BB-Gun

From a Flickr friend (Terry McCombs) I got the following comment: For a touch of irony, the company that published Crown Comics, Golfing / McCombs (no relation) was also the company in the 50’s that published Seduction of the Innocent, the book that almost put the comic book industry out of business.

I thought a comparison would be interesting since Mr. Door Tree has posted the originals. The color helped a lot. Like in the horror comics. Sets the mood...

I like the full size Speeds too and other Harvey issues. I saved this cover from the dust bin. Names are trimmed off to protect the innocent. and westerns by ME don't get any respect either. I posted these in another thread but I thought you guys needed to see something besides cheerleaders. Boy Howdy! You do! bb

That is some great artwork. BB, can you post the rest of this story? OK, and a big thank you to Mr. Door Tree who provided us with posts of this gem. bb

I will try to post the rest of the story but you could probably find several stories worth reading at Mr. Door Tree's website. By the way, Wood put so much detail in his drawings that you would think he couldn't get paid enough for the hours he put in. Baker and Frazetta produced figures with less detail which were just as effective. However, Frazetta'a originals show a lot more detail than the comics. The colorist added a lot to his work too. bb

Since Feldstein and Baker worked together on Crown then it is interesting to see what Feldstein did in romance comics without Baker. Thanks to Mr. Door Tree for posting this stuff. Check his site for the complete stories.

Nice looking copy but where is the BZ tattoo?

This issue was used for some of the scans in Alter Ego 47. Not the same issue but another. Pretty good Baker stuff. I don't know who did the cover. Not Baker I think but reminds me of Elder. bb

My mistake. The Baker illustrations are from Rage 3, April 1957. I always confuse the two issues because I purchased them at the same time. bb

By the way, the Rage scans are mine and the Crown scans are from GA.UK.com Ed.: Incorrectly identified source of scans as Fury when they were actually from Rage.

I previously posted these illos by Matt Baker from Rage. I think there are a few more in the magazine. The work was good. He also did some good work for Crown but the art was a little less realistic than his romance comics and more like Skygirl. Perhaps it was the inker again. I like what Feldstein did but I am not sure about the others. Crown 7 Crown 5

Feldstein was given credit for inking this cover by JVJ. I think that was a pretty good observation. Baker and Feldstein made an interesting combination. Feldstein also illustrated other stories in Crown after Baker left I think. The trees and vines look more like pure Feldstein. Voodah changed from black to white to asian and back to black during the run. Talk about confusion. bb

Did Feldstein ink this story?

Thanks BZ! That was a fun blog. bb

According to the article in AE 47, Baker's earliest work was published in Jumbo 69. bb I tried to sell this issue last year and found no takers.

According to the articles that are in AE 47, Matt lost a pretty good job when St. John folded. He had a heart condition according to his nephew Matt and his Half-brother Fred Robinson. His health wasn't good but he kept working and smoking and probably eating the wrong things. I don't think he did well while working for Marvel since Coletta inked a lot of his work which obscured Baker's pencils. I wonder what the art looked like when Feldstein did the inks? Perhaps that explains the Crown comics covers, or probably not. It sounds more like Baker was a victim of the times. His talent wasn't recognized by the people that made Al Capp famous and other cartoonist of the time. Even Barks spent a long time in obscurity. bb (ed: changed name to Fred, oops)

That is a nice cover. What was the number? I think Baker's inker made a big difference. He did such great work and needed someone to do him justice. I thought Baker's health was poor near the end of his career. bb

Love those giant robots. bb

Is Martin Taras the guy that did Baby Huey and other strips for Harvery? bb

Fabulous! I agree about the covers -- do you think this one is a team effort with Peter on Man o' Metal and Everett on Hydro-Man? Not as gooped up with captions and logos as some GA covers -- at least they're out of the way. One of the few Golden Age sets that I'd consider chasing. Far enough off most collectors' radar that the prices aren't too crazy. (OK, maybe I'd wait and buy each issue after ciorac has it -- working on a full run or just selected issues?) Jack I think the cover of Heroic 8 is alll Everett. I like the later issues that he didn't do also. But I particularly like the Hydroman covers. bb

I picked up the Frazetta cover at the NYCC after bargaining with the guys at Metropolis. Who says they don't bargain? I almost lost it when I left it at the restaurant after dinner. The hostess saved it for me. Whew! I was back on the Tarrytown train home by 7 PM. I turn into a pumpkin by 9 PM... or at least a vegetable. bb

I do like those early Heroic covers. I tried to post this before but I don't know if it made it through. bb

I like those Timely funny animals but I like my Straight Arrow too. I got a bunch of those recently and here are a couple of scans. bb

I think we have to give equal time to opposing thoughts on creation according to current politically correct procedures. So I am posting the Albert and Pogo view of the origin of the species by hysterical selection. Don't say it ain't signtiffick, cause it was. bb thanx to GA.UK Animal 14

Don't forget Benson's book which provides a background for St. John and Baker. bb