General Category > Vintage Photo Galleries
Historical Photos - Comic creators
Yoc:
Hi Gang,
I'm starting a new category today - Comic Creators! These are the people (and some of their bosses) behind the comics. I wont be limiting this to pre-1959 so you will eventually be seeing some modern people, especially the 70s and 80s when I was heavily collecting and remember fondly.
First batch will be my oldest pictures that feature Comic Strip artists. Some of them were rock stars of their era commanding top dollar to do their magic.
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#1 - Richard F. Outcault (Hogan's Alley, Buster Brown)
(14 November 1863 - 25 September 1928)
Photo from http://intelligentcollector.com/buster-brown-original-art/
One of the pioneers of the comic strip he had a massive hits with Hogan's Alley (The Yellow Kid) and later Buster Brown. You can read a nicely detailed bio here: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/o/outcault.htm
#2 - Rudolph Dirks (Katzenjammer Kids/The Captain and the Kids)
(26 February 1877, Germany - 20 April 1968)
Seeing the popular Outcault strip William Randolph Hearst wants a hit of his own and gets it in Dirk's Katzenjammer Kids. Another great Lambiek bio for him can be found here: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/dirks_r.htm
#3 - Frederick Burr Opper (Happy Hooligan)
(2 January 1857 - 28 August 1937)
Another hit for the Hearst papers Opper had a 25 year run with his Happy Hooligan strip.
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/o/opper.htm
For a nice selection of Opper cartoons check out here:
https://animationresources.org/inbetweens-frederick-opper-from-the-chicago-examiner/
#4 - Winsor McCay (Little Nemo in Slumberland)
(26 September 1869 - 26 June 1934)
A gifted multi-talented artist who fully took advantage of the huge page sizes of the era. His strips are a feast for the eyes.
A short bio on McCay can be read on JVJ's site here:
http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/mccay.htm
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/mccay.htm
#5 - George Herriman (Krazy Kat)
(22 August 1880 - 25 April 1944)
Herriman is best know for his wildly experimental Krazy Kat strip. His wonderfully inventive layouts would influence artist right up to today.
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/herriman.htm
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#6 - Frank King (Gasoline Alley) and Sidney Smith (The Gumps) at work at The Chicago Tribune in 1916.
Here's a fun picture! Frank King (9 April 1883 - 24 June 1969) had his first hit with Gasoline Alley in 1918 where his characters in the strip aged in "real time" as the years went by. He retired from in in 1959 but the strip still runs today!
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/king.htm
With him in the picture is Sidney Smith (13 February 1877 - 20 October 1935) had a huge hit with his The Gumps strip which made him quite wealthy. Sadly he died in a car crash while driving his new Rolls which had been part of his new deal.
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/smith_sidney.htm
#7 - Ed Wheelan (Minute Movies, Comics McCormick)
(1888 - 1966)
Photo from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wheelanjokebook44.jpg
Wheelan had a hit with his Minute Movies for the Heast papers sticking with the strip from 1920 right on into the GA of comics as a Flash Comics back-up feature until the end of 1944. He created Comics McCormick for Novelty and EC Comics which is still well thought of today.
A bio and sample is on here:
https://www.revolvy.com/page/Ed-Wheelan
And several more samples of his Minute Movies are here:
https://pappysgoldenage.blogspot.com/2007/11/number-215-modest-maid-stalwart-soldier.html
#8 - Billy DeBeck (Barney Google)
(15 April 1890 - 11 November 1942)
Photo - Billy DeBeck and Jack Dempsey, (World Heavyweight Champion from 1919-1926)
DeBeck started his born loser strip Barney Google in 1919. A huge hit it's still being made today.
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/debeck_b.htm
Dempsey was an impressive man in his own right. A bio can be read here: https://www.biography.com/people/jack-dempsey-9271466
#9 - Elzie Crisler Segar (Thimble Theater)
(8 December 1894 - 13 October 1938)
Self taught artist Segar would be 10 years into his Thimble Theater strip before debuting his most popular creation Popeye, The Sailor into it. The strip was a huge hit crossing over into all other media. Segar died in 1938 but the strip lives on. It remains one of the longest running strips in syndication today.
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/segar.htm
#10 - George McManus (Bringing Up Father or Maggie and Jiggs)
(23 January 1884 - 22 October 1954)
Photo - McManus and Jiggs the dog-1925
A massive hit Bringing Up Father started in 1913 for 87 years! It inspired a Broadway play, radio shows, cartoons and several movies. It ran until May 28, 2000!
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/mcmanus.htm
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#11 - Milt Gross (Gross Exaggerations, That's My Pop!)
(4 March 1895 - 29 November 1953)
A man of many strips he is best be know for his unique art style. He would also do some scriptwriting, radio shows and write columns.
A short bio on Gross can be read on JVJ's site at this link:
http://www.bpib.com/gross.htm
#12 - Harold Foster (Tarzan, Prince Valiant)
(16 August 1892, Canada - 25 July 1982)
Foster, born in Canada, is a influence of pretty much anyone in comics. Known for his realism, composition, draftsmanship, and anatomy his work is a joy to behold. At age 28 he moved to Chicago, took some classes and started working as a magazine illustrator and in advertising. At age 36 he was given his first strip on the new Tarzan strip in 1928. His trademark was the use of captions instead of word balloons which he carried over to his Prince Valiant strip when he started it in 1937. It's said Foster took fifty to sixty hours a week to produce each Sunday strip and you can believe it when you see them! He would win multiple awards and honours over the years for his work. Fosters last strip was on February 10, 1980 after which John Cullen Murphy took over the drawing with Foster still writing and doing layouts and colouring.
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/foster_hal.htm
#13 - Rube Goldberg (The Inventions of Professor Lucifer Gorgonzola Butts)
(4 July 1883 - 7 December 1970)
Photo - Rube Goldberg and family visiting the White House in 1929.
Goldberg's engineering background helped when he started doing crazy inventions for his Prof. Butts strip. So outrageous the term a 'Rube Goldberg' contraption became part of American popular vocabulary. After 1939 he moved on to editorial cartoons, which won him a Pulitzer Prize in 1948.
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/goldberg_r.htm
#14 - Chester Gould (Dick Tracy)
(20 November 1900 - 11 May 1985)
For 46 years, Gould would draw his world famous Dick Tracy strip starting in 1931. His hard-boiled portrayal of violence made the strip almost as notorious as it was popular. His imaginative rogues gallery would even outmatch Batman. The strip continues today.
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/gould.htm
#15 - Chic Young (Blondie)
(9 January 1901 - 14 March 1973)
After several other strips he did his first Blondie in 1930 until he died in 1973! A newspaper mainstay the strip continues even today.
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/y/young_c.htm
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#16 - Milt Caniff (Terry and the Pirates, Steve Canyon)
(28 February 1907 - 3 April 1988)
Photo: 1946.02-Caniff, Milt; PIC The Magazine For Young Men
The master of adventure strips. His continuing continuity with well rounded characters and exciting action sequences would have a huge influence on how modern comics would look and be done. He was on Terry from 1934 through 1946. He started Steve Canyon two weeks later and was on it for nearly 40 years!
