It Rhymes With Lust

by Arnold Drake, Leslie Waller, Matt Baker (Illustrator)

In 1950, writers Arnold Drake and Leslie Waller, both attending college on the G.I. Bill, envisioned a sophisticated, novel-length comic tailored to their peers. Collaborating with comic art master Matt Baker, known for singularly defining the genre of "good girl art" on titles such as Phantom Lady, they crafted a film-noir inspired masterwork of romance, intrigue, and moral relativity. When cynical newspaperman Hal Weber reunites with old flame Rust Masson, he finds the beguiling widow of a mining magnate willing to do anything to undermine the local political machine - her only opponent for total control of Copper City

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Pulp, Crime, Noir

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Arnold Drake was an American comic book writer and screenwriter best known for co-creating the DC Comics characters Deadman and the Doom Patrol, and the Marvel Comics characters the Guardians of the Galaxy, among others.
Drake was posthumously inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a noir novel by Cornell Woolrich, Black Angel, liked it, and then saw this in my Goodreads suggestion box, a reprint of a noir comic written by Arnold Drake and drawn by Matt Baker, called a Picture Novel, before there was a term like graphic novel (which no one likes as a term, either). Published in 1950, this is a story of Rust (that’s the word that rhymes with Lust, in the title, folks, and not “bust” that you suspected, just because you saw a woman on the cover! It’s about her red hair, not her chest, people, obviously! What were you thinking?!).

I liked this glimpse at comics history. The book in this series looks somewhat (I am told) like the “Beeldverhaal” comic books of the late 1940s, published in the Netherlands. The story and dialogue are laughable, but entertaining. It’s noir! It’s Humphrey Bogart:

“Of all the gin joints in all the world you had to walk into mine”!!

Back to the story, the story of Rust, whose rich corrupt husband Marcus Jeffers, (sort of) gets back together with an ex, a newspaperman, Hal, on the day of her hubby’s funeral. Rust wants to rule Copper City, and own everything! And wants to use Hal for this purpose. Audrey, the daughter of Marcus, is a good girl, she wants to save Copper City for democracy, and like Rust, wants Hal, though she wants Hal to be good. What will Hal do??! Will his lust for Rust bust Audrey’s trust (in him)?!

Find out the truth (you can’t handle the truth!) in this story of greed, crime, passion, and, of course, lust!

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessão Pelo Poder é um quadrinho que foi trazido ao Brasil pela Editora Skript com a tarja de que teria sido a primeira graphic novel da história. Embora nem todos os historiadores de quadrinhos concordem com isso, a decisão entre o que foi o primeiro o que nos quadrinhos sempre foi turva, essa é uma ótima HQ. Somos profundamente envolvidos na suposta inocência de um jornalista embriagado de amor por uma vil viúva e que ao mesmo tempo se apaixona pela enteada dela. Uma mistura de quadrinho de romance com crime, duas vertentes muito populares na época desta publicação, Obsessão pelo Poder não fica devendo em nada para as ótimas narrativas modernas da Bonelli e ainda guarda esse gostinho retrô. O trabalho envolve dois prolíficos criadores da indústria estadunidense de quadrinhos: Arnold Drake, criador da Patrulha do Destino e Matt Baker, quem emprestou seu nome e trabalho a diversos quadrinhos e morreu no ostracismo, muito por ser um desenhista negro. Vale destacar o trabalho ótimo de adaptação tanto de texto como de arte feito pela editora e felicitar a edição brasileira desta obra, a despeito de ter sido a primeira graphic novel ou não.

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh yeah, It Rhymes with Lust - a 1950 re-print of the first ‘picture novel’ – is a perfect time capsule. The story and language, very hip and happening around that time, is extremely entertaining for us now.

Merry widow Rust Masson is going all out to solidify her hold on Copper City and will bitch-slap anyone who gets in her way. Her poor step daughter Audrey has the hot cheeks to prove it. Hal Weber, old flame of Rust and newly hired editor for the local newspaper is a helpless (I would say dick-less) pawn in Rust’s amoral dealings. Will he align himself with evil Rust or idealistic and sweet Audrey?

