![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroD0zsQo_n_iCF7pomUab6O1KiZM1Zhu-fhEZp6gLrNuseq0w-XM7BvvLV8Fhyphenhyphen6PSyNZR2zpRlZvn8JB3Bkdv13yjEmmnYoLElyaJiYPWGrPWv2EXvgFZr6T-fOL8jkEp-f7g20_FlA/s320/salbuscemapunch6.JPG) |
(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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhK0UF39XPLnW68u09ffi9QsPqeeA0TmDGkp2IhVDUaYWCbEz4Q-3zz9WceIjHbzEhPeTGpt80OF60wLApNNXjqe4QVCKDLgufYQ4epcMBafUtGHi2a6hDYtIwFXQ4oDa7KWeB5z8kFQ/s320/salbuscemapunch2.JPG) |
(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!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0AvQvAuV_Dzr3gvHiBL_yR6wD2Sa4vYxGrQf0kjaUdvkTsFs5YQCJfGTosghAan57ZmyAx5VwaL2J3bnGg_3KoL2QbnLFbau__Zl9XvaxRBeo92Vixs89thyphenhyphenAOqyVDPHwoyQkFMdmw/s320/salbuscemapunch3.JPG) |
(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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HjgtZnwulxC8FGyHpAY46CpvuyvBBRxqfrp0So1kuwWIOCAgmYAWXDjnItGnhOZAYy7seq_Us2MRHWZoxGCYbH3xsa9tEWWPWt5TXUlKI3r_8RrT6U9C_1KUYzM5gEl0pwUWok8jMQ/s320/salbuscemapunch4.JPG) |
(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?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieopKWDK24V8iKG3_d82o4nNo89olDRsuvwu-GSz157dXRklTAFCjdQjDV9SFSLcJVKN3ioKi138QT0IhgPM-pLVEpKL7B56FY4VJuSAZoSn-nQ17XVAez8U6dCy_948Ktwuj0V2TyBw/s320/salbuscemapunch5.JPG) |
(Spectacular Spider-Man #168, written by Gerry Conway, art by Sal Buscema)
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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.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnG6OxhWHF_mulOttRYBrvJ7kdpack87nABjDH5ZnZC0b-kpGYUpSYrHK_rm2qzpKRTgvnCiPnqRGB7_8xW2ZsyiTbYdsFvsGxXFQVUENgimhURXbkVfaS5_ARZ5MO9Zkogbpt2WztZQ/s320/salbuscemapunch1.JPG) |
(Spectacular Spider-Man #138, written by Gerry Conway, art by Sal Buscema) |
But, you know, Spider-Man, what's good for the goose...
You've made me want to search through all my old Hulks and Rom: Spaceknights. The Sal Buscema Punch appears in them all over the place. It's an awesomely iconic image, that is seared into my brain.
ReplyDeleteI did in fact even check Rom issue #1. I have a copy signed by Sal himself! (Thanks, Monzo!) It, sadly, does not have The Punch.
--Andrew S.
(It does have a bunch of screams, though.)