Milt's nephew writes of his memories with his uncle here. Great stories and a lot of fun pictures of him with several different celbs.
https://animationresources.org/biography-milton-caniff-a-remembrance-2/
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/caniff.htm
#17 - Percy Crosby (Skippy)
(8 December 1891 - 8 December 1964)
After serving in WW1 Crosby returns to cartooning and has a hit with his youth strip Skippy which started in 1926 under contract with Hearst. The strip made Crosby a very rich man. Movie adaptions and a novel followed. A wealth of licensed Skippy products were produced. The story of his fight for the Skippy name and his false imprisonment in a New York mental hospital for the last sixteen years of his life is covered in a very detailed bio on his life here: http://www.skippy.com
#18 - Burne Hogarth (Tarzan)
(25 December 1911 - 28 January 1996)
Photo: Hogarth with Mark Sinnott, son of Marvel artist Joe Sinnott.
A master of drawing the human anatomy he would become most famous for his work on the Tarzan strip which he took over from Hal Foster starting in 1937. He would work on it off and on for fifteen years. In 1950 he became a full time teacher at the Cartoonists and Illustrators School (later the School of Visual Arts). He would teach until 1970 and also release new works in book from 1972 on.
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/hogarth.htm
#19 - Alex Raymond (Flash Gordon, Jungle Jim, Secret Agent X-9, Rip Kirby)
(2 October 1909 - 6 September 1956)
Another master of the medium and huge influence on many modern artists to this day. During his short career he went from smash hit to smash hit. Raymond died in a car crash at age 45.
Lambiek Bio: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/raymond.htm
#20 - 1950-Goldberg, Raymond, Caniff
Photo: Rube Goldberg, Alex Raymond and Milton Caniff at a National Cartoonist Society meeting in 1950.
Bio for everyone are above.
Yoc:
Hi Gang,
Considering all the Fawcett books that have been going up these days on DCM I figure the best place to continue this section is with Fawcett Publications. Let's start at the top and work our way down.
You can read a bio on Capt. Billy who started Fawcett at this link: http://www.mnopedia.org/person/fawcett-wilford-hamilton-captain-billy-1885-1940
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#1 - 1942-The Fawcett Brothers donating blood
A publicity photo of the brothers now in control of the company after the death of their father in 1940 shortly after the first issue of Whiz Comics came out.
Rosco (far left) was in charge of circulation in 1939 and decided the company should start publishing their own comics line. You can read a 1997 interview with him in TwoMorrows' 'Fawcett Companion'.
You can read a very detailed history of Capt Billy and the Fawcett titles on this site: http://www.captainmarvelculture.com/1capmaj.html
Many of these pictures came from TwoMorrows' 'The Fawcett Companion' and were found online.
You can find the book for sale here (and we highly recommend it)
http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=207
#2 - 1940s-Fawcett executive retreat at Breezy Point Resort
Breezy Point Resort was created by Capt. Billy on land bought by Capt. Billy in 1921. It's still a going concern. https://breezypointresort.com/resort-history
#3 - 1942-Fawcett editorial meeting
From Writer's Digest 1946 article on Fawcett's methods and reprinted in 'The Fawcett Companion' starting on pg18.
#4 - 1942-Fawcett art staff
Also from 'The Fawcett Companion'
#5 - 1942-1942-Fawcett art staff 2
Originally from FCA #54
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#6 -Otto Binder, writer
(26 August 1911 - 14 October 1974)
A prolific writer of all types he also wrote in collaboration with his brother, Earl, under the pen name Eando Binder. He started working in comics in 1939 at the Harry 'A' Chesler shop before ending up with Fawcett as the main scripter for 'Captain Marvel Adventures'. He wrote 451 of the 618 stories, according to Jim Steranko.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/binder_otto.htm
#7 - 1940s-Fawcett Capt Marvel staff
(L to R) Jack Binder, CC Beck, and Otto Binder say cheers.
From https://comicvine.gamespot.com/profile/turoksonofstone/blog/turoksonofstones-terrible-time-machine-special-edi/64137/
#8 - CC Beck, artist
(9 June 1910 - 22 November 1989)
He began as a humor illustrator for Fawcett's pulp magazines in 1933. In 1939 Beck was assigned to design the character which was to become 'Captain Marvel'. The strip became the best-selling comic feature on the American market, and Beck was promoted to chief artist.
In 1941 C.C. Beck opened his own comicbook studios, drawing not only for 'Captain Marvel', but for 'Spy Smasher' and 'Ibis, the Invincible' as well. Beck opened a second studio in 1944, but in 1954 he had to close both studios due to lagging sales and a copyright infringement lawsuit against 'Captain Marvel' which was won by DC and forced Fawcett to close its comic division.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/beck_cc.htm
#9 - Pete Costanza, artist
(May 19, 1913 - June 28, 1984)
is best known for his work on Fawcett Comics' Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family..
He was one of CC Beck's chief assistant on the Capt. Marvel feature.
When Fawcett stopped publishing comics Costanza freelanced for Gilberton, Charlton, the American Comics Group (ACG), for which he was widely known for his work on "Magicman" and "Forbidden Worlds,"
In 1967, Costanza succeed Curt Swan as artist of 'Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen'. Over for the next three years, until retiring due to a stroke in 1971,
He taught himself to oil paint left-handed, and produced over 400 paintings during the remainder of his life.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/costanza_peter.htm
#10 - Charles Tomsey, artist
Charles Tomsey (?)
Artist that worked for Fawcett in the 40s and 50s and as an Art Associate at Marvel in the 40s. He would also in for Trojan, Hillman and Aviation Press at some point.
He worked on Spy Smasher, Ibis, Mr. Scarlet, Phantom Eagle, Bulletman, Captain Midnight and several Lance O’Casey stories for Fawcett.
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#11 - Kurt Schaffenberger, artist
(15 December 1920, Germany - 24 January 2002)
Is best known for his work on Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family during both the Golden Age and Bronze Age of comics, as well as his work on the title Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane during the 1950s and 1960s. He would also work on ACG's 'Adventures into the Unknown', Cracked Magazine and romance titles for Harvey and Marvel.
#12 - Mac Raboy, artist
(April 17, 1914 – December 12, 1967)
Legendary artist of Captain Marvel Jr. and as the Sunday comic-strip artist of Flash Gordon for more than 20 years. In the 1940s he began working with the Harry A. Chesler studio before moving to Fawcett. In 1944, he left Fawcett to join Spark Publications, where he drew the 'Green Lama' until 1946.
In the spring of 1946, King Features hired Raboy to continue the Sunday page adventures of Flash Gordon, which he continued to work on until his death.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/raboy_mac.htm
#13 - Marc Swayze, writer and artist
(July 17, 1913 – October 14, 2012)
Worked from 1941 to 1953 for Fawcett Comics as an artist on Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family. He was the co-creator of Mary Marvel and wrote many Captain Marvel scripts and continued to do so while he served in the United States Army during WW2. After the war he arranged to produce art and stories on a freelance basis. He worked on The Phantom Eagle (Wow Comics), as well as drawing the "Flyin' Jenny" newspaper strip for Bell Syndicate. His last work for Fawcett was on romance comics.