I love Mat Baker’s art. The women are gorgeous and glamorous. A real treat!

Themes: 1950s noir, Rust shows you the back of her hand Joan Crawford style, she’s a hoot, it’s so corny and so much fun!

4 Stars

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable time capsule of a book. This is a reprint of a 1950 book intended to be the first in a series of "picture novels," the first attempt at graphic novels. The artwork has an excellent attention to detail, adding to the pulpy nature of the story. The tale feels like a rehash/smashup of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler with a bit of James M. Cain thrown in for good measure. The death of the boss of Copper City, an unnamed burg probably in the industrial Midwest, is the occasion for very public mourning. As one resident puts it, "He was an honest crook." Into this environment strides Hal Weber, a young, cynical reporter. He has been hired by the dead man's widow to become editor of one of the local newspapers. Hal finds himself in a romantic triangle, in love with idealistic Audrey, the late boss's daughter, while being manipulated by the amoral Rust, the "grieving" widow. Will he listen to the angel or the devil in reporting on the rampant corruption in Copper City? Corny, contrived, derivative and a wonderful treat to read.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a big fan of noir novels like the works of Cornell Woolrich or Harry Whittington then you'll like this, and it's fun to read because it's done in comic book format! The ladies look sexy and the action scenes look even more explosive without a lot of overdone exposition.

The novel is about power-hungry tycoon harpy Rust Mason and the evil influence she swings with the politicians in Copper City. The graphic novel from the 1950's was written by Arnold Drake (Deadman, Doom Patrol) and drawn by Matt Baker, one of the very first black comic book artists. Baker was known in his day as the artist for "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle" and "Phantom Lady". He was a brilliant GGA (good girl art) cartoonist and worthy of a revival. I highly recommend this very entertaining graphic novel.

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel noir is a hoot, like spending a day inside an Edgar Ulmer film.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pulpy gangster noir comic.

[Kris Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

The term “Graphic Novel” is bandied about with reckless abandon. Pretty much anything with words and pictures that is printed in a squarebound book gets called a graphic novel these days. Watchmen, The Walking Dead, and Saga? Those are not graphic novels, they are trade paperbacks, which are books that compile material previously published in single issue periodical magazine format. True graphic novels are material originally published in the book format. It has become ubiquitous as a marketing term and accepted as part of the lexicon. Like the term fanboy as a term of endearment, I refuse to call trade paperbacks graphic novels.

I like to dip my toe into comic book and comic strip history. There are many historians out there, all with their own opinions and theories and facts, and I have read many of their blogs and articles. Some argue that the comic book or strip can be traced back as far as ancient Egypt. Others point to America, as the comic book, as a magazine, started here. Like many folks, I point to late 19th century England for the roots of this artform. I have also tried to ascertain what the first true graphic novel is. Many people point to Will Eisner, Jim Sternako, Harvey Kurtzman, or others, all valid claims. So let's just say that this book was way, way ahead of the curve and call it good.

Fans of Crime/Noir and Pre-Code Golden Age comics need to grab this book ASAP. This is a hard-edged, adult take on corruption and a femme fatale by the name of Rust Masson. She basically owns the town, controlling the mine, both newspapers, and has politicians in her pocket. Rust uses her womanly ways to get what she wants and never takes no for an answer. This was an absolute blast to read, and Matt Baker's legendary “good girl” art is easy on the eyes.

Arnold Drake did some writing for Marvel in the 1960s, but I was never overly impressed with it, ditto his artwork. I had always considered him to be merely serviceable and nothing more. This book has completely changed my opinion. He has done excellent work, he was just not really cut out for superhero work. The further that I dig back I understand why Stan Lee hired some of these pinch-hitters during the 1960s.

If you like Crime/Noir, Golden Age comics, or well thought out, fully formed characters, then It Rhymes With Lust is for you. This “facsimile edition” is roughly the same size as the original book, so it is a paperback (or digest) sized book.

