30 - Backes Group’s Runner-Up PS Continuity

You’ll find background information regarding Backes Graphic Productions and their artists in our BlogPost 11, back in April, with their four best Front Covers as selected by the New Millennium staff of PS. Their “best” Continuity was displayed in our BlogPost 29, immediately preceding this posting.

The staff at PS picked the cowboy-western themed continuity from PS 527 (October 1996) as their runner-up. The related Front Cover is presented above, and the Continuity pages, in sequence, are displayed below.

The lead artist here probably was Scott Madsen. Scott was a graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Arts. When I interviewed him for Will Eisner and PS Magazine, Scott had moved away from his art career, but still had strong feelings about the effectiveness of PS and its importance to America’s warriors. “You’re part of something that’s a lot bigger than yourself,” Scott remarked. “PS provided opportunities to surprise yourself,” he said.

Madsen expressed a preference for drawing Half-Mast, from the PS cast of characters, saying that he found the grizzled, old sergeant “more flexible than Connie or Bonnie.”

—p.e.f.

UPCOMING POSTINGS:

¶ Video: U.S. Army’s Salute to PS

¶ Best by Perspective Instructional Communications

¶ Video: Joe Kubert at PS 60th Anniversary Celebration

¶ Video: Colonel ‘Pat’ Sullivan, Head of PS’s Home Command

¶ Video: Lieutenant General Via Salutes PS Program

¶ Video: Fitz Tells About Early PS, ‘Back in the Day’

¶ Joe Dope Meets Beetle Bailey in PS (Permission in process.)

¶ A Covey of Connies—World War II to Today

¶ Wrap-Up: A Wonderful Year of Celebration

29 - Backes Group’s Best PS Continuity

In our BlogPost 11, back in April, we introduced you to the work of Backes Graphic Productions, in Princeton, New Jersey, as the contractor for PS Magazine creative art, design, and pre-press services, by presenting their four best Front Covers as selected by the New Millennium staff of PS.

The Backes Group produced 151 issues of PS Magazine, from PS 428 (July 1988) through PS 578 (January 2001). Their contract-run, at this point in time, is second only to Will Eisner's 21 years and 227 issues. Joe Kubert, the current PS artist, is closing the gap, though, being well into his eleventh year, which will be completed with PS 711 in February of 2012.

Jack and Diane Backes were the owners, with Diane also working on page layouts. Their production manager was Mark "Sparky" Dobrowolski and the lead artist for most of those years was Scott Madsen. Other artists were Augie Scotto (who had worked with Murphy Anderson), Vic Scarpelli, and Brian Orlowski. Staff members were Saronda Stevens, Karen Mamo, and Allison Backes.

The staff at PS picked the continuity from PS 525 (August 1996), “Nothing More Important Than…,” as the best by Backes. The centerspread mini-poster is displayed above. The other six pages of the continuity are displayed in sequence, below.

We will present the Backes runner-up in our next BlogPost.

—p.e.f.

UPCOMING POSTINGS:

¶ Runner-Up PS Continuity by Backes Group.

¶ U.S. Army's Video Salute to PS Magazine

¶ Best of Perspective Instructional Communications in PS

¶ Video: Joe Kubert at PS 60th Birthday Party

¶ A Covey of Connies: World War II to Today