(to be continued...)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Part One)
While the Feb. '55 issue of This is Suspense #23 is technically the first issue of this short lived series (formerly known as Strange Suspense Stories) it is also the last pre-code issue. And however you look at it, whether kicking things off big, or the sad end to an "anything goes" era, you certainly can't go wrong with a reprint of Wally Wood's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (originally featured in the May '50 issue of A Star Presentation #3.) This is definitely not Wood's best work, but it's still tremendous fun seeing him hone his imaginative skill during this phase of his career.
Harry Jekyll? Isn't it Henry Jekyll?
ReplyDeleteStill pretty entertaining adaptation though.
Karswell: Second rate Wood is still pretty first rate. You can still spot a Wood woman a mile away. I like this a great deal and thought it had some great moments, like the panels on page 12 of the characters in the foggy night. I haven't seen much from this phase of his career, and I love the way these pages are colored. - Mykal
ReplyDeleteTOOK ME ALL MORNING TO READ THIS BUT I LIKED IT ALOT. AND IT SEEMS PRETTY FAITHFUL TO THE ORIGINAL VERSION TOO WHICH I HAVE ACUALLY READ BELIEVE IT OR NOT! I WOULD NEVER HAVE GUESSED THIS WAS WALLY WOOD THOUGH........
ReplyDeletebarely recognizable as Wood but still a cut above, waiting with feverish anticipation for part two..
ReplyDeleteHere comes the sun, Karswell, old bean. It was actually Harry Harrison, George Harrison being a member of some old British pop-rock band...I think they had a coupla hits a long time ago.
ReplyDelete> It was actually Harry Harrison
ReplyDeleteHaha, thanks for the correction Pappy-- Overstreet threw me a curve! Part Two coming up next! Fangs for the comments, gents!
I am perhaps the last of my generation not to know the way this ends, and I intend to find out from this version.
ReplyDeleteGadzooks, the little blondie hustler is preferable over that priggish gal Jekyll is so smitten over.
Nice first half to the story, and I am looking forward to the rest. This is a perplexing mix of good and no so good art though. I have to wonder if this was a rush job for Wally Wood.
ReplyDeleteThough the art isn't as tight and finished as his later work, in retrospect one can see early Wood honing his skills. His trademark women, for example, haven't quite been developed at this point, and much of this story may not have a familiar look at all to fans of Wood's later work. Young Wally Wood was heavily influenced by Will Eisner's SPIRIT, and in many of these panels you can get a real sense of that influence, especially in the streetlamp lit corners and shadowy alleyways, as well as the odd angled overhead shots.
ReplyDeleteCool story. Can't wait for Pt. 2!
I've had this book for a while but haven't read it yet. It's going to move up in the pile now!
ReplyDelete