Roy Crane Print - This is a Print signed by his wife

I know we don't do Prints here in the original comic art haven, but this is a good story, interesting art, and a little bit of a mystery.

I was at my local comic shop, talking to long time employee, Chad. He likes showing me very cool things I can't afford. There was some near mint ECs he was happy to put in front of my eyes. We were looking at some more recent books and I made a comment that when I went back to read some of the comics I loved in the 80s, I was shocked by how sexist they could be. He said, "You have not seen anything. We have some prints that they picked up a long time ago that none of us feel comfortable selling. You want to see them?" Do I?

We went into a storage room where he took one of several of these prints. They are huge. They are by Roy Crane. The copyright is 1973 King Features. They are numbered to 100. And they are signed as the Wife of Roy Crane. Chad said it was because Roy Crane had passed away before these were made. But after some research I have uncovered a mystery. The image is copyright 1973. It is signed by his wife, but Roy Crane did not die until 1979. So. What's the deal?

He let me look at it and I thought the colors and the paper were amazing. IT was also amazing that these prints have been gathering dust in this room for probably decades. Is it sexist and racist? Sure. It is. But it is just as sexist and racist as any well-known Playboy cartoon from the 60s. Chad then asked, "So. What do you think your wife will do if you bring this home."

I gave it some thought. My wife and I used to hunt old Playboys, for the Shel Silverstein features. I said, "I think she'd be okay with it."

"Great," Chad said. He rolled it up. "It's yours."

I love this thing. It is too large for any storage I have, but I am happy to own such a piece.

Judge me as you will