Jim Steranko: Few Comics, Huge Influence

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Jim Steranko has made very few comic books but has had a big influence. This episode looks at his innovations including the use of Op Art, surrealism, and film-influenced montages. There is some analysis of his 1960s run on Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and a close look at his adaptation of the sci-fi movie Outland in the pages of Heavy Metal magazine.

[@superby1]

Got to meet him a few years ago at NYCC. He was selling prints of his Indiana Jones concept art. I bought one and he signed it to me. I went back to his table later in the day and asked if I could take a picture with him. He said he doesn’t take photos with anyone but pretty ladies. I’m a guy, so that wasn’t gonna happen. He wasn’t rude about it. In fact he was quite pleasant about it. He reached over, put his hand on mine and said “but we will always have this moment” That might sound bad, but trust me, that was one of the coolest responses I’ve ever gotten. The guy is the epitome of class act!

[@janorhypercleats]

I met him at a convention, i thought he was sorta' stuck-up!

[@mellowhype18]

Honestly that story might even better than a picture lmao

[@kencoleman5007]

I think that you would've got a get a similar response from Prince. Ever the lothario with control issues, the Purple one didn't take "No" well from women who he was attracted to. Just ask Sinead O'Connor, or check out the Bangles' "Behind the Music" where Hoffs talks about Prince wanting royalties for "Manic Monday" in the through the singer's tender parts rather than LEGAL tender.

[@goldenmindcavity]

a bit sexist and borderline creepy

[@joshuapunkt9533]

@@goldenmindcavity I think he is a man of his time. You could argue that he is sexist but that would be too easy. It's easy to make accusations out of nothing and project your views on others.

[@Gargvarr]

I love that in order to reduce the sexual content of Nick Fury, the picture of two people kissing and hugging was replaced by a gun-in-holster drawing...did the editor pretend not to get the double-entendre?

[@bradforddillman7671]

I think Steranko said the gun & holster drawing was far more suggestive anyway. Brilliant!

[@facespaz]

Wow, I wonder if the comics code deal was only in America, where sex is more offensive than killing...

[@AceLM92]

Good thing Full Metal Jacket did not exist yet otherwise the editor might have heard "this is my rifle this is my gun, this is for fighting this is for fun"

[@fattiger6957]

@@facespaz The comics code was only for American comics. That's why Euro comics like Heavy Metal could have so much sex and violence. American indies probably weren't under the code, but I doubt those were sold on newsstands.

[@kali3665]

Steranko is who made the original Agent of SHIELD book worth reading.

[@MarvelBoi44]

Samuel L. Jackson ain/t yo Jim Steranko's Nick Fury

[@Isaacisaperson4677]

@@MarvelBoi44 ?

[@giorgoskabamaru5856]

Oh hi. You caught me trying to get over my depression by watching hours of your videos. Thanks man !!!

[@comicbookguy6361]

Hope you get better!

[@chrisfernandez6078]

Been there buddy. This helps. You'll get better.

[@giorgoskabamaru5856]

@@chrisfernandez6078 many thanks to everybody. Already feeling better

[@hasanwallah7015]

@@giorgoskabamaru5856 good to hear..can't lie this chanel along with a few others was key into getting me out of a slump. The pandemic took a toll on me last year plus comic out of a 5 year toxic relationship that put me thousands in debt.

[@vietdroid]

Just remember that you're great ☆

[@56postoffice]

I knew Steranko's art style had that cinematic quality about them. It was like watching a film when you read his comics. In my opinion, grossly underrated.

[@TheBLACKlion27]

I got to assist Jim Steranko at Heroes Con one year and it was the coolest experiences of my life. Very interesting guy, very talented too. Would love to spend a day just hanging out with him again

[@strawberryh7652]

What did u learn

[@davewrighteous5408]

If any artists out there take ANYTHING from this video, I hope it'd be Steranko's INCREDIBLE sense of page and panel design. I find that's a dying skill set in modern comics and a lot of the fans either don't know or don't care. Pick up any new comic from a "hot" artist and instead of looking at the money shot of Batman swinging boot first towards the reader, study the page as a whole. Does it clearly tell the story? Is it visually engaging and enticing? Is every image necessary/vital to the overall narrative? More often than not, the answer is no to all 3. Page and panel design is what separates the great from the good and Steranko is GREAT.

