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Let’s play a gamę. Let’s take a typical Marvel Comics situation—something that might happen in an AVENGERS story—and draw it in two different ways. The tirst set of drawings will be fair, the way any comicbook company might do it. The second set of drawings will be done in the mighty Marvel style.

The fun will come as we compare the two versions and study the differences.

On the facing page we present our first version—the way any average comicbook might present such a story. Let’s take a good look and see what’s happening ...

As you can see, the page begins with some sort of nutty monster breaking into Avengers headquarters. Panel 2 shows the reaction of three of our heroes. Panel 3 shows Cap, Iron Man, and The Vision rushing to do battle with the intruder. Panel 4 has ol’ Shell-head swinging at the big bad behemoth. In panel 5 the monster has grabbed and lifted Iron Man, about to do him irreparable bodily harm. And finally, panel 6 shows Cap and The Vision pondering their next move. Got the picture? Good!

Now then, the set of drawings obviously tells the story well enough. We can see what’s happening, and the characters are certainly recognizable. But* they're lacking in heroism, in raw drama, in sheer excitement. Most of the layouts are too vertical (too straght-up-and-down). The figures of the heroes are somewhat stiff and lacking in power and dynamism. Too many of the panels have all the main elements placed too neatly in the center.

Well, we could go on and on. But it’ll be easier just to turn the page and see how it’s done the Marvel way!