Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Target and the Targeteers-Sd Greene-1941


Probably best remembered a san inker at DC from the fifties on, here's Sid Greene with a solid early appearance on THE TARGET. Obviously still a tad amateurish but one can detect Eisner and Fine influences already.










Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Boitram the Boiglar


I kind of like Art Helfant's old skool big foot style. He did so many single and double page fillers for so many Golden Age publishers I feel like I somehow know him. Here are a few BOITRAM THE BOIGLAR episodes from TARGET COMICS.




Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Melody-Gill Fox-1954


Gill Fox, known for his Good Girl Art, here presents more of a female Archie clone. Fox would have a long and successful career in various aspects of the comics field  as well as becoming quite a historian of the field itself.





Monday, May 28, 2012

Vulcan-Jack Alderman-1941


Jack Alderman, artist on VULCAN--a sort of Human Torch without all that messy fire--, was one of those jack-of-all-trades cartoonists who not only did superheroes but also romances, westerns, war, horror and even Looney Tunes!














Sunday, May 27, 2012

Don "Q"-Vernon Henkel-1942


Don Q, international man of mystery, here comes across as essentially Eisner's Spirit with a monocle instead of a mask, all nicely drawn by Vernon Henkel. 






Saturday, May 26, 2012

Super Shmoo-Al Capp's Shmoo-1949

 This story of Al Capp's breakout LI'L ABNER characters, the Shmoos, reminds me of one of DC's Bizarro World tales from a decade later, right down to the supersuit. The only thing I know for sure about the artist is that it wasn't Capp who never actually did any of the comics based on his strip.










Friday, May 25, 2012

Mr. "E"-Charles Sultan-1947

 I'm going to quote from a Wiki page here on this guy because I doubt I could say it any better---Mr. E appealed for guidance and assistance to a statue of a ancient tribal god named King Kolah which he found in the ruins of a prehistoric city. Housed in a hidden subterranean temple beneath his home, Kolah presented Mr. E with visions that led him to criminals. The idol also gave him and gave Mr. E the assistance of his elven messengers, the Messengers of Justice. The messengers were small gnome-like creatures who could shapeshift into blackbirds and wreaked mischief against Mr. E's enemies. The names of some of the creatures were Butch, Zipper, Tim and Spike. Mr. E used his visions and assistant gnomes to fight crime in Washington DC. Mr. E dated a girl named Miss Terry. Mr. E is seen with both blonde or black hair.