JAMES BAMA CHECKLIST
Born in New York in 1928, James Bama went to The Art Students League on the GI Bill, where he studied under Frank Reilly. In 1950 he went to work at the Cooper Studio in New York, where he did advertising, magazine illustration and a few paperback covers. When the Studio closed, Bama went freelance. In 1962 he began an incredible ten-year run doing paperback cover art for Bantam Books, creating around 250 Bantam paperback covers, many of them indelible and some of them million sellers that were reprinted over and over. Dell wanted him too and Bama freelanced for them as well. It is probably because of the countless reprints of popular books like Doc Savage and THE HARRAD EXPERIMENT, and titles by Louis L’Amour and William Goldman, that the task of creating a complete checklist of all Bama’s covers has proved so daunting. By eliminating all those innumerable reprints and concentrating on first printings only, I have been able to attempt a first draft of a new Bama checklist here.
Bama’s unique signature style was first widely noticed on a Bantam called TOMBOY by Hal Ellson, 1963. His model was Andrea Dromm, a popular TV commercial actress who made two movies in the mid-1960s. Bama used Andrea Dromm as his model again on the first of two covers he did for THE HELLER.
In 1965, Bantam art director Len Leone revolutionized the paperback publishing industry with THE TEMPLE OF GOLD by William Goldman. Before this book any blank white space on a mass market paperback cover was considered wasted space. Every inch of each cover had to be filled with color or text. Bantam started experimenting with white backgrounds, first with Mitchell Hooks, then James Bama. The concept really took off with THE TEMPLE OF GOLD. It was stark and riveting, with one figure in hyper-realistic detail and nothing else except a blank white background. As Brian Kane noted in JAMES BAMA: AMERICAN REALIST, “THE TEMPLE OF GOLD eventually sold millions of copies.” One of those was my copy and I remember it very fondly. This was the first of the “Bama White Bantams”, a style we are celebrating here. Bama created more of them after THE TEMPLE OF GOLD and other artists were enlisted to copy his style. Soon others publishers, notably Dell, Fawcett and Lancer, were putting out copycat covers. It was a clean and dynamic look. Bantam then used Bama art for three more of their William Goldman covers, YOUR TURN TO CURTSY, SOLDIER IN THE RAIN and THE THING OF IT IS…. Why they didn’t have a Bama cover on BOYS AND GIRLS TOGETHER (Bantam N2981) has always mystified me, but I now suspect it’s because that edition was published right before the Bama cover for THE TEMPLE OF GOLD (Bantam H2984) started the revolution. Bama used his favorite model, Steve Holland, for the Doc Savage series. Beginning with THE MAN OF BRONZE in 1964, Bama created the Doc Savage look later copied by many other artists on over 100 books. Bama painted #1, #2, and #7, then he did all of them from #9 through #67. After painting Doc Savage #67 in 1972, James Bama retired from painting paperback covers. And from New York City. He had already discovered Wyoming. With his wife Lynne he moved his studio to Wyoming where he became a leading painter of Western fine art. His paintings have been shown in exhibits and galleries ever since. There are some books on the checklist after 1972, but they are all either reprints or books that used his later Western paintings for cover art. Some later Doc Savage books have Bama art, but these were made by re-using earlier paintings. Bama was not compensated for these and so does not list them as his own. The book JAMES BAMA: AMERICAN REALIST shows every one of Bama’s Doc Savage covers in order, and notes there were four uncompensated later covers but does not list or show them. We get that information from DOC SAVAGE: ARCH ENEMY OF EVIL, a book by Larry Widen. See the checklist below for the details and sources of those four: Doc Savage #82, #115, OMNIBUS #1 & #4. I have always counted James Bama among my very favorite paperback artists. His super-real style, sometimes looking more like a photo than a painting, is unmistakably awe-inspiring. The checklist is chronological by publisher and the publishers are listed alphabetically. With convoluted Bantam it is often difficult to verify order, so we list them numerically whenever possible, causing series books to appear out of order.
Bama’s movie posters include COOL HAND LUKE, REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE, HEIDI (WB, 1968) and A MINUTE TO PRAY, A SECOND TO DIE. James Bama’s iconic paperback cover for THE HARRAD EXPERIMENT was reprinted countless times. The movie poster for the 1973 film version showed Bama’s cover art and noted there were over 2 million copies in print.
