It seems as if only a couple of months have passed since I proclaimed that Killer Covers was two years old. Yet the calendar has clicked over to a whole new January. In the interim, I think I’ve found a better pace for this blog, posting short items as well as long ones, rather than concentrating solely on thorough backgrounders about paperback cover artists. I still don’t have the time I would like to devote to Killer Covers, being otherwise engaged in writing The Rap Sheet, my Mysteries and Thrillers column for Kirkus Reviews, book contributions, and additional editorial projects. But I think this blog is shaping up to be well worth a reader’s occasional investigation.I went ’round and ’round on the most appropriate way to celebrate Killer Covers’ third birthday, and finally settled on the idea of showcasing three covers by three different illustrators I discovered during the last 12 months: Britain’s Sam Peffer (aka “Peff”) and American artists Lu Kimmel and Tom Miller. I shall have more to say about their work in the near future. But for now, let’s just enjoy the images below. Click on any of them for an enlargement.
Sam Peffer
Lu Kimmel
Tom Miller
13 comments:
Congratulations on three years! And thanks for a great blog. As a writer, an artist, and especially as a reader of golden age mystery, I really really enjoy reading about these artists.
On behalf of the lurkers, congratulations on three years. A great site.
Congrats! This blog is great.
RAP SHEET is the best of all!
Happy Third Anniversary! The terrible twos were far from terrible and here's hoping three is terrific.
I'm not a one of those drooling fans of GGA art, but I have to say that cover for STEVE BENTLEY'S CALYPSO CAPER is fabulous!
Congrats Jeff, from an avid fan!
Sergio
Happy birthday! Much as I love The Rap Sheet, I think I love Killer Covers more. I take it you've seen Sam Peffer's Bond covers? And funnily enough I blogged about that Lu Kimmel Violent Hours cover last year.
Congratulations on three years. Between the Rap Sheet and Killer Covers, I think you have the books covered from cover to cover.
Just keep those Robert McGinnis covers coming.
Thanks, everyone, for your hearty congratulations. I'm glad that people are digging Killer Covers.
And yes, Nick, I do know about Peffer's excellent Bond covers. But I figured those were probably more familiar to folks than the three covers of his I wound up using.
Cheers,
Jeff
Congratulations
Many of Peffers covers have impressed me. Layering the simply rendered dramatic background behind a detailed colorful character, is art at its best, catches the eye, and starts the tale. It also moves merchandise, not a bad thing for an artist who needs to feed a family. We can't all be "above it all"
Congrats. You have a great blog.
Ann
Great post. But I thought that the last cover "Calypso Caper" is by McGinnis?
I have also seen the cover of Steve Benley's Calypso Caper (1961) credited to Robert McGinnis. And it does look like it could be his work. However, there are numerous places and people on the Web (including a variety of sellers of this novel at AbeBooks) who credit the cover instead to Tom Miller. I don't own the novel, so I can't look to see if there's an obvious credit somewhere inside. Can anyone else help out with this illustration attribution?
Cheers,
Jeff
OK, this would seem to settle the question of who illustrated the cover of Steve Bentley's Calypso Caper. Art Scott, who wrote The Paperback Covers of Robert McGinnis, just sent me a scan of the back of Robert Dietrich's novel, which credits the front cover artwork to Tom Miller.
Cheers,
Jeff
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