Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 102)....

 Perez Appreciation Post

The Maestro George Perez took over the artist duties of the Justice League of America when it's longtime artist, Dick Dillon, died suddenly of a heart attack.  And he kept that duty until he moved on a few years later to become artist and cocreator of the New Teen Titans.  But he still found time over the next couple years to do the covers for the JLA.   This is one such cover JLA #207 from 1982.

This is one of the annual crossovers between Earth-1's JLA and Earth-2's Justice Society Of America.  This time around, it includes a team-up from Earth-2's World War II era team The All-Star Squadon.  And they're all going against the reverse-Earth, Earth-3's supers, the Crime Syndicate of America. 

So this Perez cover shows, on the left, headshots of the JLA team: Aquaman, Firestorm, Hawkman, Superman and Zatanna.  On the left we have headshorts of the JSA team: Dr. Fate, Green Lantern, Huntress, Power Girl and Starman.  And acorss the bottle we have the All-Star team headshots: Firebrand, Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle, Robotman, and Steel. 

And in the center panel, we have the Crime Syndicate rushing out of the cube used to move between Earth-1 and Earth-2 to attack the JLA!

Top to bottom: Emerald Ring, Johnny Quick, Ultraman, Owlman, and Superwoman.

Despite the amazing covers by The Maestro, and a pretty good storyline, the interior art was by the horrid Don Heck.  His art was always blocky and stiff and just...ugly to me. 

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 101)....

 Perez Appreciation Post

Today we have again by the Maestro George Perez, a penicl and ink drawing of the cover of the Changling issue of the 4 part Teen Titans miniseries from the early 80s.   Once again, the detail.  Look at how each of the faces is different and distinct, just like in real life.  Even all the individual blades of grass at the bottom...just peak Perez. 

In the middle of couse, we have Changling, aka Beast Boy.  Around him we have some of the animals be changed into.  On the far left we have him in his earlier Beast Boy cotume.  Then we have a gorilla, panther, snake, opposum, rhino, bird and then as an even younger Gar Logan, before he became a hero. 

Above all this we have from his earlier pre-Titans years, some African medicine man from when he gained his powers; his parents who died in Africa; I don't know who the blonde chick is; The Doom Patrol who adopted him and he worked with (top to bottom: Negative Man, Robotman, Mento, Professor and Elasti-Girl); and I forget the name of the bad guy, killed his parents and tried to kill  him as a kid. 

And above all them is the Original Teen Titans, both East and West, who he worked with: Golden Eagle, Speedy, Mal, Bumblebee, Beast Boy himself, Robin, Gnaark, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Lilith. 

That's an awful lot of people and faces to be crammed into one panel.

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 100).....

 Perez Apprecation Post

Today, by the Maestro George Perez of course, we have the cover of a Justice League Of America comic.  It shows Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Firestorm, Flash and Superman battling the Tornado Tyrant and finding out his connection with their fellow member Red Tornado. 

But once again, check out Perez's mastery: the details with the rocks erupting around the Flash, the circling line of the Tornado Tyrant very much indicate how he's moving, the cloud cover, the different positioning of each of the heroes.  Just the work of a man at the height of his abilities. 

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 99).....

 Perez Appreciation Post

Today, by the Maestro George Perez, we have this closeup of  cover of a Justice League comic book, #197 if I recall correctly.   It was one of annual teamups between the JLA of Earth-1 and the JSA of Earth-2.  This was the third of a trilogy of issues dealing with this teamup.  And here, we have Perez's version of the ten heroes involved from both Earths.  (I know I posted something like this before, but not a closeup like this).

Clockwise from upper left: Firestorm (JLA), Hawkman (JSA), Johnny Thunder and his Magic Thunderbolt (JSA), Batman (JLA), Wonder Woman (JLA), The Atom (JLA), Superman (JSA), Black Canary (JLA), Hourman (JSA), The Flash (JSA).

Blow this pic up and check out the details: the different faces, the wings of Hawkman, The powers around Firestorm's hands, etc.   Just an incredibly gifted artist, taken too soon. 

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 98).....

 Perez Appreciation Post

Today we have an entry the Maestro George Perez did for the Who's Who In The DC Universe title, and it shows the "Aqua-kids": Aqualad and his girlfriend Aquagirl.

This is a typical Perez masterpiece.  Not only are the heroes well drawn, muscular, heroic, as they should be.  But look at the detail!  Not only on Tula (that was Aquagirl's real name) costume, all the 'squiggly lines, but the shells on her boots and the bubbles around her.  But also, look at the green background: all that detail!  The bubbles, the fish, the kelp, the tentacles, the city of Atlantis itself under the dome. 

