Maybe, but that 1976 date can't possibly be right--Marvin and Wendy weren't on the show by then, and besides that I can't believe that Hanna Barbera would use anything but the classic Alex Toth group shot to promote the show once it went into production.
My bet is this piece was put together before the show started being produced, dating it to 1972 or 1973, possibly even before Toth started doing his now-legendary model sheets.
I wonder who did the art?
9 comments:
I stumped as to who did the art on this, as well. Maybe I'll see it in a different light when I take a look at it again later in the day. Way too sleepy right now LOL
Rob, it could possibly have been for the syndicated version, which might have started in the later Seventies.
I don't know why, but something about this art says, "Murphy Anderson." Although that Wonder Woman looks very much like the early 70s Nick Cardy version...
I love those poses, too, btw.
I wonder if Infantino wasn't involved. He liked to lay out just about every cover DC did during his reign, so he may have had a hand in this too. It looks like his Batman head there.
I remember seeing this in an old Wizard JLA special frm the 90s. I think they cut Aquaman out though. Poor Arthur.
Chris
I think your analysis is spot-on... plus the logo is different than what they used on the show... this logo has some subtle serifs on the letters! I also note that Batman never really used the cape like that on the show.
That WW definitely looks like Cardy's stuff, as Russell suggested!
No offense to Alex Toth, but I wish they had used these design versions of the Super Friends. They look much more defined and heoric.
No offense to Luis, but these designs would've been much more difficult for Hanna-Barbera to use in animation. Toth, having been experienced in designing for H-B (going at least back to Space Ghost), had a good handle on what could be done at the time.
I agree with Jon K. If you adapt straight comic-style drawings to animation, you normally get results like the 90s X-Men toon, where the shadows seem to have a life of their own and move as a separate entity. Compare that to Toth's SF or Timm's BTAS designs, and you can separate the true animation designers from the boys.
Chris
Rob, I think you are correct regarding the model sheet theory; it appears this piece was in the testing phase for H-B, particularly with Batman's look. That is to say, they were not sure if they wanted to continue apeing the Filmation look (as seen in Batman & Robin's 2 appearances on "The New Scooby Movies" series from 1972), or establish their own look for the duo.
Even Wonder Woman takes on the look of both Murphy Anderson's work, and Filmation's one-shot W.W. seen on the "Brady Kids" episode, rather than the streamlined, modernized version familiar to the series.
In any case, this is a nice, historic piece!
SF launched in '73, and was brought back as a mid-season replacement in '76. I have to agree this was meant for the syndicated package, which trimmed the 1 hr. eps into 2-parters. However, the syndicated package didn't come until 1979.....
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