George Tuska – Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

George Tuska — Lost Team-Up

March 19, 2022 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

World’s Finest, “Inventory” Story, 1984

Continuing our 70^th celebration of Superman and Batman (Robin, too) teaming up for the first time.

I can’t quite put my finger on it… But I always appreciated George Tuska’s art s at DC more than I did at Marvel.

I think it’s because — in my mind’s eye at least— George’s art seemed much more suited to the Bronze Age DC house style.

Or it could just be my imagination.

Here we have a “inventory” story intended for World’s Finest that appears to have never seen the light of day. Dynamic action featuring both Superman and Batman. What more could you possibly ask for?

Except possibly the published page to go with it.

I never understood DC’s policy regarding inventory and cancelled stories. Once they’re fully inked, and in many cases lettered, it’s really difficult to lose money coloring it and publishing it. The prior sunk cost is already sunk.

Except… as my friends in finance would happily point out, the investment in the story and artwork counts as an asset. If you never actually put it out, you never have to write the whole thing off.

Tricky, very tricky.

I’ve owned pages from quite a few DC cancelled stories. There’s an omnibus in there somewhere. Assuming (big assumption) all the scans and files have survived myriad changes in management over the years, and a few physical moves as well.

George Tuska — In The 25th Century

June 17, 2021 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Buck Rogers Daily Strip, July 5, 1965

George Tuska closes out Buck Rogers’ run as a comic strip — at least the first time around.

The strip had lasted nearly 40 years, debuting in 1929 and ending in 1967. The earliest strips have been collected, but it seems doubtful that commercial considerations will allow for the entire run to be reprinted. (I’d like to be wrong about that.)

Ironically, Tuska’s depiction of Rogers is 15 years ahead of its time. Gil Gerard, who played Buck in the 1979 -1981 television series pretty much matches the likeness of Rogers that Tuska employed.

Well, they do say science fiction often becomes science fact.

(When the strip returned to newspapers to capitalize on the TV show in 1979, Tuska was already re-established in comic books. Gray Morrow picked up the illustration chores for that run.)