“The Strange Death of Alex Raymond (Janie)” by Carson Grubaugh and Dave Sim

“The Strange Death of Alex Raymond (Janie)” (2021)
by Carson Grubaugh (1981- ) and Dave Sim (1956-)
11 x 17 in., ink and brush on board
Coppola Collection

In "The Strange Death of Alex Raymond, Dave Sim," legendary creator of Cerebus the Aardvark, and Carson Grubaugh, talented and creative artist across multiple media, explore and examine the line-making techniques of some of comics' greatest photorealist creators.

The art is impressive. And thanks to work of master production designer and line-smith, Sean Michael Robinson, the integrity of the printing and reproduction is truly unmatched.

“The Strange Death of Alex Raymond” is self-contained in a 320-page, 8.25x12 inch oversized hardcover book.

From April 28 – May 22, 2021, the book is available for its normal retail price at a pre-sale Kickstarter, a S/N limited edition sold out on May 10. Original art is available, though… at least for now.

Kickstarter.com, search for “The Strange Death of Alex Raymond.”

There was also one (morbid) reward tier in the Kickstarter, a 1/1 edition with the original art for the bookplate affixed to the book along with a few pages of original art (“morbid” because the tier price of $906.56 is the date of the titular death).

Yes, yes… that was me who got it. I also picked up some other art that I liked from the book.

“Janie” is an image that appears in multiple locations in SDOAR as stats of this drawing.

The drawing itself is based on the style A movie poster for the first “Janie” movie (1944).

The synopsis from RT: “Janie (Joyce Reynolds) is a typical 1940s teenager who goes to high school and attends parties with her pals. During one get-together, Janie is photographed kissing her classmate, Scooper Nolan (Dick Erdman), and the picture finds its way onto the cover of Life magazine, causing controversy in Janie's small town. Janie also battles with her dad, Charles (Edward Arnold), over the Army's decision to build a base in town. She's thrilled about the handsome soldiers, but he's vehemently opposed.”

“Janie” is one of 475 films released in the US in 1944. It bears a metaphysical relationship to Stan Drake because the SDOAR writer says it does. It is the one of the 475 movies that might match up with some aspect of Drake’s life on the year he got married. Or something. I find it is best to focus on the pretty pictures when it comes to the made-up magical hoodoo stuff.

Speaking of magical: the dedication (thanks, Carson... no, really... thanks) is an homage to the super-duper princesses double-pager that I picked up from the SDOAR art, previously. It's seriously awesome.

"come with me... and you'll be... in a world of pure imagination..."