I was sad to hear tonight, via
Kid Robson, that ace Bronze Age comic artist Herb Trimpe has died at the age of 75. Herb was, for me, the definitive Hulk artist but he was, of course, far more than that. A very gifted artist and, by all accounts, a lovely guy too, Herb will be missed by his fans and, above all, his friends and family. My condolences to them at this sad time. Above is a scan of one of my favourite Trimpe issues of The Incredible Hulk, number 140 ( June 1971 ) - "The Brute That Shouted Love At The Heart Of The Atom", a very groovy tale from firebrand writer Harlan Ellison, featuring ol' Greenskin's adventures in a sub-atomic world and highlighting Herb's exciting and expressive style in all its Kirby-esque glory.
RIP Herb Trimpe
( Check out some wonderful reviews of Mr. Trimpe's work at
this long-lost blog. )
I second the recommendation for the Cryptic Critic's blog. I popped over there last night to revisit a time when I had just discovered comics blogs , but I hadn't yet joined blogger or figured out how to communicate with people. Anyway, who should I see there? - None other than your good self ( different avatar ). It must be strange, seeing this period in time from before your illness.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't mind me asking, how were you feeling back then, when I didn't know you?
Hi John. It looks like the "Herb Trimpe's Hulk" blog finished in October 2010 and, to be honest, I wasn't in a very good place at the time. I'd lost my mum in the June of that year and we were having a nightmare of a time, trying to sell her bungalow with little success. It all worked out in the end but it was a very stressful time.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it's good to hear from you, mate. Hope you are well.
That's one of my all-time favourite Hulk covers - and one of my favourite Hulk stories. Trimpe left behind a remarkable legacy of tales.
ReplyDeleteOoh blimey, the verification codes on Blogger are getting ever more Baroque. I've just been asked to click on photos of wine bottles to prove I'm not a robot.
ReplyDeleteI adore the title "The Brute That Shouted Love At The Heart Of The Atom".
ReplyDelete@Steve
ReplyDeleteIt's a great little ( ho ho ) story, isn't it? As well as the cool artwork there's also the added bonus of one of Ellison's rare comic book scripts. Whatever happened to him? :-)
BTW Steve, your tribute to Herb Trimpe on your blog was immensely moving and one of the best appreciations of his work I've seen. Lovely stuff.
@Tom
It's a cracking title, alright, and very much of its time. I know comics aren't your "thing" so thanks for commenting, mate. Hope you are well.
Your new post has just come up on my blog list, it seems, so apologies for not responding sooner. Wasn't Herb's art great, and, inked by John Severin, even greater? It was the same when Kirby was inked by Wood - pure gold, with varnish on top. Did Harlan Ellison actually write that Hulk tale, or was it adapted from a short story of his? Roy Thomas usually did things like that.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Cer, hope you're in a good place in your life at the moment and that it continues for a long time.
Thanks for the praise, cerebus. :)
ReplyDelete@Kid
ReplyDeleteThat Trimpe / Severin combo was indeed a thing of beauty. As for Hulk 140 - the credits say "Harlan Ellison ( story ) and Roy Thomas ( adaptation )." On the letters page it says Ellison "...did the basic plot of this issue and the current Avengers as well, as one gigantic story." Roy Thomas also included a ton of Ellison titles in the text of the issue, from well-known stories like "Repent Harlequin..." to the more obscure like "Try A Dull Knife" - hours of fun finding them all :-)
@Steve
No problem, mate. The praise is well deserved. I always find your posts witty, entertaining and deeply felt. Keep up the great work!