20 July 2020

Getting Artistic With Dick Briefer

Like many artists back in Golden Age days, Dick Briefer worked under names other than his own. In 1939, for the Biff Bannon strip he decided (the Editor decided? I wonder sometimes on those things) to use the name Remington Brant. After just a few appearances, they decided that might be too subtle and switched to Rem Brandt.

Unfortunately, i spent half an hour trying to get Blogger to upload the images and used up my typing time. My ride should be here momentarily for a foraging run - fresh produce is much needed. So, just a couple quick notes before i must rush off.

The first tale isn't here. I'd need to do some serious reconstruction work, including re-drawing a few missing panel bits. Instead, i'll wait to see if Hamir can provide a cleaner copy of Speed Comics #1. For now, at least.

While reading through, note how Briefer is working to find his style for the strip, and evolving towards what we'll later see on Frankenstein. Also note how some of the work evokes styles we'd see 30 years later.

Dig in and have a look-see -










That was the end of Dick Briefer's run on Biff Bannon. Art Helfant picked it up 3 issues later and continued with the character for another 6 years.

Okay - it's off down the hill to find some broccoli and spinach and whatever else looks good.

page art by Dick Briefer from Speed Comics #s 2-7 and 9-11 (1939, 1940)

19 July 2020

Rex Dexter And The LONG Road To Mars

My mind is finally starting to surface from the work on T3C for a bit of fresh air. As i herd it back towards The Voice Of ODD!, some of those bits we wandered off from seem to be calling for a return. Today, let's (hopefully) begin another visit with Dick Briefer, starting with a return to the adventures of Rex Dexter of Mars, Interplanetary Adventurer from Mystery Men Comics.

After his first adventure, Rex started heading back home to Mars to show off his new Earth Babe...


Five issues later, still enroute to Mars...
 

...soon after, it was becoming apparent even to Rex that this trip was taking a bit too long...
 

...but, finally, they were on "the last lap" of their journey...
 

SU-U-URE!
They'll have you two back on Earth in no time - right after a quick stop on Mars.

While they're travelling, we'll come back to some of Briefer's other works including, of course, more Frankenstein - after we visit with Biff Bannon. Maybe they'll make it back to Mars by the time we finish looking at the others...

page art by Dick Briefer from Mystery Men Comics #s 4, 9, 11, & 12 (1939, 1940)