C E UNITED STATES
Member Since April 2006
2502 Artworks | Watched by 84

Secret Agent X-9 Daily Strip, 9 June 1934

1800  Views  -  5  Comments  -  1  Likes

Artwork Details
Location: Raymond, Alex [Flash Gordon, Secret Agent X-9] *
Title: Secret Agent X-9 Daily Strip, 9 June 1934
Artist:  Alex Raymond (All)
Media Type: Pen and Ink
Art Type: Comic Strip
For Sale Status: NFS
Views: 1800
Likes on CAF: 1
Favorited on CAF: 1
Comments: 5
Added to Site: 6/13/2006

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Description
Compare the style used by Raymond in this original Secret Agent X-9 from 1934 with any Flash Gordon or Jungle Jim from the same time. It should be obvious that Raymond could work in more painterly, "sophisticated" styles early on and that his use of more traditional cartoon images (such as what he had been doing while ghosting Tim Tyler's Luck) was probably a matter of choice, not of any early lack of artistic ability.

This original was part of the collection of D.C. Golden Age comic book artist, Chet Kozlak, who was responsible for the preservation of a large number of D.C. originals from the 1940s (including the two pages of Starman art by Jack Burnley from All Star Comics No. 9, one of which I still own, and a few pages of Dr. Fate art by Howard Sherman, including my page from All Star Comics No. 11). Joel Thingvall obtained the Kozlak collection in the early 1990s, and I will forever be in his debt for making a major dream of mine come true. I never thought I would see a Jack Burnley Starman original, let alone that I would at one time own two such pages.

But I came to value, almost as much, this great Raymond original, which is truly one of Raymond's most accomplished early works. Joel had priced the original on the high side, compared to what most Secret Agent X-9s were going for at the time. When I called him with the intention of buying it, even at a premium price, I asked why he wanted so much. Instead of the typical dealer hype, I was a little surprised when he told me that it was the one piece of the Kozlak collection which he really wanted to keep for his own collection, so he had priced it not-to-sell. I actually felt a little guilty when I told him that I wanted the strip, without any haggling over the price, since I really understood where he was coming from and knew that a strip of such quality was well worth the price he was asking. I only hope that Joel takes some comfort in knowing that so many collectors, like myself, sincerely appreciate his role in making it possible for us to obtain some of the rarest and best pieces of comic art - pieces which could have easily been destroyed instead, never to be seen by those of us who now treasure them so much.

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Member Since: April 2006
Last Login: September 2025
Country: UNITED STATES
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GERRY ACERNO Member Since 2006
Posted On 6/14/2006

This is a great example of what Alex Raymond was doing when he was only twenty five years old! Keep in mind that he was hired to do this strip in the style of MATT CLARKE, who turned down the assignment. I personally like what Raymond was doing on X-9 better than the work he was doing on FLASH GORDON during most of 1934. PLEASE post a better scan of this piece!
John Livesay Member Since 2009
Posted On 7/27/2012

wow!!
Monty B Member Since 2006
Posted On 11/16/2013

This is fantastic, the best one I've seen!!! Huge congrats From Cologne...
David K Member Since 2008
Posted On 10/1/2015

This is outstanding!!! Your Raymond collection is wonderful!
Olivier D Member Since 2006
Posted On 1/31/2024

Superb!