Shades of Gray

Gray's Covers # 33

2012-01-31T07:18:00.002-05:00

Orion and Amora-1978

2012-01-27T09:39:00.001-05:00

Just a couple of gorgeous pages! Click 'em big for full effect!

Gray's Covers # 32

2012-01-19T21:57:00.002-05:00

2012-01-17T21:29:00.001-05:00

Rose and the Thorn

2012-01-14T11:28:00.002-05:00

This 1971 story of ROSE & THE THORN was one of my first exposures to Gray's unique style.

Scarlett Double Page Spread

2012-01-12T21:45:00.002-05:00

Original Art

2012-01-08T20:31:00.000-05:00

Sheena Page

2011-12-30T07:37:00.000-05:00

A lovely example of how Gray could make a fairly pedestrian page quite interesting! Thanks as ever to Ronn S.

Gray's Covers # 31

2011-12-21T11:13:00.001-05:00

Zatanna

2011-12-14T08:29:00.000-05:00

Here's the first part of a Zatanna story by Gray.
http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/1653848.html

Girls, Girls, Girls

2011-12-09T08:55:00.002-05:00

Avalon Book Club Covers

2011-12-06T17:37:00.000-05:00

Extra Special thanks to Ronn for finding this treasure trove of sixties design all attributed to Gray!

Gray's Covers # 30

2011-12-03T18:10:00.002-05:00

Blood of Krylon Reprint Splash

2011-12-03T00:58:00.000-05:00

Note that Uncle Creepy has been replaced by the Phantom of the Opera for no apparent reason in the below 1972 reprint in FM of the above 1965 CREEPY tale by Gray with Archie Goodwin.

Gray in Someday Funnies

2011-12-01T17:47:00.000-05:00

Just found out Gray is one of the many artists represented in the all-new, forty years in the making, SOMEDAY FUNNIES. Go here for details, then order a copy below!

Gray's Covers # 29

2011-11-27T18:08:00.000-05:00

Gray's Covers # 28

2011-11-26T09:59:00.000-05:00

Buck and Wilma

2011-11-25T16:50:00.002-05:00

Think we've run this before but this may be a better version.

Supergirl Page Original Art

2011-11-23T23:14:00.002-05:00

The Heap Vs Frankenstein

2011-11-21T18:20:00.002-05:00

Gray's Covers # 27

2011-11-17T22:49:00.000-05:00

Gray's Covers # 26

2011-11-15T20:58:00.000-05:00

Howard Hughes Page

2011-11-12T09:19:00.000-05:00

Not sure what this is a page from but it's a nice one.

Friday Foster Original

2011-11-09T19:47:00.000-05:00

Click to embiggen. Thanks, RS.

Blue Painting

2011-11-06T06:19:00.000-05:00

More Sherlock

2011-11-05T11:24:00.002-04:00

Batman

2011-11-04T18:41:00.000-04:00

Ran across this on the Net. Not certain that we haven't run it already but I couldn't find it. If so, here it is again!

Gray's Loathsome Lore-1967

2011-11-01T01:10:00.001-04:00

Secret Hearts

2011-10-30T12:27:00.000-04:00

Here we have kind of an introductory page of art by Gray Morrow that's completely unconnected to the comics stories that followed in this 1971 issue of SECRET HEARTS.

From Aliens: Tourist Season 1997

2011-10-27T20:01:00.001-04:00

Secret Agent Corrigan

2011-10-22T11:18:00.003-04:00

Ghosting for Al Williamson

Cinderella 2000

2011-10-21T00:19:00.000-04:00

Lampoon Spread

2011-10-19T17:31:00.000-04:00

Here's a much better version of the one I pieced together sometime back. It's a double-page spread from NATIONAL LAMPOON.

Big News From NYCC--Orion!

