Frontier Western #5 - Al Williamson, Matt Baker art, Russ Heath cover
Frontier Western #5, 1956 - A decent Russ Heath cover opens this issue, setting the tone for the rest of the book. Al Williamson does a text story illustration, but too small to be of any significance. The highlight of the issue is Matt Baker's tale of a frontiersman. He begins with two spacious panels, depicting a solitary man in the wilderness (see interior page above). Note how Baker suggests loneliness through contrasts in scale and uses surrounding trees to frame the central figure. Other artists in this issue include Jack Davis, Doug Wildey and Reed Crandall. This is number 3 of 4 Frontier Western issues with Williamson art and/or covers and number 1 of 3 Frontier Western issues with Baker art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Baker, Williamson or Frontier Western issues. See also this blog's Heath checklist, Williamson checklist or Baker checklist.
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"Lawman's Point" Williamson text illo pencils and inks 1 page = ***
"A Man with a Gun" Baker story pencils and inks 4 pages = ****
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2 comments to date:
Kudos for digging this one up- looks like I'll have to hunt it down. The presence of EC artists and a Comics Code Approval, as well as the mature Baker art would date this comic in the later fifties. Interesting color choice for the "injuns" in panel one.
You're right about the date and I've corrected it accordingly. Thanks for catching that. The color breaks in many comics are often baffling.
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