His final comics work was for Charlton until he quit comics in the middle 1950s. He was hired by Olin Matheson to establish the art department for the company's packaging division.
Swayze wrote a column of his memoirs in 'Alter Ego' magazine, from 1996 until his death, under the title, We Didn't Know It Was the Golden Age!
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/swayze_marc.htm
#14 - Jack Binder, artist
(11 August 1902 - 6 March 1986)
He joined the Harry "A" Chesler comic shop in 1937 as the shop art director. In 1940 he left the Chesler studio and formed his own shop. After three years Binder closed his shop and went to work for the studio of C.C. Beck where he drew 'Mr. Scarlett' and 'Mary Marvel' for Fawcett. In 1946 he resigned the studio to pursue his personal art career.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/binder_jack.htm
#15 - Sheldon Moldoff, artist
This one might surprise some to find him here. But read on...
(April 14, 1920 – February 29, 2012)
Moldoff is easily best known for his early work on the DC Comics creating Hawkman, Hawkgirl and Black Pirate, and as one of Bob Kane's primary 'ghost artists' for decades.
After WW2 he was also drawing for Standard, Fawcett, Marvel and EC Comics. He recalled in a 2000 interview that, "I had shown 'This Magazine Is Haunted' and 'Tales of the Supernatural' to [Fawcett Comics'] Will Lieberson before I showed them to [EC Comics'] Bill Gaines, because I trusted Will Lieberson much more." Fawcett turned them down. EC made a deal but Gaines reneged on it. Fawcett reconsidered and started 'This Magazine Is Haunted' and 'Worlds of Fear' and then 'Strange Suspense Stories.' Moldoff got as much work as he could handle until the horror trend finally ended.
http://charm-of-charlton.de/
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/moldoff_sheldon.htm
That's it for this batch, hope you liked them,
-Yoc
Yoc:
Hi Gang,
Here's another batch of creators. And seeing as how much EC Comics were mentioned in the previous Anti-Comics Hysteria topic I thought we might just concentrate on the personal of EC in this next one.
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#1 - 1942-Max Gaines, publisher
(September 21, 1894 – August 20, 1947)
was a pioneering figure in the creation of the modern comic book.
In 1933, Gaines is credited by many as the man that devised the first four-color, saddle-stitched newsprint pamphlet, a precursor to the color-comics format that became the standard comic.
In 1938, Gaines and Jack Liebowitz began publishing comics with original material under the name All-American Publications, a company that introduced fictional characters as Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and Hawkman. He went on to found Educational Comics after selling out his A-A stake to National Comics. He wanted to produce a line of educational comics selling such titles as Picture Stories from the Bible and Picture Stories from Science.
After Gaines' sudden death in 1947, Educational Comics was taken over by his son Bill Gaines and renamed Entertaining Comics.
Photo from Print Magazine v3 #2 (Summer 1942) shared by Jeff Guy Ward
#2 - 1951.12(?)-EC Christmas party-Bill Gaines and Al Feldstein
Pictured at an EC Christmas party are Gaines, Feldstein and best guess Johnny Craig's wife Toni. You will see her later in this update as well. I'm not sure of the exact year but would guess Dec. 1951 going by the comics in the background.
Bill Gaines, publisher
(March 1, 1922 – June 3, 1992)
EC would be taken over by his son William who had no interest in the company. He'd been studying to be a chemistry teacher. For a time the company continued it lack luster line of comics while losing money. Eventually Gaines would devote himself to the company and make several chances to the personnel and comics published in 1950.
http://www.williammgaines.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gaines
COMICS:
Haunt of Fear (EC) #9 (September-October 1951)
Weird Science (EC) #10 (November-December 1951)
Crime SuspenStories (EC) #8 (December 1951-January 1952)
#3 - 1961.11-Al Feldstein-Writer's Digest
This is Al. Incorrectly listed as being Bill Gaines.
#4 - 1960s (?)-Bill Gaines
I'm guessing this is from the late 60s. Source unknown.
#5 - 1974-Bill Gaines
Pic likely by artist Drew Friedman.
Read about his visit to the Mad offices back in 1974 here:
http://drewfriedman.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-visit-to-mad-magazine.html
#6 - 1990s-Bill Gaines at Mad offices-Ficarra
From the collection of MAD editor John Ficarra
Printed in Time Magaine 2011.
A 1991 Gaines tv interview at this link:
http://www.kleefeldoncomics.com/2016/11/on-history-bill-gaines-1991.html
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#7 - Al Feldstein
(24 October 1925 - 29 April 2014)
Writer, editor and artist for EC comics joining the company in Feb. 1948. He was the longtime editor-in-chief of MAD Magazine (1956-1985). He started working in the comic book industry as an apprentice at Jerry Iger's shop in 1941.
During the height of the EC Feldstein wrote four stories a week, based on plot ideas ("springboards") by Gaines. Along with his editing work, it is no surprise that Feldstein eventually dropped his own drawing activities. In late 1984, he retired and bought a ranch near the Yellowstone River in Livingston, Montana.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/feldstein.htm
Hear an interview with him here:
http://www.comiczoneradio.com/al-feldstein.html
#8 - 1958.11-Feldstein, Meglin, and De Fuccio from Mad magazine #42
Al Feldstein, Al Meglin, and Jerry De Fuccio - just another day at the MAD office, 1958. From a t-shirt ad in Mad #42.
Shared by Thommy Burns on the EC Fan-Addict Club Facebook page.
#9 - 2000s-Al Feldstein -Guthrie
Taken sometime in the 2000s I think. Shared by James Guthrie
#10 - 1950s-Johnny Craig and wife Toni
Johnny Craig and his wife Toni at an EC Comics Christmas party in the early 1950s.
#11 - 1950s-Johnny Craig
Here's another 50s pic of Craig at the drawing board.
Johnny Craig
Jay Taycee
(25 April 1926 - 13 September 2001)
Johnny Craig is best known for his work on the horror and crime titles at EC Comics in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Craig started working for Max Gaines at All-American before serving in the War and again when he got back now at EC. Unlike other EC artists, Craig not only drew but also wrote the scripts for his own stories. He became Art Director and later Vice President of an advertising agency in Pennsylvania post EC.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/craig.htm
Photo shared by Jim Engel
#12 - 1970-Johnny Craig
Published in Squatront #4
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#13 - 1953-George Evans at work
Taken for the artist of the issue feature in Tales from the Crypt #36.
George Evans
(5 February 1920 - 22 June 2001)
After spending three years in the US airforce, he began his career in comics at Fiction House until 1950. He also worked at Fawcett, where he worked on 'Captain Marvel', 'Captain Video', 'Bob Colt' and a comic adaptation of the film 'When Worlds Collide'.
When Fawcett folded, he was brought over to EC Comics by Al Williamson, where he was hired immediately in 1953. Thanks to his technical knowledge of airplanes and machinery, Evans quickly became Kurtzman's favorite on 'Two-Fisted Tales' and 'Frontline Combat'. He did some notable covers and stories for 'Crime SuspenStories' and 'Shock SuspenStories'.
After EC he moved to Gilberton's 'Classics Illustrated' line. He also did 'Space Conquerors' for Boy's Life magazine.