Just beautiful all around!

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 97).....

 Perez Appreciation Post

This is a two page spread from a New Teen Titans comic.   It's got the Titans: Changling, Starfire, Kid Flash, Cyborg, Raven, Robin, Terra, and Wonder Girl, assaulting the headquarters of some group who's name I forget.  The group wasn't important to the story.  You opened the comic, saw this two page spread, saw the Titans defeat the criminal organization and then leave and got do other things.  He drew all this in an unimportant, insignificant battle!  I mean, not only are the heroes colorful and impressive, but look at the ALL THE DETAIL!  That's typical Perez.  So much detail! 

Click on it and make it bigger.  You'll want to see all this beautiful detail in all it's glory!

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 96)....

 Perez Appreciation Post

This amazing piece of art is the cover of JLA #200 from the early 80s.    It's a wraparound cover, both front and back.  This particular piece is the cover of a Treasury Edition re-issue of that issue.  The Treasury Editions are larger, like the size of manila envelopes.  It's being released later this year and the larger size will show off all that gorgeous Perez detail (and also the things on the cover the like price box in one corner and the box with the bar code in, will be gone)!

I put it on it's side so the gloriousness of it is easier to be seen!

But we've got the seven founding members vs eight subsequent members who joined later. 

Firestorm vs Martian Manhunter

Red Tornado vs Aquamand 

Green Arrow & Black Canary vs Batman

Hawkman vs Superman

Zatanna vs Wonder Woman

Elongated Man vs The Flash

The Atom vs Green Lantern

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 95)....

 Perez Appreciation Post

Today, we have an amazing panel from the Avengers/JLA teamup miniseries as drawn by the Maestro George Perez.  I put on it's side so all the glorious detail be more easily seen and appreciated. 

Iron Man, Thor, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Vision, Giant Man, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Wasp, Superman (with Captain America's shield, And Scarlet Witch. 

Such an outstanding artist. 

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 94).....

 Perez Appreciation Post

Today, by the Maestro George Perez, we have a cover a Legion Of Super-Heroes comic (which explains why there's so much blue sky at the top, that's where the title stuff would go) when Superboy rejoined after having retired about 4 years before or so, and it shows the entire Legion membership at that time. 

Superboy up front, of course

In the time bubble: Karate Kid, Phantom Girl, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Dawnstar and Blok in back

On the ground; Shrinking Violet, Princess Projectra, Element Lad, Timber Wolf, Sun Boy, Star Boy, Duo Damsel, Bouncing Boy, Cosmic Boy, Wildfire, Dream Girl, Chameleo Boy, Mon-El, Shadow Lass,  Brainiac 5, Light Lass, and Colossal Boy in back. 

(Ultra Boy was a member at this time too, but thought dead)

And of course, there's also the famous Perez detail in all the buildings  in back. 

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 93)....

 Perez Appreciation Post

Today, by the Maestro George Perez, we have a panel he penciller from, I'm pretty sure, the Crisis on Infinite Earths.  It shows a bunch of the members of Earth-2's World War II ear team The All-Star Squadron.  It's classic Perez, showing not only detail (in the smoke, the debris, the ground, barbed wire, even the mud splashing up from her foot) but also shows his ability to get a lot of characters in one panel, and still have them all be discernable. 

In the air: Firebrand, Plastic Man, Green Lantern, The Ray, Hawkman

On the ground: Tarantula, Liberty Belle, Robotman, The Atom, Phantom Lady, Uncle Sam, Dollman (on his shoulder), Commander Steet, and Guardian

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 92)...

 Perez Appreciation Post

Perez helped co-create the New Teen Titans, and he was a master of ALL the Titans he ever drew.  Here's a conglomerate of Titans members from over the years, drawn by The Maestro himself.   I rotated it onto its side so it would be bigger and easier to see all the delicious details within. 

Top to bottom, in the air: Bumblebee, Wonder Girl, Kole, Raven, Changling (in bird form and then changing into his standard human form), Starfire and Terra

Top to bottom, on the ground: Hawk, Jericho, Aquagirl, Dove, Speedy, Cyborg, Nightwing, Changling's human form, Mal, Lilith, Aqualad and Flash (formerly Kid Flash).

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 91)....

 Perez Appreciation Post

The Maestro George Perez illustrated the expansive JLA/Avengers miniseries.  This panel is not from that series, but it DOES show the JLA vs The Avengers, with each hero battling their most similar opponent. 