Avon Pulps and digests 1950 OUT OF THIS WORLD #2, December 1950. Bama’s first published illustration. 1951 10 STORY FANTASY – Spring 1951 AVON FANTASY READER 15 – Wollheim, ed. Digest. Paperbacks 1950 267 A BULLET FOR BILLY THE KID – Nye. His first mass-market paperback cover. Reprinted as Avon 478. 306 GONE TO TEXAS – Thomason. Reprinted as Avon 451. 1951 299 THE ROUND-UP – Friend 311 THE SATURDAY EVENING POST WESTERN STORIES – Fles, ed. 1962 S138 THE GLORY CIRCUIT – Gregg 1963 F-187 REQUIEM FOR A GUN - Arthur 1964 S168 QUICK, BEFORE IT MELTS - Benjamin 1966 N139 THE FIRES OF BRIMSTONE – Gallagher. (Bama used himself and his wife Lynne as models for this cover.) V2163 MOVER – Drought 1967 N140 SOW NOT IN ANGER - Hoffenberg N143 BUT NOT FOR LOVE - Shrake N145 THE SKIN – Malaparte N146 A HERO FOR REGIS - Hoffenberg N156 THE DETECTIVE - Thorp S265 THE INSTANT SAINT - Sherlock V2162 THE VIOLENT MAN – Van Vogt. Reprint N258 (1970) uses part of this cover art. 1982 58503 BLACK SUN - Abbey 58966 THE BRAVE COWBOY - Abbey 59519 FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN – Abbey Ballantine 1963 F755 THE PILLARS OF MIDNIGHT - Trevor Bantam 1962 H2446 THE FRAUD - Rader F2458 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA – Verne. Multiple reprints FP41 LOST CITIES AND VANISHED CIVILIZATIONS – Silverberg SC162 WALDEN AND OTHER WRITINGS - Thoreau 1963 F2497 THE NURSES – Johnston. TV tie-in. J2509 TOMBOY - Ellson F2535 CYRUS THE GREAT -Lamb S2546 THE LONG LIGHT OF DAWN - Farris J2559 THE WITCH OF THE LOW TIDE - Carr F2566 SAVO - Newcomb N2567 A PROLOGUE TO LOVE – Caldwell. First of two Bama covers for this book, see Q3795. F2576 THE SCARLET FEATHER – Van Every F2610 THE HELLER – Henning. First of two Bama covers, see S5336. N2640 SEVEN DAYS IN MAY – Bailey & Knebel A2644 PEACE MARSHAL – Gruber S2651 STRONG MEN ARMED – Leckie. This cover was re-used on ONE MORE HILL, 23442. DQ2662 THE NEW WORLD - Churchill DQ2664 THE GREAT DEMOCRACIES – Churchill F2667 THEODORA AND THE EMPEROR - Lamb H2668 THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE KWAI – Gordon SP40 CHAD HANNA – Edmonds 1964 F2708 CAPTAIN CUT-THROAT - Carr H2728 TWO HOURS TO DARKNESS – Trew. Back cover by Bama. H2748 V - Pynchon N2749 STACY TOWER – Walter. The 4th printing, 1969, has the cover art enlarged. (The 1963 Macmillan hardcover also uses same Bama art.) J2753 COUNTDOWN FOR CINDY - Engle J2766 KIOWA TRAIL – L’Amour. All Bantam L’Amours have an almost impossible-to-list number of reprints. I’ve seen seven numbers with this Bama cover but there are probably others. Our list here will show first Bama covers only. H2771 THE HIRED KILLERS - Wyden J2772 THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS - Montagu S2788 TO DRILL AND DIE - Peacock J2789 SILVER CANYON – L’Amour. N2810 THE SOUND OF THUNDER – Caldwell. Reprinted as 14255 in 1981. Bama’s art is tiny on N2810, much larger on the 1981 reprint. H2814 REVOLT OF ZENGO TAKAKUWA - Baker F2846 PORT AFRIQUE - Dryer F2849 A SUDDEN SILENCE - Minahan E2853 THE MAN OF BRONZE – Robeson. Doc