Superior - Mysteries #2 original art. Help?

[keef-migration]

Hey, you guys. I've been a long time lurker on the boards. I absolutely love golden age, pre-code horror stuff, but it's pretty much all out of my price range. So I read what you guys post, and secretly envy your collections.

 

Recently, however, I saw a piece of original art on eBay that I couldn't pass up. It was the last page of a story that saw print in Mysteries #2, from Superior Comics.

 

 

It was really a hell of a steal, and those last two panels alone are just incredible.

 

I got it pretty much solely because it was a nice example of pre-code horror art, without knowing anything at all about the title, publisher, artist... which are pretty much a blank slate. Basically, I know that Superior Comics published out of Canada, and that they used a lot of work from the Iger studio.

 

Can anyone help me identify the artist, writer, et cetera from this story? TTTTT says that Matt Baker and Jack Kamen did some work for them, but that by-and-large it was "standard Iger studio." I don't know if that means that all hope of ID is lost or what.

[Jayman]

Sorry I can't help out but that is an incredible page you have there. Some other knowledgeable forumite will chime in soon I'm sure, thanks for sharing!

 

And... Welcome to the Boards!

[Mushroom]

Have to agree Keef............a really nice piece.

[shrunkenhead]

Gorgeous page, Keef. Now WE envy YOUR collection!

[PovertyRow]

Man is that sweet or what?!!!

 

I check Grand Comics Database and all they have is that it is the first story - entitled SWAMP HORROR - and yes it is a 7-pager. But -script, Pencils, Inks, Colors and Letters are all question marked.

 

But you know? Just having this, one of the many comic book unsolved MYSTERIES is a fine thing! It is a beautiful page and while the last two panels are indeed telling, actually EVERY panel on that page is just great!

 

Well done!

[*paull*]

Wow! Beautiful page.... The second I saw it, I said to myself, "Looks like Iger studio work." I wish I knew more about the artists that worked for them in the 50s.

[keef-migration]

First of all, thank you guys for all the kind words. That's a warm welcome if I've ever seen one!

 

Now, THIS is interesting. I e-mailed Lawrence Watt-Evans, who is a bit of an expert on pre-code horror, and Superior Comics in particular. Here's what he had to say:

 

In the 1950s the Iger studio worked on an assembly-line basis -- one artist would do the faces, another the bodies, a third cars and buildings, a fourth backgrounds, handing the pages along. They did very solid work, though -- as you say, it's good-looking art. I don't think the page you have there (which I've seen before, and it's definitely Iger studio work) was by any one person; there were probably half a dozen people who worked on it, and I doubt you'll ever be able to identify them. Certainly I can't give you any names.

[rjpb]

Excellent page - I'm always amazed how how much more detail there is in alot of old original art that was never reproduced in the comic.

[*paull*]

If that is indeed how the Iger studio produced the Farrell horror books, I'm astounded. I wish I knew more about the process and the names behind the work.