Greetings, comic art fan!
I am
THE
APOCOLYTE!
I bring you a re-posting of the 2nd story ever posted here in 2009,
because some may not have seen it, and because even if you have,
it's so good that it is worthy of seeing again and again.
Enjoy now some of the most beautifully rendered black and white comic art ever published
by the amazing and legendary Mr. Russ Heath.
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In 1966, America was embroiled in it's seventh year of a little conflict called the Viet Nam War. It would be nine more years before the American troop withdrawal and the fall of Saigon. That was the political and social climate that year when Warren Publications put out the fourth and final issue of it's excellent military-themed black & white comic magazine BLAZING COMBAT. Each issue featured covers by Frank Frazetta, and interior content by some of the best writers and artists of the day. The story we feature today is by one of the greatest artists of war comics, if not THE greatest. Take a moment now to enjoy the little story of a battle for a hilltop in Italy, 1944, told as only Archie Goodwin and Russ Heath could.
"GIVE AND TAKE"
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-click to enlarge-
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On September 29th, 2013, Russ Heath celebrated his 87rd birthday!
What an incredibly gifted artist and story-teller!
One of the best of all-time --
A belated Happy Birthday and all the best to you, Russ!
This is what Russ Heath said about this story in an interview at TwoMorrows:
"It's like that time I did that story for Blazing Combat, "Give and Take." All the guys working on that book who were my peers were doing excellent work. I knew I had to work to the best of my ability against that quality. So, I worked my ass off on that one story in particular, which turned out to be what many people think is the best story in that issue. It's ironic, and I guess it was just happenstance, but everybody turned in a great job on that issue."
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This story was scanned from my own issue, and, yes, there is great art throughout by amazing artists, but Russ Heath's story is absolutely outstanding and remains at the epitome of black and white comic artwork!
Here is the cover for this issue. Art by Frank Frazetta.
I am presenting what is ostensibly the very first comic artwork
Russ Heath ever had published over at
Click the link here and check it out!
Here is a link to Russ Heath's fansite -
