[jimmm kelly]

When I got the first volume of DC's SPIRIT ARCHIVES many years ago, I thought that the garish colouring had to be a mistake. But having now seen many of the Quality Comics from the same time period, here on CB+--I realize this must've been a conscious choice by the Eisner-Iger studio.

The scans for this issue's Black Condor story provide a perfect example of the gaudy colouring I'm referring to. And I've come around to really appreciate this approach, even thought it might not be a conventional artistic choice (although it does put me in mind of the Art Nouveau or the pre-Raphelites). Modern aethetics suggests that art should have a limited palette of colours.

But if I was a kid back then, I'd think I was getting my money's worth--given every panel is so lush with colour. For my dime I'd be getting hundreds of colours in a world where black and white images were more common. So I can see why the publisher might have favoured this extravagance as a way of attracting young readers.

Link to the book: *** Link No Longer Exists: Crack Comics 005 (1940) (c2c) (Darkmark + Mr. Door Tree-DCP) ***

[narfstar]

When I think of garish colors I think of LB Cole. You do not have to recognize his art to recognize his covers.