Wash Tone Covers 1 1

[Math Teacher]

Many of us are aware of the numerous wash tone covers published by DC over the years. Most often, these appeared on DC war comics, but occasionally, they appeared on a super-hero cover. Here's an example of a wash tone cover, Green Lantern #8.

 

This type of cover has lead me to a few questions.

1) If I understand correctly, these covers were published using only pencil art. Is this correct?

2) Who thought of this? Does anyone know the reasoning behind publishing this type of cover?

3) Does anyone know what the first wash tone cover?

4) Did Marvel ever do a wash tone cover during the Golden, Silver, or Bronze age?

Thanks for any information you can provide.

 

Joe

 

Edited September 9, 2019 by Joe Ankenbauer

[bronze_rules]

Some good sources that mostly answer your question...

http://dmangus.blogspot.com/2012/05/taps-for-jerry-grandenetti-1927-2010.html

I particularly enjoy many Jack Sparling DC bronze horror wash tone covers.

Edited September 10, 2019 by bronze_rules

[namisgr]

Thanks for the highly informative link.  

[Math Teacher]

36 minutes ago, namisgr said:

Thanks for the highly informative link.  

Agreed. Did Marvel ever do any of these type of covers?

 

Joe

[bronze_rules]

16 minutes ago, Joe Ankenbauer said:

Agreed. Did Marvel ever do any of these type of covers?

 

Joe

John Romita Sr. talked about using a similar process on Marvel Fireside Covers like "Son of Origins of Marvel Comics"

I know they also did a lot of grey tone art in magazines in the 70s.

I would guess there is various grey tone art in early marvel as well, though, can't say off the top of my head.

 

 

Edited September 10, 2019 by bronze_rules

[namisgr]

37 minutes ago, bronze_rules said:

I would guess there is various grey tone art in early marvel as well, though, can't say off the top of my head.

Not on the covers, to my knowledge.  The closest effect I've seen is the coloring of the Thing on a few early SA covers, like this one:

 

[namisgr]

Another Superhero greytone:

 

Edited September 10, 2019 by namisgr

[comicjack]

Here is an early greytone done in the 40's

[comicjack]

I believe this might be the earliest form of greytone done by Bill Everett back in 1939

[comicjack]

Another early example done in the early 40's made to make the cover pop.More eye appeal of the cover equaled higher sales of the book which made for profit for the comic companies.

[comicjack]

My copy of this Silverage classic

[comicjack]

Russ Heath used greytones to sell alot of books in the 60's

[comicjack]

[1950's war comics]

i never saw that Adventures of the Unknown #118 and it is sweet 

[Dr. Love]

[Math Teacher]

Detective Comics #239 from January, 1957

 

[RockMyAmadeus]

If you want to find the greatest concentration of greytone/washtone covers, look no further than the G.I. Combat run from #75-104, with a few before and after. Jack Adler was a big proponent of the process. It's a wonderful artifact of the 40s through the early 70s.

 

[Gaard]

On 9/10/2019 at 8:40 PM, comicjack said:

No magic carpet?

[Hepcat]

Sorry fellows. I really hate the superhero grey tone covers including the Wonder Woman, Detective Comics, Mystery in Space and Green Lantern ones. Many of the war ones are excellent though!

[DavidTheDavid]

What else was Jack Adler known for? Did he pencil non-washed covers himself? Ink? Color?