Friday, July 18, 2008

"Crime Lab" (cont.)




Today's classic comics post is from the Feb 1951 issue of Wanted #34. It's a fun little 8-page Loot & Doc "Crime Lab" tale that my pal Karswell believes is illustrated by the great Gene Colan, who is currently suffering a health crisis (our thoughts go out to Gene). I'm not as convinced as Karswell about the uncredited artists identity, but maybe someone out there has a better idea. We are open to suggestions and please visit Karswell's THOIA blog today for an even darker classic crime/horror tale from Crime Mysteries (circa 1953).

Let's also give a shout out to the fine folks at The Hero Initiative, the first federally recognized not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators, writers and artists in need. So many of these talented folks lack health insurance after decades spent entertaining all of us, but they often seem to have been dumped in the waste bin by the very publishers who've gleaned record profits over the years from their labors. Bravo to the Hero Initiative for stepping up in Mr. Colan's time of need.

7 comments:

bzak said...

Howdy,

At first I thought maybe Mort Meskin inked by someone else, but the fourth panel on page four is a classic Gene Colan face. My vote would be for Gene.

Love the "tinkle" on page three! Taken out of context, you got another kind of story.

Brian James Riedel

Mr. Karswell said...

All my years of pouring over Daredevil and Tomb of Dracula should give me some Colan perspective. If this ain't Mean Gene then I'll eat my horror hat.

Chuck Wells said...

Meskin is one of the folks who I had thought might have been responsible for this story, too.

But I'm not gonna be held responsible for the choking death of Karswell, so until further evidence sways the goblins in the Catacombs, we'll mutually agree that this one's a Colan tale.

George Freeman said...

It could have been Colan pencils, the hands sure look like it. But I would say the inks are definitely Frank Springer. Very nice combo.

Chuck Wells said...

Wow, George Freeman posting a comment on my blog. That ain't bad at all!

I think that you may be onto something with your suggestion of Springer's involvement.

Either way you are always welcome here and thanks for stopping by.

Ger Apeldoorn said...

I have to agree with Karswell. Not only does it look like Colan if you know his work from the sixties, it looks even more like jis if you compare it to the other stories he did in the late forties/early fifties between being 'fired' from the Timely bullpen and starting as a (signing) free-lance artist for Timely again in 1951.

I have written an extensive article about Colan's career in the fifties and will be showing it sometime before the end of the year on my own blog. Maybe I should add the include a 1951 story from one of the other companies to compare this too.

Chuck Wells said...

Colan it is then!