Monthly Archives: December 2018

“Incredible Hulk” 132 p 16 (October 1970)

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Incredible Hulk 132 p 16 (October 1970)
By  Herb Trimpe (1939-2015) and John Severin (1921-2012)
13 x 20 in., ink on paper
Coppola Collection

Herb Trimpe was the definitive Hulk artist for the early run of the character’s “Incredible Hulk” stand-alone series, drawing all but 2 issues between 106-193, including the two issues that introduced the Wolverine character (180-181). The issues with John Severin as the inker are memorable for the strength of their collaboration. Severin had a strong sense of weight in his drawing style, which matched up well with Trimpe’s dynamic and thoughtful compositions.

“In the Hands of Hydra”

The Hulk’s friend, Jim Wilson, has been taken to a secret Hydra base where one of their leaders tells Jim that they have a common foe in the military and that they intend to rescue the Hulk. This is a trick of course, and Hydra manages to convince Jim to help them out after they show him a fake film reel of the Hulk being tortured with military weapons.

Jim helps Hydra airlift the Hulk’s body out of a military ship. Once they have the Hulk secured, the leader of Hydra tells Jim the organization’s true intentions of rescuing the Hulk: to brainwash the him into being a loyal member of Hydra. When Jim tries to attack the leader, the other Hydra agents hold him at bay. Watching his friend being roughed up by Hydra angers the Hulk, who breaks free of his bonds.

During the fight, Jim is hit in the crossfire and is injured causing the Hulk to become more enraged and start smashing the ship. This story is continued in the next issue, which I have a bunch of pages from.

 

“Sub-Mariner” 49 p 20 (May 1972)

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Sub-Mariner 49 p 20 (May 1972)
by Gene Colan (1926-2011) and Frank Giacoia (1924-1988)
13 x 20 in., ink on paper
Coppola Collection

A classic Gene Colan page.

“The Dreamstone”

Namor manages to free himself and reach the Cosmic Cube. Doom meets up with him, but Namor has secured the destruction of the Cosmic Cube.

They both flee as the Cosmic Cube’s explosion destroys the A.I.M. base.

“Tales to Astonish” 78 p 8 (April 1966)

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Tales to Astonish 78 p 8 (April 1966)
by Gene Colan (1926-2011) and Vince Colletta (1923-1991)
13 x 20 in., ink on paper
Coppola Collection

“The Prince and the Puppet”

Continued from last issue…

The Sub-Mariner has come to stop a deep sea drilling operation led by Henry Pym that has been causing underwater earthquakes in Atlantis. Monitoring this from his secret base is the Puppet Master who takes this opportunity to create a doll that will allow him to take control of the Sub-Mariner again. He takes control just as the Sub-Mariner is about to get into fisticuffs with Pym, making Namor suddenly stop and head toward New York.

Pym then orders Janet to change into the Wasp and she heads toward New York to try and catch up with Namor.

Bactrian Ring with Red Carnelian Intaglio (ca. 1600-1750 CE)

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Bactrian Ring with Red Carnelian Intaglio (ca. 1600-1750 CE)
Silver and Gold, 20 mm diameter
Red Intaglio Carnelian gemstone bezel: 27.7 x 20.3 x 10.0 mm
27.0 grams weight
Provenance: Antiek (Marijn Kruijff) arch-28
Coppola Collection

Exceptional detail in the ring, with a clear impression from the carved stone.

Bactria was a province of the Persian empire located in modern Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, historically prominent between about 600 BCE and 600 CE. The two-humped camel is called the Bactrian Camel.

1911-S Indian Head $5 Gold Half Eagle ICG AU58

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1911-S Indian Head $5 Gold Half Eagle ICG AU58
Mint: San Francisco
8.36 g 0.90 gold, 21.6 mm
Coppola Collection

 Produced from 1908-1929, the 1911-S Indian half eagle has the second highest mintage of the entire series at just over 1.4 million pieces. However, many went directly into circulation and therefore very difficult to locate in the uncirculated grades.

