DON RICO/
1912-1985

Comics and Comic Illustrations

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A collection of covers and others done by Don Rico. I have removed old covers that did not display his artwork, but may have contained his art and/or stories.

Many thanks to our friends at Heritage Auction Galleries who provided some of these images and where some of these comics may be available (if you're lucky!). Please visit their sites for more info. Other images are credited where possible or as needed.

Timely Comics Staff Photograph autographed by Stan Lee (1942). Stan Lee recalls, "On August 14, 1942 Martin Goodman, owner and publisher of Timely Comics, together with Lloyd Jacquet, owner of Funnies Incorporated, took their staffs to see Walt Disney's new animated feature "Bambi," because they were producing comics at the time which featured animated cartoon characters, and because those comics were proving to be very profitable. After the movie, Martin and Lloyd took some of their staffs to dinner at New York's Hotel Astor to celebrate the occasion. (Note: Lloyd Jacquet's Funnies Incorporated was a studio whose artists provided stories and artwork to various comic book publishers, including Martin Goodman.) While I can't remember all the names, the ones I can identify are -- Left side (from the bottom moving up), all Timely unless otherwise labeled: Ernie Hart, editor, writer, and artist; Vince Alascia, inker of adventure strips; Mario Acquaviva, letterer; unknown; Moe Worth, animation artist; Dick LaScalzo; Ray Gill, writer and Funnies Inc. executive; Stan Lee; Jim Fitzsimmons, Funnies Inc. business executive; Frank Torpey, Martin Goodman's friend and "man Friday"; Lloyd Jacquet, Funnies Inc. owner; Center: Martin Goodman, Timely publisher and owner; Right side (from the top moving down): George Klein, penciler and inker; Don Rico, editor, writer, and artist; Ed Winiarski, penciler; Mike Sekowsky, penciler; Syd Shores, penciler and inker; Bill King, layout artist; Dennis Neville, penciler; Jim Mooney, penciler and inker; and Gary Keller, letterer and Head of Production." The photograph's image area measures 10" x 12", and it is in Excellent condition. Stan Lee signed the glass on this photograph's frame -- what a rare insight into the Marvel bullpen of the Golden Age.
Timely Comics Staff Photograph ca. 1942
(He's the guy in the upper right-hand corner.)


Sergeant Spook originated in Blue Bolt Comics #1 (Vol. 1 No. 1) (June 1940),
and appeared in most issues through #95 (Vol. 9 No. 5) (October 1948),
with a few appearances thereafter.
Courtesy: http://home.aol.com/mg4273/sgtsp.htm
The Splendid Apparition -1970s.jpg (395546 bytes)
SILVER-STREAK_11_1941.jpg (133699 bytes)
Note: Despite the "Don Rico" on the right side,
only the Daredevil and Claw images appear to be Don's.


Note: This cover not
by Don Rico

Inside ->
CAPTAIN_BATTLE.JR_No.1-1943.jpg (174045 bytes)  

 

<- Notice any ->
<- similarities? ->

 

Target Comics
TargetV7-10.jpg (1345760 bytes) TargetV7-6.jpg (1693635 bytes) TargetV7-9.jpg (1298174 bytes)
Target_v8n04.1947.jpg (383833 bytes) The covers are classic examples of Don Rico's comic style. Target_v7n05.GaryStark.1946.jpg (105186 bytes)
rico_cover.jpg (32363 bytes)

 

CAPTAIN BATTLE # 2 - DOCTOR HORROR (1941)
captain battle 2 pg 54.jpg (465858 bytes) captain battle 2 pg 55.jpg (524963 bytes) captain battle 2 pg 56.jpg (561111 bytes) captain battle 2 pg 57.jpg (598591 bytes)
Images courtesy bhcomics1

 

HumanTorch.jpg (75269 bytes) Don Rico - Human Torch Pin-Up Illustration Original Art (undated). Flame on with the original Golden Age Torch! Don Rico was an artist and writer who toiled at Timely/Atlas from 1942-48. When Jack Kirby went into the Service during World War II, Rico took over many of his assignments. The Human Torch, Captain America, Blonde Phantom, and the Young Allies were but a few of the Golden Age gladiators Rico drew. By the fifties, he had left the drawing board and concentrated on writing scripts for the Atlas comics line. After that he went on to a successful career writing screenplays for TV shows and film. This ink and watercolor drawing has an image area of 11" x 15". Aside from some tape around the edges of the paper (outside of the image area), the art is in Excellent condition.
daredevil.jpg (174906 bytes) Don Rico - Daredevil and the Claw Hand Colored Print, Group of 2 (1976). Lev Gleason's Daredevil battles the macabre minions of the Claw in a dynamic hand-colored print by Golden Age artist Don Rico, titled "Daredevil Besieged." The Claw gathers his troops for an onslaught in the second hand colored print featured in this lot, titled "The Claw and His Henchmen." Each print has an overall size of 22.5" x 14". Aside from some paper aging around the borders of the Daredevil print (due to being light struck), the prints are in Good condition. Each was titled and signed twice by Don Rico.
Z-18.JPG (104168 bytes) THE MAGNIFICENT SUPERHEROES OF COMICS GOLDEN AGE
FIRST EDITION! (1977)

Softcover fanzine/book from Don Rico, Superlith,Inc.
The book has paper covers and B&W interior pages.

Reprints Golden Age comic stories:
The Hangman - Special Case #3
The Original Shield and Dusty Boy Detective, "the Case of the Living Puppet"
The Web
Captain Battle "in The Spells of Black Magic"
Magno and Davey
Black Jack
Lash Lightning
Blue Bolt
Mr. Scarlet and Pinky
Steel Sterling Man of Steel

Appr. 7.25" x 10.50" * slick soft litho covers!
This claims to have come from the Forest J. Ackerman collection. It is an illustration from an unknown 1940's/50's Sci-Fi Pulp magazine. The piece measures about 12" X 10", and is signed by Don Rico. Seems to be influenced by Dali's work in Hitchcock's Spellbound.

See also "Esoteric Atlas"

He didn't do this cover, he did something inside,
but I LOVE the whacked out art, so here ya go...

 

Last updated on 09/10/2008