Johnny Craig, “Woman on a Cliff”

I never thought I’d own ANYTHING from an EC legend. So even this simple-with-some-caveats drawing is much appreciated.

Caveats include: The woman’s hair and frame are decently fleshed out, giving her some heft. Also, the darkest area of shading in the piece makes the rock seem solid; the technique is so small I’m surprised it even works, but it does. And last, the pencil shading around the piece, noticeably heavier on the top, makes it seem the woman is trying to see something specific below her through the mist or smoke. I love pieces that convey a narrative and I’m intrigued by what’s going on here.

I thought it strange that Craig would have this beauty in those heels on this rock, so I wondered if he might have been inspired by something contemporary. Check out the images from the 1948 film, “The Amazing Mr. X.” Substitute in Veronica Lake’s hair for Lynn Bari’s and…. Hmm. Maybe. Act I of the film, where these shots occur, has solid horror movie elements.

8 1/2 X 11, pencil on tracing paper. Undated.