The Classic Pin-Up Art of Jack Cole

More about the book

In the realm of classic cartoon pin-up art, Jack Cole stands out for his unique line drawings and sensual watercolors. Rising to fame in the 1950s as Playboy's main cartoonist under Hugh Hefner, he held this position until his untimely death at 43. Cole is also celebrated as the creator of Plastic Man and an innovative comic book artist of the 1940s, recognized in works like Art Spiegelman and Chip Kidd’s exploration of his legacy. After his 14-year stint on Plastic Man, Cole sought new avenues, finding inspiration in the Humorama line of digest magazines. This circuit, focused on girls and gags, became a training ground for him to refine his craft in single-panel gag cartoons. His talent for depicting the female form was unmatched, and although he signed his work “Jake,” his exquisite line drawings and ink-wash techniques revealed his true identity. Despite being Humorama’s least prolific artist, Cole's illustrations often graced covers, with only a few cartoons appearing every five issues. This collection, featuring a foreword by editor Alex Chun, showcases the best of these rare works, including several pieces from Cole’s original art, many of which have not been published since their initial release.