Art Spotting Exercises

[fan777 (RIP)]

I put together a file as an art spotting exercise and decided to share it with forum members. The focus is on Maurice Whitman, an under-recognized artist who worked for many companies.  He was there when Fiction House folded and was involved with a lot of the last covers and stories.  With the Iger shop's group participation approach to page production, it's been a frustrating process to attribute any page to one particular artist unless he or she signed it.  Jim V tells me to throw out all references to Iger's shop more than three years old.  The preponderence of question marks in the GDC on the 50's production of Jumbo and Jungle presents a challenge for the new art spotter.  We do have more resources than ever before thanks to technology and superb research from the better fanzines like Alter Ego.  Check out my small effort on Whitman and see what you see.  I'm interested in your feedback espescially if you have artistic training. 

[Yoc]

I've split this off into it's own topic Carl.

Carl's Maurice Whitman exercise file will go live later today.

[JVJ (RIP)]

In the interest of trying to get people involved:
LOVELORN #15
cover - Ken Bald
Strange Triangle - Edvard Moritz and inker
Bicycle Built for Bliss - Ogden Whitney (signed)
In Love With You - Ralph Owen?
Evergreen Love - Charles Sultan / Sultan ? inks
Love Was a Lawbreaker - Pete Riss / Pete Riss

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[narfstar]

How about Tex Ritter 42. First story Molno/Fraccio is my guess. There are some faces that look very Molno and some good Fraccio inks. Fraccio could be good when he wanted to be. Second story unk pencil with good Tallarico inks. Third story all Tallarico. Damaged gun ? then Law of the Pack all Tallarico and Renegade Justice Tallarico/Fraccio.  My guesses.

[JVJ (RIP)]

I'll take your word on Molno, narf,
perhaps Nicholas pencils on second, but inks on first two stories are by Alascia - I'm certain. Compare with the third, which is indeed Fraccio. There is no similarity in the surface treatments. Interesting that he is still discernible from Tallarico, despite their many shared traits.
Damaged Guns I think is Nicholas pencils and Alascia inks (those inks overshadow so many pencilers that it is a miracle that we can ID ANYBODY).
I'll take your word on Tallarico/Fraccio on the last one, too. I'd be guessing wildly if I offered a stab at it.

(|:{>

[JVJ (RIP)]

I put together a file as an art spotting exercise and decided to share it with forum members. The focus is on Maurice Whitman, an under-recognized artist who worked for many companies.  He was there when Fiction House folded and was involved with a lot of the last covers and stories.  With the Iger shop's group participation approach to page production, it's been a frustrating process to attribute any page to one particular artist unless he or she signed it.  Jim V tells me to throw out all references to Iger's shop more than three years old.  The preponderance of question marks in the GDC on the 50's production of Jumbo and Jungle presents a challenge for the new art spotter.  We do have more resources than ever before thanks to technology and superb research from the better fanzines like Alter Ego.  Check out my small effort on Whitman and see what you see.  I'm interested in your feedback especially if you have artistic training. 

so where is this file?  (|:{>

[narfstar]

I am always reluctant to ascribe inks to Trapani or Alascia because they seem very proud to sign their works. Especially when paired with Nicholas and they have several signings during this time. It seems a lot of people can easily identify Alascia inks though. What are the main things that I should look for?  I happen to think he does a very good job, especially at Charlton wages. Molno I always see in some faces. I am not always right with a guess but with some they are obvious, probably when he does both jobs. If the third story is the Tallarico/Fraccio pair then the last story is not. When Romon gets the books maybe he will weigh in. I am sending him a batch of Charltons after I get them scanned. I buy mostly to scan while he actually is a completist.

[Yoc]

so where is this file?  (|:{>

That would be here Jim -
http://digitalcomicmuseum.com/index.php?dlid=17177

[JVJ (RIP)]

Here's what I think, Carl, FWIW:
Pg. 10 - Jungle 133 cover - NO
Pg. 12 - Jungle 134 cover - NO
Pg. 14 - Jungle 135 cover - NO
Pg. 16 - Jungle 138 cover - NO
Pg. 18 - Jungle 144 cover - Possibly
Pg. 22 - Jungle 142 cover - Possibly
Pg. 24 - Jungle 145 cover - NO
Pg. 28 - Jungle 148 cover - Possibly
Pg. 35 - Jungle 160 - Possibly
Pg. 37 - Jungle 136 cover - NO

While it's not 100% indicative, Whitman primarily drew Ann's top threaded through a loop of cord around her neck. He VERY seldom did the "bikini strap" version. There are exceptions, but very few.