[Trevor Williamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It Rhymes with Lust is a noir-styled pulp "graphic novel" before such a thing existed. It follows the story of a man named Hal, who is pulled into the political machinations of a powerful woman named Rust Masson. Hal is hopelessly entwined in Rust's power games--as political and sexual pawn. However, at the urging of Rust's virginal step-daughter, Hal turns against Rust to expose her for the power-hungry succubus she is.

The major issues with the story are its lack of originality and its bland character portrayal; each of the characters of the novel act according to the stock plot of a noir pulp. Not only do the characters feel boring, but the stereotypes upon which they call are also terrifically dated. Having been published in 1950, the novel relies heavily on a virgin/whore dichotomy for its two female leads, and while it is interesting to look at Hal's character for the way it depicts masculinity, the novel's sexual politics remain thoroughly antiquated.

Nevertheless, it's difficult to think of a graphic novel that better encapsulates the noir style of pulp fiction. Matt Baker's art is largely gorgeous and only sometimes sloppy (his lines begin to deteriorate mostly toward the end of the novel), and are a veritable showcase of the visual aesthetic of '40s noir. If there is any reason to read it, it is because of Baker's sense of composition and the way each panel mimics the camera eye of film noir.

All together, this one is entirely skippable from a story perspective, and far more useful as an example of how comics as a medium is so incredibly flexible from the perspective of visual craft. As an early endeavor in the creation of the modern graphic novel, it's a great case study in how to use art to tell a story--even if that story is pretty thoroughly banal.

[Douglas Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Credited as the first "adult graphic novel" this book was originally published in 1950 and was billed as a "Picture Novel". The creators aimed the book at GIs who had returned from the war. They figured that the GIs read comics while they were in the service but they might be looking for more mature entertainment.

The story is about Hal Weber, a down on his luck newspaper editor who takes a job in Copper City only to find out that the city and most of the state is under the control of his ruthless ex-lover, Rust Masson. Rust tries to bring Hal under her power. Can he resist her advances and become a "man" again or does he fall to her power as so many others have done?

The story was ok but the art was great. Matt Baker was the reason I bought the book because I love his artwork.

[Tyler Nereim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arguably history's first graphic novel and what could have been a pretty descent film noir if it had been adapted for the silver screen, It Rhymes with Lust is a fantastic read with beautiful art and snappy dialogue that likely couldn't have been done after the establishment of the Comics Code Authority. If there's anything to be unhappy the characters are characterized with an archetypal stiffness and the ending is a little too neat (man settles down with woman, happily ever after) but I enjoyed it and it was fairly breezy to get through.

[Ten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pioneer, structurally, of what we call the "graphic novel." Basically structurally and stylistically your by-the-books noir detective pulp thriller of the time. It was very interesting, though, an observation I had. The guy is drawn to be your 1950s white American badass, but when u actually look at how he's moving here, what a schmuck he is. Bumbling fool. Simp is a misogynistic word but lowkey so is the femme fatale trope so what a SIMP! Loser behaviour but of course he's everyone's hero in the end.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published in 1950, a pulp noir story about a down-on-his-luck journalist who is given control of a local newspaper by his former paramour Rust, the femme fatale. Rust has just recently inherited nearly half of the city from her late husband. It is scandal laden tale bubbling over with greed, sex, and corruption. Loads of fun for those who want a nasty story from the original hardboiled era.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rust Masson still looks pretty damn good for a gal of almost 75 years old. Chalk that up to Matt Baker’s absolutely gorgeous illustrations. The story is delightfully pulpy and obvious, and none of the characters offer much in the way of depth, but as one of the first attempts at what we would now call an original graphic novel, it’s wildly ambitious and historically significant

[Ann Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in 1949 this drama-driven "novel with pictures" was a page-turning, fun romp. The hero had plenty of flaws. The main female character, Rust, whose name rhymes with lust, was just about as bad-ass as the devil himself, made me wonder if anyone was capable of bringing her down.

