No Jumping, No Crickets

This morning was fun, wasn't it? How about some More Fun?

In the last days of More Fun Comics back in 1947, they debuted an odd bit of fun from Jack Mendelsohn and Howie Post (whose Sooper Hippie we've seen before) entitled Jimminy And The Magic Book:

Jimminy premiered in issue 121 of More Fun and had 16 adventures in the final 7 issues of the comic.
Besides the cover promotion on his first appearance, Jimminy got a pretty decent advertising push, with inside back cover adverts and house ads appearing in Action, Detective, Adventure and a host of others ranging from Buzzy to Animal Antics to Star Spangled Comics -

I'm sure you'd rather see the comics than the advertisements. I just wanted to note that it seemed like they thought they had something pretty good here, and it's easy to wonder how the series might have fared if introduced earlier, before the title was on the decline. Once they realized the book was going to stop, they started using three stories per issue, seemingly to make sure they were seen rather than lost to inventory.

From issue #121, here are the first two Jimminy and the Magic Book stories -

There were 14 more tales...

story by Jack Mendelsohn, art by Howie Post from More Fun Comics #121 (1947)

Lightening The Mood

We've been brooding a bit over the recent losses. Let's pick things up a bit and switch to some light comedy. Jumping back 70 years (+2, for one of the tales), here's some quirky old humour from the late 1940s.

Artist and writer unknown, here's the final appearance of Walrus Whopper -

 this Tommy Tot and the Heir Corps tale is one of those rare beasts from the period that has both writer and artist credits - and both are the same man - Tim Howe. (However, i can't be certain that's not a nom de plume)

Two-Gun Percy is drawn by Jimmy Thompson ; as too often usual, writer unknown -

All three had more episodes. Tommy Tot and the Heir Corps had the fewest, with only 4, while Walrus Whopper had 9 tales to tell. Two-Gun Percy was the longest lasting, with two dozen appearances (if one includes the Daisy Handbook from 1948).

page art from Leading Comics #30 (1948), Nutty Life #2 (1946), and All Funny Comics #21 (1948)

Early Ditko

We've been looking at some of Steve Ditko's works, but mostly from late in his career. Let's peek at the other end of the spectrum.

The earliest published work by Ditko that i've been able to determine is actually a cover, oddly enough. Even back at his beginnings, they could see the value of his work. From October of 1952, the cover to Strange Fantasy #2 (not to be confused with the first issue, which was also labeled #2) -

Yes, he did interior work, too, and his art appeared regularly in the title over the next year.
At the end of that year, this odd little gem showed up. See if you can determine what made this Ditko tale from Black Magic #27 so strangely significant -

 What made this tale stand out was the creature. This panel is the only one in which the creature is drawn by Steve Ditko:

The rest of them? Jack Kirby stepped in to redraw the creature in the other panels.
Man - teaming up with Jack Kirby in your first year working in comics? Not bad.

Lastly, for now - Ditko's first appearance in Space Adventures. He'd return to this book at the end of the decade to bring us Captain Atom before he launched into his own title. Back in 1954, it was science fiction, not superheroics, and emblazoned on the cover. And, again, that cover is by Ditko - 

page art from Black Magic #27 (1953) and Space Adventures #10 (1954)

Delving Into Ditko

As mentioned before, Steve Ditko was a man of mystery, preferring his work to be known for its own merits - standing apart from the creator. His last known photograph was taken nearly 60 years ago, and he stopped talking to reporters 50 years back.

But, this doesn't meant that there's never been any interview with him. Perhaps the most substantial comes from Gary Martin in the old 1965 fanzine, Comic Fan #2. Let's take a look at some of those questions and answers from those days at the height of his Marvel period.

The artwork on this page is much more recent, of course, coming to us from after Ditko tired of dealing with the big companies and struck out into independent territory.  (Note that this is not the complete interview, though most questions are presented here. He doesn't like blue pencil, okay?)

Do you prefer inking to pencilling?
Like both, each has its own fascinating problems.
Would you prefer to draw and ink or do you prefer other people to ink your pencils?
Rather do it all myself.

What type of pen do you prefer? Do you prefer pen to a brush?
I change off from one to the other. I use different ones, depending on how I feel. I like a Hunt 102.
Does Marvel allow their artists anything in the way of supplies?
Nothing supplied.

Have you ever considered syndicating a strip?
Yes, but not seriously.

  

Do you have any personal dislikes in comics?
I have them about everything.
What is your favorite TV show?
Don’t watch TV.

How long does it take to complete a page of art?
It depends on how I feel and interest in the story and deadline.

Who originated Capt. Atom?
Someone at Charlton Press. Don’t know exactly who as I just worked out costume, etc.

Who originated Spider-man??
Stan Lee thought the name up. I did costume, web gimmick on wrist, & spider signal.
Would you enjoy continuing on him?
If nothing better comes along.

About your art, have you ever attempted painting or any other field of art?
No

Do you/did you ever draw from models?
Once, when studying. 

(Parts of this interview were included in an excellent 3-page article on Ditko appearing in this issue.)

Other than practice, practice, and practice, what other advice to ‘budding’ young artists do you offer?
Learn what is right & wrong about drawing or art. Practicing bad drawing habits is an awful waste.
Study anatomy – you should know what is under the skin and how it moves.
Study people – to see how he muscles & bones cause the various shadows, bumps & shapes – their gestures, emotions, habits – everything about them.
Study other artists – to see how they interpret anatomy, people, etc.
Everything today, whether it’s a light bulb or the English language – or a car, is the result of people building on the knowledge before us. Everyone adding something of their own.
That is why you must study –
1. The basic anatomy, composition drapery, and even story telling.
2. Then seeing how this basic anatomy, or basic drapery looks on human beings in various poses, lighting or conditions, wet clothing is different than dry.
3. And studing other artists to see how they interpret the basic anatomy composition, drapery, etc.
This does not mean you can copy what they do – but help you understand how it is done and why. To show a man laughing – means definite muscles must move, yet 10 different artists can draw 10 different pictures and all be right and not two drawings alike. Basically, yes – they’re all the same – since smiling action must conform to anatomy, but the artist’s individual approach to how to show it sets him apart.
1. Study the basics
2. She how it appears in life
3. How others interpret it
4. And from it all do it in a way that you personally feel is right or good.

To close out, i'll let Steve share a bit of wisdom that touches close to home. Here he explains why i haven't seen an advertisement for a movie in many, many years. Thankfully, the networks told me to go away when they informed me that they'd be broadcasting for stupid people and addicts only*, so they're a lot easier to avoid these days.

page art from The Mocker, 160 Page Package, Mr. A, and Strange And Stanger - possibly among others. (I failed to make my proper notations while so perturbed over the recent losses)

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*(No, seriously - i'm not merely being facetious. Back in the 90s when it was getting started, i contacted several networks over the new practice of placing "bugs" on the screen. (Bug is the industry term for that little logo, so they know) I was informed that this was for the benefit of their viewers. I was told that their viewers were too stupid to find the channel without help, and so  - the bugs. Visually distracting? Who cares - it's just tv crap! Nothing worth a damn. And like small dogs marking expensive carpets with their piss stains, they can't see they're destroying it by marking it as theirs. So, while i may watch a number of shows, i watch no broadcasts, having no use for the networks who have nothing but contempt for both their shows and their viewers. I won't even go into the stupidity of erecting barriers to immersive entertainment as a reaction to losing market share to more immersive entertainment forms. They can dick-wave all they want, but i'm not interested in sadly rotting meats.) 
(Gee - no wonder why i'm so enamored with Ditko, hm?)