Abbie and Slats 2-18-45

Raeburn Van Buren Abbie and Slats Daily Comic Strip Original Art dated 2-18-45 (United, 1945). From a pivotal year for the long-running strip. Co-creator Al Capp (also of Li'l Abner) turns the writing of Abbie and Slats over to his brother, Elliot Caplin, who rises to the responsibility with an angry story about musical gangsters who kidnap finer musicians to steal their work -- plagiarism and identity theft, combined. Tense composition to match a tense story, with a palpable sense of danger. Ink over graphite on Bristol board, with Zipatone shading. Image area, 19" x 5".