The Sal Buscema Punch

(Spectacular Spider-Man #149, written by Gerry Conway, art by Sal Buscema)

Sal Buscema has basically drawn everything at this point. If Marvel published a book in the '70s or '80s, Sal Buscema probably penciled or inked an issue of it. He's always been one of my favorite artists - he draws the angriest Hulk, the craziest Green Goblin, and the punching-a-guy-in-the-face-iest Spider-Man. The fights in a Sal Buscema book are invariably crazy - people hit each other so hard there's a little explosion at the point of impact, all while screaming at each other with characteristically angular, over-the-top facial expressions. And when that fight's coming to an end, Spider-Man's going to punch a guy so hard that the guy's gonna flip backwards, a gape-mouthed expression of shock on his face. This happens a lot - so much that I have dubbed it the Sal Buscema Punch.

(Spectacular Spider-Man #157, written by Gerry Conway, art by Sal Buscema and Mike Esposito)

Look, Spider-Man's punching Electro so hard he's flying out of the panel!

(Spectacular Spider-Man #164, written by Gerry Conway, art by Sal Buscema)

Some say the Beetle reformed because he wanted to be a better person, and also because of the sweet, sweet lovin' of a pro wrestler. But I think he just didn't want to be on the receiving end of another Sal Buscema Punch.

(Spectacular Spider-Man #168, art by Sal Buscema)

Hey, it's a Cover Sal Buscema Punch! Does that mean we're not gonna get one inside the issue?

(Spectacular Spider-Man #168, written by Gerry Conway, art by Sal Buscema)

Nope.

(And do not even ask what prompted this. It involves terminally goofy '80s supergroup the Young Gods, d-list Spider-Man allies the Outlaws, and a Space Phantom.)

(Spectacular Spider-Man #138, written by Gerry Conway, art by Sal Buscema)

But, you know, Spider-Man, what's good for the goose...