Today we have an exclusive first look at the slipcase for The Marvel Art of Mike Zeck, the 10th volume in Clover Press and Marvel’s ongoing series of high-end artbooks celebrating legendary Marvel artists.
You can follow the campaign on Kickstarter.
The slipcase itself is a showcase of some of Zeck’s most iconic imagery. The front features his artwork from the cover of Captain America #286, which featured a Deathlok story by J.M. DeMatteis and Zeck. It’s inked by John Beatty, Zeck’s frequent collaborator during his celebrated run on the title. The back features a striking pin-up from Silver Surfer Annual #4, and tucked on the spine is an image of Kraven the Hunter from Kraven’s Last Hunt, the landmark Spider-Man story that remains one of Zeck’s most enduring projects.
“I first met Mike at the Chicago Comicon in 1986 right after his Punisher was released, and he left such a positive impression on this very impressionable kid,” said Clover Press Publisher Hank Kanalz. “I had the privilege of working with him on a couple of projects over the years, and I am thrilled that in retirement, he’s agreed to be a part of our prestigious The Marvel Art Of… line of art books.
Zeck broke into Marvel in 1977 as the penciler on Shang-Chi, Master of Kung-Fu before rising to prominence on the 12-issue Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars, where he designed Spider-Man’s iconic black costume, dropped a mountain on the Hulk and more. His runs on Captain America, The Punisher and Spectacular Spider-Man cemented his reputation as one of Marvel’s most dynamic action artists, and Kraven’s Last Hunt, which ran through the various Spider-Man titles in 1987, brought a darker, more literary sensibility to the character.
The Marvel Art of Mike Zeck will collect more than 200 pages of Zeck’s Marvel illustrations in a 9-by-12-inch hardcover, with Kickstarter rewards that will include prints, stickers, a puzzle and signed editions.
Previous volumes in the series have celebrated David Mack, Alex Maleev, Michael Allred, Russell Dauterman, Mike Del Mundo, Dan Dos Santos, Tyler Kirkham, David Nakayama and Michael Turner. The Kickstarter campaign for The Marvel Art of Mike Zeck launches soon.