Savage #1. At least a dozen reprints seen. E2854 THE THOUSAND-HEADED MAN – Robeson. Doc Savage #2. H2876 FLYING COLOURS - Forester FP64 WHEN ENGINES ROAR – Beaumont & Nolan 1965 H2871 A CHOSEN FEW - Rhodes J2926 FIDDLEFOOT - Short F2949 KNOCK AND WAIT A WHILE - Weeks H2984 THE TEMPLE OF GOLD – Goldman. Reprinted many times. F2996 CALL ME IF IT’S MURDER – LeBron & Radin S3006 CROISET THE CLAIRVOYANT – Pollack. F3021 YOUR TURN TO CURTSY, MY TURN TO BOW – Goldman. F3022 TOO MANY CLIENTS - Stout H3029 ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE – Wallis. E3033 THE MONSTERS – Robeson. Doc Savage #7. E3115 THE MYSTIC MULLAH – Robeson. Doc Savage #9. E3047 THE PHANTOM CITY – Robeson. Doc Savage #10. H3057 IF MORNING EVER COMES - Tyler F3069 BASEBALL IS A FUNNY GAME - Garagiola H3076 MORE KENNEDY WIT – Adler, ed. F3093 KING KONG - Lovelace FP82 THE WINNING OF MICKEY FREE - Burnett FP140 THE QUALITY OF COURAGE – Mantle. Reprints include HP5335. 1966 J3098 THE BROKEN GUN – L’Amour E3110 QUEST OF QUI – Robeson. Doc Savage #12 S3114 THE SKI BUM - Gary F3116 NEVADA - Grey Q3123 HITLER MOVES EAST 1941-1943 – Carell S3142 MOUNTAIN OF WINTER – Schoonover. Photo cover with Bama art on the back. Bama’s perfect art was used again for front covers of the German and British paperbacks. (The British edition is shown above.) E3146 FEAR CAY – Robeson. Doc Savage #11. F3183 RAG TOP - Felsen H3190 THE MOB’S MAN - Horan N3199 THE GOOD AND BAD WEATHER - Schiddel E3202 LAND OF ALWAYS-NIGHT – Robeson. Doc Savage #13. H3228 THE DAY BEFORE THUNDER - Spicer N3235 A WILDERNESS OF MONKEYS - Mitchell S3238 NIGHT - Pollini S3239 TREE OF ARROWS - Brennan E3244 KID RODELO – L’Amour S3251 NATIVE STONE - Gilbert F3254 THE DOORBELL RANG - Stout S3255 THE SHINING MOUNTAINS – Van Every S3265 SOLDIER IN THE RAIN – Goldman F3269 THE FANTASTIC ISLAND – Robeson. Doc Savage #14. HP130 EMPIRES IN THE DUST - Silverberg FP148 THE BELLS OF ST. MARY’S – Martin FP156 TALES FROM THE HOUSE BEHIND - Frank HP157 MEMBER OF THE WEDDING – McCullers. Many reprints seen. SP4450 THE ADVENTURES OF THE NEGRO COWBOY – Jones & Durham. Reprinted as NP8590 in 1969. 1967 N2572 LETTING GO – Roth, 3rd printing. First printing of this number in 1963 had art by a different cover artist. S3278 THE CROSS OF IRON - Heinrich S3280 CRACK OF DOOM - Heinrich H4389 AN EXCHANGE OF FLOWERS - Lothar H3294 THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE - Cain F3296 MURDER MELODY – Robeson. Doc Savage #15. Q3303 THE PROUD TOWER – Tuchman. Wraparound cover art. H3316 THE TIN CAN TREE - Tyler N3337 THE COMEDIANS - Greene F3340 THE SPOOK LEGION – Robeson. Doc Savage #16. Q3345 DREISER – Swanberg H3353 THE HAPPENING - Curry N3360 THE HARRAD EXPERIMENT – Rimmer. Multiple reprints. N3383 THE SONS AND THE DAUGHTERS – Gallagher N3385 THE DEVIL IN BUCKS COUNTY - Schiddel F3387 THE RED SKULL – Robeson. Doc Savage #17. S3396 HARRY OF MONMOUTH - Maugham H3397 REVOLT OF SARAH PERKINS - Cockrell S3402 GREENSTONE – Ashton-Warner S3411 BELL CALL – Ashton-Warner N3422 THE FOXES OF THE DESERT - Carell