Staff Picks (December 12): Jack Davis’ EC Stories — Artist’s Edition HC

Growing up when I did if you weren’t reading comics (which everyone knows I surely did) you at least read Mad Magazine. If you read Mad it was for Don Martin, Dave Berg, Mort Drucker, and, for me, Jack Davis. As I moved beyond comic collecting I looked for anything by Jack Davis. Once I finally went to comic conventions I found EC Comics, the gold standard for comic book art.

The legendary writers and artists were many and while I loved Williamson and Wood, Craig and Ingles, that southerner in me held a special place for the work of Jack Davis.  In IDW’s Jack Davis’ EC Stories: Artist’s Edition we all get to see why his work is held in such high regard. Jack could do humor and horror and combine them when appropriate. Jack could do a science fiction story as effectively as a Civil War adventure.

Even if you already have the EC Archives reprinting classic stories illustrated by Jack Davis, this Artist edition featuring the EC work of Jack Davis allows you to see how the comic legend created his pages even when restricted to the pre lettered pages supplied by the company.

This Artist edition like the others in the line presents complete stories, such as the classic horror story “Foul Play,” and covers as each page was scanned from the actual original artwork with each page scanned in color to replicate as closely as possible the viewing of his original art. Since each page is printed the same size as drawn and the paper stock selected is as close as possible to the original art board, you will need taller shelves to place it on your bookshelf.

This is yet another must have book in the series of IDW’s Artist editions and better yet it showcases a good ole boy from my neck of the woods.

~ Steve Leaf