Jerry Grandenetti was born on tomorrow's date in 1926. He was an assistant to Will Eisner in the Golden Age and worked on many series. He shifted over to DC and Warren doing some fantastic work the war books and mystery tales as well. I personally think he's the best black and white artist I've ever seen.
I don't know exactly when I became a Jerry Grandenetti fan, but it might 've been when I got a gander at these delightful covers he produced for DC's reprint Black Magic comic book fromt he early 70's. Grandenetti was partnering regularly with Joe Simon at the time, working on such projects as Prez and The Green Team. So when it was time to give the Simon and Jack Kirby classics from the old Prize Comics series, it was Grandenetti who generated seven new covers for the nine issue run. (For the record, Joe Simon drew another and a classic Simon and Kirby original was used for another.) Here are they are in all their glorious weirdness.
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| (Joe Simon) |
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| (Joe Simon and Jack Kirby Original) |
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I came late to appreciating Mr G's work. I do recall seeing his work and that amazing cover but I wasn't a massive fan. The first full titles I read of his were Prez and an issue of First Issue Special (The Outsiders) which i didnt care for, but I soon picked up some Atlas titles and Warren black and white strips - as you say a stunning artist in that medium His B&w art made we revisit his colour stripsxwith new eyes,
ReplyDeleteI say I don't know, but on reflection I think it was a little horror story he drew for Atlas-Seaboard that turned me onto him. I'd seen his work but didn't grok the greatness until then.
DeleteGrandenetti outdid himself with these covers! And that "Head of the Family" one -- it still creeps me out whenever I see it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a masterwork. It's just weird.
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