Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The Gil Kane Punch of the Week

I've been doing some research this week on Gil Kane, and this research has led me to a very important conclusion:

No one could draw someone getting punched like Gil Kane could.

Gil Kane's punches were dynamic, exploding out of the page with a sense of power, drama, and action that is unmatched. So, to honor one of the greatest superhero artists in the history of the genre, I'm going to start a regular feature called "The Gil Kane Punch of the Week."

Here's the first entry:

From Green Lantern 68, art by Kane and Joe Giella, story by Denny O'Neil.
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10 comments:

  1. FoxApril 28, 2009 at 2:37 AM

    Not only is that punch great b/c the physics of it seem inexplicable, but it looks like it's a back-punch, which is the most hardcore of punches. (Though, he's probably just flipping over after being punched in the face, yes?)

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  2. Jason D. MangerApril 28, 2009 at 8:45 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. Jason D. MangerApril 28, 2009 at 8:47 AM

    That is awesome, he looks like he's going to fly off the page and land in your lap.

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  4. Jon KApril 28, 2009 at 12:59 PM

    Kane has always been my second-favorite comic book artist of all time (behind Jack Kirby, naturally). Looking forward to all the punches -- and if you feel like just including some great flying shots here and there as a second feature ("The Gil Kane Flight of the Week") or some other regular Kane feature ("The Gil Kane Babe of the Week", anyone?), I'm sure nobody will complain at all!

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  5. AnonymousApril 28, 2009 at 7:55 PM

    That fantastic, crazy punch perfectly sums up my feelings about my freshman comp class this semester. I was looking for comics but found an objective correlative. Thanks, Dr. K!

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  6. UnknownMay 2, 2009 at 9:42 AM

    Someone (NOT ME) really needs to start an entire blog dedicated to Gil Kane punches. I haven't read it for years, but there's one in the Midnight tale he drew for DC's Secret Origins that blew my mind.

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  7. Dr. KMay 2, 2009 at 10:34 AM

    Ooh, I have that issue of Secret Origins. Thanks for the tip, Seth--I'll put it in the queue.

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  8. Jeff LesterMay 3, 2009 at 8:15 PM

    I'm reading the Atom Showcases which I thought would be dull, but it's almost like Gil Kane's version of Spider-Man (in fact, moreso than his actual issues of Spier-Man), little more than Atom bouncing around and punching the shit out of people.

    In fact, I think there's a panel in either Captain Marvel or an issue of What If, where you've got the Gil Kane trifecta--the crazy punch, the giant floating head, and someone gripping the sides of their head in anguish--all in one panel. I'm worried if I see that panel now, I'll die of awesome overdose.

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  9. billsoMay 4, 2009 at 3:14 AM

    nocha-klop?

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  10. UnknownMay 4, 2009 at 4:38 PM

    Thanks, Dr K!

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