OtherEric Posted April 8 Share Posted April 8 On 4/7/2024 at 10:27 AM, Yorick said: It pains me to see his work towards the end.... If the signature wasn't visible I don't know that I would believe this was his. From Out of This World #14: Point Five 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorick Posted April 8 Share Posted April 8 On 4/7/2024 at 9:32 PM, OtherEric said: Out of This World #14 At least he used a brush. The plain pen lines in my example (If We Should Ever Meet) are a low point. Point Five and OtherEric 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Changer Posted April 8 Share Posted April 8 On 4/7/2024 at 9:32 PM, OtherEric said: If the signature wasn't visible I don't know that I would believe this was his. From Out of This World #14: looks more like Ditko, did he have health issues affecting his work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plady69 Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 On 4/8/2024 at 5:32 PM, szav said: He did. It's discussed a bit in Art of Glamour as I recall. Heart issues. And his work seemed to drop in quality after the death of Archer St. John, and the collapse of the company, and the downturn in the comic industry in general in the late 50s when it wasn't as easy to find work. Sad. Did not know that. Thanks for the important history lesson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorick Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 My recollection was that his heart issue picked up after Archer's death and he wasn't physically able (hand shaking etc) to produce the perfection he was known for. I can't find the data online, but it's probably here in the threads prior 675 pages... Mavrick76, Point Five, comicnoir and 1 other 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorick Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 OtherEric and Point Five 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Point Five Posted April 13 Popular Post Share Posted April 13 (edited) Here's a toughie. Edited April 13 by Point Five Microbia, pmpknface, MBFan and 10 others 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendelbo Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 What a great thread. Makes me wanna dive into these waters... Point Five 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Point Five Posted April 13 Popular Post Share Posted April 13 On 4/12/2024 at 8:47 PM, grendelbo said: What a great thread. Makes me wanna dive into these waters... Luckily, collecting Bakers is famously non-addictive and you'll DEFINITELY stop with just one. Changer, pmpknface, MBFan and 3 others 2 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Darwination Posted April 13 Popular Post Share Posted April 13 (edited) It's cheap, too! Deals everywhere New Baker sighting this week in the pulp scans group. The scanner was just after one story, but I was able to confirm that likely the entire issue is Matt Baker illustrated (which I knew was likely the case) Not my scans here, Terror Detective Magazine, February 1956, a crime digest from Everett Arnold. I hesitate to even show this thing in such sharky waters (and absolutely do keep some Baker secrets to myself ). What a fantastic cover this is (artist unknown): Harlan Ellison, Day Keene, Edward Hoch are among the authors in the issue, totally killer, I'd love to get my hands on it. and I found the auction where it came from and another illo, very likely all the splashes are Baker Edited April 13 by Darwination grendelbo, MBFan, Point Five and 6 others 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OtherEric Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 (edited) On 4/12/2024 at 9:12 PM, Darwination said: It's cheap, too! Deals everywhere New Baker sighting this week in the pulp scans group. The scanner was just after one story, but I was able to confirm that likely the entire issue is Matt Baker illustrated (which I knew was likely the case) Not my scans here, Terror Detective Magazine, February 1956, a crime digest from Everett Arnold. I hesitate to even show this thing in such sharky waters (and absolutely do keep some Baker secrets to myself ). What a fantastic cover this is (artist unknown): Harlan Ellison, Day Keene, Edward Hoch are among the authors in the issue, totally killer, I'd love to get my hands on it. and I found the auction where it came from and another illo, very likely all the splashes are Baker I've got the first book publication of the Ellison story: It's the first story in the book. Edited April 13 by OtherEric pmpknface, grendelbo, Darwination and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBFan Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 On 4/12/2024 at 11:12 PM, Darwination said: It's cheap, too! Deals everywhere New Baker sighting this week in the pulp scans group. The scanner was just after one story, but I was able to confirm that likely the entire issue is Matt Baker illustrated (which I knew was likely the case) Not my scans here, Terror Detective Magazine, February 1956, a crime digest from Everett Arnold. I hesitate to even show this thing in such sharky waters (and absolutely do keep some Baker secrets to myself ). What a fantastic cover this is (artist