Baker Reading Room "Behind the Scenes of 'Half Man-Half What' "

Here's Saturday's tale...

...but from the original Matt Baker/Al Williamson art!

Take particular note of the areas "whited out", probably at the request of the Comics Code Authority!

BTW, note that in the story, Dr Talbot's right side is altered, but on the cover, his left side is affected!

Let's look closely at that final panel...

Dr Talbot's right side has been totally-whited out.

Was it still metallic?

And his face originally wasn't happy!

Did the original ending show him at the beginning of the process, wondering if it would succeed, and leaving the door open for a sequel if it didn't?

Was the Comics Code Authority responsible for the odd changes?

We'll never know...
Penciler Matt Baker was one of the few Black comic book artists of the Golden and Silver Ages, and was easily the most prolific of them!
Though known for his "good girl" art, including the famous (and infamous) Phantom Girl stories, he handled every genre with ease, including horror, war, sci-fi, and romance!
Sadly, though, few of his stories featured Black characters...who were rare in comics until the mid-1960s!
You can read a short, but complete bio HERE!
He'll be our featured artist this month in the Baker Reading Room at Atomic Kommie Comics, spotlighting his amazing cross-genre versatility!

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Matt Baker

Art of Glamour

Monday Madness ALL-NEGRO COMICS "Lil' Eggie"

Some things are universal...

...including vaudeville-level humor about husband-wife relations, as this never-reprinted cartoon from All-Negro Comics #1 (1947) proves!

Illustrated by John Terrell, it reads much like the then-current Maggie & Jiggs comic strip about a married couple who were constantly-throwing crockery at each other during their arguments!

Terrell himself was the artist for more material in the book (including house ads and both covers) than anyone else, handling crime (Ace Harlem) and humor (Lil' Eggie) with equal aplomb!

All that's known about Terrell is that he was from Philadelphia.

There's literally no other info extant about him, and All-Negro Comics was his only credited work.

It's possible the "Terrell" name was a pseudonym.

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Invisible Men

Black Artists of the Golden Age of Comics

San Francisco 49er by Jack Kirby!

As we settle in to enjoy the spectacle that is the Super Bowl...

...we wanted to show you a suggested uniform design for the San Francisco 49ers  penciled, inked, and colored by the late, great Jack (King) Kirby from the October 21, 1973 issue of the NFL's PRO Magazine, which was sold (with a customized game-day insert) only at NFL stadiums!

Though the Kansas City Chiefs were not among the teams represented, other designs included the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and Green Bay Packers!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have chili, sliders, wings, and desserts to prepare for this evening...

Baker Reading Room ALARMING TALES "Half Man-Half What"

"Scientists tampering with things Man should not meddle in" is an old cliche...

Art by John Severin

...given a new look by a most unusual assortment of artists...at least four, along with the writer...

Art by the Bob Powell Studio

OK.

Let's identify the talents involved in this never-reprinted tale from Harvey's Alarming Tales #5 (1958)...

Cover art by John Severin

Script by Dick Wood.

Opening page (which was actually the lower part of the contents page) by the Bob Powell Studio.

Story pencils by Matt Baker (who's the reason this is included in Black History Month, as you'll see Tuesday).

Story inks by Al Williamson.

Tuesday:

the entire story (and cover) in original art form, with some revealing alterations and footnotes!

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Matt Baker

Art of Glamour

Mort Drucker's "Disguised Humor"

Can you name what DC Comic this never-reprinted page appeared in?

Hints:
It was during the period Drucker was also working for MAD!
It was during the Silver Age of Comics!

(I didn't say they were great hints!)

Obvious Trivia: Mort would go on to illustrate a number of the Man of Steel's media incarnations in MAD, including Christopher Reeve's movie version and the tv series Smallville.

Find Out Next Friday!

(Can ya bear the suspense?)

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Mort Drucker

Five Decades of His Finest Works