Acclaimed artist Kevin Nowlan will unleash his take on Doctor Strange, the Sub-Mariner, and the Incredible Hulk on a cover inspired by Neal Adams’ Marvel Feature #1 cover, the first appearance of The Defenders, for the Hero Initiative exclusive limited edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #50.
Gemstone Publishing and the Hero Initiative, the first 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to helping comic book creators in need, have teamed up every year since 2010 for the exclusive Hero Initiative limited edition of the Guide, and Overstreet’s Golden Anniversary year is no different. Under normal circumstances this edition would have had its debut at Comic-Con International: San Diego. However, following the cancelation of the show and other Corona virus-inspired delays, the release date is now set for Wednesday, September 2, 2020.
The Hero Initiative Edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #50 will be available through Hero’s web store on the Graham Crackers Comics website and from selected Hero-supporting local comic shops. As with past collaborations between Gemstone and Hero, this version will be available only in a special hardcover edition, limited to 500 copies. There will be no soft cover edition of this version, and it will retail for $37.50. Owing to shipping costs, Hero encourages Canadian orders through www.dragonguelph.com.
“Kevin Nowlan’s interpretation of this classic cover and these characters is an instant new classic on its own. As one would expect from a consummate professional with such exquisite line work and superior composition, he hit this one out of the park,” said Steve Geppi, Chairman of Geppi Family Enterprises and President of Gemstone Publishing. “We’re very happy to feature it as we continue our efforts to support the Hero Initiative.”
“Being asked to draw a Hero Initiative variant cover for The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is a huge honor in itself, regardless of the subject matter. Later, when I found out I’d be drawing a new version of Neal Adams’ beautiful Marvel Feature #1 Defenders cover, my enthusiasm flew off the scale,” Nowlan said.
“With the disruption in the comics market, and of course throughout the world, it’s been actually sort of stunning to receive so many inquiries about what the Hero edition of the 50th anniversary Guide was going to be. I think Kevin Nowlan’s cover more than answers that question and will help us raise money so that Hero can continue helping comic book creators in need,” said Jim McLauchlin, President of the Hero Initiative.
Under the original cover by Neal Adams, Roy Thomas, Ross Andru, and Bill Everett introduced The Defenders in the December 1971 cover-dated Marvel Feature #1. Banding together Doctor Strange, the Incredible Hulk, and the Sub-Mariner, they kicked off a team (often called a non-team) whose membership would often fluctuate wildly over the decades, but always captured the hearts of fans.
Beginning with John Romita, Jr., Klaus Janson, and Dean White on The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #40, and continuing with John Romita, Sr., Tom Palmer, and Dean White (#41), Matt Wagner and Ryan Brown (#42), Terry Moore and Brian Miller (#43), Herb Trimpe, Tom Palmer, and Laura Martin (#44), Dave Johnson (#45), Dan Jurgens, Norm Rapmund, and Tanya Horie (#46), Rob Liefeld and Ivan Nunes (#47), Joe Jusko (#48), and Alan Davis (#49), a proverbial Who’s Who of the industry’s top talent have provided covers for the Hero Initiative fundraiser edition.
The standard editions of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #50 feature Todd McFarlane’s Spider-Man/Spawn crossover (colored by Brian Haberlin), Valiant’s Bloodshot, X-O Manowar, and Livewire by John K. Snyder III, and Wynonna Earp by Chris Evenhuis. These are available in soft cover ($29.95) and hard cover ($37.50). The oversized limited edition, The Big, Big, Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #50, features a 50th anniversary homage to the cover of Overstreet #1 by Mark Huesman. It retails for $49.50.
