Dr. Love

and another beauty. A census topper - and I know that's gotta be a deep, rich purple on that cover. I've always enjoyed that shot, she's a cutie. (thumbs u

Shoulda known it was yours, BK! Outstanding!!

A little Cole eye candy

One of my favs. If you prefer lush Cole over psychedelic Cole, this cover's for you.

A mood piece. How different artists interpret rain is always interesting.

I know, I know, but...it's got LB's sensibility in terms of editing, it's a powerful study in primary colors. And as one of the few (less than 10) Liz Taylor comic book photo covers, it rocks (name the others for a no-prize).

Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in

Marvel had some great photo covers. Goodman went for a niche somewhere between Fawcett's slice of apple pie photo covers and Fox's racy drawn covers. That often resulted in suggestive titles, amusing dialogue balloons, interesting photo treatments (sepia, for example), and just plain weird shots.

Thanks for the thread time, gents (and ladies, few though you might be)!

OK, twist my arm jimbo! One last one, then - the Timely/Atlas romance holy grail, Girl Comics 3. This is as good a copy as I've ever found in many years of looking.

And while you guys have been most generous in providing a warm reception to these books, I fear my time here is running short. The undead of horror and the dead of war are close behind!

Bill Everett is revered in this forum, and rightly so. Though his talent was large, in romance, his cover output was, shall we say, small. Here's most of it. Enjoy!

.... a lot of people insist on calling Colletta a hack.... but they OBVIOUSLY have never seen his Atlas romance output. Some of the strongest images in the genre in my opinion. GOD BLESS...

 

-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u

Amen to what jimbo said. Vinnie C. was one of the major contributors to the genre. While Colletta produced much of his own complete covers, when he inked Kirby's pencils, as reportedly in the beautiful My Own Romance 62, it worked to both artists' benefit.

And here's Colletta on his own.

Thanks, I lucked out on that Hawk.

I haven't posted any Baker love in a while, so...

Going Steady 10. The first in this real short and sweet silent run. We all know the Steadys are a beotch to find in nice shape. Late in the game for Mr. Matt, in all respects.

Hollywood Pictorial 3. Sorry, but you St. John completists need this one too. One Baker story inside. It's true, even for photo covers, it's . Nevertheless, hard to track down - one 9.4 in the census, that's it. Lack of interest?

Pictorial Romances 15. Only one original 9 pg Baker story - not a lot of output in this issue compared to some of the others in this run (Giants!). And this is one of the split panel covers from 1952, the year the editors decided to shake it up and try something new visually. Romance had imploded, all the publishers were either out or freaking about getting pushed out.

Still, a real nice main panel - nice inking on the oil field, and the guy's profile is detailed and refined rather than sloppy and brutish.

Change of pace. Pre and post code love.

Bad-azz Baker

You'd best not go robbing banks in The Hawk's town

yeh b*tchin aint it? Schomburg's other job in between drawing funny books...and other pulps...and paperbacks

PM sent

Hey Roland!

Burning the midnight oil, babysitting that DD auction? Shameless plug! GLWTS

the real treasure-house is your fabulous romance collection. Believe me, folks, the Bakers are just one great part of something larger...I knew if anyone would have the books I mentioned it would be you!

It's actually a good question as it pertains to Baker.

The answer is very very few - four, to be exact (not including side panels). Out of many, many covers. In order of appearance they are

- Diary Secrets 12 - June, 1952. Not a drawn cover per se, some would say not even a Baker.

- True Love Pictorial 2 - Feb, 1953

- Wartime Romances 15 - May, 1953

- Diary Secrets 20 - Sept, 1953

Baker and St. John bucked the trend that was so early established by Kirby at Prize, and copied so many times afterwards that a crying woman and the romance genre became inextricably linked. Consider this piece, one of Roy Lichtenstein's earliest and most famous works: Drowning Girl (1963). A swipe of DC's Secret Hearts 83, btw.

The flavor of the St. John line, due in large part to Archer St. John's editorial direction, is very fully covered in the marvelous book, Romance Without Tears.

Romance experts. Which was the first tear drop cover in comics?

Oh curious one, do not disturb the shade of Matt Baker by engaging other spirits. In the Baker thread, there can be only one. All else are number two, or less.

The answer you seek lies

HERE

Romance experts. Which was the first tear drop cover in comics?

Young Romance #3, Jan. 1948

It was only one drop, but from such small beginnings, did mighty rivers flow.

Speaking of the TAR 9, I have definitely seen that signature before on romance books. "Nance" or "Nancy". Big big sweeping N. I think it's the same sig on the Saddle Romances 9 in CL's auction tonight.

Look familiar to anybody else?

Beautiful, simply beautiful. Mood pieces, each one. Heck of a group shot, great arrangement!

On 25, I've always loved the way B portrayed her eyes - a shift to the right so clearly accessing visual and auditory memories.

I'm a real big fan of 26 too. Coffee Shop Last Call.

A new arrival.

 

That is one beautiful copy of a the Baker grail. The highest graded copy currently is a 7.5. This book could be right there, and if the back is as nice as the front, even better.

The crown jewel for what must be a royal Baker collection! Congrats to comixnoir on acquiring a rare gem!

too much tequila hombre

This is an interesting cover. By the time it was published Baker was already gone from St John. This feels like an unfinished sketch that was filled in. I find the character posing evocative - the juxtaposition of the man's nonchalant hand in pocket with his woman's arm threaded through in a tender clutch.

However, the background is atrocious, both in terms of composition and coloring. The bullpen doesn't have to be landscape quality, but those clouds (cumulus, btw, and a favorite staple of certain artists like Colletta, who made it an art form in itself) are just wrong. The perspective is alarming. It suggests they're on top of a very high mountain, in which case the foliage is off. And then adding those strange cirrus clouds, coming in from the right edge. The two tone sky coloring, and what's that color extension on the left all about?

Individually, those elements are a mess. But in this case is the sum greater than the parts? does this cover work for you and mesh upon first sight?

yeh sure but very appropriately graded and priced - I've seen many here that would call that a fine or reach for a little more

isn't this book hard to come by or do I not know what I'm talking about?

I may be wrong but just ran across this on the bay on I think this is desirable for your pch guys - not my book, just looking out for you, its just who I am

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GHOST-BREAKERS-2-1948-COMIC-STREET-AND-SMITH-/111192126706?pt=US_Comic_Books&hash=item19e39134f2

One of you guys needs to get this quick - aint my book btw just window shopping and noticed it

Ringo Kid 2 F $40 - very nice grading

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RINGO-KID-2-1954-PRE-CODE-ATLAS-COMIC-/111192330162?pt=US_Comic_Books&hash=item19e3944fb2

gone - hopefully to one of our own dudes