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"A Portfolio of Robert E. Howard", Savage Sword of Conan #15, October 1976, art by Howard Chaykin, John Buscema, Tim Conrad, John Byrne, and Marie and John Severin

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a Moon Knight, Vol. 9 # 01 Variant by John Romita, Jr., with Inks by J.P. Mayer, and Colors by Matt Wilson. The variant was also published as a "virgin" cover in a 1/200 ratio, and the sketch cover the second printing variant.

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Elric, by Michael T. Gilbert, with Inks and Colors by P. Craig Russell, Letters by Tom Orzechowski, and a Script by Roy Thomas.

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Amazing Spider-Man #419 pg 14 & 15 by Steve Skroce and Bud LaRosa

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Steve Skroce did a cover recreation of Spider-Man 316 as a commission.

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Gambit, Vol. 1 Trade Cover, by Lee Weeks.

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Spider-Man in the rain by John Romita, Jr., with Inks by Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Colors by Frank Martin.

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Gambit, by Lee Weeks.

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John Buscema - Avengers #50 (1968) Source, source

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New X-Men Character Design Concept Art by Frank Quitely

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WHERE NOW THE HORSE AND THE RIDER-Aka how I just had a Tolkien related freak out on the train

I can't believe what just happened to me. As in, it's such a weird chain of events that it has left me a little dizzy.

I was reading "Les Nourritures Terrestres" by Gide, and I got to a point he cites parts of a poem which I liked very much. The notes informed me that it's a French translation of "an 8th century saxon elegy called 'The Wanderer' "

That intrigued me, and, being on a train with a lot of time to pass (plus being a little tired of reading in French), I took out my phone and searched for the poem.

I found it here. It's the lament of a warrior in exile who has lost his lord and mourns the joy and glory of a world that has now disappeared. I was enjoying it a lot.

And then I got to this point:

And my mouth actually dropped open, because what?

Are you telling me that the Lament for the Rohirrim, one of my favourite poems in LOTR, which I learnt by heart at 13 and later took care to learn in the original English, which I sing when I do the dishes and which routinely makes me cry, is Tolkien's translation of an 8th century Saxon elegy?

Well, the notes at the end of the page confirmed it:

"Tolkien's rendition is hard to resist" I bet it is. I love that professional philologists add notes to their work saying "yeah, by the way, this bit here? It's in your favourite fantasy novel, and I am kinda jealous of how well it was translated, but it's Tolkien, the man spoke Old English, what can you do? Carry on, xoxo"

I mean, I had gathered that the Tolkien poem played on themes used in medieval literature, but I had no idea it was based on an actual, specific text. That makes it a hundred times cooler!

Maybe it's common knowledge, but it was a delicious tidbit of good news to me. Especially since I wasn't expecting it in the least, so I was blindsided by it.

Cherry on top? I had ignored the Old English text, since I don't understand it, but at the end I gave it a cursory read , and the line "Alas for the splendor of the prince"? "Eala þeodnes þrym!"

Now, I have never studied Old English, but I know roughly how to pronounce it (what kind of Silmarillion fan would I be if I didn’t recognize the thorn?). þeodnes has to be where "Theoden" comes from, right?

Apparently yes. I googled the "Lament for the Rohirrim", and Tolkien Gathaway has a nice little parapraph in which they explain all this. I don't know why I had never read it before, but it was a lot more fun learning it as an unexpected detour from my French practice, not gonna lie.

Bottom line: Tolkien was a both a nerd and a genius and continues to make my life brighter, and this is one of those moments in which I am very happy I have spent years of my life learning languages.

Thanks for coming to my impromptu TedTalk.

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the Pirate Queen of Pinghai Bay, by Travel Foreman.

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some Travel Foreman artwork.

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the Immortal Iron Fist, Vol. 1 # 20 by Travel Foreman

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John Buscema - Avengers Annual #2 Cover Original Art (Marvel, 1968) Source