Posted in: Comics, Heritage Sponsored, Vintage Paper | Tagged: Matt Baker, St. John Publications
Matt Baker covers always have a story to tell, but the cover of Giant Comics Editions #15 contains a complete romance story arc.
Matt Baker’s covers for St. John Publications often reflect one of the interior stories of the issue. However, on St. John’s giant editions, coordination between the cover and the interior content was sometimes impossible due to the varying nature of the rebound remaindered material. One can only speculate about Baker’s cover assignments in these cases. Did he have the freedom to create anything he wanted? Could this be the reason behind the creation of Giant Comics Editions #12, which is widely regarded as the most iconic romance comic book cover ever created?
Every Matt Baker romance cover tells a story, and the cover of Giant Comics Editions #15 is no exception. Unlike most covers, it goes beyond just a single image and tells a complete romance story arc through carefully placed background panels. The cover depicts the journey of an unnamed beautiful blonde who wins a beauty contest, leaves her hometown sweetheart for fame and fortune, falls in love with another man, gets betrayed, and ultimately returns to her true love – all within six panels.
Currently ranked #4 on the Overstreet Price Guide’s Top Ten Romance Comics list, Giant Comics Editions #15 is an underrated gem. This particular copy available in the 2023 August 17 Matt Baker Comics & Comic Art Showcase Auction is the highest graded copy sold by Heritage Auctions in the past 17 years.
Giant Comics Editions was a series of rebound remaindered St. John comic books published from 1948 to 1950. These issues, priced at 25 cents, featured a variety of content, including romance, newspaper strip reprints, and Terry-Toons. While most covers were based on newspaper strip material or Mighty Mouse, six of them showcased the artwork of Matt Baker. Five of these covers featured new, original artwork, while the sixth cleverly utilized previously-run interior panels mostly by Baker. Other giant squarebound editions published by St. John include titles like All-Picture All-True Love Story #1 and Pictorial Romances #20, both featuring Baker covers. St. John occasionally incorporated new material in their giant editions when they were part of another ongoing series.
Giant Comics Edition #15, like other squarebound giants, is rare to find in high grade. The highest graded copy on the CGC census is CGC 6.5, and copies better than the CBCS VG- 3.5 Off-white pages available in the 2023 August 17 Matt Baker Comics & Comic Art Showcase Auction are extremely scarce. Interested bidders can find more information and participate in the auction on the Heritage Auctions website.
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Basant Kasayap is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Bollywood to regional cinema, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
Denial of responsibility! Samachar Central is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
