).

[Roquefort Raider]

One other thing is that I am missing the Iron Fist appearance in Master of Kung Fu Annual #1... I need to get it but if someone has it handy please take a look and let me know. :)

I went through it this morning, but sadly... nada.

What about Marvel two in one #25?

[METAROG]

Thanks RR, I already checked MTIO 25 to no avial... I will give it another look see just because you mentioned it though.

Does anybody have a copy of Captain America #114 they can look through?

I just found out the Panther makes a small appearance and the art is by Buscema... the more I look at that cup the more I think Buscema had something to do with it.

[METAROG]

I am bumping this up again just in case anybody new (like Jeddy) has any ideas as to the art of these last two cups. I posted up the BP in the Byrne forum and most over there seem to think it may be George Perez. BTW, is that a signature under the log back by the Panther's left ankle?

I also looked through MOKF Annual #1 and the rest of the DHOKF magazines but no luck on the Iron Fist. There is a theory that if could have been art meant for his Magazine back in the mid-seventies that was never released. I did see the cover as ad in one of the DHOKF mags but it is different. Anyway, thanks for looking.

http://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/1977BlackPanther1.jpghttp://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/1977BlackPanther2.jpg


http://i27.tinypic.com/65c30n.jpg

[johanskull]

I am bumping this up again just in case anybody new (like Jeddy) has any ideas as to the art of these last two cups. I posted up the BP in the Byrne forum and most over there seem to think it may be George Perez. BTW, is that a signature under the log back by the Panther's left ankle?

I also looked through MOKF Annual #1 and the rest of the DHOKF magazines but no luck on the Iron Fist. There is a theory that if could have been art meant for his Magazine back in the mid-seventies that was never released. I did see the cover as ad in one of the DHOKF mags but it is different. Anyway, thanks for looking.

http://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/1977BlackPanther1.jpghttp://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/data/media/424/1977BlackPanther2.jpg


http://i27.tinypic.com/65c30n.jpg

I would guess that Black Panther was rendered by Al Milgrom, and that Iron FIst looks a lot like Herb Trimpe.

Darn, I hadn't realized there were so many of these cups that I've never seen before, and I grew up in the 70's. Thanks for the memories ;)

-- Jeff