In the 60s he worked for DC and Gold Key as well as the daily 'Terry and the Pirates' strip until 1973. From 1968, he did supernatural stories for DC Comics. In 1980, he succeeded Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson on 'Secret Agent Corrigan' until 1996.
During the 1980s and 1990s, he also drew for publishers like Pacific, Eclipse, Marvel and Dark Horse, while also illustrating advertising campaigns. He retired in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, where his final work was doing the 'Flash Gordon' Sunday page on 21 January 2001.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/e/evans.htm
#14 - 1999-Evans at home
Shared on the Evans Facebook page. Photo by Paul Wardle.
#15 - 1940s-Reed Crandall war photo
Photo from his Fantagraphics book.
Reed Crandall
(22 February 1917 - 13 September 1982)
Reed Crandall started with the Eisner/Iger Studio, where he worked primarily on titles for Quality Comics, including Hit, Crack, Smash, and Uncle Sam (which became Blackhawk), where he drew such features as 'The Ray', 'Dollman', and 'Firebrand.' In the late 1940s Crandall began working at EC, drawing everything from horror and suspense to science fiction. In the 1960s he produced a series of highly acclaimed stories for Warren’s Creepy and Eerie.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/crandall.htm
#16 - 2000s-Jack Davis in his office -Preston
Photo by Greg Preston from his book 'The Artist Within Book 1' (Dark Horse 2007)
https://www.facebook.com/artistwithinbook2/
Jack Davis
(2 December 1924 - 27 July 2016)
After a stint in the army starting in 1941 and studying art at the University of Georgia (which he never graduated) he went to work for EC starting in 1951 on numerous titles and had a long stint with Mad Magazine starting with the first issue. Able to work at lightning speeds he became vital to the publisher. Davis would follow editor Kurtzman when he left to try his hand on his own titles like 'Help!', 'Trump' and 'Humbug.' He tried creating his own satirical comics magazine, 'Yak Yak', for Dell Comics, which only lasted two issues. He returned to Mad in 1965 and stayed the next 30 years!
Davis is likely the most successful of the EC artists. Post EC he went on to a massive career in advertising and movie poster art with his frantic big-foot style almost anyone who saw it would recognize. You would see him on gum cards, record and TV Guide, Time and Esquire covers.
Davis and his wife, Dena, returned to Georgia from New York in the 1990s, settling on St. Simons Island in a house that their son, an architect, designed. The National Cartoonists' Society gave him both the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, as well as the Reuben Award for Best Cartoonist of the Year in 2000.
Criterion wrote a nice feature about his work on 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' (1963) here:
https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/3033-working-with-jack-davis
http://www.americanartarchives.com/davis,jack.htm
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/davis.htm
#17 - 1936-Jack Davis age 12 promo image
His first published work was in 1943, in the reader's section of Tip Top Comics #32 at age 12.
#18 - Joe Orlando
(4 April 1927, Italy - 23 December 1998)
Orlando started out as an assistant to Wally Wood in the late 1940s and became one of EC’s top sf/fantasy illustrators in the early 1950s. After drawing for Classics Illustrated, he freelanced for MAD and Warren Publications in the 1960s. In 1968 he went on staff at DC, where he edited such titles as House of Mystery, The Witching Hour, Weird War Tales, and Plop! and went on to become vice president and coordinator of special projects. Orlando is credited with designing much of DC’s distinctive typography.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/o/orlando.htm
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#19 - 1944-Harvey Kurtzman war photo
Found on https://twitter.com/Fotosdecomics
(3 October 1924 - 21 February 1993)
Best known for his wild and wacky humor on the early issues of MAD and the other publications he edited (Humbug, Help!) and for his long-running Playboy strip “Little Annie Fanny”. Kurtzman also made an indelible mark in comics with the detailed anti-war comics he wrote and edited for EC in the early 1950s. Kurtzman was a major influence on a wide range of writers, artists, filmmakers, and particularly underground cartoonists.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kurtzman.htm
#20 - 1950s-Gaines and Kurtzman
William Gaines and Harvey Kurtzman in the early 1950s. Found on this blog which shares Kurtzman talking about the origin of Mad's mascot Alfred E. Newman.
https://potrzebie.blogspot.com/2008/03/in-early-1950s-bill-gaines-and-harvey.html
#21 - 1980s-Gaines and Kurtzman
Photo by Annie Gaines Ashton.
Another blog with a good bio of Kurtzman and his years with Playboy in particular.
http://wwwshadowofadoubt.blogspot.com/2013/08/
#22 - John Severin
A young John shared by Jon B. Cooke.
(26 December 1921 - 12 February 2012)
He served in the Army during World War II and broke into comics in 1947, when Jack Kirby and Joe Simon hired him to draw for Crestwood Publications’ Prize Comics. He had long run in the Prize Western comics among other titles. He also did work for National, Nedor and Timely.
Severin shared studio space in Manhattan with Harvey Kurtzman and Bill Elder all who worked for EC as well starting in 1950. All of them as well as Al Jaffee and Al Feldstein attended high-school together. Severin was equally at home drawing humorous and serious comics. At EC Comics he drew wacky stories for MAD, and detailed western and war stories for Two-Fisted Tales. After EC he continued both trends, producing humor features for Cracked doing frequent covers along with western and war stories for Marvel, Warren, and other companies. Working for 'Cracked' starting in 1958 his work appeared in almost every issue and on nearly every cover as well as designing their official mascot, Sylvester P. Smythe. Severin was also a designer for Topps' bubble gum trading cards.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/severin_john.htm
#23 - John Severin at work
Likely from the early 1950s. Source unknown. A good obit for him is here: https://www.denverpost.com/2012/02/21/famed-comic-book-artist-severin-dies-at-90/
#24 - 1949-Kurtzman, Severin, Goscinny
A 1949 pic of life long friends Kurtzman and John Severin with French comics legend Rene Goscinny the creator of Asterix.
The picture and a detailed bio on the life of Goscinny can be read here:
http://www.tcj.com/french-and-frisky-the-man-behind-asterix/
That's it for this batch, hope you liked them, more to come!
-Yoc
Yoc:
Hi Gang,
Here's another batch of the EC creators.
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#1 - 1949-Wally Wood
Wood working on a story for Fox comics. From 'The Life and Legend of Wallace Wood' v01 (Fantagraphics 2017)
(17 June 1927 - 2 November 1981)
Wallace Wood‘s hyper detailed art style first captured readers in EC’s science fiction titles and particularly in MAD as well as drawing for Avon. He later worked for Topps trading cards and created, edited, and drew T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents in the 1960s. He also produced work for Marvel, including Daredevil, and for DC (All-Star Comics). Between 1957 and 1967, he produced both covers and interiors for more than 60 issues of the science-fiction digest 'Galaxy Science Fiction'.
In his later years, he published his fanzine Witzend and self-published a wide variety of works, from The Pipsqueak Papers to Cannon and the adult Sally Forth. His most infamous piece was an X-rated parody poster, the Disneyland Memorial Orgy, which first appeared in Paul Krassner's magazine 'The Realist'. He with many talented assistants over his career including Harry Harrison, Joe Orlando, Dan Adkins, Ralph Reese, Wayne Howard, Larry Hama, Paul Kirchner, Mike Zeck, and others. He was the first inductee into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame, in 1989, and was inducted into the subsequent Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame three years later.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/wood_wallace.htm
#2 - Wally Wood smile
Source unknown.
