Tom B :: Redondo, Nester

Nestor Redondo - House of Mystery #195 - Bat Out of Hell Unpublished Title Page

Artist: Nestor Redondo (All)

10 Comments - 1,726 Views - 3 Likes

Nestor Redondo - House of Mystery #195 - Bat Out of Hell Unpublished Title Page Comic Art

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Nestor Redondo - House of Mystery #195 - Bat Out of Hell comparison 2

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Artwork Details

Title:	Nestor Redondo - House of Mystery #195 - Bat Out of Hell Unpublished Title Page
Artist:	Nestor Redondo (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Title Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	1,726
Likes on CAF:	3 4
Favorited on CAF:	1
Comments:	10
Added to Site:	11/23/2020
Comic Art Archive:

Description

House of Mystery #195 unpublished Title Page for Bat Out of Hell.

The splash for this story has some magnificent work and is literally a few licks of the brush away from being complete when Redondo abandoned it. He'd had only begun working for DC a month prior to doing this piece and I wonder if Joe Orlando was still trying to guide his talented new artist into the DC mold. While the original take by Redondo is, to my eyes, a fine work(see additional pic to compare with the published version), Orlando has had him incorporate numerous minor changes throughout the page: the slightly wider, expressive stance of the main figure confronting the bat, the bat's more aggressive and expansive posture, change of emphasis in the bottom panels, etc. All of which don't add up to create such a dramatic difference to make the extra effort worthwhile. Perhaps, it was just part of the learning curve and Orlando was trying to create a baseline of method or quality for Redondo to emulate. This is, of course, pure speculation on my part but I do find it notable that Orlando is credited in pencil on the unpublished splash as editor. There is no such credit on the final published version. Did Redondo rebel against so many changes, that Orlando allowed him to go his own way as it were? Or was Redondo himself unhappy with the original take and made those changes himself?

Both splashes have merits of their own. One that I find particularly interesting is that the unpublished version reads better in black and white. So perhaps, that is the simple answer to why the page was redone. Redondo was used to his Filipino Komiks interiors being printed in black and white (with occasional monochromatic title pages) so the heavy blacks and thicker line work could have been the impetus for Orlando to request a new splash in the first place, to better accommodate the printed color world of US comics. In that case perhaps all the other minor alterations were made since it would need to be redrawn anyway. Curious, if so, given that Orlando worked so closely with Wally Wood, a master of chiaroscuro whose work reads so well in black and white. One would think he may have been more appreciative of Redondo's initial approach.

Whatever the case, there are now two lovely versions to enjoy (not to mention the how's and why's of it are fun to contemplate!) That's not a bad thing.

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	Tom B. ( 2 )
Joined:	January 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
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Filmore W. Bedwick
Member Since 2003

Posted on 11/23/2020

This is One Heckuva Nice Page. The art and inking are spectacular with beautiful details and superb craftsmanship!!!

Just Blown Away!!!!

Will K
Member Since 2006

Posted on 11/23/2020

Wow... 2 Redondo's. I'm pretty sure not for the price of 1. But it's great to see to different takes.

Tom B.
Member Since 2005

Posted on 11/23/2020

Will K wrote:

Wow... 2 Redondo's. I'm pretty sure not for the price of 1. But it's great to see to different takes.

Only the unpublished one is mine. The published version is just added for reference.

Roger K.
Member Since 2005
Forum Moderator

Posted on 11/23/2020

Spectacular!!!! Redondo was so brilliant!

steve staszower
Member Since 2005

Posted on 11/23/2020

Great page, wonderful and informative description, and I love that you have a side-by-side comparison pic. Thanks for sharing.

Mark Howland
Member Since 2004

Posted on 11/23/2020

Very interesting story and speculation, Tom. I prefer Redondo's original.

Mark Levy
Member Since 2004

Posted on 11/24/2020

I like the inking on the original better - perhaps original final panel with the visual of the child getting slapped was too harsh as it is considerably softer in the published version

Tom B.
Member Since 2005

Posted on 11/26/2020

Mark Levy wrote:

I like the inking on the original better - perhaps original final panel with the visual of the child getting slapped was too harsh as it is considerably softer in the published version

Mark, I had the same thought as well. Interesting then, that the treatment of the main character is even harsher in the published version. Face plant!

MyComicBookArt com
Member Since 2009

Posted on 11/24/2020

amazing

Chris K.
Member Since 2008

Posted on 11/26/2020

What a great title page - how did they not publish this!?

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