Magnus Colcord "Rusty" Heurlin: Pulp Magazine Covers Gallery I

So many Western artists started their careers as illustrators before they became successful easel painters. From Frederic Remington to Tom Lovell, John Clymer, Howard Terpening and James Bama, and many others -- the list goes on and on. Famed Alaskan painter "Rusty" Huerlin joins the list. Here are some of his pulp magazine covers, done years before he became a celebrated Alaska scene painter.

Magnus Colcord Heurlin

Magnus Colcord Heurlin

Magnus Colcord Heurlin

Magnus Colcord Heurlin

Magnus Colcord Heurlin

Magnus Colcord Heurlin

Magnus Colcord Heurlin

Magnus Colcord Heurlin

Bruce McCorkindale Re-Creation of Jack Kirby and Vince Coletta's Thor #145 Cover

Based on Thor #145, October 1967. I always loved this issue.

Grand Comics Database story synopsis: "Odin defeats Forsung and demands all Asgardians return. Thor refuses and his powers are removed (except his Asgardian Strength). The Ringmaster hypnotizes Thor into joining the Circus of Crime."

Bruce McCorkindale Thor #132 Cover Re-Creation

For comparison, below is the original Jack Kirby/Vince Colletta cover art that sold at Heritage Auctions in 2010.

The Jack Kirby original sold for $35,850.00

Here's the catalog description I wrote for the piece:

Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta Thor #132 Thor vs. the Colonizers of Rigel Cover Original Art (Marvel, 1966).

Every die-hard Marvel art collector knows how scarce twice-up covers are. Feast your eyes on this masterpiece from the House of Ideas, offered in the marketplace for the first time ever, as the mighty Thor unleashes the full fury of his enchanted mallet Mjolnir on the sky-station of the Colonizers of Rigel. It's proof positive of why Jack Kirby ruled the Marvel Age of comics as the undisputed "King." This cover for "Where Gods May Fear to Tread" has an overall size of 13.5" x 20.5". The borders of the page have been trimmed to the image area, and it has retained all of its original stats and logos. The piece has been creased several times horizontally through its center; otherwise, the art is in Very Good condition

Paul Ryan Fantomen (The Phantom) Cover

Here's my latest comic art purchase, a Swedish Phantom cover from Paul Ryan.

Todd McFarlane The Amazing Spider-Man #328 Cover (1990)

New world record for a comic book cover -- $657,250.00

Bruce McCorkindale's Thor #177

Here is Bruce's latest commission for me, a spot-on re-creation of Thor #177 (6/70), originally drawn by Jack Kirby and John Verpoorten. In this issue, Surtur and Loki attack in "To End in Flames."

Fun-tastic Feuds: Fox and Crow #7

Art by the great Jim Davis (no relation to the creator of the Garfield comic strip), December 1952

Bruce McCorkindale's Strange Tales #157 Cover Re-Creation

Here's another beauty by Bruce. It's a blast selecting the covers for him to re-create. this one spotlights Nick Fury and Baron Strucker during their Cold War spy years. Strange Tales #157 (6/67) was originally drawn by one of my favorite comic book creators, Jim Steranko. You can check out more of my comic art collection in the Mangus, Don gallery at comicartfans.com. Click on the hyperlink at the right.

A Bruce McCorkindale Marvel Masterwork: Iron Man vs. Titanium Man

Bruce McCorkindale's re-creations are so faithful to the real deal they thrill me to the bone. This Tales of Suspense #71 (11/65) cover re-creation (after Jack Kirby and Wally Wood) is a slam-bang knockout. Plus, I just saved $30,000. The original cover art may not exist anymore, or if it does, it is very well-hidden.

Tantor: Another Painted Tarzan Cover from Mexico

From Tarzan #363. Dave Karlen has tenatively identified the artist as Rodrigo Orduna.

Mike DeCarlo Journey Into Mystery #100 Cover Tribute (after Jack Kirby)

Along with Bruce McCorkindale, I have Mike DeCarlo working on Marvel cover tributes. Mike prefers to interpret the scenes rather than re-create them exactly, although he will do so, at a client's request. He gifted me this fantastic JIM #100 when a FedEx box got smashed and prematurely aged two DeCarlo masterworks.

Bruce McCorkindale Cover Re-Creations

Another area of art collecting interest for me has been "cover re-creations." Bruce McCorkindale's cover re-creations are so accurate, they could easily pass for the real thing. I was dumbfounded when I first saw them. Since I have used hunting and fishing metaphors for my collecting passions and philosophies, I regard these splendid re-creations as my version of collecting "duck decoys." Each one saves me $80K or more on what the real thing would cost, and they are just a lot of fun. I still get a real "art rush" from looking at them.

Kreegah! Painted Mexican Tarzan and Korak Covers

My pal, art collector Dave Karlen, got me interested in collecting South-of-the-Border Tarzan cover art. Dave estimates there are well over a thousand Mexican covers out there somewhere and we have been buying them up whenever we can. This one is by the artist, Betan. Being a "catch and release" collector these days, I'm sure I will end up flipping them. There is always more art than money!

Daredevil by Gene Colan and Jim Steranko

This Gene Colan Daredevil #44 cover had inks by comics legend Jim Steranko.