AN ILLUSTRATED COMPARISON (IN COMICS): ALFREDO ALCALA AND ARNOLD HICKS

AN ILLUSTRATED COMPARISON (IN COMICS):

ALFREDO ALCALA AND ARNOLD HICKS,

IN DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE

 

          In January 28, 1950, Ace Publishing released a seven-issue Tagalized version of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” in its bi-monthly comics Tagalog Klasiks.  From the gothic novel, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) of Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), it was adapted for comics by Evelyn Goodman and drawn by Arnold Hicks in Classic Comics #13, published by Gilberton Company Inc. in August 1943.

          Alfredo Alcala (1925-2000), a legendary Filipino illustrator, did the opening pages of the series except for the first and the fifth issues, and also the cover page of Tagalog Klasiks #16 (February 11, 1950) which contained the second issue. The rest were taken from Arnold Hicks’ artworks for Classic Comics (later became Classics Illustrated).

On the right, Tagalog Klasiks #16 cover featuring Alfredo Alcala’s illustration,
and on the left, Classic Comics #13 cover featuring Arnold Hicks’ illustration

          For clarification, this blog is not made to allude to the comparison that Alcala is the Dr. Jekyll and Hicks is the Mr.Hyde, in terms of drawing skill. It is, however, a given if you compare the drawings of the two artists that Alcala has the superior skill.

Issue #1, all nine pages drawn by Hicks (Tagalog Klasiks #15, January 28, 1950).



Issue #2, first page drawn by Alcala, the rest by Hicks (Tagalog Klasiks #16, February 11, 1950).



Issue #3, first page drawn by Alcala, the rest by Hicks (Tagalog Klasiks #17, February 25, 1950).



Issue #4, first page drawn by Alcala, the rest by Hicks (Tagalog Klasiks #18, March 11, 1950).



Issue #5, all nine pages drawn by Hicks Tagalog Klasiks #19, March 25, 1950).



Issue #6, first page drawn by Alcala, the rest by Hicks (Tagalog Klasiks #20, April 8, 1950).



Issue #7, first page drawn by Alcala, the rest by Hicks (Tagalog Klasiks #21, April 22, 1950).