#3 - Wood office
Source unknown.
#4 - Jack Kamen
From the Artist of the Issue feature in From Weird Science #11.
(29 May 1920 - 5 August 2008)
He did his first comics work through the Harry Chesler shop, and later freelanced for Fawcett and Harvey Comics, and the pulp titles by Better Publications. After serving in the war he joined Jerry Iger's studio, where he worked on features like 'Blue Beetle', 'Jo-Jo Congo King', 'Rulah', 'Brenda Starr', the daily 'Inspector Dayton' strip, and several romance stories for Fox. His artwork there is often confused for Matt Baker work. He joined EC Comics in 1950, and became the company's most prolific horror artist.
After the fall of EC he moved into advertising art and illustration in the mid 1950s. He also worked with his son Dean Kamen in the medical supply and helicopter business. He died in 2008 from cancer.
#5 - Jack Kamen from documentary
Still from Tales from the Crypt: From Comic Books to Television! (2004)
Hear an interview with him here:
http://www.comiczoneradio.com/jack-kamen.html
#6 - Kamen with Feldstein at a 2000 reunion
Source unknown.
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#7 -Graham 'Ghastly' Ingels
From his Artist of the Issue feature in Haunt of Fear #10. The master of horror artists.
(7 June 1915 - 4 April 1991)
Ingels is best known for his wonderful work on stories and covers for EC Comics’ horror line. Ingels was one of the first artists to come to work for EC after Bill Gaines took over the company in 1948. As "Ghastly” Graham Ingels, he became the company’s premiere horror artist.
He started working on Fiction House on their pulps line in 1943, making illustrations for Planet Stories, Jungle Stories, Wings Comics and Action Stories, which included painted covers. Not long after he was working on their comics line drawing features like 'The Lost World' and 'Auro, Lord of Jupiter' for Planet Comics, 'The Sea Devil' for Rangers Comics, and 'Clipper Kirk' for Wings Comics. After serving in the war he started working for Magazine Enterprises and Famous Funnies. He became an editor for Ned Pine at Better-Standard-Nedor. He worked for Fiction House, Avon and Western Comics/Youthful, but found a steady home at EC Comics in 1948.
Ingels was also a talented painter of landscapes, portraits and still lifes. After the fall of EC he started teaching painting classes from his Long Island studio. He also found work with Gilberton on 'Classics Illustrated' comics. He was a teacher with Famous Artists School correspondence courses in Westport, Connecticut. Eventually he moved to Lantana, Florida, where he was teaching oil painting from his home studio. He died of stomach cancer in 1991.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/i/ingles.htm
#8 - 1980s?-Graham Ingels at work
Photo by Debbie Lott.
For a longer look at the EC horror books focused mostly on Ingels try reading this TCJ feature:
http://www.tcj.com/the-horror-the-horror-graham-ingels-and-the-art-of-real-yuch/
#9 - a young Al Williamson at work
Source unknown.
(21 March 1931 - 12 June 2010)
Started work at age of 17 for Eastern Color on western and adventure series like 'Buster Crabbe', 'Billy the Kid' and 'John Wayne' for Toby and 'Outlaw Kid' for Marvel. He was only 21 years old when he joined EC in 1952. Williamson contributed to EC's Weird Fantasy and Weird Science between 1952 and 1955, often in collaboration with the so-called "Fleagle Gang": Frank Frazetta, Roy Krenkel and Angelo Torres. He also did work for ACG, Charlton, Prize and Dell.
In the 1960s, he assisted John Prentice on 'Rip Kirby' and did a 'Flash Gordon' comic book. Williamson received a National Cartoonist Society Best Comic Book art award for his work on that title. In the 1970s he took over the 'Secret Agent X-9' daily, retitled to 'Secret Agent Corrigan'. In the 80s he worked adapting Star Wars films to comic books and newspaper strips. From the mid-1980s to 2003, he was mostly working as an inker, mainly on Marvel Comics superhero titles. He was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2000.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/williamson_a.htm
#10 - 1982-Al Williamson office 1
Source unknown.
#11 - 2000's-Al Williamson office 2-Preston
Photo by Greg Preston from his book "The Artist Within: Book 2" (Sampsel Preston 2017)
A book of portraits of Comic Book Artists, Cartoonists, Animators and Illustrators.
https://www.facebook.com/artistwithinbook2/
#12 - 1972.05.29-EC Convention panel-Gaines, Orlando, Wood and Williamson
1972 EC Convention. Published in Squatront #8
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#13 - A young Frank Frazetta
Found on https://twitter.com/Fotosdecomics. Original source unknown.
#14 - Frank Frazetta and Gaines
From the 1970s. Photo via Rob Pistella.
EC great Bill Gaines came to Pa. in the 70s to visit Frank at his first Museum in town.
(9 February 1928 - 10 May 2010)
Although he worked on both comic books and comic strips (Li’l Abner, Johnny Comet), Frank Frazetta is best known for noted for comic books, paperback book covers, paintings, posters, LP record album covers and magazine covers (Tarzan, Creepy, Eerie, and especially Conan). His style has influenced untold numbers of fantasy painters and illustrators. Frazetta was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1999.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/frazetta.htm
#15 - a serious looking Bernard Krigstein
(22 March 1919 - 8 January 1990)
Krigstein was an American painter and illustrator. He is acclaimed for his innovative and influential approach to comic book art, notably in EC Comics. His loose sketchy style set him apart from the majority of his contemporaries. His first published work was in Harvey's 'Champ Comics' #25 (April 1943). He would continue with Harvey as well as Prize Comics. After serving in WW2 he worked primarily for Fawcett Comics. In 1952, Krigstein spearheaded an effort to found a comic artist labor union, The Society of Comic Book Illustrators. It only lasted until June 1953. It was during this time EC would begin using his art. His magnum opus and most daring experimental comic strip, 'Master Race' was done for EC in 1955.
In the early 1960s, Krigstein left comics to draw and paint illustrations for magazines, book jackets and record albums as well as becoming a teacher at the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan starting in 1962 where he taught for the next two decades. He passed away in 1990.
He was inducted into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2003.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/krigstein_b.htm
#16 - Will Elder likes pie
Elder silliness. Original source unknown. Found on https://twitter.com/Fotosdecomics
Wolf Eisenberg
(22 September 1921 - 15 May 2008)
Will Elder began his comics career in 1946, sharing a studio with Harvey Kurtzman. He was one of the original artists of Kurtzman's 'MAD' from its first issue in October/November 1952. Early in his career, he worked mainly as the inker of John Severin doing wonderful work together. Between 1948 and 1951, they produced 'American Eagle' in Prize Comics Western for Crestwood, and did occasionally comic book art for National and Nedor. In late 1950, they joined EC Comics working on many war stories together.