Designer: Bela Lyon Pratt

“That Damocles Urge” (October 15, 1941)

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“That Damocles Urge” (October 15, 1941)
by Edward Scott “Ted” Brown (1876-1942)
18 x 13 in., ink on paper
Coppola Collection

Ted Brown, who spent his early years chasing the Alaska gold rush of 1898, returned to the US with no gold score and was a longtime editorial cartoonist for the New York Herald-Tribune, supplanting Jay N. (Ding) Darling in that position. This cartoon, titled “That Damocles Urge”, appeared on October 15, 1941, and features Hitler attempting to plow towards Moscow, with the Damocles Sword of Russian Winter hanging over his head. As is typical of Brown’s work, it is filled with wonderful pen work, especially the activity of his line. The drawing has an almost animated feel about it.

Brown took ill in mid-1942 and died in late December.

The winter climate contributed to the military failures of several invasions of Russia, including (and perhaps particularly) Operation Barbarossa (meaning “Red Beard, named by Hitler to honor of German ruler Frederick I, nicknamed Red Beard, who had orchestrated a ruthless attack on the Slavic peoples of the East some eight centuries earlier), the Nazi attack on their Soviet ally – a bold grab for territory by the Reich.

In Operation Barbarossa,Germany invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941: their largest military operation of World War II. The Germans pushed hard; the Soviets pushed back. The plan, to take Moscow by the end of summer, was delayed, and so the Nazis first got bogged down (literally) during the heavy autumn rains (the “rasputitsa,” or “General Mud”). Loaded vehicles and marching men were now relying on horse-drawn wagons for support.

By mid-October, this cartoon makes it clear that the challenges faced by the German army were well known, and that the impending problems from the onset of winter were approaching fast.

The Nazis did not end up making it to Moscow until December. And December 6, 1941, the Soviet Union launched a major counterattack, driving the Germans back from Moscow.

On December 7, 1941, to put this in perspective, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

 

Nanyang Shipwreck: Sisatchanali ring-handled bottle (ca. 1380)

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Nanyang Shipwreck: Sisatchanali ring-handled bottle
Recovered from the Nanyang shipwreck by Sten Sjostrand
15 cm (5.9 in.) in height
Provenance: Nanhai Marine Archeology items N-808
The Coppola Collection

The Nanyang cargo (date range 1372-1390) is one of the earliest discoveries of true Celedon from the Sisatchanali kilns.  There were 402 pieces recovered from the Nanyangsite.

This piece is considered to be among the earliest examples of ring-handled bottles that came from the northern village (Ban Ko Noi) of the Sisatchanali city. It dates to about CE 1380. The bottle is totally intact with good glaze remains. This type of bottle is rare and difficult to find (at least authentic examples) in the antique market or museums.

“Incredible Hulk 133 p 11” (November 1970)

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Incredible Hulk 133 p 11 (November 1970)
by Herb Trimpe (1939-2015) and John Severin (1921-2012)
13 x 20 in., ink on paper
Coppola Collection

Herb Trimpe was the definitive Hulk artist for the early run of the character’s “Incredible Hulk” stand-alone series, drawing all but 2 issues between 106-193, including the two issues that introduced the Wolverine character (180-181). The issues with John Severin as the inker are memorable for the strength of their collaboration. Severin had a strong sense of weight in his drawing style, which matched up well with Trimpe’s dynamic and thoughtful compositions.

Following a fight where the Hulk’s friend, Jim Wilson, is injured, the military arrives. General Ross approaches the Hulk, who is about to thump Ross when Wilson revives long enough to stop him. Ross tries another shot at reasoning with the Hulk, and is making headway when a trigger-happy soldier loses his cool and attacks the Hulk. The Hulk fights back and flees.

The Hulk ends up in a shipping yard where he seeks shelter in a crate destined for Morvania, and sleeps the entire trip there  (see pages 7-8, elsewhere at this site).

The country itself is ruled by a dictator named Draxon who rules the once peaceful nation with an iron fist.

Draxon!