Thrift Shop Book Covers: "The James Dean Story"

The James Dean Story, by Ronald Martinetti, was published as a paperback original by Pinnacle in 1975, which is the very edition that caught my eye. The cover illustration is nicely realized with a soft sky blue background. Not to mention, its titillating blurb—“The myth-shattering biography of a legend!”—promises the reader an appealing journey. The artist: Gil Cohen.

The first sentence:

James Byron Dean was born in Marion, Indiana on February 8, 1931.

Gil Cohen illustrated many of the early Don Pendleton’s The Executioner books published first by Pinnacle and then Gold Eagle. He later gained fame as an Aviation artist. The Men’s Adventure Magazines website has adetailed and interesting interview with Gil Cohen.