Classic Wodehouse Illustrations, Part 6: "Aunt Agatha Takes the Count"
So, in the last couple of posts, we've gotten to see a bit of Bertie's family: Aunt Dahlia, Cousin Angela, the errant (and surprisingly aged, at least in Skidmore's illustrations) Wooster twins, and even Uncle George. But so far we have had only a brief glance at the dreaded Aunt Agatha. So let's have a closer look.
I give you "Aunt Agatha Takes the Count"/"Aunt Agatha Makes a Bloomer"/"Aunt Agatha Speaks Her Mind" + "Pearls Mean Tears"/"That One with the Pearls where Bertie Finally Sticks It to Aunt Agatha"!
Mills starts us off with a classic Jeeves reaction shot. I think it speaks to Mills' appreciation for the stories that he always illustrates these moments:
Oh come on, Jeeves. It can't be as bad as those spats.
Skidmore decides to skip straight to the hot make-out scene:
I gotta admit, I love Skidmore's Soapy Sid. Just perfect. But on another note -- "Bertie Comes up Smiling," eh? Are we going to get to see that, by any chance? *glares at Skidmore*
Mills illustrated the same scene. I guess it's hard to resist drawing poor Bertie flailing helplessly while some chick kisses him:
The hand on top of his head is a nice touch.
Skidmore, being the compulsive hot lady drawer that he is, had to throw in a random portrait of Aline Hemmingway:
I like how the word "doom" is visible right there below her portrait on the left side of the page.
OH NOES, WHAT HAPPEN?
This Jeeves just doesn't look like the same dude from either of the other Skidmore-illustrated stories I've posted so far.
At last, the big pay-off:
I love the reactions of the hotel staff here, especially the fellow with the whiskers. Oh Aunt Agatha, you're gonna get it!
And Skidmore's version, spread over two pages:
First of all, that's a positively glamorous Aunt Agatha, that is. She even has a little beauty mark (which she also had in "Claude and Eustace", but on a totally different part of her face)! Somehow I never pictured her being such a fashion plate. Also, Bertie looks depressed even in his great moment of triumph. He listlessly hands the pearls back, his shoulders drooping slightly, his face sagging with the weight of all his years of hard and bitter experience. Holy crap, Skidmore, did you read these stories at all?
Naturally, Mills had to include the parting shot of Bertie sacrificing his beloved cummerbund:
Oh, relax, Angry Jeeves! He's disrobing and everything!
Other entries:
"Comrade Bingo"
"Bertie Changes His Mind"
"Leave It to Jeeves"
Right Ho, Jeeves
"The Delayed Exit of Claude and Eustace"
"Jeeves in the Springtime"
I give you "Aunt Agatha Takes the Count"/"Aunt Agatha Makes a Bloomer"/"Aunt Agatha Speaks Her Mind" + "Pearls Mean Tears"/"That One with the Pearls where Bertie Finally Sticks It to Aunt Agatha"!
Mills starts us off with a classic Jeeves reaction shot. I think it speaks to Mills' appreciation for the stories that he always illustrates these moments:
Oh come on, Jeeves. It can't be as bad as those spats.
Skidmore decides to skip straight to the hot make-out scene:
I gotta admit, I love Skidmore's Soapy Sid. Just perfect. But on another note -- "Bertie Comes up Smiling," eh? Are we going to get to see that, by any chance? *glares at Skidmore*
Mills illustrated the same scene. I guess it's hard to resist drawing poor Bertie flailing helplessly while some chick kisses him:
The hand on top of his head is a nice touch.
Skidmore, being the compulsive hot lady drawer that he is, had to throw in a random portrait of Aline Hemmingway:
I like how the word "doom" is visible right there below her portrait on the left side of the page.
OH NOES, WHAT HAPPEN?
This Jeeves just doesn't look like the same dude from either of the other Skidmore-illustrated stories I've posted so far.
At last, the big pay-off:
I love the reactions of the hotel staff here, especially the fellow with the whiskers. Oh Aunt Agatha, you're gonna get it!
And Skidmore's version, spread over two pages:
First of all, that's a positively glamorous Aunt Agatha, that is. She even has a little beauty mark (which she also had in "Claude and Eustace", but on a totally different part of her face)! Somehow I never pictured her being such a fashion plate. Also, Bertie looks depressed even in his great moment of triumph. He listlessly hands the pearls back, his shoulders drooping slightly, his face sagging with the weight of all his years of hard and bitter experience. Holy crap, Skidmore, did you read these stories at all?
Naturally, Mills had to include the parting shot of Bertie sacrificing his beloved cummerbund:
Oh, relax, Angry Jeeves! He's disrobing and everything!
Other entries:
"Comrade Bingo"
"Bertie Changes His Mind"
"Leave It to Jeeves"
Right Ho, Jeeves
"The Delayed Exit of Claude and Eustace"
"Jeeves in the Springtime"