S3423 THE BLACK MARCH -Neumann H3424 HITLER AND NAZISM - Snyder F3441 THE SARGASSO OGRE – Robeson. Doc Savage #18. N3451 SOLDIER’S REVOLT - Kirst F3459 STAR TREK – Blish. Multiple reprints. TV tie-in. N3460 THE TROJANS - Williams N3480 ALIAS JAMES BOND: THE LIFE OF IAN FLEMING - Pearson F3486 PIRATE OF THE PACIFIC – Robeson. Doc Savage #19. S3505 A DREAM OF KINGS - Petrakis S3524 THE YEAR OF THE RAT - Zarubica F3533 THE SECRET IN THE SKY – Robeson. Doc Savage #20. H3539 THE GATES OF THE MOUNTAINS - Henry S3553 MILDRED PIERCE – Cain. Reprinted as Q8310 in 1973. N3577 THE ZIN ZIN ROAD – Knebel FP166 DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE - Stevenson FP165 FRANKENSTEIN – Shelley. Multiple reprints. FP179 THE CUSTER WOLF – Caras. Cover art re-used for 21005, CALL OF THE WILD AND WHITE FANG, in 1981. HP162 A SENSE OF WHERE YOU ARE - McPhee HP4038 THE NEGRO PILGRIMAGE IN AMERICA – Lincoln. Updated and expanded edition SP4848, 1969. HP4049 THE SOUND OF MUSIC – Lindsay & Crouse 1968 F3580 DOWN THE LONG HILLS – L’Amour F3584 COLD DEATH – Robeson. Doc Savage #21. N3591 THE DISENCHANTED - Schulberg N3610 OPINION OF THE COURT - Woolfolk N3613 MIRACLE AT PHILADELPHIA - Bowen N3620 THE ALASKAN – Lund. Reprinted in 1976 as X2720 with art flipped and enlarged. S3621 SITKA – L’Amour N3625 THE SPIRAL ROAD – de Hartog S3638 FIRE, BURN! - Carr H3655 PLEASE DON’T TALK TO ME, I’M IN TRAINING - Kaufman F3667 THE CZAR OF FEAR – Robeson. Doc Savage #22. N3673 FANINA – Sabbagh & Graziani S3684 GETTING STRAIGHT - Kolb N3687 THE ZOLOTOV AFFAIR - Rimmer S3706 THE THING OF IT IS… - Goldman F3716 FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE – Robeson. Doc Savage #23. N3735 THE CROWN - Pollini N3753 BUTTERFIELD 8 – O’Hara. 25th printing, new Bama cover. Reprinted a year later as S5336. F3755 MYSTERY UNDER THE SEA – Robeson. Doc Savage #27. J3758 BIG LOBO – McCoy. Nevada Jim #1. J3762 A MAN CALLED DRAGO – McCoy. Nevada Jim #2. F3782 THE GREEN EAGLE – Robeson. Doc Savage #24. Q3795 A PROLOGUE TO LOVE – Caldwell. Wraparound cover art. Second cover, see N2567. N3797 EUSTACE CHISHOLM AND THE WORKS - Purdy S3804 THE GIRL WITH THE GLORIOUS GENES - Carbury F3805 DEATH IN SILVER – Robeson. Doc Savage #26. S3810 THE LOVE-CHILD - Watson S3813 THE RAMPA STORY - Rampa S3814 DOCTOR FROM LHASA - Rampa J3816 LIMBO PASS - McCoy. Nevada Jim #3. J3828 SEVEN WESTBOUND - McCoy. Nevada Jim #4. J3831 JUSTICE FOR JENNER - McCoy. Nevada Jim #5. Re-used for ESCAPE FROM FIVE SHADOWS, 14748, in 1985. J3835 BURY THE GUILTY - McCoy. Nevada Jim #6. F3839 THE DEADLY DWARF – Robeson. Doc Savage #28. F3841 THE DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND – Robeson. Doc Savage #25. N3862 THE ADMIRAL – Dibner F3877 THE OTHER WORLD – Robeson. Doc Savage #29. S3881 DUEL IN THE SUN - Busch F3885 THE ANNIHILIST – Robeson. Doc Savage #31. F3897 THE FLAMING FALCONS - Robeson. Doc Savage #30. J3918 THE KILLERS CAME AT NOON - McCoy. Nevada Jim #10 J3943 NO GUN IS NEUTRAL - McCoy. Nevada Jim #7. J3946 DIE BRAVE - McCoy. Nevada Jim #8. J4332 CRISIS AT CORNERSTONE - McCoy. Nevada Jim #9. FL121 FOLLOW YOUR HEART Loring. Multiple reprints. 