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