[@mileskay7566]

Lately I've been worried about the transition of comics from book to phone screen in that a vertical scrolling comic has far less use of page design or even panel work. Yet audiences are slowly moving from one to the other. Do you feel that page and panel design are a dying art?

[@TheDoorspook11c]

Yup!

[@Clay3613]

Wish he did more in the industry, his two oversized magazines on the history of comics can't be recommended enough.

[@jamessimms3449]

Steranko is definitely one of the best. His artwork was hugely influential (just that Hulk cover alone). But he also has such an appreciation for comic history as well. PBS did a documentary on comics a few years ago, and he was one of the main voices. I can only have respect for a man who loves comics as much as he does. Brilliant artist. Thanks for another great video.

[@TheMastermind729]

Wow I’d like to see that

[@NeilBlumengarten]

My friend was just talking about Steranko's book on comics. He brought up giving Nick Fury his spy outfit instead of suits. It's like you knew!

[@MarvelBoi44]

Samuel L. Jackson ain/t yo Jim Steranko's Nick Fury

[@williamwatson4354]

I saw him at the 76 San Diego Comic con. A fan was showing him artwork and proudly declared that he hadn't had any formal training. Steranko took one look at it and said "Well you should." I'll never forget it.

[@bradforddillman7671]

I’ve been lucky to meet Steranko a few times at local comic shows in the northeast ever since he bought a comic book from me on eBay in the ‘90s! It was an Atlas one-shot “Dippy Duck” from the ‘50s. You can imagine my shock when I saw the name and address of the buyer! I’m an artist too, and Steranko has always been my favorite influence since I was a teen. When I met him at a show years later, he remembered Dippy Duck and recalled he picked up the book because he intended to write about the late artist, Joe Maneely who died young in a train accident. I’ve collected all of Steranko’s comic book work, even the obscure stuff and I agree that his Outland story is a masterpiece as well. Great video!

[@spiderscomics1180]

Thanks for sharing! awesome story!!!

[@kallisto9166]

Love the way you kinda tiptoed around that headline about Steranko slapping Bob Kane.

[@ComicTropes]

I wasn’t trying to avoid it per se, just focusing on the art.

[@shanelorrison5224]

@@ComicTropes - This is why I like your videos. You’re a classy guy. That’s not sarcasm.

[@johnmavroudis2054]

Thanks so much for this video and the thoughtful (as aways) commentary. Jim Steranko (along with Jim Starlin, Jack Kirby, and Frank Brunner) is one of my absolute favorites and so important in my own career. I'm an artist and his work was one of the reasons I got into art. His Captain America and Nick Fury covers, to me, still rank amongst the very best of all-time and I never tire of looking at them. I watched this video with a bit of trepidation... because it always sounded like a "yeah, but" was about to happen... I was so relieved when I got to the end of this with your effusive praise, and I thought you nailed it. Steranko was a bold, unique artist who opened up a world of potential of what comic books were capable of.

[@joek600]

Steranko is one of these rare cases where a flamboyant personality can be supported by A class work

[@nitrobw1]

One of the very few pre-90's singles I own is a signed copy of Nick Fury: Agent of Shield #7. Such an iconic cover.

[@MarvelBoi44]

Samuel L. Jackson ain/t yo Jim Steranko's Nick Fury

[@kevinconnor4228]

Who would even think of a 4 page layout. He’s definitely an innovator.

[@ppixilation]

Another good video. I cut the pages out of those copies of Strange Tales and stuck the four-page spread on my wall in 1967-8....I will point out that at 6.40 the hallucination page is by Frank Springer, from NFAOS no.7, I believe, the Dali cover one, and at 7.14, you have NFAOS 1,2,3,4 as the ones that Steranko wrote and drew the interiors of, whereas it was actually 1.2.3.and 5. He totally blew my mind back in the day, and I still love his work.