2011-10-17T11:38:00.000-04:00

PRESS RELEASE: In their long-standing mission to excavate rare comics treasures, Hermes Press is reprinting the entirety of legendary artist Gray Morrow's Orion from the pages of Heavy Metal magazine. Orion is Morrow's 1978 sword and sorcery masterpiece about an Errol Flynn-like swashbuckling hero who battles evil on a strange and mystical world. The project has been a mission of Hermes Press's Christopher Irving for a decade, starting from his friendship with Morrow's widow, Pocho Morrow.

"In doing an article on Gray after his untimely death in 2001, I got to become dear friends with Pocho," Irving says. "We've always talked about getting a tribute of Gray's best work printed, and when we came across originalOrion artwork, publisher Dan Herman was the first person I called."

Most of Gray Morrow's Orion will be shot directly from Morrow's original hand-colored artwork, and reproduced in full color.

Gray Morrow burst into comics in the 1950s, bringing his classic Alex Raymond-inspired style on everything from paperback covers to newspaper strips. Morrow's work graced several issues of the Warren magazines, Classics Illustrated, and westerns for DC Comics (including El Diablo with writer Robert Kanigher). Morrow also served as editor of Archie Comics' short-lived Red Circle horror line in the '70s, which included art by his contemporaries such as Alex Toth and Angelo Torres. As a comic strip artist, he drew the late 1970s incarnation of Buck Rogers, as well as an eighteen year-long stint on the Sunday Tarzan strip. He died in 2001, after succumbing to Parkinson's and general failing health.

Gray Morrow's Orion will be published by mid-2012, with proceeds going to his wife Pocho Morrow. Accompanying Orion will be a biographical essay by Irving as well as more samples of Morrow's inimitable artwork and storytelling.

Once again, thanks to Ronn S. for the heads-up!

Wood Vs Gray

2011-10-15T19:38:00.000-04:00

"Ever wonder where artists get their inspiration from? Perhaps, each other?" Thanks, Paul!

Leftover Gray

2011-10-14T15:50:00.000-04:00

I'm sure I've posted at least some of these before but they were in a file marked "To Post" so just in case...

Dick Gautier is Rocket Robin Hood

2011-10-08T23:41:00.004-04:00

We've noted before that Gray Morrow (along with Steranko and Wallace Wood) worked on the syndicated sixties TV cartoon series, ROCKET ROBIN HOOD. Here, courtesy once again of Ronn S., is a cel clearly by Gray from that series and showing just how much the character seems based on the look of actor Dick Gautier, himself Robin Hood a decade later on the series WHEN THINGS WERE ROTTEN.

The Naughty Cheerleader

2011-10-07T18:51:00.002-04:00

Gray did this poster for the Independent-International release, THE NAUGHTY CHEERLEADER and I finally got to see the film. Perhaps not surprisingly if one knows this genre, there are no cheerleaders, naughty or otherwise, in the picture. It is, however, interesting, as a very early vehicle for then-Hef girlfriend, PLAYBOY model, future HEE HAW Honey and actress and recording star Barbi Benton. Hef himself cameos and a top-notch supporting cast including Broderick Crawford and Klaus Kinski raise it slightly above the level of your average grindhouse picture. Slightly.

Fantastic

2011-10-05T17:50:00.003-04:00

Thanks RS yet again!

Gray's Covers # 25

2011-10-04T07:15:00.002-04:00

Thanks as always to Ronn S.

Tarzan Sunday Sequence-1984

2011-09-30T21:33:00.010-04:00

Sci-Fi Painting

2011-09-25T18:57:00.000-04:00

Gray's Covers # 24

2011-09-19T11:02:00.003-04:00

Is This Gray

2011-09-17T08:11:00.002-04:00

Looks like Gray's work....that signature could be a"GM," they're boh characters Gray worked on (although Supergirl not 'til later) and Phil Seuling who printed this also did Gray's DARK DOMAIN, Still...not sure.

Babes and Bimbos

2011-09-14T07:29:00.004-04:00

More Power Rangers!

