Which cover do you prefer? BCM 50 or TOT 15

[jimbo_707]

TOT pros:

Better composition, more dynamic

Better horrified reaction of the victim.

The "story" is told clearly (radium is dangerous)

 

TOT cons:

No dame.

 

 

BCM pros:

Dame.

 

BCM cons:

What the hell is going on? A fleshy robot exploding?

 

I think you got your acronyms switched! I lean towards the BCM, but I agree that the lack of a dame is a strike against it.

[Iksar]

TOT pros:

Better composition, more dynamic

Better horrified reaction of the victim.

The "story" is told clearly (radium is dangerous)

 

TOT cons:

No dame.

 

 

BCM pros:

Dame.

 

BCM cons:

What the hell is going on? A fleshy robot exploding?

 

I think you got your acronyms switched! I lean towards the BCM, but I agree that the lack of a dame is a strike against it.

 

 

You're right. Take what I said/reverse it. (in a Willy Wonka voice)

[catrick339]

BCM by a (melting) nose

[rjpb]

Interesting how many of the classic PCH covers feature a close up of a head of some sort. These two, as well as Horrific 3, WM 5, MM 11 & 12, Weird Chills 2, Web of Mystery 17, and several Everett Atlas covers including JIM 5 and Strange Tales 11. I'm sure there are many more depending on ones definition of "classic".

 

I can think of a few memorable Atlas war books that use the close-up effectively, but in general it seems that horror is particularly suited to this sort of composition, whereas I can't really think of other genres where these types of covers are considered classics.

[bronze johnny]

Interesting observation. Perhaps it might have to do with the artist- 4 of the covers you mention are Bailey's and we know he drew a few "head" covers. Horrific 3 was part of a line of head covers that the publisher wanted if my memory serves me correctly. I'm not sure why and how many head covers were drawn by Cameron- but what a cover Web of Mystery 17 is- Cameron's greatest imho and the greatest (imho) PCH cover that rarely gets mentioned. Hope all is well Richard (thumbs u

 

John

[adamstrange]

I love WOM 17 as well. I most appreciate his stories for Ace which were always artistically inventive and just plain fun to read.

 

[bronze johnny]

Thanks for scanning and showing your awesome copy of this classic cover ! Look at the job Cameron did with the witch's hair- simply amazing!

Cameron is one of the all time greats!

Thanks again, adamstrange (thumbs u

John

[bronze johnny]

Do you know if their are any archive editions for Cameron?

[adamstrange]

Look at the job Cameron did with the witch's hair- simply amazing!

Cameron was always finding a way to add extra ornamental touches. (thumbs u

 

I believe there are a couple stories reprinted in Sadowski's horror compendium and at least one in Yoe's Zombies but I'm not of aware of any archive devoted to Cameron's art.

[Scrooge]

Do you know if their are any archive editions for Cameron?

 

Shoot Craig Yoe a PM / email and suggest it to him. He might already be planning it or he might think it a great idea.

[bronze johnny]

Thanks, will do. (thumbs u

[comicnoir]

The flying gears kill it for me on TOT 15. Makes it seem like a robot, but guess they had to do that...so BC 50 wins in my book.

 

If you read the interior story...it is a robot. They added the gore for the cover.

[bronze johnny]

I thought the voting would be closer but BCM 50 is winning big.

[rjpb]

I thought the voting would be closer but BCM 50 is winning big.

 

I'm not surprised, it usually sells for more.

[Artboy99]

It is really hard for me to choose between these 2 covers. I love them both, and have VG type copies of each that will permanently reside in my collection.

The ToT image is my avatar and has been for a few years.

In the end I prefer black golden age covers so I picked BCM 50.

[Johnny545]

Tomb of Terror and not even close for me...

[goldust40]

I'm surprised to hear that the choice is a shoo-in for certain boardies...these two books are the ultimate bookends. There can't be much in it - a fan would always want both.

[adamstrange]

a fan would always want both

(thumbs u And more besides!

[Bronty]

I'm surprised to hear that the choice is a shoo-in for certain boardies...these two books are the ultimate bookends. There can't be much in it - a fan would always want both.

 

I just think the BCM is a stronger drawing, a stronger coloring job, a stronger composition, a stronger concept with the radium. Is the TOT cool, of course, would I want both, of course, is there a ton to choose between... perhaps not... but if forced to choose, its not a tough choice for me at all.

 

The BCM is a classic stand alone image, the radium instantly explains why his face is melting and bones protruding. The "white heat" provides a nice color contrast to the mainly black cover.

 

On the TOT.... the head is very similar, but you have the girl on the right in the robin corner shock pose... I think she takes away more from the cover than she adds to it. Add to that the inferior color contrast and the strange gears and bolts and whatnot flying from his face, and you have a less pleasing cover. I've never read the book, so I don't know what is with the gears and bolts (robot?) but with so little context I find it a little distracting.

[Bronty]

One more thing. The faces... they are similar in almost every respect except the eyes. The eyes of the man (robot?) on TOT 15 are like that of a fish you just caught and bonked over the head.

 

The eyes of the man on BCM 50 are so much more expressive and add a true element of horror. He is looking at his own face crumble before his eyes and he's horrified and afraid.

 

In other words, TOT 15 tries to terrify the reader and BCM 50 instead captures the subject's terror.

 

It might be a subtle distinction but it means that the TOT is basically just an attempt at a gross out while the BCM has captured a human element ("my god... what's happening to me...") that's totally missing from the TOT.