[@MrWarwolf6]

Steranko was a big influence on Paul Gulacy and it is very evident in his run on Shang Chi. The espionage angle the stories took was a field agents perspective in that covert world where Nick Fury was more of a Big picture view. The two worlds seemed to intersect visually without directly referencing each other.

[@dphalanx7465]

Also Jackson "Butch" Guice's run on the _Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D._ reboot in the early 90's (where revamped Hydra & resurrected Baron Strucker) was a huge homage to/influenced by Steranko.

[@Metrosplash]

I’m of an age, that I remember the magic of Jim Steranko. His work on Nick Fury was EPIC! That Four page splash you refer to was the finale of a major ten issue battle between Shield and the yellow claw(who turned out to be a Dr Doom created robot). It was just like the scene in the James Bond movie “ You Only Live Twice”. I bought two issues to lay them down side by side. His style, and realistic sense of proportion was on point.

[@simonagree4070]

You are right about one thing -- it was enormously fun to find Steranko storytelling in comics in the '60s. Him and Neal Adams. Loved the Steranko parody in Not Brand Ecch!, too.

[@JovemEverton]

Damn! Steranko's Outland looks amazing! It reminded me a bit of JH Williams artwork.

[@JovemEverton]

I've recently watched an aweosome interview with Williams on channel Comics Cube and he says Steranko is a huge influence. I was right, lol

[@KILLTHEGIANT]

YESSS!!! Loved this one!!! Steranko deserves his own Comic series. He’s obviously not from this planet, a complete character of complexity and comedy and I’m thankful for his existence. Long Live Steranko!

[@randy_stone]

I hadn't seen anything from Outland before, that was very cool. Thanks Chris!

[@RogerioPereiradaSilva77]

Same here. Now I've got to track it down!

[@shanelorrison5224]

Yeah, I need to do the same. That book looks really cool.

[@nexus6100]

4:25 Holy crap is that where those Egyptian pharaoh statue bosses from the X-Men beat em up arcade game came from?

[@allluckyseven]

They probably should make a movie about Jim Steranko's life.

[@TheMelMan]

Not a frequent commenter but just wanted to show my appreciation for the videos you make Chris. I love looking back at some of the people who shaped modern comics and influenced a lot of the younger creators. Keep it up!

[@99Michael]

This channel should have a million subscribers.

[@mikehelak8874]

Jim Steranko and Barry Smith were legendary back in the early 70's. I only liked Neal Adams when he did Batman. The 3 were way ahead of their time. In the 60's as a little kid Curt Swan was the be all end all for me! Great memories.

[@timothybarnett1006]

The double-page spread of Captain America and Rick Jones as Bucky fighting HYDRA agents in the sewers is my favourite image of Cap.

[@Chandasouk]

"Oh, hi! You caught me..."

[@martinportelance138]

Reading a Steranko comic gave the same vibes as reading one of these avant-garde European comics, like Moebius'. He sometime struggled with proportions, like any self-taught artist, but he had no equals for drawing hands and weapons. Furthermore, he was the closest thing to a real-life superhero. My all-time favorite comic book artist, he influenced me immensely. I would have liked to meet him.

[@jasoncaldwell5627]

Met Jim a few years ago and got his (long out of print) Book Of Escapes, which has dozens of photos of him doing various escapes. Kirby used that book as drawing reference when creating Mister Miracle. Such an amazing man to speak with!

[@doraeguyakaneddie6586]

That intro is gorgeous

[@raskalmanrags3713]

My favourite comic book artist of all time. As a graphic designer you can really see that graphic design influence in his work.

[@stevensica5918]

I was a kid, and I was amazed at that 4-page spread.

[@aldoloechel5812]

I met him at the las Cruces comic con. He reminded me of the dos Equis guy "the most interesting man in the world".

[@dougbrowne9890]

Steranko became my favorite artist after seeing one of his Strange Tales covers with Nick Fury. I once owned all of his comic book work, including the rare O'Ryanns Oddysey portfolio from the 1970 Detroit Triple Fan Fair (which I had him sign and still have). Even had the entire run of The Shadow paperback books he did the covers for. I enjoy your video about him. His work on Outland is amazing and you do a great job describing it. Thanks for this great video.