[Grg · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You're a hard-boiled egg, all right. Thin shell and yellow on the inside!"

[Bill FromPA · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a facsimile edition of a 128 page black and white comic book from 1949. It was planned to be the first in a series of “picture novels” which would be marketed to the adult audience who bought popular fiction in 25 cent paperbacks. Marketing and distribution problems kept the concept from having a real chance at finding an audience and this is apparently the sole example of the form that was produced.

The story concerns crusading editor Hal Weber being ensnared by the seductive, recently widowed Rust Masson who uses him as part of her plot to take over the political machine her husband ran and to expand her control of Masson Copper into a monopoly of the state’s transportation services. A standard film noir plot unfolds, with gangsters, corruption, and Hal facing a moral dilemma, torn between his ideals and the irresistible charms of a femme fatale.

The artwork by Matt Baker with inker Ray Osrin is very good, rendering the characters realistically in solid precise lines, with only a few clumsy passages, such as the portrait of Rust’s late husband hanging on the wall on page12, which looks far too three dimensional. In most panels, the elements of the drawing not presenting the foreground characters is printed using a mechanically produced grey tone; this gives a convincing effect of depth in some cases, but its overuse here makes the environment in which the characters exist seem insubstantial and deprives the artwork of the true film noir atmosphere which solid areas of black would provide. Though the artwork is professional and pleasing to look at, most of the narrative work is done by the text. Almost every panel contains speech or thought balloons or narrative text. Only rarely is a plot point made in purely pictorial terms.

This is an interesting look at a path that comics and popular fiction could have taken in the middle of the last century. The book should appeal to fans of vintage comics like “Steve Canyon” or readers of the Hard Case Crime reprints.

I hadn’t heard of Matt Baker before reading David Hajdu’s The Ten Cent Plague. He was one of the few African-Americans involved in creating comics in the 40s and 50s. Most of his work seems to have appeared in romance comics published by St. John (It Rhymes with Lust was originally from this publisher). I find his artwork superior to that of most of the non-EC comics of the early 50s that I’ve seen, on a level with the best of the newspaper strips of the time. His name appears in Hajdu’s book on the long list of creators who never worked in comics after the near collapse of the industry in the mid 50s.

The only African-American character in “It Rhymes with Lust” appears in a sequence where Hal Weber starts a boys’ club during a phase of civic improvement. It is one of the scenes where the artwork is essential to explaining the text. In the foreground an African-American boy is standing next to a dark-haired boy, shown from the back, whose intended ethnicity is uncertain; Weber, in the middle ground, is saying to them, “Of course you boys can join! People seem to forget that Copper City is still in AMERICA.”

