Johnson, Alex :: My Art Collection - Sheldon Mayer Tributes - Art by Sheldon Mayer

Scribbly 13 Cover (unused and recreation) by Sheldon Mayer

Artist: Sheldon Mayer (All)

6 Comments - 520 Views - 3 Likes

Scribbly 13 Cover (unused and recreation) by Sheldon Mayer Comic Art

Click Image to View Full Size

Additional Images:

Idea initiated (unrestored)

Idea Refined (unrestored)

Idea Repurposed

Idea Initiated (restored)

Idea Refined (restored)

All four

Previous Item:
Santa and Rudolph (C53 Back) by Sheldon Mayer

Next Item:
Scribbly's Origin as a Cartoonist (Recreated for The Greatest Golden Age Stories Ever Told) by Sheldon Mayer

Artwork Details

Title:	Scribbly 13 Cover (unused and recreation) by Sheldon Mayer
Artist:	Sheldon Mayer (All)
Media Type:	Mixed Media
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	520
Likes on CAF:	3 4
Comments:	6
Added to Site:	11/8/2022
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Sheldon Mayer was one of DC's earliest and best editors. He was involved in the choice to put Superman in Action 1, in the creation of the All-American comic characters (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, etc.), in training other editors, writers, and artists. After a decade or so, he went freelance working on humorous strips which led to the creation of Sugar and Spike.

While S&S are his most famous creations, Scribbly, the Boy Cartoonist, was perhaps nearer to his heart. Sheldon created him when Sheldon was 19. He decided to tell stories about what he knew - being a boy cartoonist. The stories featured a very young Scribbly using his drawing ability to help support his family. They started in DELL comics, but migrated to DC eventually.

The image on the left shows an unused cover intended for Scribbly #13. The one on the right is a recreation done by Sheldon Mayer in the 1980s. Both pieces came from the estate of Harlan Ellision, the famous SciFi writer and were sold at auction by the estate through Heritage Auctions.

I have a few "e-friends" who knew Harlan and I decided to try and learn what I could about the history of these pieces. So, what have I learned?

No one available to me knows where/how he acquired the original.
Maggie Thompson wrote, "I'd bet that Harlan commissioned the re-creation, no matter how he acquired the Mayer original: a way to help support creators he admired."
On the same post, Josh Olson agreed and wrote, "I wouldn�t swear in a court of law, but I�m pretty sure he told me he�d commissioned it."
They hung (with others works) in the main bathroom of Harlan's house per Josh Olson. On that post, he wrote, "It was in the main bathroom. If you were a frequent guest, you've seen spent a lot of time looking at those drawings. And yes - the bathroom - like literally every other room in the house - was an art gallery."

I hope to learn more about it going forward.

Bob Heer has a blog post where he discusses these pieces and finds that though the cover was not used for Scribbly, the idea was used on Buzzy 33 (see Additional Images).

I think the recreation has a better expression of the gag - Scribbly is in trouble because he was sketching the pretty girls (note the broken pencils and the sketch pad) and not because he's a voyeur (see the binoculars in the original).

I also like that the beach ball is visible in the recreation. :)

And I like that Scribbly is wearing a checkered swimsuit which echos the dress of Harlan's Harlequin.

One last item from Ken Keller, like Maggie and Josh, a member of The Harlan Ellison Facebook Fan club. Ken writes on that post that he thinks he knows why Harlan liked this cover.

Ken wrote, "I simply love this cartoon! The young guy wearing a horse bit and blinders, with the young woman firmly holding on to the halter--a sure way to keep her boyfriend from ogling anyone *but her.* (And of course the hidden implication that only she "can take him for a ride, *ahem* whenever she wants/needs to (not very likely on that crowded public beach in this case...) I can well understand why Harlan wanted this recreation from Mayer. He was always well known (yes, I saw this myself several times) for his pursuit of the opposite sex before Susan came into his life)."

I never met Harlan, but I suppose it could be true! :)

Bob Heer and I have deciphered - we think - the various notations on the piece.

At the top, there is pencil writing that concerns repurposing the idea for use as the cover to Buzzy 33. We think it says:
1st line: Dear ... [maybe starts with a G?] Eliminate boardwalk
2nd line: Leave BG for sky. Also note
3rd line: Buzzy and Susie are okay in
4th line: position. Show other girls
5th line: All [being] seated and standing
6th line: in BG looking toward Buzzy.and Susie
7th line: Smiling flirtatiously and some just
8th line: Smiling (not as Sheldon
9th line: Interpreted them)
("BG" means "background")

Bob believes - and I agree - that it likely a note to Graham Place. I no nothing about the gentleman, but his work is attributed to several Buzzy stories in Mike's Amazing World of Comics. The GCD has information, too.
-------
Bottom:
1st Stamp: J. I. G. & Co. 1951
2nd Stamp: WRITTEN OFF 9-30-51
Above 2nd Stamp:
Sheldon Mayer
46 Meadow Place
Rye, NY

Big Note: BRING THIS WITH YOU RY
Small note above the Big Note: the only man at the a summer resort
3rd stamp (embossed): STRATHMORE

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Alex Johnson Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	January 2006
Last Login:	May 2024
Ebay Id:	alxjhnsn
Website:	http://web.mac.com/alxjhnsn
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Alex's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF Read More About AlexJohnson

Contact the Owner

Use the contact form below to send an email to this gallery owner.

You must be logged in to use this feature.

User Comments

You must be logged in to make comments.

Mark Yanko
Member Since 2009

Posted on 11/8/2022

Alex, such a wonderful pair of pieces and such a wonderful story. I even learned things I didn't hear before about Harlan Ellison in the process. Thanks for sharing these!

David Grisez
Member Since 2009

Posted on 11/8/2022

How fantastic is this? The answer is fantastic x 10. I love it, and thank you for sharing it along with the awesome write-up.

Rabid Ferret
Member Since 2005

Posted on 11/8/2022

Congrats!! I know how long you've wanted one of these :) What a great piece, too!!

* bronze-is-gold
Member Since 2007

Posted on 11/8/2022

Thanks for sharing such great art along with the history involved. What a gem! That recreation is fantastic and the concept and layout superior to the actual Buzzy cover it later inspired. And agree on the sketch book in the recreation making the gag even better.

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

Posted on 11/8/2022

A very wholesome good girl piece with that bit of underlying mischievousness for humor. The comparison of the two is a fun exercise and very rewarding.

Rob Stolzer
Member Since 2004

Posted on 11/10/2022

A terrific piece, Alex! And certainly in the correct collection. Congrats, my friend!

All
	Jeffrey Wedding 5/4/2024 4:10:00 AM
	Monty B 5/4/2024 4:08:00 AM
	Santi Ferrer 5/4/2024 4:00:00 AM
	David F. 5/4/2024 3:57:00 AM
	Dennis Books 5/4/2024 3:00:00 AM
View All


	Andrew Allen 5/4/2024 2:22:00 AM
	MARK MARTINEZ 5/4/2024 2:19:00 AM
	Reba Jacobs 5/4/2024 2:04:00 AM
	Markus Rohrwild 5/4/2024 2:01:00 AM
	Francois Labbe 5/4/2024 1:14:00 AM