[@Emi_Alvarez]

Love Steranko, comics wouldn't be the same without him, although to me one of his greatest achievments would be slaping Bob Kane. XD

[@comicbookguy6361]

Bob Kane slapped Steranko first.

[@shanelorrison5224]

Wow. I wasn’t aware of any of this. I’d like to know more about this.

[@darrylwiggins1156]

This mans career influence on the comic industry and sheer talent have fascinated me for decades.thank you.

[@williamjackson6705]

The first thing I read by Steranko as a kid was his Captain America trilogy . The art was so dynamic I could not put it down . It`s kind of hard I think for present day collectors to understand what a shock to the system he & Neal Adams were to us . Seeing comics evolve over the decades has been amazing.

[@RyuGoomba]

i had a chance to meet Steranko act suffolk county comic con in 2019. really interesting guy, he told me a lot of stuff and tore me a new asshole respectfully on my comic work. He showed me us Noir and Frog comic and broke them down structurally for composition and narratively of what each one entailed. He told me that there are at least 1 million ways to read the Frog comic which may or may not be true given how many ways you can read it. He also told me and some other guys that when working on the X-Men logo, he didn't get paid by Marvel to do so or at least something along those lines. he told me he looks forward to meeting me again and my work and we shook hands. he was honestly a pretty nice and knowledge guy.

[@stardust_memories2260]

Wish he did more stuff. One of my favorite artists. Always wished he'd done a Wild, Wild West series.

[@mokwella]

I met Steranko briefly at Comic Con years ago. He was at an autograph booth with a huge sign that spelled out his name and was holding court, wearing a very cool jacket and with upswept grey hair. He was clearly a rock star.

[@alexnejako777]

he is the man. influenced not only comics but also product designs

[@viniidalgo9065]

Awesome! I love his style, I've got a piece from one of his Captain America pages tattooed on my arm

[@danimorgan3085]

All might is the intro is what I came for. Stayed for another great video

[@DanielGuerrero-cy8cb]

Dude, i've been missing your show a lot. Keep up the good work man and thank you for looking at comicbooks in a more objective way. I've discovered a lot of new artists and stories thanks to you

[@PirataGalactico]

Been quite busy lately and hadn't been watching the last videos. I'm not that well versed on comics but Jim Steranko i know of, so i had to see this. I was really surprised and pleased by the new intro. So grateful on the Outland comic recommendation too, it really looks amazing.

[@yosh3490]

Always stoked to see your new videos! Thank youuuu, man!

[@fattiger6957]

Remember that beer commercial about the most interesting man in the world? That's Jim Steranko. Escape artist, magician, advertising artist, comic creator, publisher. The guy has lived an amazing life. If only half the stories about him are true, then he's lived a more interesting life than 99% of the people on Earth.

[@Binkoboy3]

Hey Chris! I just want to let you know how much I love the work you do on these videos and how beneficial they are as someone who is not only a huge fan but an aspiring known artist. A once and future patreon subscriber :P keep it up!!

[@yatz57]

Looking at his work with modern eyes it's easy to spot the weaknesses; but in real time his work - specifically on Strange Tales - blew my mind. As you noted, it was something of an evolution of Kirby's style, which at the time I (like Marvel) was pretty much fixated on. Now, 50 years later, you pretty much blew my mind (what was left of it) once more, with the revalation that Steranko adapted one of my favorite si-fi movies of all time - and that it looks gorgeous!!! Well, I was feeling kinda aimless lately, no real goals in life - no more!!

[@ronniewychejr.8790]

Steranko is one of my favorite artist. I stumbled upon his Nick Fury covers years ago online and became obsessed with his style but forgot his name over time. So thank you for this video. It was so informative. Loved your explanation of film=time and comic book=space. That was profound. It really explained what made Steranko's panels a little confusing at times. Ultimately, his use of color and dynamics are what truly made him special.

[@Triton63]

Thanks! I pretty much missed the Jim Steranko boat. I'll have to seek out some of his work. Great episode!

