The Life of Riley-Mike Sekowsky-1958

Although a prolific artist since the late forties, Mike Sekowsky's style wasn't always easily recognizable. Here, from the last year of its long radio/TV run, THE LIFE OF RILEY (with a well-caricatured William Bendix) presents Sekowsky just before he drew the earliest JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA stories. His style has solidified into his easily identifiable signature style.

Mike the Mascot-Big Shot Comics-1941

More absolutely beautiful and totally forgotten cartooning from a completely unidentified artist.

Birdman-1968

Perhaps one of the worst written superhero stories of them all, this senseless three-page TV tie-in has okay art--I love that spaceship in the splash panel--by an anonymous Gold Key artist. To today's readers it's of interest to see Birdman before he went to law school. 

The Fountain of Age-Doug Wildey-1958

Were he still alive, Doug Wildey would have turned 91 years of age yesterday. Here's a story he drew some 54 years ago. It's not one of his best but it still has that special, almost-cinematic touch he gave his comics art. Fitting for someone who, at that point, was just about to move into animation.

Slug-Nutty Sam-Fred Schwab-1941

Fred Schwab channels Jack Cole...practically before Jack Cole himself was doing Jack Cole. An influence, perhaps? 

Spy Fighter-Leonard Frank-1940

Apparently created by (and possibly written by) Will Eisner, Saber the Spy Fighter's adventures were drawn by Leonard Frank, better known for the better-drawn CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT a few years later at Fawcett.

Chic Carter-Vernon Henkel-1941

Here's some more Quality quality with Vernon Henkel's CHIC CARTER. Chic hung around for ages as a back-up strip and was perhaps comics' only part-time superhero. Every once in a while, he'd don a costume and mask and take up a sword as...THE SWORD. Not here though. Henkel continued working as a commercial illustrator for decades and finally passed in 2009.