Pin-Up Art of Bill Wenzel Paperback – July 26, 2005

Bill Wenzel was so prolific that even I managed to snag a few of his original Humorama cartoons. This collection provides a nice sampling of his instantly recognizable work. However, the real value of this book is the biographical information supplied by his daughters.I would have liked to have seen more about his work for Playboy, more of the paperback covers, the men's magazines, etc. However, maybe that is for another day.My only quibble with this book is the green highlights (or background) in many of the cartoons. It looks like a way to mimic the cheesy 2-color effect in those cheap Humorama magazines and detracts from the work. IF this is the way they were published, it would have served Bill W well to go black and white.

Having enjoyed the book by Dan DeCarlo in the same series, I was sufficiently impressed to try out another volume. A comparison of the two is rather mixed.I found that the art of Wenzel is much more to my taste. His anatomy is somewhat more believable than DeCarlo's; DeCarlo almost completely suppresses the midriff to emphasize the features above and below. The technique is effective for a quick glance but if the eye lingers it begins to look grotesque. Wenzel is much less extreme and for my money more effective.As far as humor goes I remember DeCarlo being funnier. Wenzel's humor seems more sophomoric, suited to teens and preteens sneaking a peek in a drugstore in the '50s when the counterman was occupied. But then neither are comic geniuses. The main appeal is the art.All in all a fascinating and entertaining look at one man's (and many other men's, no doubt) ideal feminine form.

Loved it from front to back. The introduction contextualized it, the art and gags sold it. Any sense of nostalgia for those years is well worth it.

I had already posted three blogs on the wonderful Bill Wenzel before I even knew about this book. Sweet, round and friendly, Wenzel's dames were good girls in slightly uncomfortable situations, but their stature and appealing looks got them through all manner of sleazy pick-ups, gusts of wind and more. A cartoonist for cartoonists, and one of the most under-rated illustrators of the last century. Bravo for this series, and hoping there are more.Jim LindermanVintage Sleaze the Blog

Bill was my great uncle and I remember visiting his house in the seventies in Atlantic Highlands. He would always be smoking a cigar. He didn't have much time for me and my sisters (we were less than ten) but he was a nice person. His wife Marion was basically my surrogate grandmother, since her sister (my grandmother) died before we were born. He did once let me sit up in his studio and watch him draw..probably because I drew myself. My mom grew up with their two daughters in the same neighborhood and would tell us stories of the good ole days with them. Their house was awesome...overlooked Hudson Bay and could see NYC in the distance. When we visited always had fun...since they had grandkids our age too.

Das Buch ist leider nur ein Taschenbuch.Offensichtlich handelt es sich um Zeitungswitze der 40`er und 50`er, die aber alle sehr liebeswürdig sind.Das ganze Buch ist in schwarz - weiß und ein wenig grün. ( Eben wie das Buch von Dan deCarlo in sw - mit etwas rot )Die Mädchen sind alle klasse im Aussehen, wie man es nur mit einem Korsett schaffen kann, immer mit einem klasse Dekolletè.Wer auf Gil Elvgren steht, ist mit den Büchern gut beraten. Wer aber eher Alberto Vargas mag, wird keine Freude daran haben