The Lost Art of Matt Baker Vol. 1

Every Canteen Kate story ever published--22 in all--is collected for the first time in "The Lost Art of Matt Baker (Vol. 1)," judiciously restored and enlarged 20 percent over their original published size. A rich introduction by veteran comics writer Steven Ringgenberg provides insightful historical and biographical context, and a bonus gallery spotlights Baker's skills as a cover artist. Best of all, Baker and his good-time gal bring you weapons-grade guffaws as well as art that will leave you eager to see more from this master draftsman. Regardless of what comics Baker drew, one quality always emerged: his naturalistically gorgeous women. This master of "good girl" art drew every installment of the candid wartime cutie, from her premiere in "Fightin' Marines" (1951) to her final bow in "Anchors Andrews" (1953), all contained in this volume. Unlike the jingoistic comics typically published during the Korean War, Canteen Kate tales were designed to be morale-boosting screwball fun. Volume 2 in "The Lost Art of Matt Baker" series will collect his entire output for the "Wartime Romances" comic, and Volume 3 will provide a sampling of his best war, western, and suspense stories (forthcoming in 2014). This volume on Matt Baker represents the sixth release from the much-lauded Lost Art Books line. Lost Art Books, the flagship series from Picture This Press, collects and preserves the works of illustrators and cartoonists from the first half of the 20th century. Too many of these artists have gone underappreciated for too long, with much of their work uncollected or unexamined for decades, if at all. The Lost Art Books series aims to preserve this cultural heritage by re-introducing these artists to new generations of working illustrators, historians, and admirers of things beautiful.