« Innocence is a kind of insanity » — Graham Greene

I’ve always had a soft spot for Tony DiPreta’s striking style. When it came to Atlas’ material, it was generally a case of lousy writing and interesting art. But DiPreta could somehow lend credence to the dodgiest semblance of a plot, because he could smartly provide it with just the right tone. I’ve featured this unfairly obscure illustrator a couple times in the past, so you may want to start there: first, the sublimely ridiculous The Hidden Vampires, then the Tinseltown satire Skull-Face.

I was pleased, in reading a rare interview with the artist, to hear him confide that « In the 1950s I did some comic book work for Stan Lee and others. That was pre-Code horror stuff and I loved it. Some of the illustration I did for crime and horror stories in that period is among the best work I’ve ever done. » Amen!

Aside from an expensive, low print run ‘Marvel Masterworks’ hardcover, this story has never been accessibly reprinted. And so enjoy this scarce gem!

-RG