JUNGLE GIRL COMIC BOOK ART FEATURING DAVE STEVENS
FOUR FINE JUNGLE GIRLS BY DAVE STEVENS
Master illustrator Dave Stevens has a natural gift for drawing sexy women in classic poses and so the jungle girl genre suits his imagination just fine. In these four samples you can see he takes the whole thing to a level that is really unreachable by the guys that started all the Tarzan influenced jungle comics back in the 50’s and 60’s. His Sheena work is perfect and the drawing with the bare breasted girl in the tree at the bottom is so stunning in layout and rendering I just do not get tired of looking at it. In some cases I would say it lacks intensity due to the absence of a lush jungle background but here it works just right the way it is. Takes a true artist to so confidently handle empty space.
A SELECTION OF JUNGLE GIRL DRAWINGS AND COMIC BOOK PAGES
Of course the whole Tarzan concept alone required some suspension of disbelief in itself, mush less the white jungle girl theme. I am a big fan of the Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan films and you can expect to see posts on them in the future. But the reality is too intense for any of this to be true of course. I read a book recently on the jungle warfare that took place in Burma during WWII and some of the worst elements both the allies and Japanese had to deal with was the jungle itself… insects, leeches, disease, heat and cold, the foliage and terrain and it goes on and on. So it is crazy to see these gals all dressed in bikinis and not covered in mud and grime and insect bites. But I totally love it and it is one of my favorite comic book genres to look at for the quality of the drawings. I enjoy it for the detailed jungle art and crazy stories.
Note: The following comic book pages are not a complete story nor in any special order. I found loads of the stuff online and it is nice to look at on a good computer. Nothing like seeing the original stuff on paper I am sure, but I am content to settle for the digital substitute at this juncture. They are posted to show just how good some of the jungle adventure art had become in its detail.
A SELECTION OF JUNGLE GIRLS IN BONDAGE COMIC BOOK COVERS
Subdued bondage of women was a recurrent theme in almost all comic book genres up until recent history. It does not appear often now except maybe in underground or adult titles. I do not know what the intent was but it has been a point of hostile criticism of comics in general from feminists groups and concerned parents. Well, we here at the Café not only do not see what all the hubbub is about but feel ourselves compelled to be purveyors of this sub-genre of comic book expression. There is a sort of humor or innocence about these covers when compared to what is being done now in comics or films. There is no doubt that the women are half naked and tied up, usually in these books by pygmies or cannibals, but it is all in good taste, we assure you. And if there is one thing we here at The Uranium Café know about it is …er… good taste.
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August 12th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Lovely! Stevens was another one of my faves. I had the pleasure of meeting him and having him autograph some stuff in the late 90s. It broke my heart when we lost him recently – he is one of the reasons that Bettie Page managed to be kept alive along the fringes of culture until she was commodified by the mainstream. Great post Bill and glad to have you back. All eyes are on you in China ma’ man! Did you catch the Men’s 4×100 relay last night?? Best swimming final I have EVER seen. See ya pal.
August 12th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Chick
Yes we are back home and I finally got all my stuff with the new site caught up last night and so added my 1st new post since all my issues began over a month ago. I can sort of start maintaining the site now though still some headaches with WordPress 2.6.
As you can guess the mood in China is one of excitement and elation and it is most interesting to be here. I never had much real interest in the Olympics before but it is a different situation for me this time, and the world I guess. Of course I root for the USA in most tings, but the Chinese people are really so nice and excited. Governments are one thing but people are another. I do not like this govt here much at all, but the people are trying so hard to be polite and show the world a good side to China. There was the unfortunate stabbing of an American couple and it is horrible but I can honestly say that that is an isolated criminal act from some nut and that China is much safer than any major US city to walk around in. It is a terrible thing.
Anyway, I need to get back to catching up with things here. Seems like a lot of community style activities going on and I believe I am supposed to participate in a 12 movie-fest meme thingy but not sure what to really do. I am sure the rules are flexible.
