Today, Christmas bells keep ringing with two festive stories from Four Color No. 1154, December 1960. I'm not sure who did the wonderful cover, but the first story, "A Surprise For Santa," has the art and scripting of John Stanley. PS: Comic book expert and historian, Alberto Becattini, has identified this as the artwork of Dan Gormley - not Stanley. The second story, "Xavier Patch," is a real gem by an artist unknown to me (but hopefully known to someone) I love the line work and draftsmanship on display in that one (and the story has a simple holiday warmth, also easy to love)! PPS: Hooray! Mr. Becattini has supplied the ID: "Xavier Patch" is the work of Mel Crawford.
i've got this issue but i never, as far i can remember, realized that it was Stanley's work, makes perfect sense now of course. thanx for drawing it to my attention, Mykal! you better believe i re-read it!
ReplyDeleteHey, Prof.! Happy Holidays! Have a look in this issue at another tale, "Santa's Problem," which is also by Stanley (art and story). I think even a third story from this issue might be Stanley: "Pierre's Christmas Present."
ReplyDelete"Santa's Problem" appeared in Craig Yoe's fantastic The Great Treasury of Christmas Comic Book Stories," which I think everyone should put under the tree this year.
Prof.: PS - who but Stanley would name one of Santa's elves "Grouchy"?
ReplyDeleteright!
ReplyDeleteWHY don't they still publish comic books like this anymore?! Great stuff. These kinds of comics always put me in the Holiday mood, even if they did come out in October!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover, too!
Bill: You know I'm with you on that one! For me, it isn't Christmas without Four Color comics! And they had the most beautiful covers in comics history!
ReplyDeleteArt in the 2nd story reminds me a bit of both Hank Ketchum, and the Artist who drew the strip "Tiger". Like, if you tossed their styles in a blender. Somebody just HAS to know who did this; it is too darn GOOD !
ReplyDeleteLysdexicuss: I noticed a Hank Ketchum similarity myself - the line work and attention to detail - the rock solid drawing - is much the same. I have some more Crawford coming up soon.
ReplyDeletePS Lysdexicuss: Oh, and somebody was able to identify the artist (check my revised intro paragraph). Alberto Becattini recognized the work of Mel Crawford!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Mel Crawford was the artist for "QUISP" cereal ? Very similar. Gosh, I miss Quisp !
ReplyDelete