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

​Title: It Rhymes With Lust
Author: Arnold Drake, Leslie Waller (writers), Matt Baker, Ray Osrin (illustrators)
Genre: Classic graphic novel.
Setting: The small mining town of Copper City.
Reason for Reading: My 50-book PoC challenge! This is book #5 in month 1 so I am now on target for the year!
Notes on the Challenge: Matt Baker has popped up in some lists I've seen about graphic novels by PoC. He was a famous illustrator. I found the bio at the end of this book interesting - it explained that studios anonymized many of their illustrators. This is in part what made it possible for an African-American illustrator to be very successful in that time period. With that being said I wished the writers (who are still alive) had given Baker any credit or even mentioned him in their afterword.
Finished In: Hours. A quick read.
Pages: 135
Copyright Date: Originally 1950. This is a new edition that also talked about the history of graphic novels. It also gave a short bio of each main contributor.
Cover: A short-haired malicious looking woman in a tight black top. Behind her is a factory.
First frame: Shows a man getting off a train. "Hal Weber tugged nervously at his hat brim, picked up his battered suitcase, stepped off the 3:14 express and onto a wild, dangerous merry-go-round of bullets and embraces." All right then.
Favorite quote: That would be when the female lead PROPOSES to the male lead by saying, "By the way, do you know I hate to be called Miss Masson? As a matter of fact, I'd rather be called... Mrs. Weber." (p 103)
Themes and Triggers: Mining accidents, mysterious deaths, political corruption, journalism, manipulation.
Best part: It was really interesting seeing this look into the history of the graphic novel. In the afterword, they discussed the history explicitly. At the time this was a new idea they called "picture novels," and tried to market to GIs who were reading a lot of comics but reluctant to read adult books. It also talked about how the genre has expanded.
Worst part: In that same afterword, the surviving writers talked about the history of the graphic novel and what "we" did without even a mention of the illustrators. :/
Imaginary Theme Song: I'll go with "Don't Be Cruel" as the female lead really gets a rough shake.
Grade: B-
Recommended for: Those interested in the history of comics should give it a look.
Related Reads: The Montgomery Story, which I just reviewed last week. I understand Matt Baker also did a series called Phantom Lady which I'm interested in checking out.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1949, while attending college on the GI Bill, writers Arnold Drake – the co-creator of the comic-book cult classics Deadman and The Doom Patrol who died earlier this month – and Leslie Waller – author of the acclaimed organized-crime trilogy that included The Banker, The Family, and The American – envisioned a new kind of story that would bridge the gap between the comic book and the novel. From Drake's afterword to the Dark Horse edition: "stories illustrated as comics but with more mature plots, characters, and dialogue." The duo convinced St. John Publications to produce a line of mass-market "picture novels." Only two books were published, both in 1950 and both to overwhelming apathy: It Rhymes With Lust and The Case of the Winking Buddha (written by mystery scribe Manning Lee Stokes, with illustrations by Charles Raab).

Under the pseudonym of Drake Waller, the college friends successfully created a lush, complex noir story. The recently widowed Rust Masson assumes control of Copper City, the town her late husband once controlled, politically and financially. Masson summons her old flame, hotshot award-winning big-city reporter Hal Weber, to run the Masson-hating city newspaper, The Express, which she secretly owns. The infatuated Weber uses the power of the press to distract the townspeople from Masson's secret agenda. Masson's plot goes as planned until Weber falls for Masson's angelic stepdaughter, Audrey, who reawakens the reporter's inherent sense of morality.

The art of penciller Matt Baker and inker Ray Osrin elevate It Rhymes With Lust above other early-Fifties crime thrillers. The first known African-American comic-book artist, Baker pioneered good-girl art with his work on Phantom Lady, and throughout this graphic novel, his love and understanding of the feminine form is evident. Unlike many modern comics, Baker renders the woman in realistic styles and proportions, creating a noir feel throughout that emulates the lurid crime covers of the era.

Often considered the first graphic novel, sadly It Rhymes With Lust has rarely been reprinted during the past 57 years. Dark Horse reprints the unabridged classic – the first approved by both authors – for a lucky new generation of crime-fiction and graphic-novel fans to discover and enjoy.

(The review originally appeared in The Austin Chronicle, March 23, 2007.)
link: [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyroba...]

[Orion · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Rhymes with Lust, written in 1949, lays claim to being the first graphic novel, combining a novel-length story with comic book art and speech balloon dialog. At the time the authors called it a picture novel as the term graphic novel didn't come into use until the 1970s. Reprinted in 2006 by Black Horse Books, this early graphic novel while primarily of interest for its historic significance, remains a beautifully drawn work that is filled with panels that create lasting impressions.

The book is about a power struggle in Copper City, a mining town run by mine owner Buck Masson until his death. In his absence, Buck's scheming second wife Rust Masson and political boss Marcus Jeffers are fighting for control. Rust asks her old lover Hal Weber, a disillusioned newspaperman who still has a powerful longing for her, to be editor of the local paper and help her fight Jeffers. While Hal still longs for Rust, he finds himself smitten with Audrey Masson, Buck's virtuous and beautiful daughter from his first wife. Can she convince him of Rust's treachery, win his heart, and save the town?

