Hey, where have you been?
I've been looking for you, so I could show you some more great Harvey Kurtzman comics!
First we will take a look at some very early Kurtzman, three Flatfoot Burns stories from POLICE COMICS #24, 25, and 26 from 1943-44.
After that we have one of his early EC stories, from 1950, prior to him getting his own titles to edit (Two-Fisted Tales, etc.).
As far as the first two stories go, there was a little thing going on called WWII, and so to keep things in context we need to remember that. The first story deals with air raid sirens and turning out your lights to prevent enemy bombers from seeing your lights and making you a target.
In the second story, Victory Gardens are the main subject, and it seems a bit odd to us today when we realize the whole country was doing everything it could to contribute to the war effort.
Would we find such unity in today's America?
As far as the first two stories go, there was a little thing going on called WWII, and so to keep things in context we need to remember that. The first story deals with air raid sirens and turning out your lights to prevent enemy bombers from seeing your lights and making you a target.
In the second story, Victory Gardens are the main subject, and it seems a bit odd to us today when we realize the whole country was doing everything it could to contribute to the war effort.
Would we find such unity in today's America?
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(Originally published in POLICE COMICS #24, 1943)
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(Originally published in POLICE COMICS #25, 1943)
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(Originally published in POLICE COMICS #26, 1944)
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Now we'll take a look at one of Harvey Kurtzman's early EC Comics stories. This one is from CRIME SUSPENSTORIES #1, 1950. A tension-filled murder-mystery, Kurtzman style.
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Apocolyte: Yep, that clinches it. You know how all us comic lovers have to at some point decide which cartoonist is the favorite? Well, mine's Kurtzman. I had never seen the Flatfoot Burns stuff, so I owe you a big thank you! It's the Burns stuff that seals the deal. Just look at that work! So elastic and tangible - so lively! Damn, you know I am gonna hunt some of this stuff down. I bet it's gonna cost me a small fortune. The EC work is, of course, magnificent. Like I've said before. If I could wave a magic wand and have one piece of original art - it would be from Kurtzman. I love it so much it's hard to keep my composure - like someone I could mention and Corben ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks again, and great post!! -- Mykal
Mykal,
ReplyDeleteThanks -- I am right there with ya!
For years my favorite artist jumps between Steranko, Wood, and Kurtzman...There are so, so many fantastic artists, but for overall talent, as far as writing, lay-out and drawing, it's Kurtzman all the way! His humor as well as his serious /war comics are unbeatable! (BTW, Corben is in my all-time top ten!)
These are so gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteEspecially High Tide! Thanx so much!!!
~leesa
i wasn't aware of these early funny comics. i need to pay more attention to Harvey! These are wonderful
ReplyDeleteI'd be nice to see some of the Weird Science and Fantasy stories that Kurtzman did for E.C.The Radioactive Child,Man or Superman,The Television Age (a remarkable tale for its time),and some of the Two-Fisted tales are nice to see again.Anyway,I enjoyed seeing High Tide again and being introduced to Kurtzman's other comic treats.Budd
ReplyDeleteleesa,
ReplyDeleteThe pleasure is mine. Thank you for letting me know you liked it!
KW,
Pay more attention! Thanks!
Budd,
I love all of those stories as well, and you can rest assured, I will be posting more of the magnificent work of Harvey Kurtzman! Thanks for stopping in and letting me know you liked it!
awesome post!
ReplyDeletecan't wait for more.
Thanks, Andy!
ReplyDelete