Thanks for the visit and I did not know Dave Stevens died. He seemed young. I used to drool over his pen and ink work. I have to admit with comic book stuff (like my movies and music) I am stuck in the past a few decades. Check on my sidebar, if you have not yet, for Rik Rawling’s Pysch SKull, a great site on mostly Marvel Comics of the Silver Age, but other culturally necessary topics as well. He has an edgy sort of sense of humor you would appreciate.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Dave Stevens was such a great artist! probably one of my bigger influences and I was soooo sad when he died! He was too young. I actually have the first Sheena drawing as a print waiting to be framed and hung. No one drew a woman like Dave did.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Becca- I understand that dave stevens was a nice guy and well respected in a field that contains a lot of inflated egos with talent that does not match up. He was a real artist and visionary. Really sad.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Hey Bill. Thanks for the tip about the silver age blog – I will check it out right now. I’m not a big fan of Chinese Politik either. But, you are absolutely right about the people. My goal is to make it China and Japan soon. My Grandfather was a medalist in the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam – so I grew up with Olympics in my face constantly. As a result, I am a fanatic. Take Care buddy!
August 13th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
if you make it this far inland ( I am near Burma and Laos!!!!) I will do my best to show you around and tell you what to not eat… or, maybe eat it. I recently tried fried crickets, sort of like tortilla chips really.
August 14th, 2008 at 6:05 am
Wow, right near Laos huh? I was SUPPOSED to go to Japan for a conference in March 09′ but I just couldn’t put together the funds. I’ve presented at the last two and would’ve been a shoe-in for the next one (SCMS is the conference, it’s the highest academic conference in my field SCMS stands for Society of Cinema and Media Studies). The Plan was to hit Tokyo, then do my best to make it to China, Hong Kong, and I’ve always wanted to go to Thailand too. Alas, these things will have to wait. But, FOR SURE if you are still in China when I come, I will be looking you up. You will be the only person (in 1.3 billion) that I know (not personally, but you know what I mean). Fried cricket huh? doesn’t sound too bad. AT least that will shut them up for a bit!
December 24th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Sure, this innocent portrayal of lovely heroines in bondage was just used as compelling drama, but it sure sparked a not-so-innocent fascination with the subject in myself, at least. The reason why? Feminism made it taboo, and made it such a less obtainable situation to see an attractive young lady tied up in ropes and about to face certain doom, before luck or wits or a hero takes her away from the situation. The taboo, the denial of this perfect device of adventure/drama made it oh-so more appealing. It’s just plain visually attractive anyway, never mind how it plays into a story, and should still be used gratuitously.
In the Mummy III, recently released at this writing, the main character’s side-kick and wife retells an adventure where she was tied up, with a gleam in here eye, in an attempt to arouse amorous feelings from her husband. Unfortunately it was only a verbally retold tribute to what would have appropriately fit the genre and era that the movie took place in.
December 26th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Very well put Noel. I think some of the playfulness of the whole bondage issues has simply been forgotten about and the darker aspects has gotten blown out of proportion. In mot older films from Tarzan to old Westerns there some girl tied up sequence that would be resolved with a hero’s entrance. The same with comics. It was the damsel in distress formula… literally the girl tied to the train tracks awaiting the hero’s arrival in the nick of time. The bondage formula in modern films has become pretty sinister and nihilistic, for example in The Strangers with Liv Tyler, where innocent people are bound and then stabbed to death in front of each other and the bad guys walk away scott free.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Love this stuff!
I’m producing some photocomicbook adventures with fantasy characters, any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
Dave Simpson
March 17th, 2010 at 3:55 am
Hoo-BOY, am I with you on this ubject. For example: http://buncheness.blogspot.com/2007/08/female-savages-on-loose.html
March 17th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
I have a lot more material on this topic to be honest. Should promote a little more. I have more comic book stuff in the works. I have a good jungle girl collection. Checking out your link. Well written and lengthy post. I love Jumbo Comics covers. I will blogroll your site on my Blogger blog at http://necrotic-cinema.blogspot.com and check you for updates.