Chesler Archives

We've talked about the fascinating and sometimes weird comics from industry pioneer Harry Chesler several times in recent months.  Chesler titles such as Punch Comics, Red Seal Comics, and Spotlight Comics among others run the gamut from crime, superheroes, humor — and often even horror.  Although they technically preceded the era that Pre-Code Horror collectors[...]

Harry "A" Chesler's Dynamic Publications comic book publishing line would be paused in 1942 due to low sales (per War Production Board records).  In 1943, Chesler would package digest-sized comic books for publisher Remington Morse, but by 1944, the comic book industry vet was ready to jump into the business on his own again (Historian[...]

Chesler, and also Chesler's art director for a period in the mid-1940s.  He 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 — and made his mark[...]

The short-lived Major Victory Comics series contains a range of great examples of the Chesler line.  Even the superheroes and adventure characters are off-beat and weird, and tend to be viewed through a horror-tinged lens at times.  Patriotic character Major Victory's origin moment is sparked by a character called Father Patriot, "a spirit born in[...]

The notion of blending supernatural elements with superhero storylines is an underappreciated aspect of the Golden Age.  Long before the Pre-Code Horror era, publishers like Marvely/Timely, MLJ and Chesler were combining these elements to great effect.  A prime example of this fusion is Dynamic Comics #1, published by Chesler in 1941 The introduction of superheroes[...]

We've talked about the weird and wonderful world of the comic books from publisher Harry "A" Chesler a few times here over the years, but the role of Charles Sultan as art director of the publisher beginning in 1940 is deserving of more attention In 1941, Chesler's Punch Comics #1 introduced Sultan's Mr E and[...]

The short-lived Major Victory Comics series contains a range of great examples of the Chesler line.  Even the superheroes and adventure characters are off-beat and weird, and tend to be viewed through a horror-tinged lens at times.  Patriotic character Major Victory's origin moment is sparked by a character called Father Patriot, "a spirit born in[...]

Chesler's line, rose to Golden Age fame on Gus Ricca's wild and iconic cover of Dynamic Comics #11 This Dr Doom first appeared in Yankee Comics #1, which is currently available for bidding in the 2022 August 14-15 Sunday & Monday Comic Books Select Auction #122233 at Heritage Auctions This issue also features the origins[...]

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[...]

Chesler.  The Chesler Dr Doom first appeared in Yankee Comics #1, and his origin story is every bit as wild as that famous Gus Ricca Dynamic Comics cover implies.  Add this to the shocking plot twist that gives Yankee Doodle Jones his powers in the cover-featured story, and you've got the makings of a trademark[...]

The short-lived Major Victory Comics series contains a range of great examples of the Chesler line.  Even the superheroes and adventure characters are off-beat and weird, and tend to be viewed through a horror-tinged lens at times.  Patriotic character Major Victory's origin moment is sparked by a character called Father Patriot, "a spirit born in[...]

Along with Gus Ricca, distinctive stylist Paul Gattuso is one of the key artists who gave Harry Chesler's comic books their distinctive look.  Gattuso worked for Chesler beginning around 1944, on titles such as Dynamic Comics, Punch Comics and Scoop Comics among others.  The character Black Dwarf who appeared in Spotlight Comics and Red Seal Comics is perhaps his best-remembered[...]

The short-lived Scoop Comics series is unusual even by Chesler standards.  The title cycled through humor, adventure, and war covers in its first three issues 1941-1942.  The title initially lasted only 3 issues, with characters who debuted here like Master Key and Rocketman & Rocketgirl going on to appear in other Chesler titles such as[...]

Chesler, and he was also Chesler's art director for a period in the mid-1940s.  He 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 — and made[...]

Chesler might even be more famous, at least among serious Golden Age collectors due to his appearance on the cover of Dynamic Comics #11 — though it's not widely known who the figure on that famous cover is Dr Doom What exactly is happening on this highly sought-after cover?  There's a clue to what this[...]

We've talked about the fascinating and sometimes weird comics from industry pioneer Harry Chesler several times in recent months.  Chesler titles such as Punch Comics, Red Seal Comics, and Spotlight Comics among others run the gamut from crime, superheroes, humor — and often even horror.  Although they technically preceded the era that Pre-Code Horror collectors[...]

We've talked about the weird, wonderful, and often horrific world of the comic books from publisher Harry "A" Chesler a few times here recently, particularly the Dynamic Comics issues featuring Dr Doom, and those wild Gus Ricca covers among others But much of the rest of the Chesler line was equally amazing, and the Punch[...]

We've talked about the weird, wonderful, and often horrific world of the comic books from publisher Harry "A" Chesler a few times here recently, particularly the Dynamic Comics issues featuring Dr Doom, and those wild Gus Ricca covers among others But much of the rest of the Chesler line was equally amazing, and the Punch[...]

We've talked about the weird and wonderful world of the comic books from publisher Harry "A" Chesler a few times here recently, particularly the Dynamic Comics issues featuring Dr Doom, and those wild Gus Ricca covers among others But much of the rest of the Chesler line was equally amazing, and the Punch Comics series[...]

There's a Dynamic Comics #11 (Chesler, 1944) CGC Apparent GD/VG 3.0 Slight (C-1) Off-white to white pages up for auction at the 2021 June 17 – 19 Comics & Comic Art Signature Auction coming up from Heritage Auctions. Dynamic Comics #11, cover art by Gus Ricca, (Chesler, 1944) Gus Ricca, born Gaspano Ignazio Ricca in 1906, was an[...]