At MAD he was noted for his zany humor, specializing in parody and satire and the extra jokes he would work into story backgrounds. From 1954 to 1956, he was also had work in EC's other humor title, 'Panic'. He would follow Kurtzman working on 'Trump', 'Humbug', and 'Help!' magazines before embarking on their longtime collaboration, “Little Annie Fanny,” for Playboy, which lasted from 1962 to 1988. Elder was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2003.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/e/elder.htm
#17 - 1939-An angelic Will Elder
Published as part of 'The Comics Journal' #243 (2003) Elder interview which you can read here:
http://www.tcj.com/the-will-elder-interview/
#18 - 1978.10.28-Wood, Krigstein and Kurtzman at Boston's NewCon
Photo copyright E.B. Boatner.
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#19 - 1990s-Marie Severin convention pic
Photo from Wikipedia.
(21 August 1929 - 29 August 2018)
Marie was a comic book illustrator, production artist and colorist, best known for her contributions to EC Comics and Marvel Comics. Her older brother was comic artist legend John Severin who also worked at EC. A year after he started there Marie was brought in to help with colouring. Her moody colouring became as much a trademark of the publisher as the excellent artwork it was put on.
With the end of EC Marie moved over to do coloring work for Stan Lee's Atlas line. After a short time in 1957-59 working for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York she returned to Atlas as a production artist. As a production artist, she provided occasional art corrections, additional artwork, retouching and lettering duties. From 1967-on Severin was assigned to more pencil duties, starting with 'Sub-Mariner' and took over the 'Dr. Strange' feature in 'Strange Tales'. A year on the Hulk followed and then back to 'Sub-Mariner' for another year. Marie was a regular artist for all 13 issues of the wonderful 'Not Brand Echh' (1969-1970). Between 1971 and 1973 she helped brother John with his 'Kull the Conqueror' work.
During the 1970s, Severin was mostly associated with Marvel's humor titles 'Spoof' (1970-1973), drew 'Aargh!' (1974-1975) and a mainstay in 'Crazy'. In the 1980s, Marie worked in Marvel's Special Projects department under Sol Brodsky and John Romita Sr. handling any non-comic book licensing job, from toy maquettes to designing movie costumes. She also worked extensively on Marvel's children's imprint Star Comics.
Later in the 1990s she worked for DC on the 'Big Book of' line. From the late 1970s throughout the 1990s, Marie would recolour most of the Russ Cochran collections. Her outstanding work has earned her numerous awards, starting with the 1971 Shazam Award for Best Penciller for her humor work for Crazy. She later won an Inkpot Award at the San Diego Comic Con in 1988, followed by the Comic-Con International's Icon Award in 2017. Severin was inducted into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame in 2001.
Marie passed away after a stroke on 30 August 2018. At age 89.
#20 - Marie at work likely in the 70s or 80s
Original source unknown.
A nice overview of her career can be read here:
http://junglefrolics.blogspot.ca/2012/03/mirthful-marie.html
#21 - 1950s-Marie Severin draws the EC bullpen
Gotta love this one! An EC fan club sketch by Marie in the early '50s. She can be seen near top right.
You can see several unused 1970s Marvel covers by Marie at this link:
https://bigglee.blogspot.com/search?q=severin
#22 - 1951-Angelo Torres yearbook pic
Found on http://alphabettenthletter.blogspot.com/2017/11/comics-school-of-industrial-arts.html
From the NYC School of Industrial Art (SIA)
#23 - 2000s-Angelo Torres
Photo by Ian Scott McGregor
(b. 14 April 1932)
Angelo Torres began his career in the early 1950s, assisting his studio mate Al Williamson on EC artwork together with Frank Frazetta and Roy Krenkel (the "Fleagle Gang"). He also contributed to the Atlas mystery and western titles in the late 1950s. After EC he worked with Atlas on their mystery titles in 1956-57. For Gilberton, he work on 'Classics Illustrated', and for Feature Comics, he is found in 'Sick' during the 1960s. His work excelled in Warren titles Eerie, Creepy and Blazing Combat between 1964 and 1967. He was a mainstay in Mad from October 1969 until April 2005 working on caricatures and movie parodies.
#24 - 1948-Sid Check, year book picture
From the NYC School of Industrial Art (SIA) yearbook.
(August 2, 1930 – June 19, 2002)
After graduating from SIA he broke into comic books, working with Wally Wood, as well as on solo assignments with EC as well as Atlas, ME and in 'Classics Illustrated'. He did some great work in Harvey Comics' 'Tomb of Terror' which you can see here on DCM. After the fall of EC he worked for United States Postal Service, though he drew a few stories in the early 1970s for DC Comics' war titles, and spot illustrations for Amazing Stories during the mid-1970s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Check
Photo from http://alphabettenthletter.blogspot.com/2017/11/comics-searching-for-sid-check.html
That's it for this batch, hope you liked them, more to come!
-Yoc
Yoc:
Hi Gang,
After a long break here's another set of Comic Creators! This time we are focused on those that worked mostly for MLJ / Archie Comics.
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#1 - MLJ Publishers
First up is the publishers of MLJ (later Archie Comics) (l to r):
Maurice Coyne (September 15, 1901 – May 1971)
Louis Horace Silberkleit (November 17, 1900 – February 21, 1986),
John L. Goldwater (February 14, 1906 – February 26, 1999).
A profile of them and their company can be found on Rik Offenbergers wonderful site devoted to all things Archie (one of the best such site) at this link:
http://www.mightycrusaders.net/publisher-profile-archie-comics/
We highly recommend you get TwoMorrows 'The MLJ Companion' by Rik Offenberger, Paul Castiglia, & Jon B. Cooke that covers the entire history of the MLJ era and all the various versions of their hero lines here: http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=95_94&products_id=1251
#2 - Harry Shorten, Managing editor, writer
Cover for There Oughta Be a Law by Harry Shorten. Art by Al Fagaly, Frank Borth and Whipple.
Harry Shorten (October 5, 1914 - January 14, 1991)
A long time employee of Archie from 1940 to 1957 working as the managing editor as well as writing several features for them like - Archie, Black Hood, Bob Phantom, The Firerly, Galahad, Green Falcon, Hangman, Kalthar, Kardak, Kayon Ward, Scarlet Avenger, Wilbur and Wizard. In January 1940, with artist Irv Novick, Shorten created The Shield the first patriotic hero in comics. He would write much less after 1941 due to his editorial duties.
In 1944, while still at MLJ, Shorten made his fortune by creating a gag cartoon called 'There Oughta Be a Law!', with illustrator Al Fagaly who was followed by Warren Whipple. Frank Borth did the scripting from 1971 to 1983.
Shorten also wrote some mystery and war titles for Charlton Comics from 1952 to 1957. From 1957 to 1962, Shorten was publisher of Midwood Books (a division of the Louis Silberkleit-owned Tower Publications). Midwood's first release were paperback collections of his 'There Oughta be a Law' strips.
From 1957 until his 1982 retirement, Shorten was publisher of Leisure Books, a mass market paperback publisher specializing in thrillers, westerns, fantasy, and science fiction.
From 1965–1969, Shorten was managing editor of Tower Comics. Tower ceased publishing novels in 1981; Shorten retired shortly thereafter.
