Frank Frazetta’s Best Cover? 1 1

[LDarkseid1]

Was curious, as far as covers Frazetta did on comics, so not his original art but comics. Is there a particular book that is more or less universally considered his best cover art?

Would it be one of the Famous Funnies?

[Cat-Man_America]

On 10/9/2022 at 1:16 AM, LDarkseid1 said:

Was curious, as far as covers Frazetta did on comics, so not his original art but comics. Is there a particular book that is more or less universally considered his best cover art?

Would it be one of the Famous Funnies?

My best guess for covers would be Weird Science-Fantasy #29 ...which would've been a Famous Funnies cover, but in the midst of the CCA transition he revised it for Bill Gaines who was willing to fight for it's publication as the final WSF issue without the CCA stamp. At least that's the story as I understand it. The next issue of the series with continued numbering was retitled Incredible Science Fiction with toned down covers, CCA approved stories and bore the CCA stamp.

[fifties]

I've read that WSF 29 was considered the greatest SF comic cover ever, but that's not my opinion. 

Here's my dilapidated copy.  The cover date of June, 1955, was the last non-CCA stamped comic book, as all other publishers except Dell  seemed to acquiesce starting with the March, 1955 issues.

[LDarkseid1]

On 10/8/2022 at 11:28 PM, Cat-Man_America said:

My best guess for covers would be Weird Science-Fantasy #29 ...which would've been a Famous Funnies cover, but in the midst of the CCA transition he revised it for Bill Gaines who was willing to fight for it's publication as the final WSF issue without the CCA stamp. At least that's the story as I understand it. The next issue of the series with continued numbering was retitled Incredible Science Fiction with toned down covers, CCA approved stories and bore the CCA stamp.

Yeah super cool cover! Here’s a gorgeous 9.2 on eBay. Overall it’s actually a rather affordable book, in mid grade at least.

[LDarkseid1]

On 10/9/2022 at 12:18 AM, fifties said:

I've read that WSF 29 was considered the greatest SF comic cover ever, but that's not my opinion. 

Here's my dilapidated copy.  The cover date of June, 1955, was the last non-CCA stamped comic book, as all other publishers except Dell  seemed to acquiesce starting with the March, 1955 issues.

Dilapidated or not, awesome book to just own 👌

[LDarkseid1]

I noticed this Famous Funnies issue seems to be popular. I don’t know if what this seller is asking for their copy on eBay is a good price or not lol, but certainly not a cheap book in general. Really cool cover, love the red planet in the background!

Edited October 9, 2022 by LDarkseid1

[fifties]

On 10/9/2022 at 12:23 AM, LDarkseid1 said:

I noticed this Famous Funnies issue seems to be popular. I don’t know if what this seller is asking for their copy on eBay is a good price or not lol, but certainly not a cheap book in general. Really cool cover, love the red planet in the background!

A 9.0 copy of Famous Funnies 214 is not going to be a cheap book by any stretch of the imagination, LOL!

Here's my copy of FF 212.  Damn glad I bagged it ages ago, as I doubt I could afford it now.

[LDarkseid1]

On 10/9/2022 at 12:30 AM, fifties said:

A 9.0 copy of Famous Funnies 214 is not going to be a cheap book by any stretch of the imagination, LOL!

Here's my copy of FF 212.  Damn glad I bagged it ages ago, as I doubt I could afford it now.

That is one hell of a book! And as far as the #214 goes, yeah I’m a bit perplexed by it. A 3.0 and 3.5 sold for a little $2K on heritage not long ago. But a 9.2 sold for about $8K in 2020. I’m not sure if it’s gone up that much, to the extent a 9.0 is worth over $100K like the seller on the bay is asking. I just don’t know much about sales, the low grade copies breaking $2K is strong, but yeah not sure. Regardless certainly not a cheap book indeed!

[Inaflash]

These are my two favorite Frazetta covers.

 

[Robot Man]

Hard to beat any of Frazetta’s Famous Funnies covers. Which one is the best? Personal choice I guess.
There is much more to Frazetta than just covers. His interior work is often overlooked. Here is a perfect example. I just got this the other day for $25. Yeah, not an exciting cover or title, but entirely Frazetta inside. I happen to like the stories. I also like Tomahawk. Revolutionary War era stories. Also unpopular and cheap. Superb art throughout. Why are these so cheap and overlooked? 

 

[WolverineX]

On 10/9/2022 at 11:13 AM, Robot Man said:

Hard to beat any of Frazetta’s Famous Funnies covers. Which one is the best? Personal choice I guess.
There is much more to Frazetta than just covers. His interior work is often overlooked. Here is a perfect example. I just got this the other day for $25. Yeah, not an exciting cover or title, but entirely Frazetta inside. I happen to like the stories. I also like Tomahawk. Revolutionary War era stories. Also unpopular and cheap. Superb art throughout. Why are these so cheap and overlooked? 

 

That's an insanely cool book.  I just had no idea.  How many books did Frazetta completely do the interiors for? 

Going to hunt down a nice copy now.

[LDarkseid1]

On 10/9/2022 at 10:53 AM, Don Key said:

How about his Warren mag covers?

You tell me lol. I’m not well versed in Frazetta art, so I made the thread.

[WolverineX]

On 10/9/2022 at 2:02 PM, LDarkseid1 said:

You tell me lol. I’m not well versed in Frazetta art, so I made the thread.

 

[Professor K]

His GA stuff is cool but to me I don't think they really demonstrate his full talent. The Warren mags from the mid 60's are sweet. Some of the best sold examples from recent years. Things are cheap and almost all have less than 100 in the census. 

 

[Tri-Color Brian]

I don't have any of the "BEST" Frazetta covers, but I like these that I do have...

 

 

 

Edited February 12 by Tri-Color Brian

[LDarkseid1]

On 10/9/2022 at 11:08 AM, Don Key said:

Me tell you? You're the OP, not me  I was just wondering if magazines counted, since that's where many of his classics were published.

Well I’m the “inexperienced” OP 😂. Looking for outside opinions. But sure, all books count.

[Pantodude]

Don't forget the only comic book drawn entirely by Frank Frazetta.  Thun'da, King of the Congo, #1 (A-1 #47) (Magazine Enterprises, 1952)

 

Edited October 10, 2022 by Pantodude
better pic

[bronze johnny]

On 10/9/2022 at 2:28 AM, Cat-Man_America said:

My best guess for covers would be Weird Science-Fantasy #29 ...which would've been a Famous Funnies cover, but in the midst of the CCA transition he revised it for Bill Gaines who was willing to fight for it's publication as the final WSF issue without the CCA stamp. At least that's the story as I understand it. The next issue of the series with continued numbering was retitled Incredible Science Fiction with toned down covers, CCA approved stories and bore the CCA stamp.

Definitely Weird Science-Fantasy 29. Simply amazing cover! interestingly, Frazetta draws the cover to the last issue of WSF and Wood does the cover for the final issue of Incredible Science Fiction - one of his greatest Sci-Fi covers. 

Edited October 10, 2022 by bronze johnny

[OtherEric]

If we're including magazines this is one of the most popular, it's definitely the most in demand cover he did for Warren.  (Well, Vampirella 1 is also way up there, but demand for the issue is not as specifically cover driven.)

[OtherEric]

On 10/9/2022 at 12:23 AM, LDarkseid1 said:

I noticed this Famous Funnies issue seems to be popular. I don’t know if what this seller is asking for their copy on eBay is a good price or not lol, but certainly not a cheap book in general. Really cool cover, love the red planet in the background!

I love this cover in general and wish I had a copy... but I would love it more if somebody could explain where the heck Buck and Wilma's legs are.