Slam-Bang Comics #5 "Diamond Jack" Story Page 9

15.5" x 11.25" image area. Ink over graphite on illustration board. Slam-Bang Comics #5 "Diamond Jack" Story Page 9 Original Art (Fawcett, 1940). Gus Ricca pencil and inks.

Early-day comics hero Diamond Jack is a stylish dresser (no form-fitting costume) who wields a magical ring. Ricca's stylish and dynamic composition finds Diamond Jack in combat with a vampire. One might call Jack a cross between Mandrake the Magician (dating from 1934) and Green Lantern (whose début also came in 1940). One corner contains a portion of the rubberstamp of the historic Harry "A" Chesler studio. A splendid relic of funnybook history.