Rex Morgan MD by Bradley and Edgington

Rex Morgan MD is a long-running story strip that is still published today, and is currently written and drawn by Terry Beatty, co-creator of Ms. Tree, Wild Dog and other comic book creations.

This strip from January 12, 1969 is a great example of the mature styles of artists Marvin Bradley and Frank Edgington who spent many years on the strip. Unfortunately, press limitations of the day limited the quality of the reproduction of their slick linework, and in this published example, they were always at the mercy of local presses that printed them.

My first goal was to duplicate the original colour scheme and show what might have been possible with modern press standards. I also wanted to do a new colour version. One that felt more realistic, or at least like a cinematic or TV presentation with consistent colouring and lighting from shot to shot. To me, the original primary colour scheme with its big blocks of bright colours seemed at odds with the subject matter.

As ever, you’re free to lean one way or the other depending on your own preferences.

January 12, 1969

The published version. Unfortunately, this one was printed on a press with severe registration issues.

Scan of the original art from Heritage Auctions.

Art made production ready.

Re-creation of the original colour scheme.

New colour version.

April 26, 1969

Scan of the original art from Heritage Auctions.

Art made production ready.

Colour version.

June 15, 1969

The published version.

Scan of the original art from Heritage Auctions.

Art made production ready.

Re-creation of the original colour scheme.

New colour version.