WEB OF HORROR NO. 2 ORIGINAL ART

I always find it interesting to compare original art with the printed results. Many times publishers would use the cheapest paper and the lowest cost printer to get their 'zines on the stands. Even when printed in black and white, the original art shines through with more detail than on the printed page.

Here is an example of Ralph Reese's art for his story, "Man-Plant From the Tomb" (!) from WEB OF HORROR #2. He used an illustration board called Craftint Doubletone which enabled the illustrator to create shading using a special solvent that removed the surface of the board to show the tinting underneath. I suspect that the solvent that was used was full of toxic chemicals which is probably why it's no longer sold. This is one wiser case where its better to use a computer for the same effect!

Below are two illustrations that were used on the letters page drawn by Bernie Wrightson and Jeff Jones. The art is done with ink over graphite on Bristol board.

WEB OF HORROR NO. 2 (PART 2)

WEB OF HORROR NO. 2 (PART 1)

WEB OF HORROR

Major Magazines

Vol. 1 No. 2

February 1970

Publisher: Robert C. Sproul

Editor: Terry Bisson

Cover artist: Jeff Jones

Pages: 52

Cover price: 35 cents

 

It's too bad that Major Publications' attempt at getting into the horror comics magazine market along with Warren and Skywald dropped out of the race after three issues because they had a pretty good thing going. A bucketful of creative talent was present here, largely because Warren wasn't paying for new art at the time. Unfortunately, numerous bad experiences were shared later by artists who said that they got "screwed" and "short-changed" with being payed, an altogether too common occurrence with comic book publishers that lingers even today.

At one point publisher Robert Sproul put CRACKED up for sale and James Warren jumped at the chance, saying that it would be "fun" to add a humor magazine to his line. When the zero-hour came, Warren expected to be able to finagle a 25% reduction in the price (reportedly in the millions), but Sproul didn't budge. Moreover, Warren ran into some problems with distributing as well, so we never saw what he might have made of it.

NOTE: Be sure to check out the Frazetta panel rip-off from CREEPY #1 in the "Terror Teeth" ad on page 25 and the Topstone monster masks for sale on page 37!

Read more about WEB OF HORROR, including issues 1 and 3 HERE.

CONTENTS

"Mother Toad"

Script: Terry Bisson

Art: Bernie Wrightson

"Ashes to Ashes!"

Script: Ron Barlow

Art: Roger Brand

"Sea of Graves"

Script: Otto Binder

Art: Mike Kaluta

"Breathless!"

Script: Marv Wolfman

Art: Bernie Wrightson

"The Unmasking"

Script: Wilson Shard

Art: Tony Tallarico