2011-09-10T16:36:00.013-04:00

Perry on the Web

2011-09-08T15:36:00.000-04:00

Serial Showcase

2011-09-04T10:26:00.002-04:00

Flame Fiend Original Art

2011-09-02T16:37:00.001-04:00

Perry and Friend

2011-08-30T18:58:00.002-04:00

My Favorite Perry

2011-08-29T15:24:00.001-04:00

Bayou Witch

2011-08-28T22:57:00.007-04:00

Gray adopted a whole new style for this early seventies WITCHING HOUR feature scripted by the fabled Phil Seuling. Seuling was obviously a Morrow fan as he also published the DARK DOMAIN book.

Another Perry

2011-08-27T18:20:00.000-04:00

Fantasy and Science-Fiction Cover

2011-08-25T14:55:00.002-04:00

Perry

2011-08-21T18:39:00.002-04:00

Thanks RS.

Nurse Sherri Bigger and Better

2011-08-19T18:22:00.002-04:00

Buck Rogers Original Painted Art

2011-08-18T13:41:00.002-04:00

Gray's Covers # 23

2011-08-14T14:19:00.001-04:00

Question For Morrow fans

2011-08-11T15:59:00.001-04:00

Anyone know what this illustration was from or was done for?

More El Diablo

2011-08-08T18:54:00.003-04:00

We just ran a quick El Diablo sketch. By contrast, here's a particularly elaborate EL DIABLO story from Mr. Morrow.

http://diversionsofthegroovykind.blogspot.com/2011/08/bring-on-back-ups-satan-with-spurs-by.html

El Diablo in Pen

2011-08-08T00:13:00.001-04:00

Catwoman

2011-08-06T09:52:00.000-04:00

Robert Bloch

2011-08-05T09:56:00.002-04:00

I believe this is author Robert Bloch. Not sure what it was done for but it's an interesting and atypical style for Gray.

Powerline Art

2011-08-03T00:56:00.001-04:00

Gray's Prince Valiant

2011-08-02T14:40:00.003-04:00

Mort Todd and Gray --Weird Menace

2011-07-30T23:16:00.003-04:00

THE SEX VAMPIRES FROM OUTER SPACE is a Mort Todd/Gray Morrow collaboration found in WEIRD MENACE # 1, available for order here!

007?

2011-07-29T10:01:00.001-04:00

Sorcery Cover Original Art

2011-07-28T16:50:00.001-04:00

Sci-Fi Covers

2011-07-26T18:44:00.006-04:00

Fantasy Readers

2011-07-23T21:01:00.004-04:00

Thanks to a reader for providing these wonderful scans that are much better than the ones we ran previously.

Freeze

2011-07-21T17:37:00.000-04:00

Tim Ferrante Supplementary Info

2011-07-20T16:25:00.002-04:00

I recently received an absolute treasure trove of info on Gray and various posts on this blog from writer, filmmaker (DRIVE-IN MADNESS), film buff and Morrow friend and fan Tim Ferrante. After trying to figure out the best way to disseminate the information, I decided that Tim had already done such a marvelous job of formatting it so I would present it more or less the way he sent it, complete with links to my original posts here at SHADES OF GRAY.

Here's a ton of data regarding an assortment of pages at SHADES OF GRAY. Perhaps you can use it to supplement the pages.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/fangorier-from-cracked.html

Yes, the artwork is most definitely from CRACKED magazine. I owned this art at one time, having obtained it directly from Gray. The b&w text strips are actually applied onto a transparency overlay. The reason I wanted it was because I was one of FANGORIA's writers (~1984-1996).

