The Heart of Juliet Jones by Stan Drake
The Heart of Juliet Jones was created by Stan Drake in 1953. Drake received the National Cartoonist Society Story Comic Strip Award for his work on the strip for 1968, 1970, and 1972. Drake left the strip in 1989, and it was continued by Frank Bolle from 1982 through New Year's Day 2000. The strip was a soap opera elevated by exceptional artwork. The figure drawing was characterized by Drake's pioneering use of naturalistic movement and expression, a look he achieved partly through the use of photographic reference. Drake, whose background includes magazine and comic book illustration, drew the strip in a slick, realistic, modern-looking style, similar in general appearance to Ken Ernst's work on Mary Worth and Leonard Starr's on Mary Perkins On Stage. He later used the same style in a series of graphic novels about a character named Kelly Green — but in 1984, when he began drawing Blondie, he proved himself capable of a radically different look. The strip's writer, Elliot Caplin, was the lesser-known brother of Al Capp, the cartoonist responsible for Li'l Abner — but his accomplishments in comics belied his lack of fame to the general public. In addition to this one, he co-created Peter Scratch, Big Ben Bolt and others. He served writing stints on many more, including Abbie & Slats, Long Sam and Little Orphan Annie. He was also the man behind Toby Press, a small comic book publisher of the late 1940s and early '50s, and played many other roles in comics. Much of the dramatic tension was realized through the interaction of two dissimilar sisters. Brunette Juliet Jones, the older, was modest, sensible and successful. Buxom blonde Eve Jones was flirty, flighty, and in and out of trouble. Their elderly father also played a leading role. 8½x11, 270-plus pages each volume plus square spine color covers.
The Heart of Juliet Jones Volume 1 reprints strips from 3/9/53 - 8/13/55. ... $24.95
The Heart of Juliet Jones Volume 2 reprints strips from 8/15/55 - 11/30/57. ... $24.95
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