Don Heck: A Work of Art

Don Heck was a key architect of the Marvel Universe, but of all the important comic book artists of the early 1960s, he may be the last to be represented with an art book. Heck was very popular with comic book buyers of the time, and sold many millions of issues, but because he wasn't as aggressively dynamic in his work as Jack Kirby, or as frankly eccentric as Steve Ditko, his reputation has suffered with the passing years. This pleasing book from John Coates and TwoMorrows Publishing helps restore some of Mr. Heck's considerable luster. The earlier reviewers on this page cover key points nicely. I'll simply agree that the numerous examples of Heck's pencils and layouts are the book's visual highlights. He drew beautifully--more in the style of a commercial illustrator than an archetypal comic book artist. Besides a sophisticated sense of design, he had a keen understanding of anatomy and an illustrator's ability to convincingly render street scenes and architecture, as well as the whole catalog of familiar objects, from aircraft to typewriters to sailing ships. And few could match his depictions of beautiful women.Heck showed his versatility by doing superior work in many genres. His pre-Code work in horror and war remains startling; in superhero comics, he excelled with the Avengers, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, the Flash, the Justice League, and many others. Heck preferred to ink his pencils himself but, as noted in a review above, during his career he was paired with far too many short-term inkers, some of whom were frankly unsuitable or inferior. Heck was thus prevented from creating a "brand" akin to Kirby-Sinnott, Colan-Palmer, or DC's Swan-Klein. Don's own inks were simultaneously loose and disciplined--a neat trick that gives those pages vitality and power.The book bursts with well-reproduced Heck art in color and black and white, but page design is very busy. My eyes jumped nervously around most spreads, and I didn't react well to a multiplicity of typefaces, some of which are not particularly attractive. But that has nothing to do with Don Heck. He was a professional's professional, and now he has a tribute he deserves.

Jack Kirby once said that Comics will break your heart. This biography proves it. A talented man who could draw better than better, Don Heck had trouble fitting in as a superhero artist at Marvel Comics where his work wasn’t seen as dynamic enough. He seemed to have done better at DC Comics where his conservative style of storytelling worked best. Having to deal with complaints from editors should have been the clue he needed to get out of the field and move into advertising as a storyboard artist where his style would have been appreciated as well as rewarded far more lucratively than comics could ever pay him. This book should be on every artists shelf for the art, which is excellent and as a reminder that just because you like something it doesn’t always reward you.

I just finished reading this fine book on comic artist Don Heck. It's a good addition to all the other Twomorrows books on comic artists. The extended and edited interview by Will Murray, (author, as Kenneth Robeson, of the current run of new Doc Savage novels from Altus Press) is very informative. Mr. Hecks' career is nicely covered with many fine examples of his comic art over the years. My one regret is that some of Dons' best artistic triumphs were not mentioned or shown. Such as Avengers Specials #'s 1 and 2 and his inking on Jack Kirbys' presentation illustrations of the New Gods, the Gods portfolio, and a great Captain America spot illo recently seen as a back cover on alter ego magazine. It is too bad that Mr. Heck did not get many regular assignments in later years, and that probably added to a sometimes second tier status in the comic art world. But I still look at his 60's Avengers stories over and over again. All in all a fine job, highly recommended!

A most enjoyable book on cartoonist Don Heck. I loved Don's art on the AVENGERS and Ant-Man/Giant Man. When he was teamed up with a good to decent inker, he was at his best. Sadly he got bums like Vince Colletta to ink and quite frankly Vinnie was murder on anyone that he fell prey to his rotten style of inking. Don was rock solid. He should've storyboarded movies in Hollywood. He was mistreated by editors at Marvel & DC and left to felt inept. I wish I had made contact with him years ago. Hollywood wood have LOVED his artwork in films. He was really good and mistreated by New York comic groups. Beau Smith wrote a nice closing to the book and the interviews with Don were very well done by John Coates and Beau Smith plus the interviewers. A fine tribute to a former Marvel cartoonist giant who in the end was treated poorly by foolish fan boy editors at Marvel & DC. I include Stan Lee in that bunch of idiots as well.

Overlookedby his colleagues,overlooked by the editors, overlooked by the critics, Don Heck`s work shaped what we all know today as '' Silver Age of comic books'', co-creating characters like Iron Man and others , and the most curious and strange thing: never credited for it...this book is an first attempt to honor this fantastic artist.

Ich habe mich immer gerne an die frühen Abenteuer der ruhmreichen Rächer erinnert . Auch die Hefte mit den Origins von Hawkeye und Black Widow aus Iron Man sind Klassiker. So gehörte Don Heck immer zu meinen Top ten der klassischen marvel Zeichner , auch wenn ich schon deswegen ausgelacht wurde . Hier kann man sehr gut nachvollziehen warum Don doch ein Meister war und wie wichtig er für die frühen Marvel Zeit war . Hier wird er endlich mit einer Kurzbiographie gewürdigt ein Buch das überfällig war . Mit Vielen Bildern aus seiner gesamten Schaffenszeit einschließlich der Atlas und DC Zeit . Also ich finde ein tolles Buch Danke John Coates.

Beautifully produced book showcasing Don Heck's work in comics and his story. Heck was something of an enigma and we are still left with questions at the end, but perhaps that is as it should be. If this book goes some way to restoring Don Heck to the status he is due then all the better.

Haven't read it yet but it looks beautifully nostalgic, and full of interesting bits you can poick up and put down. Don't have to do it one take.