Every comics fan is familiar with Krigstein's subway story (excerpt above). 
Not many have seen his earlier work done in the 40s "Classics Illustrated" style (above). I used to hate this style when I saw it later in reprints. If someone told me the artist would transcend this awkward style and go on to become a significant EC artist I wouldn't have believed him. 
Every body's familiar with Kutrzman's 50s work (sample above)...
...but how many have seen his earlier work (above) from 1942 and 43? Looking at the early pages who would have guessed that Kurtzman would have become the legendary stylist and creator of Mad Magazine?
BTW, isn't the "Mr. Risk" page interesting? The anatomy's off but it has guts and appeal. The background figures look like the kind of thing Kirby would draw years later. Is that a coincidence or did one of the artists influence the other?
Here's (above) some Wood from the early 60s. It's the style we're all familiar with. 
Here's (above and below) Wood from the period around 1949 - 50. It's a style that none of us are familiar with. I find these pages shocking! There's not a trace of Wood's later style here! The man completely re-invented himself in the subsequent years.
The reason I posted these is to make the point that none of us should ever get discouraged if our work isn't as far along as we'd like it to be. People learn and people change. Nothing's carved in stone.
19 comments:
Great post!,whats your opinion of Jack Davis? I really thought he had a unique yet cartoony style.check out "flob was a slob"!
It is amazing how much Kurtzmans work evolved into the style that made him famous in MAD.
I was also shocked when I saw how Jules Fieffers comic strip Clifford looked in comparison to his later scribbly beatnik look from his Playboy era.
the Mad today is irrelavant and a hollow shell of its former self.
the old mad had a razor sharp satircal wit,it was violent and held no punches when dealing with Madison ave. or the entertainment industy.
Tell it to John. He claims it's all over by 24 at the latest! ; )
Of course I agree with you, Eddie. All it takes is dedication...well, not all--but it's a huge part of it. Add discerning tastes, and experimentation, and imitation, etc etc.
I could guess in a lineup that those were Wood's(especially the lower one), due to the girl and some things about how he draws.
I'm abashed to say I know nothing about the subway story at all.
If only we could draw half as well as these guys did when they were starting!
Albert Uderzo's style was also very different before he became popular for Asterix.
Krigstein worked in a lot of different styles throughout his career. He had this really odd angular and simplified style he used on some pirate stories too. Fantagraphics put out 2 really nice HC books on his life and work. The first volume reprints a lot of his early paintings when he was an aspiring fine artist too.
I really like those early Kurtzman Pigtales stories. All of those EC guys were definitely on a different level than most of the comic artists of their time!
Amir, thanks for that link to Uderzo's early stuff - Wow - what's that from?
Eddie, will you be posting any of your "early work"? - or how 'bout some of John K's drawings from his youth? - I've seen Mike Fontanelli's drawings from when he was starting out - and they are very intimidating - Mike could ALWAYS draw really well - and then he just got better!
Yeah,sure, Kent--but just try telling Fontanelli those compliments--he'll probably punch you in the face! Heh. Man, he's a tough one!
As for Eddie's early work...I saw some life drawings once; they were absolutely gorgeous. I can't remember how I got to see them--gosh, Eddie, you must have shown them to me...but I do recall you were very [too] harsh on them. Trust me, people--he drew beautifully. Really nice style.
And as I recall Kent has a very very cool way with a pencil as well!
do a post on kliban
Kent, It's taken from the comic "Marco Polo" written by Octave Joly
Jenny: Wow! Thanks for the compliment! I really liked the drawings of Parisian kids you put up!
Chris: Kurtzman's Pig Tales were great alright! I wish I had them!
I'm familiar with the the Krigstein books. It's great that cartoonists are getting coffee table books now!
Kent: My early drawings!? I don't know if I kept any. I'll look! I'll also look for any early John drawings I might have. You should see the Vinci drawings that Steve is scanning!
Anon: I love Kliban but don't know much about his life. If you're more knowledgable about him why not write up what you know and I'll link to it!?
Eddie, you make us hacks feel special. thank you...sniff.
Pshaw, not at all exaggerated. Thanks for the nice comments, likewise--those are sure humble sketches, but wth-it's a millionth of what I saw. : )
But, do you remember what I'm talking about? The life drawings? I am pretty sure that they were done before you came to L.A., in 1979-80 or ? That's my recollection. Or if they were done here it was when you first got here. Am I hallucinating? I can remember them very well, though. There was one girl with such a distinctive face...they were only copies, but the line quality was still
fantastic. I'll bet John would know what collection of drawings I'm talking about.
For all I know perhaps they were the last serious ones you ever drew(that is, no cartoon heads on the women)?
Hey (other) Anon, Here is a post on Kliban (you are reading it)
Great Playboy cartoonist, BUT....
Biggest thing he did may have been was changing publishing of cartoon books, and paving the way for much more successful careers. (seem to parallel anyone you know?)
His "Cats" was one of the first landscape format trade paperback collections of cartoons. It was a mega big hit, and did really well as a point of purchase item (next to the cash register at book stores, where Point of Purchase was not being used that much at the time.
Before that, you had mass market pocket paberback collections of strips and gag cartoons, that did not always work well in the portrait format-- they often had to be held sideways, or sliced and diced to fit (Think the Kurtzman Mad Comics as paperbacks, or Peanuts or BC collections in this format).
His offbeat edgy humor became popular enough for several sequels, but the biggest success came to Gary Larson, who made nearly the same point of view safe for mass consumption, by taking out some of the surrealism, and most all of the people, who were often unclothed in Klibans gags.
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I think Jack Davis was closest to his Mature style as any of those that finished Kurtzmans layouts, but they all grew by following those layouts, and whatever other instruction came along. Early wood was very wobbly. Kurtzmans stuff before EC or Hey Look seems like he was trying to fit in with a house style.
Sometimes the artist grows matures and wanes, sometimes the taste of those following the artist changes just as much. I know those I used to think were hacks, I learned to love later, and I know their styles flowed through many changes as well.
Eddie if you'd like to know more about Kliban you should read "Jumping Up and Down on the Roof Throwing Bags of Water on People" by Mark Jacobs.
It has a whole chapter devoted to Kliban. It's pretty much Kliban describing in his own words (among other things) how he became a cartoonist, his views on modern art, society in general, why he does cat calendars "strictly for the bucks", people who draw the same crap repeatedly and people who copy his stuff.
The chapter is only about ten pages of huge text and fifteen pages of pictures but it is pretty good (considering how hard it is to find good info on Kliban).
The book also has chapters on Sam Gross, Gahan Wilson, Brian Savage, Charlie Rodrigues and J.B. Handelsman.
I just mention it because maybe your local library has a copy and I think you'd like it.
This web page has a nice Kliban gallery.
Jenny: Oooooh, I remember those sketches! They were in the sketchbook I used to get my first job in the industry! They're probably really primitive but I'll look them up. Thanks for asking about them!
Anon: Wow! Thanks for the Kliban info! What you said about Larson adapting Kliban for a mass market was fascinating!
Rogellio: 'Sounds like a great book! I'll look it up!
Eddie, from that same book.
Kliban's first professional cartoon
Nice post, Eddie... as usual. I'm obsessed with the old EC comics. Krigstein, Kurtzman, Joe Orlando, Jack Davis, Wally Wood, Jack Kamen, Graham Ingels, George Evans, John Severin... and my all-time favorite, Al Williamson.
Cool to see their styles a-bornin'!
Rogelio: His first cartoon!? It looks a little like European cartoons of the period. Thanks for the link!
thanks. i was particularly discouraged with my own work today.
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