[@davidsparham658]

He did a cover for Detective Comics #1000 too :)

[@tediousmaximus1067]

Someone HAS TO reprint that Outland comic book Steranko did! The artwork looks absolutely brilliant! Wow!

[@princessolmeca2933]

Forget the rest of the video. I'm sitting over here fawning over the beginning animation. Jesus, that is some brilliant looking stuff. Serious kudos to whomever made it.

[@laserwolf65]

Steranko's artwork is easily the most aesthetically pleasing of all silver age artists. I'm not gonna qualify that statement either. Steranko ftw.

[@lewispeterson2050]

I used to watch Comic tropes videos in 2017 and then I stopped for whatever reason. Now I'm getting back into his channel and it's so cool to see the new intro and stuff!

[@graefx]

This is one that I'm going to have to come back to and indulge in all his influences. Its hard to not come up with something fascinating when you're influenced from so many different things.

[@Pantherblack]

Yes, episode on the stories surrounding Steranko. Creators that have led dynamic lives before doing comics always fascinate me.

[@naytonestew7202]

Jim Steranko was working at the same time as Vince Colletta...the contrast could not be greater. At a time when most comic books were just schlock meant for impressionable little kids, Steranko's work is from a different planet. It was the coolest thing ever, and I appreciate it even more forty years later. Funnest comics ever!

[@jamesclukey7488]

As a reader I was amazed by Steranko when he came on the scene at MARVEL, and as an artist I was influenced by how dramatic his figures were. I continued following him as a publisher of Mediascene. I had just graduated from college and had become excited by the use of Supergraphics on building art. Huge typeface ads using only one or two words, but extending beyond the borders of the building. Steranko was already using it in his magazine/tabloid. Always cutting edge. I recommend his two books on the History of Comics, for anyone interested in the medium. Nice wraparound covers too !

[@thequickthinker]

Great job!!!! Thanks so much for this analysis. Very well done!!!!

[@CUTEMKUltras]

Great video as ever, Chris. That Outland strip looks amazing. Disappointing that nobody has seen fit to collect it in a trade over the years. Also makes me want to revisit that movie. I thought it was a great flick.

[@dangriffin5913]

I met him in some VFW hall at a small comic con in the middle of winter in suburban Baltimore about 8 or 9 years ago. The guy is an enigma. He held court (a panel, but no, he held court) for about two hours that Saturday afternoon, going into all his experience in comics -- hanging his editor by his ankles for not being paid for writing silent pages stands out. He definitely has an image, that's for sure -- and like another person commented, he didn't take photos with fans. He didn't use the "pretty ladies" excuse, though -- if I remember correctly, he mentioned something about having a bad reaction to flash photography. Anyway, easily one of the most interesting people I've met in comics and I hope to do so again sometime. (Oh, and he was a lot shorter than I was expecting).

[@neemiasferreira2483]

I was expecting this video for a loong time!!

[@the_architect..]

I've been watching your videos so regularly lately that I didn't even realize this is a new one until I started reading the comments lmao Thanks for all of your work, Chris

[@ijiwarusensei89]

Another great, informative, interesting episode. Osamu Tezuka also was heavily influenced by film techniques. Steranko's creative use of panels still seems very fresh.

[@DenisMark1]

Don't know if you read the comments, Chris, but really great overview of Steranko - got to know him a little bit when I would go to conventions in the 70's - as a kid I idolized him. He was nice enough to show me how he'd ink a page (yes, I brought a brush and ink, believe it or not). One thing - it's Michael Cur-TEEZ. Don't fret. I remember Steranko mispronouncing Sidney Lumet (Loo-MET)'s name as "Loomit." so you're in good company.

[@karrotakun3581]

Met him a few years back at a con and he remains one of the coolest people from the industry I've ever met. Chatted with him for a good amount of time and even got a Fury print signed by him. Steranko is the friggin man.

[@KPx-ke8bg]

Great job on the episode, Chris!

[@oldanddancingshemmeligeyou2028]

I have been waiting for this episode. Thank you.

