Rogue (magazine) no four-color reproduction, or full-page cartoons, and certainly no centerfold. Hamling was the editor and publisher, his wife, Frances, was executive editor; and Frank M. Robinson was the first managing editor. Henry Botts, a friend of Hamling's, became the first associate editor. Lead fiction was by a hot science fiction author, Harlan Ellison who became associate editor with the third issue (April 1956). The first issue of "Rogue" was published in November 1955, with a December release date. Following Hefner's successful lead with the first issue of "Playboy", that first issue of "Rogue" contained "A New Aspect of Marilyn Monroe,"
The Playboy a "landmark look at an artist's growth", referring to the pace with which Brown's work matured over the course of the three issues of its serialization. Brown stated that several women took offense at the book, saying it glorified pornography. Hugh Hefner sent Brown a letter after "The Playboy"s publication, showing concern that someone who grew up during the sexual revolution could still suffer such confusion and anxiety. Darcy Sullivan compared the pornography-obsessed autobiographical work of Joe Matt in "Peepshow" unfavourably to "The Playboy" in an issue of "The Comics Journal", to which Brown responded with a defence of Matt's