Captivating Cover: The Cobra Shrinking Ray
Comic book covers often utilize exaggerated and fanciful depictions of scale for effect. I thought that was the case here, but apparently that’s meant to be an actual tiny Hawk in danger of being flattened by the comparatively huge fist of Cobra Commander. Guess I should have read the title from the get-go.
These Marvel-produced coloring books seem to have a different feel to them, at least in terms of the cover art. There’s less reliance on poses that resemble key art, as if the artists were given a bit more free reign with their depictions. Then again, this one is a little plain. It’s too bad there aren’t more Joe represented on the Commander’s giant table, or a few outsized props to further emphasize the size difference. Maybe a large beaker, or unexplained spool of thread. You know, the sort of image that would do Bert I. Gordon proud.
Everything in the 80’s had to have a “Shrinking” episode
The Commander is awesome here!
Do they credit the artists somewhere in the book? As a long-time Spider-Man reader, that looks like some awesome Buscema artwork there.
We are left with the “Is it Duke or Hawk?” question. Uniform style implies Duke…but camo pants imply Hawk. Puttees or puttee-like Boots are neither! (Well, 1992 Duke had puttees)