Did You Know a Black Artist Penciled the FIRST Graphic Novel from a Comics Publisher?

Graphic Novels are the standard format for innovative storytelling today...

The complete presentation of the first graphic novel!

But "back in the day", as they say, it was an untried concept!
Written by Arnold Drake and Leslie Waller (as "Drake Waller"), illustrated by penciler Matt Baker and and inker Ray Osrin, the digest-sized 1950 one-shot from St John Publications is a pulpish "film noir" tale at its' coolest!

Dark Horse Comics (which published a high-quality reprint available below) explained it thusly...

In 1950, writers Arnold Drake and Leslie Waller, both attending college on the G.I. Bill, envisioned a sophisticated, novel-length comic tailored to their peers. Collaborating with comics art master Matt Baker, known for singularly defining the genre of "good girl art" on titles such as Phantom Lady, they crafted a film-noir inspired masterwork of romance, intrigue, and moral relativity. When cynical newspaperman Hal Weber reunites with old flame Rust Masson, he finds the beguiling widow of a mining magnate willing to do anything to undermine the local political machine--her only opponent for total control of Copper City!

Though not specifically-mentioned, penciler Matt Baker was one of the few Black artists of both comic books' Golden and Silver Ages!
It Rhymes with Lust was the basis of our 2017 Summer Blogathon spanning several RetroBlogs!
Start at True Love Comics Tales and experience not only comics history, but Black history as well!

Note: The thanks of a grateful nation go to Kracalactaka, who found the scans of the St John first edition in the wilds of the internet, cleaned them up, and made them available!

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics!

Visit Amazon and Order...

It Rhymes with Lust

Deluxe Reprint Edition

Did You Know that Black Artist Matt Baker co-created the FIRST Graphic Novel???

Before Will Eisner created A Contract with God...
Before Gil Kane created BlackMark...

...there was It Rhymes with Lust!

Written by Arnold Drake and Leslie Waller (combined as "Drake Waller"), illustrated by penciler Matt Baker and inker Ray Osrin, the digest-sized 1950 one-shot from St John Publications is pulpish film noir at its' coolest!

Dark Horse Comics (which published a 2007 high-quality reprint available below) explained it thusly...

In 1950, writers Arnold Drake and Leslie Waller, both attending college on the G.I. Bill, envisioned a sophisticated, novel-length comic tailored to their peers. Collaborating with comics art master Matt Baker, known for singularly defining the genre of "good girl art" on titles such as Phantom Lady, they crafted a film-noir inspired masterwork of romance, intrigue, and moral relativity. When cynical newspaperman Hal Weber reunites with old flame Rust Masson, he finds the beguiling widow of a mining magnate willing to do anything to undermine the local political machine--her only opponent for total control of Copper City!

We presented the complete original 1950 edition in a summer 2017 blogathon that ran throughout several of our RetroBlogs.
Just follow the embedded links at the end of each chapter and enjoy the whole story!
Buckle up your seatbelts and begin the adventure at True Love Comics Tales...

Note: The thanks of a grateful nation go to Kracalactaka, who found the scans of the 1950 St John first edition in the wilds of the internet, cleaned them up, and made them available!

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics!

Visit Amazon and Order...

It Rhymes with Lust

Deluxe Reprint Edition

Reading Room IT RHYMES WITH LUST "Story Behind the Story"

Now that you've finished the First Graphic Novel, here's how it began...

...as told by the only surviving member of the creative team...co/writer Arnold Drake!

We hope you've enjoyed our presentation!

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics

Visit Amazon and Order...

Comics Journal #277

which features this interview as well as a complete reprint of It Rhymes with Lust!

Reading Room IT RHYMES WITH LUST "Chapter 5: Counterplot"

When Last We Left Our Hero...

...after waffling about whether to expose his ex-lover, Rust Masson, as the secret ruler of Copper City, Hal Weber finally realizes what he must do, and decides to go for broke!

The Power of the Press is awesome to behold...

...but so is the wrath of Rust Masson, as we shall see tomorrow, at...

Heroines!

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics!

Visit Amazon and Order...

It Rhymes with Lust

Deluxe Reprint Edition

Reading Room IT RHYMES WITH LUST "Chapter 3: Deadly Female"

We Have Already Seen...

Rust Masson runs both the govenment and underworld of Copper City.

Her ex-lover Hal Weber unwillingly runs The Express, the newspaper she secretly owns to shape public opinion!

Now, watch her at work...

More Good and Bad Developments, Tomorrow, at...

True Love Comics Tales!

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics!

Visit Amazon and Order...

It Rhymes with Lust

Deluxe Reprint Edition

It's HERE! The FIRST Graphic Novel!

Today begins the BIG event in the 2017 RetroBlogs mini-blogathon...

The complete presentation of one of the first (if not the first) graphic novels!

Written by Arnold Drake and Leslie Waller (as "Drake Waller"), illustrated by Matt Baker and Ray Osrin, the digest-sized 1950 one-shot from St John Publications is pulpish film noir at its' coolest!

Dark Horse Comics (which published a 2007 high-quality reprint available below) explained it thusly...

In 1950, writers Arnold Drake and Leslie Waller, both attending college on the G.I. Bill, envisioned a sophisticated, novel-length comic tailored to their peers. Collaborating with comics art master Matt Baker, known for singularly defining the genre of "good girl art" on titles such as Phantom Lady, they crafted a film-noir inspired masterwork of romance, intrigue, and moral relativity. When cynical newspaperman Hal Weber reunites with old flame Rust Masson, he finds the beguiling widow of a mining magnate willing to do anything to undermine the local political machine--her only opponent for total control of Copper City!

Buckle up your seatbelts and begin the adventure at True Love Comics Tales...

Note: The thanks of a grateful nation go to Kracalactaka, who found the scans of the St John first edition in the wilds of the internet, cleaned them up, and made them available!

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics!

Visit Amazon and Order...

It Rhymes with Lust

Deluxe Reprint Edition