Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Matt Baker Romance Comics


Matt Baker (December 10, 1921 – August 11, 1959) was an American comic book artist who drew the costumed crimefighter Phantom Lady, among many other characters. Active in the 1940s and 1950s Golden Age of comic books, he is the first known African-American artist to find success in the comic-book industry. He also penciled the very first graphic novel, St. John Publications' digest-sized "picture novel" It Rhymes with Lust (1950). Baker was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2009. (from Wikipedia)

Here's some romance comics with cover art by Baker.


Teenage Temptations #1, October 1952.


True Love Pictorial #6, October 1953.


Wartime Romances #17, September 1953.


Teen-Age Romances #2, April 1949.


Teen-Age Romances #3, July 1949.


Teen-Age Romances #42, March 1955.


Giant Comics Editions #15, 1950.

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Walt Reed Illustration Archive


Artstor has the Walt Reed illustration Archive online here. Reed was the author of The Illustrator in America and the founder of The Illustration House. This collection consists of over 200,000 magazine tear sheets depicting works by American illustrators from the late 19th century well into the mid 20th century. Posted below are a few samples I found from just a few minutes browsing.


Unknown artist.


N.C. Wyeth


Coby Whitmore


Arthur Sarnoff


Rockwell Kent

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Gahan Wilson Needs Your Help



Gahan Wilson, one of the funniest cartoonists ever to put pen to paper, is suffering from dementia. I have laughed and enjoyed his work in the pages of National Lampoon, Playboy, and lots of other publications for decades. His step-son is raising money for memory care for him, you can donate to the fund here. Even if you can't donate a few bucks, please share this on your social media or on your own blogs.

Below is what I think is one of his funniest cartoons ever.