Byrne Robotics: Gil Kane, again

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Topic: Gil Kane, again

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Jim Lynch
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Joined: 21 August 2006
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Posted: 18 August 2026 at 1:49am \| IP Logged \| 1	post reply

I know Gil Kane is well-regarded here so I thought I’d post this.

Growing up I wasn’t a fan, but in the last decade or so I’ve really come around.

I’m reading Bring on the Bad Guys (yes,I’m late to this as well) and I saw this image, from Tales to Astonish #91. Apologies, I couldn’t find an image on the Web so I took a photo with my phone.

Something as simple of fingers, and he made them a masterpiece.

So, so good.

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Rich Marzullo
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Joined: 13 January 2011
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Posted: 18 August 2026 at 2:29am \| IP Logged \| 2	post reply

Have they put together a book of just random Kane panels yet? I could probably get lost in something like that.

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Brandon Carter
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Joined: 16 April 2004
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Posted: 18 August 2026 at 2:26pm \| IP Logged \| 3	post reply

I thought there had been a recent biography of Gil Kane published but in researching it, I found that it was actually Jim Aparo that I was thinking of. However, in researching it, I did learn of this volume coincidentally being released this month.

Lost Marvels No. 4: Gil Kane Rarities Vol. 1

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John Byrne
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Joined: 11 May 2005
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Posted: 18 August 2026 at 3:19pm \| IP Logged \| 4	post reply

Back in my fan days, courtesy of John Mansfield , I had the opportunity to practice my inking on some of Gil’s preliminary layouts. These were full sized “thumbnails” he did on regular paper, very quick and rough, that he handed off to assistants to be traced onto bristol board and polished.

It’s not something that I would do now, as I believe pencils, even sketchy ones, should be preserved.

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Trevor Smith
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Joined: 21 September 2006
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Posted: 18 August 2026 at 7:31pm \| IP Logged \| 5	post reply

It's funny, I know exactly what Hulk story that is, based
entirely on Hulk's hand and the stethoscope on him.

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John Byrne
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Grumpy Old Guy

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Posted: 18 August 2026 at 7:59pm \| IP Logged \| 6	post reply

Have they put together a book of just random Kane panels yet? I could probably get lost in something like that.

•••

Geez! Remember the complaints from fans and store owners that the ESSENTIALS weren’t in color? Can you imagine them tolerating something like that??

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Wallace Sellars
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Joined: 01 May 2004
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Posted: 18 August 2026 at 10:49pm \| IP Logged \| 7	post reply

I really dig those early ESSENTIALS volumes. The B&W pages are a joy to behold.

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Charles Valderrama
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Posted: 19 August 2026 at 3:58pm \| IP Logged \| 8	post reply

I love the ESSENTIALS... partly to gaze thru the pages and appreciate the inking that goes unnoticed most of the time!

-C!

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John Byrne
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Posted: 19 August 2026 at 4:10pm \| IP Logged \| 9	post reply

For many—most?—fans, those b&w ESSENTIALS are as close as they’ll get to seeing what the original art looks like.

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