[@noahvansciver5661]

Just the video I was looking for. Great stuff!

[@billwort6989]

OK... finished watching. Thanks, really enjoyable. I do have to disagree about his use of cinematic techniques, which I think is one aspect that elevates his work for me. In particular, take a look at Captain America 110, which is told using all sorts of film techniques (Strranko wrote a nice essay, I think the forward to whichever Marvel Masterworks edition of C.A. that issue is reprinted, where he describes how and why he chose the layouts he did)

[@MechaWrecka]

New Comic Tropes?! Let's gooooo!

[@MachoCool558]

It's always a joy to watch your work!

[@sebastianorduzo322]

I think I'm gonna read Outland when I get the chance, it looks incredible. Also, talk about Go Nagai someday (YES, I'm aware Devilman is not the ONLY thing he created).

[@eddiejoewalt7746]

Nagai is credited with pioneering the super robot genre with Mazinger Z and the magical girl genre with Cutie Honey. Violence Jack also created the post-apocalyptic manga and anime genre. Its desert wasteland setting had biker gangs, anarchic violence, ruined buildings, innocent civilians, tribal chiefs, and small abandoned villages. This was similar to, and may have influenced, the desert wasteland settings of later post-apocalyptic franchises such as the Australian film series Mad Max (1979 debut) and the Japanese manga and anime series Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken, 1983 debut).

[@eddiejoewalt7746]

plus before DEVILMAN read Demon Lord Dante

[@BigApeBooks]

I remember Steranko's work mostly from the 80's. Great stuff. It was very innovative.

[@kauswekazilimani3736]

Damn... That intro is crisp. Conflicted about the new jingle though.

[@starpodlogandstarpodtrek]

Another great video Chris! Steranko is always a class act at conventions.

[@grios5530]

You do the best content presentations.

[@RobotsPajamas]

Oh hi! You caught me catching up on Comic Tropes videos.

[@oovotzify]

The comic historians podcast has a great interview with him, definitely worth listening to.

[@jimschleich8753]

Another great episode!! Hope sailing is smooth and you're getting acceptable mileage!! Sorry for the mixed metaphor it's early whenever you just get up!!

[@NemesisMvC]

Can’t wait!!

[@christianfasy]

This was a great overview. Thank you.

[@ivancurtis]

Thanks for making this.

[@jamesholland8057]

I had those back then, loved them.

[@diegom5238]

This is why I love your videos I like comics but I have no in depth knowledge of them and your videos introduce me to hidden gems like steranko

[@diegom5238]

Also gems like howard chaykin

[@megawill04]

I love your video intro(what it currently looks like) vs the way it was before.

[@rolandkatsuragi]

I had no idea how much of an impact Steranko had

[@ems6706]

So idk if it was just the style at the time but do you think Sterenko was inspired by Ditko's more ambitious psychedelic stuff as well? Like I really think Ditko has some of the most inspiring panel compositions in Dr.Strange and Sterenko I feel mastered a bunch of the techniques that Ditko showed off.

[@federicoarmando8359]

OH MY GOD that Outland work is beautiful

[@karyldavidkidd7111]

Bestest comic book show! Solid. Thank you CT.

[@NatsuMatto]

Another great video as usual.

[@jdsantibanez]

I have that Steranko Outland Comic (A big trade paperback - Heavy Metal-size). I found it a long time ago (many many years back) in a supermarket. There was only one copy. I was lucky!

[@herryoung]

Great video, as always!

[@Nono-hk3is]

Thanks, Chris!

[@Pat4HUMANITY]

(formerly theSnirk) Hey Chris! Wow, thank you. I guess what took you a while to do a show on this fascinating talent and guy is likely one things is you wanted to get the right angle or take. Where DO you start with Jim Steranko, lol. Definitely one my personal favorites, Steranko is not only a highly stylish comic book artist genius but defintely a true renaissance guy of some degree. Also, more than movie star handsome with rock star charisma--he is a REALLY interesting dude! Just as a comic book artist--of those I know of--I find him, Barry Windsor Smith, and probably Kirby as the most stylishly unique and "special". Thanks again.