The story of "Abraham" concludes. This time around, we get details about Sarah's burial (it almost reads like a look into the cemetery business). As before, this is followed by Abraham finding his son a wife, Rebecca. I keep trying to figure out based on who was related to who if any incest was involved. Next are the stories of "Isaac", "Jacob and Esau". It's noted this time that Esau seemed to care little for his "birthrite", but I still don't think that excuses the behavior of either Jacob, or their mother, Rebecca.
"The House Of God" is unusual, as it's the first time they've told this story without the illustrations showing "Jacob's Ladder". I had to re-read "Jacob Meets Rachel" twice before I figured out that-- yes-- he married his 1st cousin. Is it just me, or does it strike anyone else that in "Jacob's Descendants", Joseph is just ASKING for trouble when he tells all his brothers-- who he must know by then hate him-- his dream? I notice in the last 3 episodes this year, Frank Bolle makes a point of showing Reuben as, first, not taking Joseph seriously, then, clearly exhibiting dismay at the rest of his brothers' actions.
(I guess he was out-numbered... and considering he was surrounded by 10 brothers, all with murder in their heart, he was probably wise not to do anything to get on their "list".)
Something strange happened with the February 1986 episodes. Note that while the art is new, the text is almost IDENTICAL to the previous version in December 1975! It actually covers the 1st half of that episode, the 2nd half being in the March 1986 installment. As far as I've noticed, this was the 1st time in the entire series this kind of thing had happened. (Once before, when "starting over", a version of "The Creation" had reprinted the artwork from an earlier version-- but the text had been re-written.)
This trend of reused text with new art continued for the rest of 1986. Considering the tradition of this feature since 1952, it seems to me SOMEBODY was getting awful LAZY here!
Click on the links to open new browsers and you can compare the versions.
December 1975 / February 1986 and March 1986
(A few minor changes but otherwise nearly word-for-word)
January 1976 / April 1986
February 1976 / May 1986
March 1976 / June 1986
April 1976 / July 1986 (some of the text was simpliifed here)
May 1976 / August 1986
June 1976 / September 1986
July 1976 / October 1986
August 1976 / November 1986
September 1976 / December 1986
The earlier slip-up about The Midianites selling Joseph TWICE in the same episode was repeated here.
Finally, I'd like to know what was going on behind-the-scenes at this point. Once again, the artist's signatures have vanished. I could only find Frank Bolle's signature ("FWB") on 2 episodes, the ones for January and May 1986.
Story by (??) / Art by FRANK BOLLE
BOYS' LIFE / January 1986
As a bonus, here's "CHRISTMAS LEGENDS", reprinted in December 1986 from the December 1956 issue. (Not sure if this was Creig Flessel's work or someone else.)
(Continued in 1987)
Copyright (C) BOY'S LIFE Magazine
Restorations by Henry Kujawa
Read the Bob LeRose page at Wikipedia
Visit Frank Bolle's website!
See a collection of Frank Bolle's TIM HOLT covers at this very blog!
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