OK - I call this next thread, "The Python - Dave Christensen Controversy". So I have Python Anghelo at my house in December of 2012. Long story as to why, but he's there and I openly invite all of the Georgia pinheads to come meet him and play my games.
Python is playing some of the EM games I have and walks into my Solid State room and shouts "Wait a minute! That's Dave Christensen!" and he's looking directly at the Strikes and Spares backglass. I'm "No Python, it's Kevin O'Connor" and I'm pointing at the signature. I actually have some of this conversation on video. He's "No, Kevin O'Connor does little S$%^ like this" (pointing to the more cartoon art surrounding the redhead). End of conversation.
This bugged me.
Python knew art like nobody else. What happened here? Was it something that Christensen started and Kevin picked up? I never got the chance to ask him but I think I got the answer (more later on that).
I knew that Stu from CPR did the re-draw for the reproduction glass. I asked him. His answer was that it was Christensen style but older Christensen, meaning that it pre-dated the style he was doing when SandS was released. Cut and paste was looking good.
A bit later and I'm talking to Greg Freres and I bring this up. He says that "That was Kevin O'Connor's Wife" (lucky guy). His opinion was that he copied Christensen's style because this was his first glass. He also had to impress his new boss. I feel that this was the answer. I'll ask Kevin some day. Maybe one of you will. It's still a fun story!
It's my favorite glass of all times.
(Python at my house: http://gapas.net/?page_id=64&wppa-album=2&wppa-cover=0&wppa-occur=1)