Customer Reviews
Jim Steranko tranforms Nick Fury into Comic Book "Pop Art" - By: Lawrance M. Bernabo, 09 Jul 2004 
I know I could never tell you where Jim Steranko came from before he started drawing Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division),in Marvel's "Strange Tales" comic bookin 1966. Actually, way back when, I was more interestedin Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystical Arts. Besides, it was hard to believe Nick Fury, from "Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos," was a one-eyed spymaster. But the development of Steranko's signature style as an artist became THE reason for bothering with a comic that was,in many regards, the bottom of the line at Marvel. Steranko began by doing the finished artwork over layouts by Jack "King" Kirby & ended up not only drawing the series but scripting it as well. The rest was most definitely comic history.
Includedin this collection are "Strange Tales" 150-168, which provides one of the greatest examples of artistic growth ever seenin the field of comic books (Barry Windsor-Smith's legendary run on "Conan the Barbarian" is the only other example on the same plateau). Here we have Nick Fury's one-man assault on Hydra & the epic battle with the Yellow Claw. Earlyin the Sixties Marvel had labeled its comics as "Pop Art,"in a feeble attempt to market themselves as more than just comics for kids. Well, when Steranko started incorporating elements from the psychedelic films & art of the time you could argue he achieved "Pop Art"in comics. Steranko used photography, optical art effects & unorthodox page designs to create his own unique style. Ultimately, his work had much more to do with cutting-edge cinema than it did with traditional comic books, which is why his reputation endures.
It is hard not to look at these Steranko's striking designsin these super spy stories & find yourself thinking more of "Bladerunner" & "The Matrix" more than James Bond. But as much as we admire Steranko's use of fine, defined ink line we also need to pay attention to his use of pacing, which is undeniably cinematic. I heard Steranko went on to do storyboards for movies, including "Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom" & "Bram Stoker's Dracula," which is fitting, but also rather ironic. Speaking of irony, Steranko's best workin comics, both with Nick Fury & other characters (most notably Captain America & The X-Men) was yet to come. So while this collection does not represent Steranko's best work, it does capture the evolution of a major talentin comics. Besides, it will probably cost you more than the price of this collection to pick up just ONE of the comics reprinted within.
A Marvel classic - By: Joao Paulo Nunes, 11 Jan 2002 
This book reprints Nick Fury's adventures from Strange Tales 150-168, with great art from Steranko but lame, lame coloring that doesn't follow the original colors. But it's still a good reading.
