By Hank Harrison (Stabur Press)
ISBN 13: 978-0-94161-301-9
Jack Davis is probably one of the few artists better known outside the world of comics than within it. His paintings, magazine covers, advertising work and sports cartoons have reached more people than his years of comedy cartooning for such magazines as Mad, Panic, Cracked, Trump, Sick, Help!, Humbug, Playboy, etc., and very few modern comic collectors seem aware of his horror and war masterpieces for EC, his westerns for Marvel comics or his pivotal if seminal time at Jim Warren’s Eerie and Creepy magazines.
So this laudatory art-book is something of a Curate’s egg. His mainstream followers will hate the poor paper quality and the fact that all the reproductions – and there are many – are in back and white, but those few comic fans can luxuriate in a lot of rare strips and early work – even pieces from his time in the Navy contributing cartoons to military papers.
Let’s hope someone can update, expand and re-release this book celebrating the wonderful work of a true comic art original – and perhaps add some colour sections so everybody can be happy.
© 1986 Jack Davis.