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/grays-movie-posters-1-cinderella-2000.html

The original art used for the CINDERELLA 2000 poster, pressbook, etc. is full color. This looks like an earlier piece. I can't tell if it's a photo of an ad slick or original art itself. The original color painting's whereabouts are unknown.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/grays-movie-posters-2-dirty-bookstore.html

DIRTY BOOK STORE is the reissue campaign of THE BOOBY HATCH. This movie was made (and written) by my friend and former business partner, John A. Russo, through his New American Films company. He was partnered with Russell Streiner in New American. It was filmed as THE LIBERATION OF CHERRY JANKOWSKI. Independent-International Pictures (I-IP) released it theatrically as THE BOOBY HATCH and later as DIRTY BOOK STORE. If Russo and Streiner's name sound familiar, they're more well known for NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (Russo was co-writer and producer; Streiner was actor and producer). Gray's original DBS art was b&w and was in I-IP's possession until a few years ago.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/grays-movie-posters-3.html

KILLER'S CURSE is the reissue title of the I-IP movie, NURSE SHERRI. Gray also did the NURSE SHERRI art which you, of course, have posted as poster art #13. The whereabouts of both pieces of art are unknown.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/grays-movie-posters-5.html

ANGEL'S WILD WOMEN is another I-IP film and I once owned this original art. It somehow turned up in a shop on Long Island. I was told about it by Sam Sherman (I-IP's owner) and contacted the place (not sure what kind of store it was) and paid them $175 for it. It was mailed to me and it hung in my living room for years! I don't know where it is now.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/grays-movie-posters-6.html

This is a reissue poster (and art) for DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN. Gray later modified it as a color painting. He also created the original release artwork (a killer!).

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/07/grays-movie-posters-7.html

An I-IP film; the whereabouts of the original art is unknown.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/07/grays-movie-posters-8.html

This art was for a reissue campaign of an I-IP pickup called SHOCK TREATMENT. The company released it theatrically as FEMALES FOR HIRE and later as BEDROOM STEWARDESSES. Nothing helped; Sam said it just never did much business.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/08/grays-movie-posters-10.html

I-IP distributed UNCLE TOM'S CABIN and the original art is still in the company's possession.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/09/grays-movie-postes-12.html

I once owned the original for SPACE MISSION TO THE LOST PLANET. It was done for the foreign market of I-IP's HORROR OF THE BLOOD MONSTERS (that original art was done by Neal Adams). SPACE was a very large painting.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/10/grays-movie-posters-14.html

TEENAGE MODELS is the reissue campaign art for I-IP's GAME SHOW MODELS.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/04/blaxploitation-image-1970s.html

This is the movie art for the I-IP film, MEAN MOTHER. It was originally titled A SOLDIER NAMED (or CALLED) JOE when the company picked it up for distribution. It was also known as MEAN MOMMA in some markets. I-IP shot a substantial amount of new footage and roughly 15-mins. of the original movie remained.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/04/1973-interview-from-collector.html

The b&w art that features Broderick Crawford in the article reprint is for the movie, SMASHING THE CRIME SYNDICATE, a reissue title for HELL'S BLOODY DEVILS. The movie was actually shot and originally released as THE FAKERS. You also have SMASHING's original painting posted here: http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2011/03/hells-bloody-devils-original-art.html and incorrectly call it the art for HELL'S BLOODY DEVILS. HELL'S original campaign was a photo composite, not GM art. I recommend that you clarify that the painting is, in fact, for HELL'S reissue campaign, SMASHING THE CRIME SYNDICATE, regardless of what others believe it to be. I have posters for all three titles and will one day have to supply you with images.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/04/girls-in-top-hats.html

This is one I once owned and had gotten it directly from Gray. I'm pretty certain it was a b&w piece and he modified it when it was returned to him. It's a large painting, too. It's for I-IP's CHORUS GIRLS, a reissue title for a Spanish pick-up the company originally titled THE GIRL FROM THE RED CABARET. The company also released it on video as WILD GIRL with different art. BTW, Ronn Sutton's Comment Entry is correct, but it was not created for the publication he cites! It dates back to 1976 or so.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/03/nurses-with-guns.html

This is one of my favorite pieces. In fact, it was the very first artwork I got from Gray. He was still living in NJ and I went to his house in search of this one. It was around 1985 and I paid him $750 for it. The art was created for the I-IP release, NURSES FOR SALE, which was a foreign pick-up that was originally called CAPTAIN TYPHOON. The company shot some new footage, but it was largely the original movie. When Gray showed me the painting, it had been altered. It was actually a b&w piece and the women have nurses caps and outfits on. He'd turned it into a color piece and painted over the nurse elements. If its new owner looks very carefully at the top of the head of the center woman, he or she will see a faint remnant of a nurse's cap. Even thought he'd changed the painting and colored it, I was still enamored of it and had it for many years.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/02/zipatone-gags.html

