Let's dig into the treasure trove of Jingle Jangle Comics No. 14, April 1945. Today's story, featuring Aunty Spry, is signed by Ben Levin, an artist of whom almost nothing is known (at least I haven't been able to turn up anything biographical). Nearly all of his work was for Jingle Jangle Comics during the 1940s. Great bouncy, stretchy stuff.As with many comics published during WWII, a nod is given to defeating the Axis powers; offering a nice touch of history.
These two, swell ads are from the same issue.
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the only reasonable reaction to this comic would be HAW! HAW! HAW! or something to that effect. were we ever really so innocent? it's getting harder and harder to remember...
ReplyDeleteProf.: Even while waging and winning (with allied help) the biggest war in the history of the world, I think the 1940s and early 1950s were America's most innocent time.
ReplyDeleteArtwork styles and stories like these just convince me even further that I was born at the wrong time. I just feel like in our quest for sophistication in present day, we've lost our way to what made us great as a country and as a people. Oh well,....don't mean to climb up on the soapbox here.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder with some of the old comics if when the name (credit) is on the book (many times you don't see any)does that encompass everything? I mean do we know if Ben Levin was responsible for the pencils and the inks as well as the storyline? I always wonder about that.
Great stuff as usual!!!! Love the bouncy feel to it!
Togotooner: I've often had the smae displaced feeling.
ReplyDeleteFor this vintage of comic, when I see signed artwork, I assume that the artist is responsible for, at least, pencils and inks. More times than not, they will have written the story as well and done the lettering (but not always). The colors is always up for grabs.
That's the way I see it, anyway.
I assume the same thing...which even makes it more amazing! There was so much talent out there that will probably never be appreciated or recognized due to the anonymity of the uncredited material.
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing some of these guys to the forefront!
This is wonderful ! I love the crisp, clean, rounded inking style of these 1940's funnybooks. They match the style of that periods animation (mainly because those guys were all moonlighting for comics, eh ?)
ReplyDeleteLysdexicuss: Yep, alot of those guys were animators picking up a few bucks. Not sure about Levin, though - he's a real mystery.
ReplyDeleteDoes this remind anyone else of a much, much less polished Milton Knight? No disrespect- I thinks Milton is great, but there is something in the figure design and the inking here that reminds me of his work.
ReplyDeleteAnother amazing find, Mykal!
BTW and off-topic- Have you seen Ernie Colon's new Richie Rich story?
Bill: Ernie Colon has a new Richie Rich story??? Where? When?
ReplyDeleteMykal-
ReplyDeleteErnie and Sid Jacobson collaborated on a new Richie story in volume #1 of Ape Entertainment's reboot of RR.
Under separate cover, let me know what you think!
Bill: Thanks! I'm going to order it straight away!
ReplyDelete