Jijé Joseph Gillain Milton Caniff influence

biography of Jijé - here's an interesting bit - he talks about when he started using a brush for inking - but I think what he really means is Caniff-style inking - in fact comparing the two pages (he did 2 versions of a Don Bosco biography, an earlier version and another in his more mature style) - I think you can see that he did quite a study of Caniff's work and this jazzed his work in many good ways.

René Follet - Jean Valhardi #14

Follet's work is scattered in brief stints on various features, some major, some more obscure - but he's also done much illustration work (and he often painted his comic covers), that retains a cartoony style - I think I read in an interview that's it's only been in the past few years that he's been able to make enough money to do comics full time - which coincides with his switch to painted pages, which are awesome... Anyhoo, I'm glad that his stock has risen in the past decade or so... The above is from Jean Valhardi #14 (he drew 2 episodes - in the 80's) - I guess you can consider it a major euro adventure title -

So here's a real cool spanish gallery of awesomeness

http://www.artboxforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2100&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

stuff -

Nareh Arghamanyan, this 19-year old Armenian woman won the International Montreal Piano Competition - definitely a name to watch - her performance of Tchaikovsky's 1st Piano Concerto really sounded fresh, fun and cool - the final movement especially, with the orchestra helping out with a pretty jammin' performance -

Alexandre MOUTOUZKINE played Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto - and it was VERY POWERFUL (and loud - maybe a little too 'In your face', but he tied for second and the crowd loved him - I'd recommend it - it'll pump you up!)

http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/blog/2008/05/28/and_the_winner_is_2.html

Hal Foster Prince Valiant -John Buscema and Alfredo Alcala from the Savaga Sword of Conan

On the top left we have a Hal Foster Prince Valiant panel and below we have a similar panel by John Buscema and Alfredo Alcala from the Savaga Sword of Conan -

Jack Davis - The Rawhide Kid Atlas 1963 - 7

And so, as all things must, the end has come to Jack Davis week - time to ride off into the sunset - yippie- ki -ay!

Jack Davis - The Rawhide Kid - Atlas 1963 6 Two-Gun Kid 1959

Jack Davis is famous for many things - although not for his 3-issue stint on the Rawhide Kid - and probably even less so for his 3-issue stint on the Two-Gun Kid in 1959 - (#'s 45-47) probably more polished than the Rawhide stuff - but I like the loose feel on the latter - this is from #46.

Jack Davis - The Rawhide Kid - Atlas 1963 5

Here the kid faces the Raven! I don't know about you, but he's pretty much my favorite super-villain - it was his first appearance - check out the fancy beak - freaky beaky! still waiting for his second appearance - and the kid always has time for the ladies - he's a playah!

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stuff -

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The Raven even has his own datasheet - http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/raven1.htm

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They have some great scans of the original art to the entire story here -

http://comics.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=826&Lot_No=43163&src=pr

amazing - you really learn a lot lookig at the original art - for example, I learnt to a) don't erase your pencil lines - b) don't worry about crisp, black uniform ink application -

Jack Davis - The Rawhide Kid - Atlas 1963 4

This one's called 'The deadly draw of Mister Lightning'. Unfortunatley, his aim was not as deadly as his draw. End of story. This one's my favorite job of the whole lot. Normally, Davis puts more polish and detail into his work, but I like the loosenes and spontaneity on these, and the layouts and composition are great.

Jack Davis - The Rawhide Kid - Atlas 1963 3

This one's called 'The gunfighter and the girl' - but it should be called 'The lady killer and the girl'- what with his boyish good looks and his stylin' outfit, the kid's got it goin' on with the ladies is what I'm sayin'...

Jack Davis - The Rawhide Kid - Atlas 1963 2

This one's called 'Captured by the Apaches' wherein the kid

gets captured by Apaches and then proceeds to get un-captured by said Apaches.

The writing on these ain't really happening - this is about the art and storytelling - what little there is of story to tell is done well - - layout, composition, rhythm, with that brillant manic, expressive, kinetic energy of Jack Davis - he draws like a house on fire...

Jack Davis - The Rawhide Kid - Atlas 1963 1

Jack Davis, of EC comics and Mad magazine fame and commercial artist extraordinaire is famous for many things - but not necessarily for his short, real short stay as regular artist on the Rawhide Kid in 1963 (#'s 33-35).

This story's called 'The guns of Jesse James' wherein the kid meets up with the famous outlaw and even joins his band! This is the slickest job of the lot, the action on this is seamless. Smooth...