Some time in the late 1960s Shorten founded Roband Productions, which published, among others, 'Afternoon TV' magazine from c. 1970 to c. 1984, devoted to soap operas and daytime television. Afternoon TV administered the Daytime TV Soap Awards, a precursor to the Daytime Emmy Awards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Shorten
#3 - Victor Gorelick
Yearbook pic from The School of Industrial Art (SIA) NYC grad pic http://alphabettenthletter.blogspot.com/2017/11/comics-school-of-industrial-arts.html
Victor Gorelick (born April 5, 1941)
Currently the Editor-in-Chief of Archie Comics, he has worked for the company for over fifty years in a wide variety of roles.
After studying at the School of Industrial Art (now known as the High School of Art and Design), Gorelick joined Archie Comics at age 16! About the age he appears in his photo here. He eventually served as a production coordinator, art director, and Editor-in-Chief.
He served on the Comic Magazine Association of America's Code Authority Guidelines Committee, is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, and he has taught cartooning as an instructor at Kingsborough Community College in New York City.
Gorelick was honored with an Inkpot Award at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con International.
There's a feature interview with him in Alter-Ego #23 (04.2003)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Gorelick
#4 - Irv Novick, creator of The Shield
Shield artist creator and long time artist for DC.
Irv Novick (11 April 1916 - 15 October 2004)
Irv Novick was an American comics artist who began his career in 1939 and continued to draw until the late 1990s.
He began his career at the Harry A. Chesler shop. From 1939 to 1946, he drew for MLJ Comics. He was the main artist of their superhero features. Novick is the co-creator of the original 'Shield' - the first patriotic hero, and he worked on such titles as 'Bob Phantom', 'The Hangman' and 'Steel Sterling'. When Archie dropped their heroes he left to work in advertising until he went to work for DC in 1951 initially working on war and romance books. But in 1968 he was working on their hero books. He was under contract with DC until failing eyesight prompted his retirement in the 1990s.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/n/novick_irv.htm
#5 - Bob Fujitani
(b. 1920)
Bob has had an amazingly long and successful life working as a comics pro from the 1940s though the 1990s! His credits list is astounding!
His first work was for the Eisner-Iger shop as well as Quality Comics features. ('Black Condor', 'Dollman') but he stayed just four months and then went freelance moving on to MLJ and others. For Archie his most notable work was on The Hangman' feature (1942-44) working horror elements into the superhero strip.
Bob was busy with several publishers in the 1940s such as Ace ('Lash Lightning'), Avon (Eerie, westerns), Dell (adventure and historical comics), Harvey ('Green Hornet', 'Shock Gibson'), Lev Gleason ('Adventures in Wonderland', 'Crime Does Not Pay', 'Two-Gun Kid') and Quality ('Black Condor', 'Dollman') as well as Atlas anthology books.
For Hillman during the 1940s he did some great work on the 'Black Angel' feature as well as work on 'The Flying Dutchman', 'Iron Ace', 'Sky Wolf' from 1942-45 and and other features in 1948.
He also worked for most of the 1950s for Lev Gleason on a variety of features.
He worked as a ghost inker on the 'Flash Gordon' daily strip in the 1960s and again in the 1970s. In the mid-1940s, he also worked on the daily 'Judge Wright' strip under the name Bob Wells. In the 1990s, he worked on the 'Rip Kirby' daily.
https://www.cbr.com/scotts-classic-comics-corner-underappreciated-artist-spotlight-bob-fujitani/
There's a feature interview with Bob in Alter-Ego #23 (04.2003)
http://digitalcomicmuseum.com/images/forum message pictures/newsstands/Montana,_Bob-Archie.jpghttp://digitalcomicmuseum.com/images/forum message pictures/newsstands/Bloom,_Vic_-writer-Archie.jpghttp://digitalcomicmuseum.com/images/forum message pictures/newsstands/LUCEY,_Harry-Archie.jpghttp://digitalcomicmuseum.com/images/forum message pictures/newsstands/Fagaly,_Al_-Archie-shared_on_FB_already.jpghttp://digitalcomicmuseum.com/images/forum message pictures/newsstands/Schwartz,_Samm-Archie.jpg 6 7 8 9 10
The subject of who created the 'Archie' character has been discussed over the decades. Publisher Goldwater often claimed he was the creator. You can read more on this topic in this Comics Journal column here: http://www.tcj.com/john-goldwater-the-comics-code-authority-and-archie/
And if you want to dig even more into the history of the creation of Archie you might want to look for 'Archie’s Betty' (2015) Written and directed by Gerald Peary up on Vimeo.
https://rickouellettereelandrock.com/tag/shaun-clancy/
#6 - Bob Montana, co-creator of Archie
From http://archiecomics.wikia.com/wiki/Archie_Comics_Wiki
Bob Montana (23 October 1920, USA - 4 January 1975)
Cartoonist Bob Montana is famed for co-creating the character of Archie for MLJ Publications in 1941. He drew Archie’s first appearance in Pep and the first Archie comic books, and he was the writer/artist of the Archie newspaper strip from 1946 until his death in 1975.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/montana_bob.htm
#7 - Vic Bloom, co-creator of Archie
Credited as the co-creator with Tony Montana of Archie Andrews and gang.
A huge pulp magazine fan he dreams of working as a Broadway playwrite some day. In 1931 he settled in NYC and starts tyring to sell his scripts. He sells stories to Argosy and Det. Fiction Weekly.
He also sells jokes and radio plays during the 30's becoming the associate editor at Dell's Film Fun's magazine in 1937 working there for five years rising to editor on it, Comedy and 1,000 Jokes magazine.
While working on the mags he also did some freelance work for MLJ including writing on the first Archie story.
Pep #22 with the first appearance of Archie hits the stands approx Oct 1941. Bloom works on two more stories and then his credits disappear. He enlists in the armed forces and becomes a captain in the Office of Special Services (OSS) where he remains until 1960. He lives in London working for the BBC Radio staying there until his death in 1983.
A short bio as well as overview of the birth of MLJ can be found in Comic Book Creator #4.
Photo Boni Victor Bloom 1927 school portrait. Courtesy David Saunders.
Published in Comic Book Creator #4 (Twomorrows Winter 2014)
#8 - Harry Lucey at work
Photo shared by cartoonist Jim Engel.
Harry Lucey (13 November 1913 - 28 August 1984)
He graduated from Pratt University in 1935 as an illustrator. He worked with Bob Montana in a studio in NYC before their induction into the army. Lucey and Montana graphically created the characters in the 'Archie' comic series. Lucey also designed among others 'Madam Satan' in Pep Comics #15 in 1941, and named the character Betty after his sister-in-law. After the war he eventually moved back to New York with his family, and returned to Archie Comics Publications in 1949. Lucey was one of the regular 'Archie' comic book artists from the 1950s to the 1970s. He also worked for Lev Gleason Publications. He died in 1984 from complications associated with prostate cancer and ALS.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/lucey_harry.htm
#9 - Al Fagaly at work
Al Fagaly (January 5, 1909 - April 25, 1963)
He was with Archie from 1943 through 1953 where he worked on 'Archie', 'Betty and Veronica', 'The Black Hood', 'Fauntleroy' and 'Wilbur' and his 'Super Duck, the Cockeyed Wonder'.
