The Evil Eye-Chilling Tales-1953

For all we speak of the great comics art of the 1950's, in truth most of it was unmemorable cookie cutter journeyman work. Here, though we have yet another anonymous, forgotten artist trying something a little different. His unique usage of a scratchy style for effect actually works as does the unusual coloring of this tale. Reminds me just a bit of Bernie Krigstein.

The Joke's On Youth-Al Hartley-1947

Here's a quick one-pager from the early days of Al Hartley, the cartoonist known early in for his work on Atlas girl's comics, later for his Archie work and perhaps best-remembered for his unique place in comics history as the man behind the Spire Christian Comics of the seventies that included Archie as well as a number of stand-alone titles all done froma Christian perspective.

Spirit of 76-Bob Powell-1944

Not the Spirit but the Spirit of '76! Granted they look a bit alike except this guy dresses more flamboyantly and this is, after all, drawn by Bob Powell who I believe had at one time ghosted the Spirit. And nicely drawn this is, too, with some particularly good airplane art. This is from a wartime issue of Harvey's GREEN HORNET.

Minnie Soo and Little HaHa-Crown Comics-1948

Here's more cute but politically incorrect cartooning from 1948. This one comes from CROWN COMICS and...well...that's about the extent of what I know about it.

Ponytail-Lee Holley-1969

Lee Holley was an early Hank Ketcham ghost on DENNIS THE MENACE and boy does it show. As early as 1960, however, Holley branched out on his own with the successful comic strip teenager, PONYTAIL. In the late sixties, he even did some longer stories for comic books. This Charlton story, however, isn't that much longer than a Sunday page but some nice cartooning.

Mr. Miracle-Captain Fearless-1941

Some more unknown goodness here with some nice layouts. From the first 1941 issue of CAPTAIN FEARLESS, this is the origin of the original, non-Kirby Mr. Miracle, a character who has more in common with the Shadow than with most comic book superdoers.

How Thom McAn Stopped a Tidal Wave-1946

An ad today. A shoe ad. Just astonishing what they could get away with in 1946 to sell shoes! I do like "H" though. Thom and H appeared in a series of comic strip ads during that period.

Torpedoman-Black Cobra Comics-1955

Here's another rather oddball hero about which there's not much info online. No idea as to writer or artist. Seems to be a failed attempt at a fifties revival of a hero who had appeared in comics also featuring the title character, Black Cobra, a full decade earlier. I quite enjoy the logo and the splash panel.

Nightmare and Sleepy-Alden McWilliams-1947

Here's some early superhero work in CLUE COMICS by Alden McWilliams looking very much influenced by Lou Fine. The artist is probably most recognizable for his smooth work years later on various mystery/suspense tales drawn anonymously for Gold Key as well as a cult favorite newspaper strip entitled TWIN EARTHS.

The Dead End Kids-LafeThomas-1941

This was a revelation to me! As a longtime fan of moviedom's Dead End Kids in all their various permutations, I had never once run across any mention that they had their own strip! GCD has it running in at least four 1941 issues of THE SHADOW, all with art by Lafe Thomas. To describe Thomas's artistic style as minimalist would be an understatement. It's crude and virtually free of backgrounds. That said, he often captures remarkable cartoonish likenesses of Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan, Gabe Dell and particularly Leo Gorcey. One reason this series didn't last long was undoubtedly that by 1941, the group had already splintered with the majority ending up as the East Side Kids for a different studio!