1969 Q3193 THE FIRES OF SPRING – Michener. 16th printing, new Bama cover. N3931 BLACK RAGE – Cobbs & Grier F3937 DUST OF DEATH – Robeson. Doc Savage #32. F3939 GUN FLASH - McCoy. Nevada Jim #11. F3969 THE TERROR IN THE NAVY – Robeson. Doc Savage #33. S3984 A CRIME OF HONOR - Arpino F3986 MAD EYES – Robeson. Doc Savage #34. H4065 RED SNOW – Robeson. Doc Savage #38. S4360 TURN ME ON! – Thomas. Multiple reprints. F4362 THE SQUEAKING GOBLIN – Robeson. Doc Savage #35. F4403 RESURRECTION DAY – Robeson. Doc Savage #36. N4460 THE RACE FOR HOME - Miller F4469 ALABAMA EMPIRE – Kelley. Reprinted as Q7674 in 1973. F4484 GUNS OF GREED - McCoy. Nevada Jim #12. Re-used for REILLY’S LUCK, see 13589. F4576 KILLER BAIT - McCoy. Nevada Jim #13. N4620 MIDDLE GROUND - Zilinsky H4624 THE DAGGER IN THE SKY – Robeson. Doc Savage #40. SP4670 FREEDOM ROAD – Fast. Eight printings seen including Scholastic 16043-5 in 1978 (the edition shown above). H4689 MERCHANTS OF DISASTER – Robeson. Doc Savage #41. S4701 THE CONTENDER - Lipsyte H4707 HEX –Robeson. Doc Savage #37. H4721 THE WORLD’S FAIR GOBLIN – Robeson. Doc Savage #39. H4730 THE GOLD OGRE – Robeson. Doc Savage #42. H4761 THE MAN WHO SHOOK THE EARTH – Robeson. Doc Savage #43. F4794 BEHIND THE BLACK MASK - McCoy. Nevada Jim #14. Re-used on CORONER CREEK, N7662, in 1975. F4976 SATAN’S BACK TRAIL - McCoy. Nevada Jim #15. Re-used on RIDE THE MAN DOWN, N2158, in 1975. F4798 BOUNTY ON WES DURAND - McCoy. Nevada Jim #16. Re-used on YANCEY, 20392, in 1981. 1970 H4810 THE SEA MAGICIAN – Robeson. Doc Savage #44. H4975 THE MEN WHO SMILED NO MORE – Robeson. Doc Savage #45. Q5210 THALBERG – LIFE AND LEGEND - Thomas H5217 THE MIDAS MAN – Robeson. Doc Savage #46. N5244 GROUPIE – Fabian & Byrne N5305 THE GOLDEN GHETTO - Gerson H5309 LAND OF LONG JU-JU – Robeson. Doc Savage #47. S5336 THE HELLER – Henning. Second version, see F2610. There are two books numbered Bantam S5336 and both have Bama covers. The other is a reprint of BUTTERFIELD 8 (see N3753). Q5351 ROBERT KENNEDY: A MEMOIR - Newfield H5367 THE FEATHERED OCTOPUS – Robeson. Doc Savage #48. N5402 THE RING - Chopping H5406 THE SEA ANGEL – Robeson. Doc Savage #49. N5425 THE DEVIL WALKS ON WATER - Murray H5450 DEVIL ON THE MOON – Robeson. Doc Savage #50. H5460 BEFORE ADAM – London. (James Bama is also the cover model.) H5482 HAUNTED OCEAN – Robeson. Doc Savage #51. H5536 THE VANISHER – Robeson. Doc Savage #52. SP5524 PHOEBE – Dizenzo. Reprinted as 12320. H5556 THE MENTAL WIZARD - Robeson. Doc Savage #53. S5589 “REDS” – Thomas Q5590 SCANDAL’S CHILD - Schiddel H5617 HE COULD STOP THE WORLD – Robeson. Doc Savage #54. H5652 THE GOLDEN PERIL – Robeson. Doc Savage #55. T6384 THE LAST HURRAH – O’Connor 1971 H5705 THE GIGGLING GHOSTS – Robeson. Doc Savage #56. H5743 POISON ISLAND – Robeson. Doc Savage #57. S5788 THE MUNITIONS MASTER – Robeson. Doc Savage #58. T5796 THE SECRET LIVES OF LAWRENCE OF ARABIA – Simpson & Knightley S5838 THE YELLOW CLOUD – Robeson. Doc Savage #59. S5909 THE MAJII – Robeson. Doc Savage #60. S5947 THE LIVING FIRE MENACE - Robeson. Doc Savage #61. Q5982 THE RAVISHERS – Browne. Cover states: “Painting of the Author by James Bama”. S5991 THE PIRATE’S GHOST - Robeson. Doc Savage #62. S6542 THE SUBMARINE MYSTERY - Robeson. Doc Savage #63. S6653 THE MOTION MENACE - Robeson. Doc Savage #64. Q6680 THE MAKING OF ISRAEL’S ARMY - Allon S6725 THE GREEN DEATH - Robeson. Doc Savage #65. S6746 FLINT – L’Amour S6758 THE SKY-LINERS – L’Amour Q6770 ZANEK! – Stevenson Q6958 MALCOLM – Purdy 1972 Q2339 RADIGAN – L’Amour Q6699 PLAY IT AS IT LAYS - Didion S6912 MAD MESA – Robeson. Doc Savage #66. S6923 THE FRECKLED SHARK – Robeson. Doc Savage #67. Bama’s last cover. All future covers are reprints or covers created from his Western fine art paintings. 1974 Q7752 THE KILLERS – Dawson, ed. Uses Bama’s 1972 painting “Tony Martin, Hunting Guide”, plate 30 from THE WESTERN ART OF JAMES BAMA. Y8538 THE ROAD TO WOUNDED KNEE – Burnette and Koster. Uses Bama’s 1973 painting “Chester Medicine Crow With His Father’s Medicine Pipe”, plate 17 from THE WESTERN ART OF JAMES BAMA. 1975 M1005 THE WESTERN ART OF JAMES BAMA. Also hardcover. (See Bibliography.) Oversize. N2158 RIDE THE MAN DOWN – Short. Re-used from J3762, SATAN’S BACK TRAIL. N7662 CORONER CREEK – Short. Re-used from F4794, BEHIND THE BLACK MASK. 1976 Q2134 THE EVIL GNOME – Robeson. Doc Savage #82. An enlargement from H4065, RED SNOW, Doc Savage #38. 1979 12876 REILLY’S LUCK – L’Amour. Re-used from F4484, GUNS OF GREED. 1980 01242 THE WESTERN ART OF JAMES BAMA – Enlarged Edition. Oversize. (See Blibliography.). 1981 20392 YANCEY – Dawson. Re-used from F4798, BOUNTY ON WES DURAND. 21005 CALL OF THE WILD AND WHITE FANG – London. Re-used from FP179, THE CUSTER WOLF. 21143 A CONNECTICUT YANKEE AT KING ARTHUR’S COURT – Twain. This cover art appears in JAMES BAMA: AMERICAN REALIST as “Unpublished paperback cover painting done for a book on the Crusades that never saw print.” Looks like Bantam’s art department dusted it off and used the painting anyway, years after Bama had stopped working for Bantam. The crusader art is all wrong for King Arthur’s court. 1982 20934 THE SECRET IN THE SKY / COLD DEATH – Robeson. Doc Savage Double #20/21. Re-uses Bama’s covers for both books 22619 THE CZAR OF FEAR / FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE – Robeson. Doc Savage Double #22/23. Re-uses Bama’s cover for THE CZAR OF FEAR. 1983 23016 THE GREEN EAGLE / THE DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND – Robeson. Doc Savage Double #24/25. Re-uses Bama’s covers for both books. 23364 PIRATE ISLE/THE SPEAKING STONE – Robeson. Doc Savage Double #115/116. The PIRATE ISLE half of the cover is a reverse image of part of Bama’s art for H4875, THE MEN WHO SMILED NO MORE, Doc Savage #45. 23648 DEATH IN SILVER / MYSTERY UNDER THE SEA – Robeson. Doc Savage Double #26/27. Re-uses Bama’s covers for both books. 1985 14748 ESCAPE FROM FIVE SHADOWS – Leonard. Re-used from J3831, JUSTICE FOR JENNER. 1986 23442 ONE MORE HILL – Johnson. Re-used from S2651, STRONG MEN ARMED. 