unknown): Harlan Ellison, Day Keene, Edward Hoch are among the authors in the issue, totally killer, I'd love to get my hands on it. and I found the auction where it came from and another illo, very likely all the splashes are Baker That Gang Girl splash is a nice example of Baker pencils and Baker inks from an era when much of his comic book work was mangled by the inking of Vince Colletta. Darwination 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darwination Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 I see uncredited Baker, am I crazy? From Star's True-to-Life Romances #7, April 1951. The first story, Illusion of Love Yorick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamstrange Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 On 4/15/2024 at 10:03 PM, Darwination said: I see uncredited Baker Get your vision tested On 4/15/2024 at 10:03 PM, Darwination said: am I crazy? MB1952, MBFan and Darwination 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MBFan Posted April 16 Popular Post Share Posted April 16 (edited) On 4/15/2024 at 9:03 PM, Darwination said: I see uncredited Baker, am I crazy? From Star's True-to-Life Romances #7, April 1951. The first story, Illusion of Love To be generous, MAYBE someone was trying to copy Baker's style for the girls' expressions, but that does not look like authentic Matt Baker art to me. In 1951 he was busy turning out stellar work for St. John. That I know of, the only Baker art in a Star publication is in All Famous Police Cases #7. “Death Is Its Only Reward”, featuring Inspector Layton, appears to be a previously unused Inspector Dayton story from Baker’s time at the Iger Shop. And the leading lady in that story epitomizes the work Baker was doing at the shop during those days. Edited April 16 by MBFan Darwination, adamstrange, Kevin.J and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Dr. Love Posted April 16 Popular Post Share Posted April 16 (edited) LOL. Agree with adamstrange and MBFan. By 1951 Baker was body and soul with Archer St. John, having worked for him for 3 years. He wasn't a free lance artist pitching stories for Fiction House or the Iger shop anymore; he had stepped up bigly. He was the main man, an African American given the reins for a considerable monthly portion of St. John's output. Covers and 2-4 interior stories per book on 3 running romance titles as well as Authentic Police Cases and the Texan. He didn't have the time to do a story for the Cole shop. What does body language tell you in this shot of Matt and Archer? That's the logistical side. On the artistic side, Baker's women could perhaps by copied by some, as we've seen from time to time. But his men - never. No one would care to. By 1951, you can always tell a Baker by how the men are drawn. And these men aren't his. Edited April 16 by Dr. Love Kevin.J, Point Five, MBFan and 6 others 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darwination Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 (edited) I defer to you gentle men's better judgment. There is a Baker attribution elsewhere in the series (along with Iger Shop attributions, and my thoughts were more along the lines of shopwork) at GCD but not solid. Edited April 16 by Darwination Dr. Love 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MBFan Posted April 16 Popular Post Share Posted April 16 On 4/15/2024 at 10:11 PM, Dr. Love said: LOL. Agree with adamstrange and MBFan. By 1951 Baker was body and soul with Archer St. John, having worked for him for 3 years. He wasn't a free lance artist pitching stories for Fiction House or the Iger shop anymore; he had stepped up bigly. He was the main man, an African American given the reins for a considerable monthly portion of St. John's output. Covers and 2-4 interior stories per book on 3 running romance titles as well as Authentic Police Cases and the Texan. He didn't have the time to do a story for the Cole shop. What does body language tell you in this shot of Matt and Archer? That's the logistical side. On the artistic side, Baker's women could perhaps by copied by some, as we've seen from time to time. But his men - never. No one would care to. By 1951, you can always tell a Baker by how the men are drawn. And these men aren't his. If I could "Like" your post a million times, I would. You have clearly defined what so many others overlook: Matt Baker's men were just as distinctive as his women. If a person wants to develop an eye for authentic Matt Baker work, they must learn to recognize Baker dudes. Point Five, Mavrick76, Dr. Love and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darwination Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 On 4/15/2024 at 10:11 PM, Dr. Love said: What does body language tell you in this shot of Matt and Archer? Now that's an interesting question. That had to be a very unique relationship. Running buddies? Bosom and boozing confidants? Matt keeping the whole thing together? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBFan Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 On 4/15/2024 at 10:16 PM, Darwination said: There is a Baker attribution elsewhere in the series What issue number is that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
