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**ITEM DESCRIPTION** Up for sale is a truly one-of-a-kind piece of independent cartooning and graphic illustration history: a massive, original hand-made book layout and production binder archive for the humor publication **"BAR-TALK"**, created entirely by artist and writer **Joe McCarthy**. This binder represents a complete, raw look into a creator's self-publishing process. It houses a vast, comprehensive collection of unique conceptual materials, hand-rendered illustrations, page mockups, and humor pieces themed around pub humor, mid-century bar culture, and satirical Americana. **What is Included in This Expanded Production Archive:** * **Full-Color Character Plates:** Highlights include a stunning, vibrantly hand-colored illustration panel featuring a local pizza maker stacked with "Bethel Pizza House" boxes, complete with custom lettering and a signature.
* **The "Bronx Scooter" Schematic Concept:** A highly creative, two-part developmental set featuring the original hand-drawn mock-technical blueprinted design for a crate scooter, alongside the finalized, fully-inked action cartoon plate of the character riding it.
* **"Pre-Release" Book Cover Layouts:** The original green-bordered binder housing the mockup artwork and title sheets featuring the iconic cowboy-hatted bar regular character.
* **Original Cartoon Artwork & Comic Plates:** Dozens of loose sheets featuring fully inked cartoons, neighborhood street scenarios, humor panels, and character concepts (including "Lotto" gags, "Harry's Diner" pages, and satirical "Wanted" posters).
* **Production Mockups & Pencil Sketches:** Multiple original rough graphite sketches and tracing paper mockups showing the raw, unedited evolution of the characters before the final ink plates were set.
* **Hand-Written Columns & Humorous Lists:** Meticulously hand-lettered editorial pages, including the complex "Alcohol in Excess" charts, satirical "Telephone Charges for Lying to Callers" menu boards, and detailed "Poor Man's Special Luncheon Menu" sheets.**About the Artist:**
The entire binder is credited, written, and illustrated by Joe McCarthy (notated as Joe McCarthy, S.A.). The style beautifully blends classic newspaper comic strip illustration with underground zine-style pub humor, dating around the late 1980s. **Condition:**
This is an authentic, working studio production archive. The loose cartoon plates, tracing paper mockups, colored panels, and handwritten layout pages are in good vintage condition. Expect standard wear associated with an artist's portfolio binder, including light natural age-toning on paper edges, occasional minor smudges, paste-up residue, or pencil markings from construction, and wear on the binder rings/tabs. Please review all high-resolution photos carefully to evaluate the incredible artistic detail of this archive. Sold together as a single complete lot.Feel free to message for more pics
