The Pin-Up Art of Dan DeCarlo

Years before developing a crush on Dejah Thoris, I was smitten by Betty and Veronica, the two gorgeous femme fatales of Riverdale High. Even though the girls were anatomically identical (and differed physically only in hair color), like Archie, I preferred the snotty and wealthy Veronica over Betty, who didn't know that playing hard-to-get was an excellent and ancient reproductive strategy.

Dan DeCarlo (1919-2001) didn't create Betty and Veronica, or anyone else in Archie's world. That honor goes to Bob Montana. But DeCarlo was the guy who made the girls in Archie comics icons of teenage lust. (He's also the co-creator of the undeniably desirable Josie and the Pussycats and Sabrina the Teenage Witch).

It turns out that DeCarlo was also a prolific cheesecake gag cartoonist, churning out dozens of drawings of topless women that look like Betty and Veronica's slightly older and much wilder aunt. This Fantagraphics anthology is masterfully designed in two-colors by Jacob Covey, and features over 200 single panel gag cartoons from mens' magazines of the 1950s. Link