Remembering Artist Dan DeCarlo

Remembering artist Dan DeCarlo on his birthday (December 12, 1919 - December 19, 2002) with a couple of covers for the Archie Giant Series Magazine, featuring Santa Claus.  

On the first, #168 of January, 1970, Betty is asking for what she wants for Christmas (much to Veronica's dismay), and the second, #220 of December, 1973, has Sabrina dealing with Santa in a mall as well.

Remembering Artist Dan DeCarlo

Remembering artist Dan DeCarlo on his birthday (December 12, 1919 - December 18, 2001) with a couple of his covers to the Archie Giant Series Magazine (#605 and #606, January, 1990)...

...with Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge getting ready for Christmas.

Remembering Artist Dan DeCarlo

Remembering artist Dan DeCarlo on his birthday (December 12, 1919 - December 2001) with a couple of Christmas covers, with Archie surprising Betty and Veronica for Christmas in Archie Giant Series Magazine #536 (January, 1984) and in Archie Giant Series Magazine #558 (January, 1986).

Remembering artist Dan DeCarlo

Remembering artist Dan DeCarlo (December 12, 1919 - December 18, 2002) on his birthday, with a mini tribute to two characters he co-created for Archie Comics...Sabrina The Teenage Witch and Cheryl Blossom!

Here, the cover to Sabrina The Teenage Witch #77 (January, 1983) and Cheryl Blossom #11 (April, 1998), as we get ready for the snowy weather by dealing with snowmen.

Of course, can't forget another of Dan's creations, Josie and the Pussycats....and read more on them here (but they didn't have people made of snow on any cover I could find!).

 

Happy 50th Josie And The Pussycats Cartoon

Happy 50th Anniversary to the Josie and the Pussycats cartoon!  The cartoon premiered on CBS on September 12th, 1970, and featured the adventures of singer Josie, bassist Valerie, drummer Melody, roadie Alan and manager Alex (with his sister Alexandra as Josie's rival, bringing along her cat, Sebastian), and lasted 16 episodes into 1971.

But, long before it was a cartoon, Josie was the basis for a comic book.

Josephine "Josie" James (later McCoy) premiered in She's Josie (February, 1963) with Melody Jones (later Valentine) and Alexander Cabot III by creator and artist Dan DeCarlo and writer Frank Doyle. 

The title later changed to Josie with Josie #17 (December, 1965).

Alexandra Cabot joined the cast in She's Josie #7 (August, 1964) and Alan M. Mayberry coming aboard in Josie #42 (August, 1969), as well as a few cast members just disappearing from the school hijinks usually featured in the title.  This issue also introduced the idea of a band to the series (though it was the lads who were forming a band).  Alexandra's mystic powers (when holding Sebastian) were introduced in Josie #43 (September, 1969).

Things really changed when the title became Josie and the Pussycats with Josie and the Pussycats #45 (December, 1969), with Josie creating her band, and adding Valerie Smith to the band (as Alexandra would only join if they called it "Alexandra's Cool Time Cats").  Though their look premiered in issue 45, it would first show up on a cover with the next issue.

By Josie and the Pussycats #49 (August, 1970) the ideas for the cartoon started to show up in the comic (the group fighting mad scientists, Alan touring as their manager, Alexandra trying join....though she last used her magic for a while here).

The comic followed the mystery/horror/comedy idea while the cartoon lasted (and a little longer)...

...but never did adapt to the later Josie animated revival, Josie and the Pussycats In Outer Space (which lasted 16 episodes from 1972-1973).

The title went back to more straight humor, and continued that way up to its last issue (with Alexandra starting to manifest magic again), Josie and the Pussycats #106 (October, 1982), with art up until the end mostly by Dan DeCarlo (who based the original character on his wife, Josie), and the last few issues by artist Stan Goldberg.

Later revivals in comics, movies and TV would come, but these were the stories that started it all!

Betty And Veronica on Political Parties

Yes, even Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge have opinions on political parties....as shown on this cover to Archie's Girls Betty And Veronica #199 (July, 1972) by Dan DeCarlo.

Remember to get educated and vote yourself!

Happy Bikini Day 2017

Happy Bikini Day with this cover from Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #344 by classic artist, Dan DeCarlo....as Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge show how they keep safe from the sun...

...as well as this cover, from Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #177 also by classic artist, Dan DeCarlo...with Betty and Veronica having fun at the beach!

You should do that too!