<b><i>The Heart of Juliet Jones</b></i> had a near 50-year run, from 1953 to 2000. Drawn by Stan Drake (1921-1997) until 1984, when he took over the reins on <b><i>Blondie</b></i>, <b><i>The Heart of Juliet Jones</b></i> was co-created by Elliot Caplin, Al Capp’s brother. The strip was a soap opera, in a time when captivated audiences on radio and TV, but it was the artwork that really made <b><i>The Heart of Juliet Jones</b></i>. Drawn in a naturalistic/realistic style, Drake was at the forefront of this time of drawing in comic strips, paving the way for artists like Neal Adams. This particular daily appeared on July 12, 1960, and features Mike and Juliet’s younger sister Eve. Mike is an artist who was commissioned to sculpt a piece that had been vandalized. In the meantime, he was given space to work on the property. You can see the internal struggles he’s having as Eve walks in with some food. The drawing is beautiful, especially the last two panels. The care and attention that Drake paid to elements like the shadows on the wall and ceiling are downright amazing. Drake’s work on <b><i>The Heart of Juliet Jones</b></i> has been commanding a premium at auction in recent years. I’ve tried to keep this one a bit more reasonable in comparison to the recent auction prices. Measuring 6¼”x 19¾”, outside of the yellowing of the Zipatone, the strip is in solid Fine+ condition. $900.00 + 16.00 shipping. If insurance is desired, it will be an additional cost. Fee-free PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or a check only on this one.
