Posted in: Comics, Heritage Sponsored, Vintage Paper | Tagged: Chesler, pre-code horror

Gus Ricca's Iconic Dr. Doom Cover on Dynamic Comics #11, at Auction

Published Thu, 27 Oct 2022 12:17:10 -0500

It's indisputable that a cover has a tremendous impact on the value of a vintage comic book. But the stories behind some of comics history's most famous covers are sometimes surprisingly little-known. We've discussed examples here recently such as Frank Frazetta's cover of Creepy #4 and the captivating cover of Horrific #1. Gus Ricca's fascinating cover for Dynamic Comics #11 is another stand-out example. What exactly is happening on this highly sought-after cover? It has something to do with a character named Dr. Doom. That clue and others that point to what this is all about can be found in the stories of Dynamic Comics #11, and in Gus Ricca's history. An iconic Golden Age cover by an underappreciated artist, there's a Dynamic Comics #11 (Chesler, 1944) CGC FN- 5.5 Off-white to white pages and another great Ricca cover with Dynamic Comics #8 (Chesler, 1944) and the legendarily insane Dynamic Comics #18 Propeller Monster cover up for auction in the 2022 October 27 – 28 Halloween Pre-Code Horror and Crime Comics Showcase Auction #40207 at Heritage Auctions.

Dynamic Comics #11, cover art by Gus Ricca, (Chesler, 1944)

Gus Ricca, born Gaspano Ignazio Ricca in 1906, was an accomplished magazine and book cover artist and newspaper illustrator long before he came to work in comics for Harry A. Chesler, Marvel, and Fawcett among others. Ricca also became Chesler's art director in 1944. Ricca often took a symbolic, interpretive approach to the subjects of his cover work, as can be seen on his covers for the likes of Liberty Magazine, The Century Co., What's on the Air, and Colliers among others.

It appears likely that Ricca's now-famous Dynamic Comics #11 cover is based on the interior story for "The Echo" from this issue. It is known that Ricca drew the Echo story from Dynamic Comics #10. While the artist of the Echo story in #11 is unknown, it bears a resemblance to Ricca's work, and the story itself contains the chemistry elements and characters that correspond to this spectacular cover.

The Echo featured the crime-fighting exploits of a family of two brothers and their sister who were urged into a mission of fighting the underworld by the ghost of their murdered father. The Echo himself was a ventriloquist who wore an invisibility belt created by his super-scientist brother, who goes by the name of Dr. Doom (after the family's ancestral home, Doom Hall). It's clear from the title page of the first appearance and origin of this team in Yankee Comics #1 that the scientist figure on the cover of Dynamic Comics #11 is indeed Dr. Doom. The figure in the test tube on the far right is likely sister Cora, and the sleuth with the spyglass in the center test tube is likely the Echo himself. The team has foiled the plot of a clever thief who stole a valuable chemical formula in the story.

It's a classic example of Ricca symbolism inspired by the circumstances of the story. An iconic Golden Age cover by an underappreciated artist, there's a Dynamic Comics #11 (Chesler, 1944) CGC FN- 5.5 Off-white to white pages and another great Ricca cover with Dynamic Comics #8 (Chesler, 1944) and the legendarily insane Dynamic Comics #18 Propeller Monster cover up for auction in the 2022 October 27 – 28 Halloween Pre-Code Horror and Crime Comics Showcase Auction #40207 at Heritage Auctions. If you've never bid at Heritage Auctions before, you can get further information, you can check out their FAQ on the bidding process and related matters.