juka, jack :: Rafael DeSoto Brings the Spider back to life after the final pulp issue.

The Spider painting where every cover was a fictional Nightmare. Terrorized Woman courtesy Julie Juka.

Artist: Rafael DeSoto (Painter)

5 Comments - 312 Views - 3 Likes

The Spider painting where every cover was a fictional Nightmare. Terrorized Woman courtesy Julie Juka. Comic Art

Additional Images:

Robert Sampson on collecting may, 1990 letter to Jack Juka

Bob Sampson 1990 letter to me on the Spider.

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Spider Enthusiast Robert Sampson commenting on the effects of The Spider, the Shadow and other pulp characters on women and on married life in general . I hate to waste a good missive. Sampson and I wrote back and forth during the years I collaborate

Next Item:
The Spider and the Girls in Hell. Rafael DeSoto's final Spider Pulp Painting

Artwork Details

Title:	The Spider painting where every cover was a fictional Nightmare. Terrorized Woman courtesy Julie Juka.
Artist:	Rafael DeSoto (Painter)
Media Type:	Paint - Oil
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	312
Likes on CAF:	3 4
Comments:	5
Added to Site:	2/12/2024
Comic Art Archive:

Description

I knew Rafael DeSoto for maybe five years or so.
One thing he knew was how to find a good looking model.
Ironically a lot of his paintings his wife posed for. If you look closely at a lot of his other covers a lot of the women look vaguely familiar.
DeSoto thought the world of my wife Julie. He went so far as to do a small painting of her for me as a gift. She had recently learned she was pregnant with our first child and as usual I had a nice photo of her on the phone telling someone. He thought that was great.
I don�t have it here but someday I�ll post it.

As time went on his covers became more elaborate and the scenes became like dramatic Spider covers. I still have our photo references for this. I can�t imagine what my children thought. In honor of my good friend Illia Georgiev I�ve posted a part of a letter he wrote me on the piece in 1990. Sampson write a book on the Spider which I consider to be fascinating as well as entertaining. Bob had wonderful sense of humor .

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About the Owner

	jack juka
Joined:	August 2008
Last Login:	May 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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ilia georgiev
Member Since 2006

Posted on 2/12/2024

These DeSoto paintings are incredible. The background are nicely detailed. The story is very fun. What a suicidal relationship to have with a hero pulp artist and one of the best illustrators from the pulp era.

jack juka
Member Since 2008

Posted on 2/13/2024

ilia georgiev wrote:

These DeSoto paintings are incredible.� �The background are nicely detailed.� �The story is very fun.� �What a suicidal relationship to have with a hero pulp artist and one of the best illustrators from the pulp era.�

thanks Illia. I'm going to use a response I just wrote as it is pertinent to your comment also.

The neatest thing I'm finding out about the Spider is all the violence that took place and the Spider (Richard Wentworth) still had time for romance.
I collected The Shadow for many years and I can't remember him giving Margo Lane as much as a hand shake. Wentworth was a true romantic. He played the violin for his gal and the villains raped and pillaged and drugged the population. Crazy stuff that Spider was involved with.
ThenPhantom Detective was involved with some nasty characters also. I guess it depends on who wrote it.

for instance. My favorite Shadow author (forgive me Will Murray) was Theodore Tinsley. He loaded up on tragedy in his stories. I remember in ThePooltex Tangle someone shot the Shadow and threw him into a river. I can't swear they shot him but to me it was all very exciting.

Getting to see all his originals was also wonderful. I will post a comment from Bob Sampson dated July 1, 1990 with the photo to give it some extra flavor. .

Shelton Bryant
Member Since 2005

Posted on 2/13/2024

Luv the Realism and Great Use of color!!............Congrats!!

jack juka
Member Since 2008

Posted on 2/13/2024

Shelton Bryant wrote:

Luv the Realism and Great Use of color!!............Congrats!!

Shelton,

Thanks! Funny how collecting goes isn't it? When something has meaning it's tough to let the memory go.
For instance, besides collecting Star Wars with my son I was on a composition toy soldier kick.
they were made in Germany before the war. Most kids collected the fighting guys. I collected what they call "camp figures."Guys goofing off, eating, shaving and other everyday stuff. Once at a show someone sold us a nice bunker. My son Jonathan made a sticker that said "not for sale."

35 years later that sticker is still on the bunker. It's all about the memories for me.
Jack Juka

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

Posted on 2/13/2024

Fantastic pulp era styled painting! It's got all the iconic tropes put into one piece!

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