25947 DOC SAVAGE OMNIBUS#1 – Robeson. Re-used from E3047, THE PHANTOM CITY, Doc Savage #10. 1987 26802 DOC SAVAGE OMNIBUS #4 – Robeson. Re-used from S6725, THE GREEN DEATH, Doc Savage #65. (Bama’s Doc Savage covers continue to be recycled on Sanctum Books reprints from 2006 on. None are listed here.) 1993 THE ART OF JAMES BAMA – Bantam hardcover. (See bibliography.) Berkley 1966 X1174 CHERI - Colette S1180 SALAMBO - Flaubert X1181 THE LAST OF CHERI - Colette N2101 THE HORSEMAN ON THE ROOF - Giono Dell 1950 420 DEAD SURE - Sterling 1963 0766 THE BRAIN PICKERS – Burnett 5590 MESSALINA - Oleck 6853 PATTON: ORDEAL & TRIUMPH - Farago 1964 0434 THE BANKER - Waller 1071 CAROLINE CHERIE – St. Laurent 2461 FAIR GAME - Weil 2680 FOR KINGS ONLY - Siodmak 3165 GREAT SMITH - Marshall 8974 TOUJOURS FOREVER – Block & Glasser 9748 YANKEE PASHA - Marshall 1965 0108 AMERICAN CHROME – Gilbert 0532 BELOVED - Delmar 1056 CARAVAN TO XANADU - Marshall 1463 COOPER’S CREEK - Moorehead 1946 THE DISCONNECTED – Martin. The 1968 reprint has a variant image of this art, flipped and enlarged. 2684 THE 480 - Burdick 2924 THE GOD HUNTERS - Kelley 1966 0579 THE BLACKBOARD JUNGLE - Hunter 5611 MIDNIGHT COWBOY – Herlihy 1967 2674 THE FOREST AND THE FORT - Allen 1968 0079 ALL THE COMFORTS - Papaleo 0168 ANGEL LOVES NOBODY - Miles 2942 GO TO THE WIDOW-MAKER - Jones 4590 THE KLANSMAN - Huie 4779 THE LIEUTENANT – Dubus 7081 THE PRACTICE - Winchester 7810 SEVENTH AVENUE - Bogner 9656 A WOMAN OF ROME – Moravia 1969 1757 THE DEAL – Marshall 3437 HANG-UP - Ross 5135 THE MADONNA COMPLEX - Bogner 5274 THE MANOR - Singer 5866 THE MOVIE MAKER – Kastle 6266 THE NAKED APE - Morris 6358 NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA - Massie 8211 STOP-TIME - Conroy 8983 THE TOWER OF BABEL - West Lancer 1963 70-050 PRESIDENT’S AGENT – Hilton. Also published as Magnum 70-050. Lion Book 1957 LB165 A RAGE AT SEA – Lorenz Paperback Library 1965 52-504 SON OF FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND – Ackerman. Cover art is from Bama’s Frankenstein Aurora model kit box cover.
Bama’s WALDEN
WALDEN & OTHER WRITINGS – Bantam SC162, 1962. Bama’s signature in lower right corner. Scan courtesy of Ken Huebschman.
Not Bama James Bama’s name has been attached to many covers he did not paint. Most of them are copying his style. I have seen countless Doc Savages after #67 attributed to Bama, some of them with a different artist’s signature on the cover. There is an excellent 2014 interview with Bama by Robert Deis on the menspulpmags.com site. In that interview Bama says a friend showed him an internet site that claimed CAPTAIN AMERICA (Bantam F3780) has a Bama cover. James Bama says, “I never did that cover.” You can still find it credited to Bama today.
The small cover art on STACY TOWER (Bantam N2749, 1964) was also used in full-page format for the 1963 Macmillan hardcover edition and the 1969 Bantam paperback reprint. The Italian hardcover shown here used the same art.
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