Here's a quickie illo I did for the current Jam Thread in the "Superheroes" section of 'The Drawing Board'.. This month's Theme is entitled: "Appearances Can Be Deceiving.." In other words, characters that wear disguises, can change their shape.. Or, are simply pretending to be something/someone that they really are not..
I chose a character that I really know next-to-nothing about: "The FACE"!!
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He debuted in Big Shot Comics.. And was spotlighted in his own comic-book title, during the early WW2 years.. He later reappeared in 1948 and 1949 for a couple more issues, under his civilian name: 'Tony Trent, The FACE'!
The creator of 'The FACE' was Mart Bailey.. A solid artist, who earned a quick reputation for direct storytelling; though perhaps, without a lot of flair. Not much is known about him, really.. He worked as an Art Director on the children's comic-book series: 'Treasure Chest' thru most of the 50's.
Sadly, his career was apparently cut short sometime in the 1960's, after he endured a violent mugging..
I would never have heard of 'The FACE', had it not been for my good friend & fellow artist: Drazen Kozjan. He e-mailed me the following artwork as a JPEG.. An item that he'd purchased on eBay, a few short weeks ago..
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We both agreed that this fabulous image has a genuine Charles Burns "feel" to the overall Design & Inking.. Can't you just see Burns doing a riff on this guy? It'd be brilliant! Give 'em a crazy 'El BORBAH' -type crime story, with a lot of witty banter & fisticuffs?.. I'd definitely get in line at my retail shop, to lay down my buckaroos for that comic-book!
5 comments:
Thats a great piece RIch!
Why don't you try your hand a Face story?
My Face original now happily hangs in my studio..now if only they would do a Halloween mask.
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Nice one Rich.
If Draz keeps buying more art , you've gotta keep doing more new work ;)
The Face....HE GETS IN YER FACE! Especially with that lovely pink background colour.
:>
Doesn't he show up in some of Vertigo's Sandman Mystery Theatre issues?
Yes, Suzanne just LOVES the Pink Background!! Thanks, Darling..
I never followed Vertigo's SANDMAN Mystery Theatre title too closely.. So, I can't say if he appeared in it. But I'd be surprised. As I don't think that National (DC) Publications owned the property.
Not like they would eventually own all of Charlton's comic-book characters, anywayz.. 'Blue Beetle', etc.
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