BLACK 'N' WHITE AND RED ALL OVER: Warren

Showing posts with label Warren. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

POST # 67 - "GIVE AND TAKE" by Russ Heath

Greetings, comic art fan!

I am

THE

APOCOLYTE!

I bring you a re-posting of the 2nd story ever posted here in 2009,

because some may not have seen it, and because even if you have,

it's so good that it is worthy of seeing again and again.

Enjoy now some of the most beautifully rendered black and white comic art ever published

by the amazing and legendary Mr. Russ Heath.

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In 1966, America was embroiled in it's seventh year of a little conflict called the Viet Nam War. It would be nine more years before the American troop withdrawal and the fall of Saigon. That was the political and social climate that year when Warren Publications put out the fourth and final issue of it's excellent military-themed black & white comic magazine BLAZING COMBAT. Each issue featured covers by Frank Frazetta, and interior content by some of the best writers and artists of the day. The story we feature today is by one of the greatest artists of war comics, if not THE greatest. Take a moment now to enjoy the little story of a battle for a hilltop in Italy, 1944, told as only Archie Goodwin and Russ Heath could.

"GIVE AND TAKE"

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-click to enlarge-

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On September 29th, 2013, Russ Heath celebrated his 87rd birthday!

What an incredibly gifted artist and story-teller!

One of the best of all-time --

A belated Happy Birthday and all the best to you, Russ!

This is what Russ Heath said about this story in an interview at TwoMorrows:

"It's like that time I did that story for Blazing Combat, "Give and Take." All the guys working on that book who were my peers were doing excellent work. I knew I had to work to the best of my ability against that quality. So, I worked my ass off on that one story in particular, which turned out to be what many people think is the best story in that issue. It's ironic, and I guess it was just happenstance, but everybody turned in a great job on that issue."

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This story was scanned from my own issue, and, yes, there is great art throughout by amazing artists, but Russ Heath's story is absolutely outstanding and remains at the epitome of black and white comic artwork!

Here is the cover for this issue. Art by Frank Frazetta.

I am presenting what is ostensibly the very first comic artwork

Russ Heath ever had published over at

APOCOLYTE'S WORLD OF COMICS!

Click the link here and check it out!

Here is a link to Russ Heath's fansite -

http://russheath.com/

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

POST # 66 - "THE DUEL OF THE MONSTERS!" by Angelo Torres

Greetings, Comics Fan!

I am

THE APOCOLYTE!

It's my privilege to present you with a horror tale featuring the astoundingly talented Angelo Torres!

Now, imagine this...

In a little Spanish village there appears to be a monster on the prowl killing people!

Alright, Skully! What do you think happens when a village is attacked by not just one, but two different monsters?

You are right about that, Skully!

This story originally appeared in CREEPY #7, in 1966, and it was written by Archie Goodwin.

"The Fleagle Gang" was a group of friends that consisted of artists Al Williamson, Frank Frazetta, Angelo Torres, Roy Krenkel, George Woodbridge, and writer Nick Meglin. They began to make there respective marks essentially at the start of the 1950's. When Williamson was doing work for EC Comics early in his career, often his "Fleagle" buddies Torres, Frazetta, and Krenkel would help out with the artwork, producing astonishing results. Torres also began working for EC, usually inking over Williamson's pencils. In 1955 Torres began doing solo work for Atlas/Marvel Comics, producing stories for their science fiction, suspense, western, and war titles. Torres was soon drawing for Charlton and Harvey Comics, and also doing historical stories for Gilberton's THE WORLD AROUND US and CLASSIC'S ILLUSTRATED titles.

When Warren Publishing began it's black and white magazine line in 1964, Angelo Torres was a natural fit, and starting with CREEPY #1 Torres was featured prominently in many of Warren's magazines over the next few years. In 1970 Torres returned to EC, becoming one of MAD magazines most popular satirical artists, with Torres transforming his realistic rendering for a more Mort Drucker-ish cartoon style. Throughout the 70's Drucker and Torres anchored MAD's issues with amazing spot-on TV and movie parodies, portraying celebrities and stars with their incredible humorous and accurate depictions. Torres art continued appearing throughout the pages of MAD into the new millennium.

Regarding our featured story today, Torres exhibits his masterful abilities to create artistic realities in the palette of chiaroscuroesque imagery.

One monster? That's pretty bad.
Two monsters?
That's enough to make you soil your garments. Twice.

Skully, you had something else to add?