The photo of Gray wearing the blue spaceman helmet was taken by me. The original is an Ektachrome slide. It was part of a series of slides I took in his Kunkletown, PA studio. These were for my Gray Morrow article that appeared in COMICS SCENE magazine published by Starlog Communications. The article appears in issue #14 (August 1990) on pages 24-28 with a jump on page 65. All of the photos of the large paintings and those of Gray were taken by me. The "Spaceman Morrow" shot was utilized on page 3 which is the Contents page. It delights me to no end that Ronn Sutton was charmed by it and sent it to you for all to see! Thank you, Ronn. You made my day. FWIW, Gray was up for anything. I honestly believe he would have donned a mink stole and flamboyant feathered hat if I asked him. Such a wonderful sense of humor.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/02/blazing-stooges.html

The original BLAZING STEWARDESSES art is in the possession of the film's producer, Sam Sherman.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/02/brain-of-blood.html

The whereabouts of the original art is unknown. I searched forever and Gray most definitely didn't have it.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/03/gray-covers-4.html

I owned this PLANET OF THE APES cover painting at one time. It was very large and my recollection is that I did not get it from Gray.

I've heard from Sam Sherman regarding the art you have posted here (at the top of its page):

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/02/importance-of-being-gray.html

I can't pinpoint its precise use and it may have been something Gray did for his own amusement. But it has I-IP poster material in it. Anyway, Sam says, "The art with the guy at the safe is compiled from GIRLS FOR RENT and who knows what. We never used the guys in the painting for anything, especially not the guy with the safe ..."

So, it remains a piece that is still requires positive I.D.

Tim Ferrante

Art From the Queen's Necklace-1961

2011-07-17T20:08:00.010-04:00

Here are a few panels from Gray's 1961 adaptation of THE QUEEN'S NECKLACE by Alexandre Dumas, for CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED. It looks to me like Gray did the coloring also but much of it is printed off-register throughout. Filled with nothing much beyond talking heads, this is far from the artist's best work.

Eerie Original Art Page

2011-07-15T19:10:00.000-04:00

Space 1999 Jigsaw Puzzle

2011-07-13T09:00:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I think Ronn Sutton should run this blog! Here's his latest find! Thanks, sir!

Buck Rogers Original Art

2011-07-12T20:28:00.007-04:00

Thanks, as often, go to Ronn. Click 'em for big versions!

Gray's Covers # 22

2011-07-08T21:19:00.001-04:00

Photo-1973

2011-07-07T10:39:00.001-04:00

Foun don eBay--Gray Morrow looking a bit bedraggled at the 1973 New York Comic Art Con.

Two-Gun Western-1957

2011-07-05T07:19:00.002-04:00

Here's an early Gray Morrow western from the Atlas title TWO-GUN WESTERN in 1957. The whole issue is reprinted at the link below with Gray in good company with particularly impressive art from Reed Crandall, Don Heck, John Severin and Frank Bolle.

http://allstoryss.blogspot.com/2011/05/two-gun-western-10-may1957.html

Panache Gorgon

2011-07-01T11:07:00.002-04:00

Red Circle Sorcery Art

2011-06-27T13:16:00.002-04:00

Hellraiser Original Art

2011-06-22T19:48:00.002-04:00

The Shadow Knows

2011-06-20T20:57:00.001-04:00

Warren Quotes

2011-06-18T12:21:00.005-04:00

Here are two bits from 2001's THE WARREN COMPANION. One is from the book's long interview with Gray and offers his thoughts on Wally Wood. The other is from the Nick Cuti interview and briefly notes GRay's involvement with Wood's unrealized POW project for Warren.

