Family Foursome Topper to My 1st Year Blondie Sunday (Chic Young, 1931)

Here is the Family Foursome Topper to the May 10, 1931 Blondie Sunday that I posted on CAF seven years ago. Amazingly, another CAF member, Francisco Lopez, reached out to me from Europe to let me know that he had it. Francis is a great guy, and let it go so that I could reunite the pieces (see attached photo).

In my mind, this art provides strong evidence that the Blondie Sunday was drawn by Alex Raymond. Why? Because this was clearly drawn by a different artist, and it is not even in the same realm of artistic skill as the Blondie.

Those who love comic history know that Alex Raymond ghosted for Chic Young starting in late 1930, and pencilled and inked most Blondie dailies and some Sundays through part of 1933. While I always suspected that Raymond drew the Blondie Sunday, this adds additional evidence. Check out the amazing detail and line work in the Blondie Sunday, focusing particularly on the women - Raymond loved the female form, and you can tell from the Blondie art. Look at the amazing shots of Blondie and her friend in the great Deco dresses -- particularly that last panel. Wowzers!

Now, look at this Family Foursome topper. This was obviously drawn by someone other than the Blondie artist. It is not bad, but it doesn’t compare to the Blondie artwork. Check out the women in the Family Foursome compared to those in the Blondie - they look cartoonish in comparison, lacking detail and finesse.

Amazing to put these pieces together after almost 100 years, and to tell this history. Just one more reason I love this hobby — great people, great art, great history.