Get ready Match-heads… coming later this week we’ve got an interview with Pat Broderick! That’s right, the artist who launched The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man back in 1982! To remind you just how great he is, today we’ve got a cool unpublished version of the cover to The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #2!
I first became aware of this unpublished cover through our good friend Jon from FIZZIT, the Firestorm-themed blog! In addition to finding the cover, Jon noticed some interesting notes in the margins. Head over to the FIZZIT blog for the specifics on the notes. Below you’ll see a side-by-side comparison of the unpublished version and the final version. There are lots of little variances, but the most obvious differences to me include: Firestorm’s pose, the missing Hookah, Rabbit’s face, and the Caterpillar’s face and head. Check them out below. Then read further down for comments from Pat Broderick himself!
I reached out to Pat Broderick asking what he could tell us about the cover and about the notes in the margin. He was kind enough to respond with the following:
May I point out that first, the missing object didn’t make it past DC’s editorial department. Which at the time I thought was funny since its part of the original Wonderland story. I’m speaking of the Hookah. The notes at the bottom? The one on the right is mine, the one on the left is Dicks. The reason was most likely because he was way over worked at the time. After the requested changes it became a tighter deadline so most likely Dick had to step in and ink it to meet the deadline…Funny how things work out. It’s my opinion that the first composition made a better cover.
Awesome to hear Pat’s perspective on the cover! Below you’ll find a much larger version of the cover for you to enjoy. Be sure to click the image to enlarge!
And here is the final colored version!
My thanks to Pat Broderick for the information on this cover! Check back here later in the week for our interview with Pat Broderick!
Also, my thanks to Jon from FIZZIT for inspiring this post! If you are interested in purchasing this original unpublished cover (and have $1,950 to spare), check it out on Comic Link!
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I agree with Mr. Broderick, the original was a better composition. And the hookah’s presence would have made the Wonderland connection clearer. Every time I see the cover as published, I always ask myself, who is that giant turd man?
Very kool indeed! It wasnt until I saw this, that I realised I really miss Dick Giordano’s inks. DG always added abit of flair to the pencil art with his inks! As can be seen on this awesome Broderick cover!