11 – Best ‘PS’ Front Covers by the Backes Group

Backes Graphic Productions, in Princeton, New Jersey, produced 150 issues of PS Magazine, from PS 429 (August 1988) through PS 578 (January 2001). Their nearly 12-year 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, having passed the ten-year mark earlier this year with PS 698 in January.

The New Millennium staff at PS picked four “best” front covers from the Backes era, ranking them as: PS 443, above, fourth; PS 563, third, immediately below; followed by PS 527, second; and, PS 525, first, in that order.

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.

—p.e.f.

UPCOMING BLOG POSTS—

¶ The Magic of Eisenshpritz in PS

¶ Early Covers Put Eisner, PS in Hot Water

¶ The Best of Zeke Zekely in PS

¶ A Covey of Connie Covers

¶ Perspective Instructional Communications’ Best in PS