Master of the World-1961

2011-06-16T13:58:00.008-04:00

Gray Morrow produced three full issues of Gilberton's long-running CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED in the very early sixties along with some illustrations in a number of their special issues. The problem is that his work for Gilberton fell into the typical style of the company...dull. Here we have four examples of full pages from the 1961 adaptation of Jules Verne's MASTER OF THE WORLD. Outside of the splash page (which, to me, looks like the pulp character, the Avenger), it's dull and lifeless, not words usually associated with Gray's work! And these were the best drawn pages I could find! Perfectly serviceable, mind you, and probably better than most of what was on the stands in 1961 but hardly as colorful and as exciting as the novel would seem to require, nor as colorful and exciting as nearly all of Gray's other work.

Brief Morrow Q & A

2011-06-13T17:58:00.002-04:00

Not sure of the date on this but it's a brief Q & A presumably conducted via email in regards to Morrow's work for Archie/Red Circle.

http://www.mightycrusaders.net/interviews/morrow.html

The Hydra

2011-06-08T19:54:00.000-04:00

Gray's Covers # 21

2011-06-05T23:24:00.001-04:00

Creepy Gray at Pappy's

2011-06-03T06:50:00.002-04:00

Perhaps more than any other blog, the one I promote the most in my I.T.C.H. column of links is PAPPY'S GOLDEN AGE COMICS BLOGZINE. Today, we're promoting it here as the ever-informative Pappy serves up a double helping of Gray Morrow--in two very different styles yet--from an early issue of CREEPY.

http://pappysgoldenage.blogspot.com/2011/06/number-958-gray-morrow-back-to-back.html

Green Goblin Trading Card

2011-05-29T14:55:00.002-04:00

Big, Colorful Wow!

2011-05-27T10:25:00.000-04:00

Ronn S. once again gets thanks!

Morrow Takes Over Flash Gordon-1991

2011-05-24T15:39:00.004-04:00

Often cited as the regular artist on FLASH GORDON, Gray's actual tenure in 1991 on the daily strips was rather brief. After a couple of fill-ins earlier in the year during the very stylized Bruce Jones/Ralph Reese run on the classic newspaper strip, Gray took over in the middle of a sequence with Flash turning from a winged creature back to a human.
Note that in the two transitional strips, the credits disappear, only to turn up again as Jones/Morrow. By The end of the summer, King Features had passed the art to a studio of anonymous South American artists.

Another Gray Shadow

2011-05-23T08:04:00.002-04:00

New York Comic Art Con Program Book Art

2011-05-20T20:32:00.002-04:00

Fu Manchu

2011-05-16T23:03:00.001-04:00

Midnight

2011-05-11T17:31:00.006-04:00

Tim F., a friend of Gray's, passed along this movie poster art and the story behind it.
Tim Says: This art was for the first campaign and used in ads, the one sheet, pressbook, etc. However, it didn't quite achieve the desired result and a second piece of art was later commissioned that steered away from the action-thriller approach. The second piece (not by Gray) was horror-themed. A few years ago, Sam (Sherman, producer) was clearing out some inventory and decided to sell several pieces of art, one of which was Gray's MIDNIGHT. He put me in charge of the disposal. The painting was eventually sold to a fan in England and that is where it resides to this day.

Thanks, Tim!

If from 1965

2011-05-09T14:01:00.000-04:00

Again, thanks to Ronn-DONE IN PEN AND INK FOR THE STORY SKYLARK DUQUESNE BY E.E. (DOC) SMITH IF MAG. SEPTEMBER 1965

Madraven Stark

2011-05-08T08:22:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Ronn.

GrayMorrow.Net

2011-05-07T18:41:00.001-04:00

Apparently at some point, Gray had an official site. Don't go there now as it's a page of Japanese offering "Bestd Prices." Was Insight Studios involved with this? When did it exist and what happened to it?

Island at World's End by Archie Goodwin and Gray Morrow

2011-05-04T00:01:00.000-04:00