Yeah, I'm not sure why either, but Marvel had Ditko draw eight issues of INDIANA JONES in the mid-1980s. Hey, at least it was Harrison Ford he was drawing, better that than Chuck No... What was that? Really? Okay, never mind...#33 is Ditko's second last issue, beginning a two-parter that takes Indy to Scotland in pursuit of a stolen amulet. "Magic, Murder And The Weather" is 23-pages, inked by Danny Bulanadi, who did most of Ditko's Indy stories. I find Bulanadi's inks over Ditko kind of flat sometimes, but this is one of his better ones. A few bits even looked like Leialoha's inks over Ditko. Other parts seem a bit heavy, but that might just be satisfying the Lucusfilm people. The opening scene, with Indy being harassed by two Scotland Yard types and doing one of those Ditko double-takes in six straight panels is kind of funny. I don't really get a heavy feel of the 1930s setting like I'd hope for, but that might just be because Ditko's characters always look a few decades in the past.
[see the comments for more on the inking, which might be an uncredited Art Nichols on the last seven pages, and John Romita on the Indy faces]
The story is pretty much serviceable pulp adventure from Linda Grant, with Indy pursuing Amanda Knight, who's stolen an amulet for a mysterious employer. After various fights and attempted poisonings, he find her held prisoner, and confronts the cloaked figure who turns out to be a sorcerer, and also the brother of a villain from an earlier issue.
Unfortunately, all the Indy faces (at least on this page) appear to be altered by John Romita.
ReplyDeleteI was never a big fan of Bulandi's inks over Ditko. Way too heavy. I would have much perfered Leialoha inking the series.
Nick Caputo
I have to take a look at the entire issue, but I don't believe Bulandi inked this page at all. Perhaps the credits were wrong in the issue, as sometimes happens. I will check out the book and give you my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteNick Caputo
As I suspected, the last seven pages were inked by someone other than Danny Bulandi, probably Art Nichols, who did a better job, IMO.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, it really bugs the hell out of me, seeing all the alterations on Indy's face in practically every panel (and this happened in every issue Ditko drew). Why give Ditko the book if either the editor or Lucasfilms didn't feel he could draw Harrison Ford's face? It's similar to the thinking of those in charge at DC, who constantly altered Jimmy Olsen's face when Kirby was drawing the strip, not to mention Superman!
Nick Caputo
Thanks, Nick. Nichols might make sense. He did a good job following up on Leialoha on "The Djinn" around that time, too.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's hard to see the point of having an artist who's going to have to be redrawn on the main character. I'd love to see what Ditko's pencils looked like on these.
Indiana Jones the best character i have seen so far his journey is really interesting
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