The Archaeological Art of Diving

Here are some covers I managed to dig up!

1955

1957, art by Sam "Peff" Peffer (1921-2014)

Sam Peffer was a prolific cover artist for Pan Books, including a number of James Bond novels. He later moved into film posters and then video sleeves before retiring in 1985. You can see more of his work here.

1961, art by Alex Schomburg (1905-1998)

Alejandro Schomburg y Rosa was born in Puerto Rico, moving to the United States in 1917. In the 1930s he worked for pulp magazines and in the following decade he became the primary cover artist for Timely Comics. Characters he illustrated include Captain America, the Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch. From the early 1950s onwards he worked in science-fiction and astrology magazines as well as book covers.

1971

The Caribbean Art of Diving

 Here's a nice selection of postage stamps originating from the Caribbean.

Jamaica 1979

Antigua 1968

1976

Barbados 1971

Turks and Caicos Islands 1973

Date unknown

Cuba 1990

Belize 2010

The Masked Art of Diving

 Okay, I was really struggling to think of a title for this one! I think it's obvious what the link is between these pieces!

This 1980 Ghosts cover is by comics legend Joe Kubert. (Perhaps I'll post the accompanying story at Halloween).

Art by Yanick Paquette, 2011

Polish cover for The Freedom Trap

1977

1980

1986

1990

The Cracked Art of Diving

Cracked was a humour magazine that ran from 1958 - 2007. Of all the Mad imitators it was undoubtedly the most successful. These two items date from 1979 and 1988 respectively.

Howard Nostrand was born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1929. In 1948, after spending a single semester at Art Career School, Nostrand got a job as an assistant to comic book artist Bob Powell who worked for Harvey Comics and Fiction House. He left Powell in 1952 and began drawing for various Harvey horror titles. When work dried up following the formation of the Comics Code he moved into advertising. In the 1960s he won an award from the American Institute of Graphic Arts for his subway poster showing a cigar-smoking gangster.

In 1959-60 he drew the newspaper strip Bat Masterson, based on the TV series starring Gene Barry. He was assisted by future comics legend Neal Adams. In 1975 he returned to comics and worked for Atlas/Seaboard and Marvel before moving on to Cracked and National Lampoon. He died in 1984 aged just 55.

            

Bo Badman is a pseudonym for Rurik Tyler who also uses the name Madman. He's worked for various publishers including Marvel. He's also worked for DC as a writer on Scooby-Doo.

The Rainy Day Art of Diving

 I've become used to finding material for this blog in unusual places but I must admit that when I decided to have a quick look at the Bunty Summer Special 1972 my hopes weren't high! Lo and behold though, there on the back page was this game. So, next time your diving or other plans are blown out by the weather you'll have something to do! I'm afraid you'll have to supply your own dice and counters. (Click for a larger image).

Keep checking out the blog and, who knows, I might have some more Bunty material in the future!

Three of a Kind - The Sea Hunters

 Just a quick one today - three covers from one of Clive Cussler's non-fiction titles.