John Lustig at the San Diego Comic-Con
For the first time since 2019, I’m going to San Diego for Comic-Con International. This was a close-to-last-minute decision. Consequently I don’t have ties to any booth or Artist Alley table.
Without that it’ll be hard to meet up with fans. But I’m open to suggestions on good places to meet in that crowded con.
Better yet, if anyone reading this has a booth or table and is willing to host me for an hour or two during the week, let me know. Perhaps we can work something out.
Original Vintage Art & Text
Art by Bill Ward from Torchy #4, May 1950. Quality Comics.
Curious to see more? Click the link above to read the entire vintage comic book for free on ComicBookPlus.com.
↓ Transcript
SCENE: A police officer is helping a beautiful woman into a taxi.
OFFICER: Thanks for helping us re-enact the bank robbery, Ms. La Romp!
MS. LA ROMP: I hope it helps you catch the Stripteasing Bandit! Too many men are going to banks, hoping to get robbed...instead of paying to see my act!
1950 Art: Bill Ward New Color: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Bank Teller of Tall Tales: John Lustig
DJP.lk527
OFFICER: Thanks for helping us re-enact the bank robbery, Ms. La Romp!
MS. LA ROMP: I hope it helps you catch the Stripteasing Bandit! Too many men are going to banks, hoping to get robbed...instead of paying to see my act!
1950 Art: Bill Ward New Color: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Bank Teller of Tall Tales: John Lustig
DJP.lk527
“Don’t you feel well officer?”
“I’ll let you know after I feel you.”
_______________________________________________
“Driver, take us to Prellvue Hospital! This young lady is hearing voices! And none of them are telling her to sleep with me!”
______________________________________________
“Driver, take us to Prellvue Hospital! In the meantime, we can begin the exam in the backseat. Now when I turn my head and cough, put your hand here…”
______________________________________________
“Driver, take us to Prellvue Hospital! This woman is so top heavy , emergency personnel need to be on standby when she takes off her bra. It’s like watching an avalanche descend on a Swiss village.”
______________________________________________
“Don’t you feel well officer? You should try wearing stilettos! Why I haven’t been able to feel my toes for two years now! No more painful corns!”
______________________________________________
I read the story. Just realized that this story, after maybe “Kiss and Run”, is the comic you may draw from the most John. Not meant as a criticism. The opposite. Love some of the Robert Crumb like expressions on the side characters. Was Bill Ward one of Crumb’s influences do you know?
These were hilarious, Jams! Even more so than usual.
I don’t know if Ward influenced Crumb, but my guess i that Crumb at least knew about him. Maybe from the comic books. But even more likely from the many hundreds–if not thousands–of one panel gags Ward did for various men’s magazines. And yes, the women were all top heavy. In fact, much more so than in this panel.
You can see a lot of his men’s mag work if you Google: Bill Ward cartoon art.
Ward also did a lot of work for the humor magazine Cracked.
Ah. Cracked. That explains it. I loved Cracked, the poor man’s MAD. Thanks for some background John. And good luck in San Diego. Hope you have a good time.
No, I don’t feel well! My breasts are pointy!! They’re shaped like pyramids! They’re gonna kill the next person I… hug? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?
Torchy Todd says:
https://imgur.com/aw8nunS
fine jams and jellies since 1982 on July 16, 2024 at 8:56 pm
“Driver, take us to Prellvue Hospital! This woman is so top heavy , emergency personnel need to be on standby when she takes off her bra. It’s like watching an avalanche descend on a Swiss village.”
And she’s only half the size of most of his men’s magazine women, or Nanny Dickering in Cracked magazine.
I agree. I love where John went for his ideas, but Jams was on top of it today! A toast for JAMS!
Thanks.
“It’s just this swelling…”