The latest retellings of these stories, begun in June 1966, continue with new versions of "Abraham", "Jacob" and "Joseph". Plus, as a bonus, the history of the usage of "X" in "Christmas".
It annoys me that since Al Stenzel took over the BOYS' LIFE color comics section, that artists' names VANISHED off this feature. This, at a time when several comic-book publishers were begining to regularly list creator credits. It's difficult to be certain who worked on the series at this point, but the March 1967 installment, "The Lord Tests Abraham" looks to me like the work of Lou Fine. I say this because, oddly enough, the way Abraham's left hand is rendered, plus the figure-work on Isaac, both remind me of Gil Kane's work-- except, MUCH, much better, far smoother than anything Kane ever did. And I've read repeatedly that Kane's biggest influence was always Lou Fine. Fine, of course, DID work for Johnstone & Cushing, and had a lengthy run on SPACE CONQUERORS! So, why not STORIES FROM THE BIBLE as well? Plus, the vignette faces in "The Birthright" remind me of some of the faces early-on in Fine's SC run.
On the other hand... when we get to "Joseph In Egypt", and particularly the first installment, the art style changes rather drastically. The rendering is much rougher, cruder, unpolished. I'm reminded of Dick Giordano, or even Klaus Janson, but it seems to me I've seen some work like this in an issue or two of BORIS KARLOFF TALES OF MYSTERY. It also remnds me a bit of Australian artist Yoroslav Horak, who drew the JAMES BOND 007 newspaper strip for the bul of the 1970's. Any ideas???
Story by Al Stenzel / Art by LOU FINE (??)
BOYS' LIFE / January 1967
BOYS' LIFE / May 1967
BOYS' LIFE / October 1967
Copyright (C) BOY'S LIFE Magazine
Restorations by Henry Kujawa
Read the Bob LeRose page at Wikipedia
Read about the history of Johnstone & Cushing at the Hogan's Alley site
Read the Lou Fine page at Wikipedia
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