Superman vs Thor (both super strong, tough, etc)

Batman vs Captain America (both superb hand to hand combatants)

Wonder Woman vs Hercules (both superstrong with Greek mythology connections)

Green Lantern vs Iron Man (both powered by devices)

Flash vs Quicksilver (both speedsters)

Martian Manhunter vs Vision (both multipowered with intangibility one of their powers and not human)

Green Arrow vs Hawkeye (both archers)

The Atom vs Wasp (both shrinkers)

Zatanna vs Scarlet Witch (both mystics)

Firestorm vs Captain Marvel (both energy powers)

Surprised he didn't included Aquaman vs Namor the Sub-Mariner, but even Perez can only fit so much into one panel. 

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 90)....

 Perez Appreciation Post

Today we have the Maestro George Perez's art showing a batch of Avengers (a pretty good lineup too) and in back are some gem facets showing faces of other members/some enemies of the team.  Again, the attention to detail is a Perez hallmark. 

Clockwise from bottom: Beast, Wonder Man, Thor, Vision, Ms. Marvel, Iron Man, Black Panther, Wasp, Yellowjacket, Scarlet Witch and Captain America in the middle. 

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 89)....

 Perez Appreciation Post

This is a panel from the absolutely amazing JLA/Avengers miniseries.  It shows the Avengers (Vision, Scarlet Witch, Iron Man, Quicksilver, Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye) meeting the JLA (Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash, Aquaman, Superman, Green Lantern and *groan* Plastic Man) for the first time.   

And LOOK at the art!  Not just the heroes, impressive though they are.  But check out the backgrounds and the details.  They are characteristic of Perez and his art.  

Just beautiful. 

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 88)....

 Perez Appreciation Post

Yesterday, in my travels, in addition to everything else I bought at Ollies, I got this: A George Perez poster book.  It has about 25 Perez covers in poster size, and damn they're all so awesome.  But just look at this cover of the whole collection!   It's gorgeous. 

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 87)....

 Perez Appreciation Post

Today we've got the Maestro George Perez's version of the Fantastic Four!

Thing, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Mr. Fantastic

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 86)...

 Perez Appreciation Post

I think the Maestro George Perez did these two pieces of work un the late 70s when he was the artist on the Avengers.  It shows a bunch of Avengers up to that time period. 

Top:

Photos: Moondragon, Red Wolf, Whizzer

Captain America, Iron Man, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Yellowjacket, Wasp, Hercules, Thor

Bottom: 

Photos: Swordsman, Mantis, Ms Marvel

Hellcat, Beast, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Hulk, Wonder Man, Black Panther, Black Knight

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 85)....

 Perez Appreciation Post

This was, I think a two page spread, from a Teen Titans comic drawn by The Maestro George Perez.  It's show the Titans attacking some sort of villainous base.

Clockwise from bottom left: Starfire, Kid Flash, Cyborg, Raven, Robin, Terra and Wonder Girl

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 84)......

 Perez Appreciation Post

This is cover, in black and white, of a comic detailing the major deaths that occurred in the Crisis On Infinite Earths, as drawn fantastically, of course, by the Maestro George Perez.

- Huntress (Earth-2), Supergirl (Earth-1), The Flash (Earth-1), Lori Lemaris (Earth-1)

- Robin (Earth-2), Alexander Luthor Jr (Earth-3), Alexander Luther (Earth-3), Lois Lane Luthor (Earth-3), Superman (Earth-2), Lois Lane Kent (Earth-2), Wonder Woman (Earth-2), Green Arrow (Earth-2)

- Kole (Earth-1), Superboy (Earth Prime), Dove (Earth-1), (not sure of the Asian dude), Sarge Steel (Earth-4), three members of Easy Company (Earth-2), Kid Psycho (Earth-1), Lord Volt (Earth-6), Nighthawk (Earth-1), and another Easy Company member (Earth-2).

POLT

Appreciate, then you can, ring my bell (Part 83)......

 Perez Appreciation Post

Today we have one panel from somewhere, drawn by, of course, the Maestro George Perez, and showing his talent: Every face is different.  Body types are different.  They're all unique.

Hawkman (Earth-2), Superman (Earth-1), Power Girl (E1), Zatanna (E2), Batman (E1), Huntress (E2), Green Lantern (E2), Hawkman (E1)

The Flash (E1), Dr. Fate (E2), The Flash (E2), Green Lantern (E1), Red Tornado (E1)

Viking Prince, Wonder Woman (E2), The Atom (E1), Star Spangled Kid (E2), Dr. Mid-Nite (E2), Firestorm (E1)

Also, I see Jonah Hex, Black Canary, Earth-1 Wonder Woman, Earth-2 Superman, Green Arrow, Elongated Man, Big Barda, Aquaman, Enemy Ace, Miss Libery

POLT