Illustrator George Carlson was best known for his work on children's books. For Jingle Jangle Comics, he created two characters: The Pie-Face Prince and the Brass-Buttoned Baron. Their stories seem a superfine mix of Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo and Carroll’s, Alice; with more than a dash of Weine’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. It is all very beautiful, yet sometimes the beauty shimmers like a fever dream. That is to say, Carlson possessed a stunning, slightly unsettling genius. This is from Jingle Jangle Comics No. 19, February 1946.
Here is some more of Carlson's vibrant brilliance. Every panel wants your attention yet urges you toward the next one.
Now for an ad from the same issue. This is simply old school, inspired page design. We will never know who the layout artist was for this. Just some pro earning a living. Beautiful, isn't it?
Very interesting. I hadn't seen these before.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I like it a lot when you also repro the cover from the comic where the stories appear.
Gary: Thanks. I agree, posting the cover is the way to go. I have been not doing that when I have a second batch of stories from the same issue, thinking that it is too repetitious, but I think I will start posting covers for every post. They are just so cool to look at. Thanks for your thoughts! -- Mykal
ReplyDeleteMykal: You hooked me with 'Unsettled Genius', and the artist did the rest~! Love the slick stylized chaos of his stories. I wonder if Sergio Aragones was inspired by him...
ReplyDeleteLysdexicuss: you hooked me with "slick, stylized chaos." !! - I really like this guy, and the busy work in the panels does remind me of Aragones. -- Mykal
ReplyDeleteNicE! Who is that green kid on the cover?
ReplyDeleteKw: That would be Glum. He was a sidekick to Bingo, who is on his shoulders. It's a bit hard to explain. I can show you better that tell you - some more stories from this issue will get posted on Late monday, early Tuesday. -- Mykal
ReplyDeleteMy friend... you have made me VERY VERY happy with this posting...I've wanted to read some Carlson for decades, and you've given me (and all of us) a wonderful present for this brand new year...
ReplyDeleteIndebtedly, I am
r/e
R/E - The pleasure was all mine, sir! -- Mykal
ReplyDeleteawesome, i'd forgotten about Carlson because i'd only ever seen one example of his work and that was about 35 years ago! thanx for this!
ReplyDeleteProf.: I'm glad I could stir up old memories! -- Mykal
ReplyDeleteJust lovely stuff, thanks for posting it. I'd heard of these but never seen more than a page or two.
ReplyDeleteRichard: I agree. Lovely. I have some more Carlson in the works. - Mykal
ReplyDeleteFor more Carlson (and tons of other great comics you won't see anywhere else) I suggest that you check out the Toon Treasury edited by Francoise Mouly and Art Spiegelman.
ReplyDeletePaul: Thanks for the tip. I have it, and I higly recommend it. -- Mykal
ReplyDelete