While the story is well-written, it suffers from age, and plot elements that were fresh 65 years ago can seem corny or formulaic. What makes this book a joy to read is the artwork of Matt Baker that has held up well over the years. Baker was one of the few African-American artists in the field at the time, and his female characters are not only well-drawn, but their stylish clothing is amazing.

The 2006 edition contains a 5-page Afterword by Arnold Drake that provides the historic setting for this groundbreaking novel. Also included are brief biographies of Matt Baker and the two authors.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first graphic novel? Maybe. It was published in 1949. Leslie Waller is a man, fyi, and Matt Baker was a Black man who got work via the Jerry Iger studios after having a hard time getting work independently due to his race. All this via the endnotes and biographies.

The story is essentially a Chandler-esque thriller about a scheming femme fatale, Rust Masson, whose recently deceased husband leaves her fighting with his right-hand for control of Copper City's political machine. Into this comes Hal Weber, once an idealist newspaper editor who's been broken down by life and twisted around Rust's finger.

He's put in charge of the local paper and instructed by Rust to bring down her rival, Marcus Jeffers. But a meeting with Rust's step-daughter, wholesome Audrey Masson, might just bring Weber back to his idealistic roots.

Drake and Waller don't exactly re-invent the genre here - Audrey is particularly wholesome; Rust extremely cold and conniving - but they at least manage to hit all the right notes in a convincing manner. The story holds up, but it isn't classic by any means.

The real star of the book is Matt Baker's gorgeous art. His women are from the good-girl pin-up school, but without the crass exploitative qualities of most modern comic artists, and his men are diverse, in turn rugged and handsome, old and stooped, mustachioed and plumply evil. The backgrounds are immaculate and palpable, nicely textured with grey tones to give depth but still look a part of the scene. Terrific storytelling and character acting too.

Seriously, even if you never read the book, if you see it in a shop, pick it up and page through. Baker's art is worth the time.
--------------------------------
Rereading this fourteen years later, my opinion stands.

[Rich Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this tale is just a bit dated, as a rare, adult comic book noir, it is outstanding! A story of redemption and loss, crime and power; this original picture novel is straight out of the fifties. Mining widow Rust Masson runs Copper City and won't stand for anything or anyone in her way. Hal Weber is the newspaper editor with a checkered past who becomes involved with Rust and her daughter Audrey, the only good person left in town.

It Rhymes with Lust is one of those stories in which you pretty much hate every main character in the telling, except for young Audrey, the voice of sanity in a town reeking of madness. The story is well-written, which isn't surprising since comic book stalwart Arnold Drake (creator of Deadman and the Doom Patrol) handles those reins with Leslie Waller. The artwork is by preeminent "good girl" artist Matt Baker, and is oddly subdued from his normal bold sexiness - here the passion seethes relentlessly in his panels.

The book is set-up to the size of your standard pocket book/mass market paperback, making for easy reading. There's no reason not to recommend this story to anyone - it's just a good, old-fashioned, proper comic book soap opera!

[Kent Winward · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book more for the gee-whiz file than being an amazing graphic novel. This is the quite probably the first ever graphic novel -- some other contenders are out there, but for coupling words, story, pictures, and dialogue -- what we now call a graphic novel, this was the first. It is a noir-ish melodrama, chock full of political machines, hard drinking newsmen, femme fatales, and mobsters.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 'picture novel' from 1950 is often cited as the first ever graphic novel. It reads like a Dashiell Hammett or Raymond Chandler novel, dark and gritty pulp fiction with all the film noir trappings. I'm a big pulp/noir fan but crime comics never appealed to me. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this and was surprised to learn its history. My copy is a 2007 reprint my wife found at a used bookstore in Madison, WI. Well worth tracking down for fans of crime fiction.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great more for what it is than the story it tells. Important for being one of the first long-form single volume "graphic novels" it is just a B-Film at heart, and poor one at that. But beautiful, stylish art by Matt Baker.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first graphic novel. A good quick read.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel from 1950. Very pulp, very noir, very cool.