Is Decarlo, Is Not Decarlo
I do not know what I am looking at with this not used cover for The Comics Journal, and how far it came to production. I almost prefer it to the one that was used -- slotting in Josie and Melody for foreground, who were -- after all-- at ownership issue at the time and one main propeller to get the interview done. But then come the background panels and you have a serious problem. Archie as Caesar. Drawn by Stan Goldberg. Multiple excerpts from the late 60s "Groovy Tech" story. Drawn by Bill Vigoda. The pie in the face image obstructed by "Comics Journal" also ain't Decarlo. There is more not Decarlo art in the background than there is Decarlo art. Who threw this together and was there a realization at some point that forced a course correction? In the more proper released copy, they do keep the Melody, Josie, and Valerie walking in the mall, and have it unobstructed. I think I would want to toss in some non-Archie Decarlo images -- Millie, Kool Aid Man, that Casper rip-off, Jetta -- but I guess this collage serves just as well. Funny, the interview does not touch on the earlier 50s pin up pages, though the cover plucks it in.
