I always wondered why a Sherlock Holmes character was included in this ensemble of Simon and Kirby creations.
It turns out that Joe and Jack pitched a Sherlock Holmes strip when they first landed at DC after their success on Captain America at Timely. The idea was nixed but at least now we know why the sleuth from 221 B Baker Street is staring the leering Red Skull in the crimson mug and sits atop this gaggle which includes Stuntman, Cap, Sandman, Guardian, Blue Bolt, The Boy Commandos, the Newsboy Legion, Sandy, Bucky, Betty Ross, Green Sorceress, among others.
You take the image at the tope and add the image above and you have the wonderful cover for The Art of the Simon and Kirby Studio by Mark Evanier.
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That might be the mustached Don Daring, who wore a deerstalker when he engaged in amateur sleuthing. To his left are co-stars Sandra Sylvan and Stuntman (as Fred Drake, Daring's stunt double).
ReplyDeleteThat's very likely. I sort of assumed his comedic attempts at Shelockian behavior might've arisen from ideas the team had for their own stab at the character...or not. The way he's positioned for a laugh next to the Red Skull adds to your assessment.
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