*Miscellaneous 1940-1959: L B Cole was one of the most famous of Golden/Atomic Age cover artists. He drew in a variety of genres, and was artistic director at Star, illustrating 95% of the company’s covers; his lurid, feverish style, almost hallucinogenic, graced horror, science-fiction, jungle and romance alike. Our latest L B Cole cover item is a non-Star title: Eagle Comics #2 from 1945, the second of only two issues published by Rural Home (Gail Hillson). Several stories of military and civil aviation, including two tales of the Lucky Aces, four WW1 pilots who get back together after Pearl Harbour, drawn by Rudy Palais. Of course it’s the wonderful L B Cole cover for which this issue is prized, a colourful aerial dogfight with exploding plane. There are a few flaws, including four small strips of tape discreetly reinforcing the spine, a tiny corner off the top right cover and a faint line just breaking colour partially down the centre of the cover; off top staple. But the cover colours are strong, with only minor edge nicks and a small colour-breaking crease across the bottom right corner. Lower staple is firm and both staples are tight at centrefold. Excellent off-white page quality. 
PICTURED: EAGLE COMICS #2 GD/VG £175