I have a small confession to make. Growing up reading comics, I never cared for Gil Kane's work. I know Gil has had acclaim here in the JBF, but I grew up on Byrne, Perez, Swan Aparo, but never could quite 'get' Kane. His people looked too loose, their bodies all angles.

Cut to yesterday: in my to-read pile of books collected at cons and such, I just hit a vein of pre-Crisis Superman. I pulled one out with a Kane cover, and then it hit me. I 'got' it: Kane's people were all loose angles because that's what people do. People move, they don't pose, they stand with hands on hips. Of all Kane covers, it was this one:

that made me understand that. Look at Superman's right hand, put up reflexively with his fingers splayed out, the curve of the Planeteer's body as he attacks. The very essence of the dynamic pose. Great great comics art.

Makes me regret all those Kane books I should have bought as a youngster, nearly as much as all the Kirby I skipped. Gad, it's terrible to learn these lessons late in life.

Anyone agree? Any other favorites?

Jim,

I was exactly the same way -- Kane, Kirby, and Ditko -- the older I get the more I enjoy their art.

I've always loved Gil Kane's work.  He seems to be one of the artists who have Kirby's energy and their own distinctive style.

One of my favorites by Gil and one of the few FF covers he drew.

JB,

couldn't agree more. After reading the draping thread, I nearly threw away my Burne Hogarth book in favor of a cover like this, showing a Gil Kane cape.

Yes Steven, I am struck by the 'not knowing a good thing til it's too late' syndrome. Maybe in 20 or 30 years, we'll consider McFarlane and Liefeld masters. Then again, when we can compare them to this:

No, we won't.

Perhaps my all time favoriet cover