Sick Magazine Huckleberry Fink vs. Hoss Cartwright Cover c. 1960s

This cover for Sick magazine was drawn by Jack Davis, known for his work in comics and advertising. It is made with ink and watercolor on paper. Davis was a master of line and color. He had a knack for exaggerating and distorting features for comical effect, which makes the ink lines seem dynamic. This image pokes fun at media and the ways that entertainment relies on conflict, even manufactured conflict. Huckleberry Finn and Hoss Cartwright, from Bonanza, are pitted against one another despite being from completely different stories. The artist is making a comment on the commodification of culture, and how everything gets thrown into the market. Davis’s style is well suited for satire, and reminds us of how the labor and creativity that goes into illustration can be put to use in the service of humor and cultural critique. This artwork blurs the boundaries between commercial illustration, craft, and social commentary.