Ellery Queen Comic Book Crusader

[AndrewM]

In the UK, the BBC recently showed an episode from the 1970s Ellery Queen TV series entitled "The Adventure of the Comic Book Crusader". The story was set in a fictional 1940s comic book company, and some of the art (posters, comic books and original art) appeared to have been drawn specially for the show. Much of the art was what I'd call Kirbyesque in style although rather too soft-looking to be the real thing (the only example I could find on the web is at http://neptune.spaceports.com/~queen/EQ_tv-listing_page_3.html - scroll down to the bit about this episode). Does anyone know who produced the artwork for this show, or if there was any involvement by comic book creators in it? The story is a murder mystery in which the victim is a comic book writer. I won't spoil the story by saying "whodunit" except that the answer will come as no surprise to anyone who knows anything about comics!

[Scott Shaw!]

What I mainly recall is that the art shown was way too large...and wasn't it handcolored? I vaguely remember the Kirby-esque stuff, but I distinctly recall that the cartoonist had a comic strip he was trying to sell called SWAMP CRITTERS, an obvious allusion to Walt Kelly's POGO.

But I don't have a clue as to who drew the prop artwork...although, whoever drew it, swiped/traced a Jack Kirby pin-up of Captain America (or possibly Mister Miracle or Fighting American, my memory's a bit fuzzy on this.) Sorry!

I really dug the ELLERY QUEEN series and wish someone would issue the series on DVD. It's certainly not alone for airing an inaccurate TV depiction of the comic book business, though. In fact, it's difficult to remember an ACCURATE one!

Aloha,

Scott!

[Rob Allen]

IMDB doesn't have any art credits, just the actors.

[T GUy]

Scott!
What I mainly recall is that the art shown was way too large..

Yup. Drawn in individual panels on little 6x4 boards! I think I remember knowing that this was wrong even on my first viewing, which must have been 1975, if not later (Yeah, I did catch it last Sunday - first rerun since it's original showing... but I remembered the vital clew from all those years ago).


and wasn't it handcolored?

Sorry, I can't recall.
I vaguely remember the Kirby-esque stuff, but I distinctly recall that the cartoonist had a comic strip he was trying to sell called SWAMP CRITTERS, an obvious allusion to Walt Kelly's POGO.

Correctimundo! I think this ties in with the post-war/Wertham turn away from superheroes (the EQ TV series is set in 1947/8).

But I don't have a clue as to who drew the prop artwork...although, whoever drew it, swiped/traced a Jack Kirby pin-up of Captain America (or possibly Mister Miracle or Fighting American, my memory's a bit fuzzy on this.) Sorry!

My first thought was Ditko's Mr A...

I really dug the ELLERY QUEEN series and wish someone would issue the series on DVD.

Join the club!

It's certainly not alone for airing an inaccurate TV depiction of the comic book business, though.

Ye-e-e-es... Cautious agreement 'cause I can't remember many other depictions off the top of my head. Oh, yes, an eppy of Profiler (mid-1990s?).

[Mr. Palmer]

There was another thread about this awhile back. Remember it was an echo of this same discussion.

Unfortunately, I can't find where it's hiding on the board. But *dum dum dum* it's out there...

[AndrewM]

Thanks for the replies so far. Apologies if this has come up before, but the small amount of web research I did failed to come up with anything. It never occurred to me that a studio prop artist might have traced over art by the likes of Kirby or Ditko and then altered the details to fit the story, but in retrospect that's probably how it was done. That would explain why things looked vaguely familiar but not quite right (as in the example I linked earlier).

The process depicted in the story had a penciler producing the original outlines, followed by a "backgrounds man " who filled in the details (presumably still in pencil), then a finisher who did the inking and color indications (but not actual coloring) and finally a letterer who put in the dialogue. For what it's worth, it was the letterer who came up with the concept for the non-violent "Swamp Critters" book, much to the disgust of everyone else in the office.

[Mr. Palmer]

If I'm not mistaken, that thread I mentioned may have been moved to Scott!'s board. You might want to check there...

[Toreador]

Scott!


Yup. Drawn in individual panels on little 6x4 boards! I think I remember knowing that this was wrong even on my first viewing, which must have been 1975, if not later (Yeah, I did catch it last Sunday - first rerun since it's original showing... but I remembered the vital clew from all those years ago).



Sorry, I can't recall.


Correctimundo! I think this ties in with the post-war/Wertham turn away from superheroes (the EQ TV series is set in 1947/8).



My first thought was Ditko's Mr A...


Join the club!


Ye-e-e-es... Cautious agreement 'cause I can't remember many other depictions off the top of my head. Oh, yes, an eppy of Profiler (mid-1990s?).

I remember an episode of Simon & Simon that also dealt with the comic book world a bit. A comic book artist/writer was murdered and some of the clues as to who killed him were in the comic book.

[Mike Kuypers]

Hawaii Five-O also had a story about a killer obsessed with a comic strip. This plot summary is from imdb.com:

Plot Summary for
"Hawaii Five-O"
Draw Me a Killer (1973)

A psychotic young man is obsessed with the comic strip character "Judy Moon" and as a result of that obsession he murders three men who are dead ringers for villains that threaten "Judy" in the comic strip. Danny is then chosen to act as bait to flush the killer out. However, things become complicated when a young woman who resembles "Judy" is being stalked by the killer.

[Mark Evanier]

The cartoonist in that HAWAII FIVE-O episode was played by Tom Hatten. Tom is a local (Los Angeles) actor who for years was the host of the local Popeye cartoons on Channel 5, where he often exhibited his cartooning skills.

Getting back to the ELLERY QUEEN episode: I have no idea who did the prop comic book drawings on the show but whoever it was traced a lot of Jack Kirby art...

http://www.newsfromme.com/images7/Ellery Queen.jpg

[Jolly Mon]

There was also a recent episode of "Psyche" on USA network that hinged on a comic book writer, on what was supposed to be at one time a huge comic book hit, doing his own lettering in the book. Not impossible, but certainly not the norm. My wife listened patiently while I ranted about that....

[T GUy]

Getting back to the ELLERY QUEEN episode: I have no idea who did the prop comic book drawings on the show but whoever it was traced a lot of Jack Kirby art... - M. E.

Yeah... do we know anyone who works in Hollywood with a track record of faking Kirby art? :)