Warren Kremer Chamber of Chills #18 Cover Preliminary Original Art (Harvey, 1954)....

Description

Warren Kremer Chamber of Chills #18 Cover Preliminary Original Art (Harvey, 1954). Here is a rare behind-the-scenes look at the pre-Comics Code horror boom: This rehearsal for one of the genre's most notorious censor-bait images differs radically from the published version. Elias, as the artist-of-record for the eventual published cover, was required by Harvey Comics editor Sid Jacobsen to submit the design to fellow artist Kremer -- who had been assigned to bring a more realistic depth, a greater sense of compelling radial design, to the books' layouts. And Kremer's extensive notations (in the margins) complement Elias's composition in such a way as to become part of the artwork. Ironic that Elias did alter his composition for the finished approach, but not necessarily to comply with Kremer's suggestions. Elias kept a monstrous face on the barber while rotating the perspective and increasing the distance. Ironic, too, that Kremer went on to become the Harvey company's most wholesome Code-compliant artist, with such nice trademark-characters as Richie Rich, Hot Stuff the Little Devil, and Stumbo the Giant. Elias would retrench, post-Code, as a leading SF artist for DC Comics, with such series as Tommy Tomorrow. Ink, watercolors, and wax colors on toned/wrinkled tracing paper. Dimensions, 7" x 12.5". Wrinkling is a natural condition for wet-painted tracing paper. Intact, however, and as such in Very Good condition.
From the Roger Hill Collection.

More Information: EDIT: Art attribution is solely Warren Kremer, who did this preliminary piece prior to Lee Elias' final published version.