Hallowe’en Countdown VIII, Day 20

« With pen and ink, I can achieve a scratchy, foggy effect that is appropriate. It was a continual process of learning. » — Nick Cardy

While WOT? favourite Nick Cardy (1920-2013) — who would turn one hundred and four years old today! — spent a lot of time chronicling the undersea adventures of Aquaman, his lingering true love, despite his busy schedule as DC’s premier cover artist, was the Teen Titans — he contributed, either as penciller, inker… or cover artist — to all forty-three issues of the original series.

And what I loved most about editor Murray Boltinoff‘s books is that they were packaged as horror books even when they nominally featured superheroes, a welcome respite. The costumes seemed an afterthought, a most unusual and refreshing attitude. Here, then, is a gallery of Mr. Cardy’s moodiest, most sinister Teen Titans cover artwork.

This is Teen Titans no. 33 (May-June 1971, DC).
This is Teen Titans no. 34 (July-Aug. 1971, DC). Lettering by Ben Oda.
This is Teen Titans no. 35 (Sept.-Oct. 1971, DC).
This is Teen Titans no. 36 (Nov.-Dec. 1971, DC).
This is Teen Titans no. 41 (Sept.-Oct. 1972, DC).
This is Teen Titans no. 42 (Nov.-Dec. 1972, DC).
This is Teen Titans no. 43 (Jan.-Feb. 1973, DC).

-RG