Peace, Jim (|:{>

[narfstar]

BTW Jim with the Whitman discussion if you get Tex Ritter 43 here are my thoughts
cover Giordano/Masulli in some configuration. Tex looks like a signed Masulli cover Tex while the bad guy looks very Giordano.
First story story P Whitman I Tallarico.
Get Ritter Alone P Molno I Fraccio or Trapani
Talbot's Badge all Tallarico
Vanishing Herd GCD had P Maneley no ? with Trapani ? but the inks do not look like the signed next story, I think it may be Tallarico

[fan777 (RIP)]

Here's what I think, Carl, FWIW:
Pg. 10 - Jungle 133 cover - NO
Pg. 12 - Jungle 134 cover - NO
Pg. 14 - Jungle 135 cover - NO
Pg. 16 - Jungle 138 cover - NO
Pg. 18 - Jungle 144 cover - Possibly
Pg. 22 - Jungle 142 cover - Possibly
Pg. 24 - Jungle 145 cover - NO
Pg. 28 - Jungle 148 cover - Possibly
Pg. 35 - Jungle 160 - Possibly
Pg. 37 - Jungle 136 cover - NO

While it's not 100% indicative, Whitman primarily drew Ann's top threaded through a loop of cord around her neck. He VERY seldom did the "bikini strap" version. There are exceptions, but very few.

Peace, Jim (|:{>

Hi Jim,

I picked out splash pages that were signed by Whitman or attributed to him by GCD. From what I can see on the covers, the girl has the loop of cord on all but 162.  There is a certain look in her eyes that is consistant in all the splashes.  I was using that mostly in choosing covers.  Either a number of artists worked on the same page or Whtman was vey inconsistant in how he portrayed the male body.  The splash for 146 shows a very thick body not repeated anywhere else.  In any case I appreciate your opinion. I was hoping some of the art spotting wanabees would join in.

[JVJ (RIP)]

BTW Jim with the Whitman discussion if you get Tex Ritter 43 here are my thoughts
cover Giordano/Masulli in some configuration. Tex looks like a signed Masulli cover
Tex while the bad guy looks very Giordano.
First story story P Whitman I Tallarico.
Get Ritter Alone P Molno I Fraccio or Trapani
Talbot's Badge all Tallarico
Vanishing Herd GCD had P Maneley no ? with Trapani ? but the inks do not look like the signed next story, I think it may be Tallarico

I'll be honest, narf,
I haven't the vaguest idea what Pat Masuli looks like. The Gunman on the cover is pure Giordano (p & i)
I'll believe you when you say Whitman on the first story. I can't recognize any Tallarico in the inks.
Get Ritter is Molno and Trapani.
Vanishing Herd is pure Maneely. Other than John Severin, I don't think ANYone every inked Maneely. He probably, knowing Charlton's rates, drew this with his brush.

(|:{>

[JVJ (RIP)]

Hi Jim,

I picked out splash pages that were signed by Whitman or attributed to him by GCD. From what I can see on the covers, the girl has the loop of cord on all but 162.  There is a certain look in her eyes that is consistant in all the splashes.  I was using that mostly in choosing covers.  Either a number of artists worked on the same page or Whtman was vey inconsistant in how he portrayed the male body.  The splash for 146 shows a very thick body not repeated anywhere else.  In any case I appreciate your opinion. I was hoping some of the art spotting wanabees would join in.

Well, now you've got a second opinion - and it will probably be the only one you get. I waited three weeks to give other people a chance, but seems that no one is going to step in. Thanks for doing this and I can only tell you what I THINK. By no means am I the "definitive" voice. I'm just sayin'.

Peace, Jim (|:{>

[narfstar]

Since I think I matched cover Whitman to an interior Whitman on Tex I will give Jungle a go. Here are a few. I think I may print them off and look closer but

133 cover NO too intense faces
134 cover NO the girls face struck me immediately as not the same.
135 possible
138 NO again the faces

I think the no's have it on those because the faces just don't fit. Jim and I only disagree on 135. Looking at the signed pictures, I can see enough similarities. Is this a for sure No on 135 Jim