For Charlton he worked on Yellow Jacket. For Fawcett 'Capt. Marvel'. 'CDNP' for Lev Gleason. For Timely/Marvel he worked on 'Capt America', 'Human Torch', 'the Patriot', 'Whizzer' and for Novelty he was on 'The Chameleon' and 'Dick Cole'.
From 1944 to 1963, he illustrated the daily 'There Oughta Be A Law' strip, written by fellow Archie staffer Harry Shorten.
https://strippersguide.blogspot.com/search?q=Al+Fagaly
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/fagaly_al.htm
#10 - Samm Schwartz
(October 15, 1920 – November 13, 1997)
Sam is best known for his work in MLJ and Archie Comics, specifically on the character Jughead Jones.
He joined MLJ in 1942, shortly after the creation of Archie. His early work for included superhero comics, like 'Black Jack'. Schwartz, who pencilled, inked, and lettered much of his own work, specialized in stories featuring Jughead, and was the lead artist on the Jughead solo title through much of the '50s and early '60s. In 1953, he launched the title Archie's Jokebook which he both wrote and drew.
In 1965, he would go to Tower Comics founded by former Archie editor Harry Shorten. Schwartz helped edit 'T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents', but his main project was 'Tippy Teen.'
In 1969 Schwartz returned to Archie to work on Jughead books, doing most issues of that title from 1970 to 1987, as well as stories in Reggie and Me and That Wilkin Boy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samm_Schwartz
http://digitalcomicmuseum.com/images/forum message pictures/newsstands/De_Carlo,_Dan_and_wife_Josie.jpghttp://digitalcomicmuseum.com/images/forum message pictures/newsstands/Edwards,_Joe_and_Steve_Duquette.jpghttp://digitalcomicmuseum.com/images/forum message pictures/newsstands/Sahle,_Harry_1940s.jpghttp://digitalcomicmuseum.com/images/forum message pictures/newsstands/Ashe,_Edd_1931_-MLJ.jpghttp://digitalcomicmuseum.com/images/forum message pictures/newsstands/Dean,_Don-1931.jpg 11 12 13 14 15
#11 - Dan De Carlo
(12 December 1919 - 19 December 2001)
Dan DeCarlo defined the “house style” at Archie Comics with his rendition of the teen characters, especially the “gals.” In his 40+ years as an Archie freelancer, Dan also created Josie (of Josie and the Pussycats fame) and co-created Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Circa 1947, answering an ad, he broke into the comic book industry at Timely Comics. His first assignment was the teen-humor series 'Jeanie'. After 10 books he moved to 'Millie the Model' where he stayed on th feature for ten years! #18–93 (June 1949 – Nov. 1959).
For a decade, DeCarlo wrote and drew the 'My Friend Irma' comic strip. He also contributed the short-lived Sherry the Showgirl and Showgirls for Atlas
For Nedor he did 'Jetta of the 21st Century'. Running three issues, #5-7 (Dec. 1952 - April 1953) which you can find on DCM here:
In addition to his comic-book work, DeCarlo drew freelance pieces for the magazines The Saturday Evening Post and Argosy, as well as Timely/Atlas publisher Martin Goodman's Humorama line of pin-up girl cartoon digests.
In 1960, he and Atlas editor-in-chief Stan Lee co-created the short-lived syndicated comic strip Willie Lumpkin, about a suburban mail
He started freelancing wth Archie in late 1951 and would become the the publisher's house style for their books. After failing to sell a daily 'Josie' strip he took it to Archie. Josie was introduced in Archie's Pals 'n' Gals #23. The first issue of She's Josie followed, cover-dated February 1963 and renamed, to Josie and the Pussycats, with issue #45 (Dec. 1969).
When Universal Pictures was preparing the live-action movie adaptation Josie and the Pussycats in 2001, DeCarlo and Archie Comics became involved in a lawsuit over the character's creation, leading the publisher to terminate its 43-year relationship with him. A federal district court ruled in 2001 that Archie Comics owned the copyright to the Josie characters; this decision was affirmed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.[15] On December 11, 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal filed by DeCarlo's attorney, Whitney Seymour Jr.,
DeCarlo won the National Cartoonists Society Award for Best Comic Book in 2000 for Betty & Veronica. He was nominated for the Academy of Comic Book Arts' Shazam Award for Best Penciller (Humor Division) in 1974.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/de-carlo_dan.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_DeCarlo
#12 - Joe Edwards (left)
Pictures with cartoonist Steve Duquette. From http://mikelynchcartoons.blogspot.com/2007/02/berndt-toast-gang-meeting-february-22.html
Joe Edwards (December 6, 1921 – February 8, 2007)
was an American comic book artist best known for creating Archie Comics' mischievous little-girl character 'Li'l Jinx' while working in the industry for over 65 years.
Starting with funny animals for Dell and Timely before moving to MLJ/Archie in 1942, where he did his most well known works. He had several back-up features in Archie Comics #1 (1942). He also on 'Super Duck', 'Captain Sprocket' and the series he is most associated with, 'Li’l Jinx'.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/e/edwards_joe.htm
https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/archie-comic-artist-joe-edwards-dead-at-85-1.649209
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/20/arts/design/20edwards.html?ref=obituaries
#13 - Harry Sahle
(1912 - September 22, 1950)
Harry drew gag cartoons for Boy's Life in the late 1930s. During the 1940s he worked for the Chesler Studio and Funnies Inc.
For Archie wrote 'Applejack', 'Archie', 'The Black Hood', 'Red Rube' and 'Steel Sterling' from 1940-43.
In the 1940s his art ws found in Ace ('Capt Courageous'), Centaur ('Air Man', F'antom'), Harvey ('Bald Eagle'), Hillman (in Air Fighters and Airboy), Marvel ('Black Widow', 'Human Torch', 'Blonde Phantom' and 'Silver Scorpion'), Parents (True Comics).
His time at Quality was focused on the 'Candy' character. He did her stories as back-up feature in Police Comics as well as a daily newspaper strip version that he worked on from October 2, 1944 until June 1946.
In Summer 1949, he was a teacher at the Salwen School of Art in Cleveland.
Read more about Harry and his most famous character Candy at this link:
https://strippersguide.blogspot.com/search?q=Sahle
#14 - Edd Ashe (1931)
Edmund Marion "Edd" Ashe Jr. was born in Connecticut on August 11, 1908.
Ashe passed away September 4, 1986, in New Haven, Connecticut.
He worked for MLJ from 39-41 where he drew 'Green Falcon', 'Midshipman', 'Mr Satan', 'Rang-A-Tang', and 'The Wizard'.
He also had stints with Ace, ACG, D.S., DC, Dell, Elliot and even one EC story on Moon Girl. His longest run on a character was on Fawcett's 'Phantom Eagle' from 1940-49.
In the 1950s, he drew the comic strips 'Mark Hunt' and 'Guy Fortune'. Ashe played a minor part in the formation of the Society of Comic Book Illustrators, according to Of Comics and Men: A Cultural History of American Comic Books (2010).
http://strippersguide.blogspot.com/2012/06/ink-slinger-profiles-edd-ashe.html
#15 - Don Dean (1931)
Photo from https://strippersguide.blogspot.com/search?q=Don+Dean
Donald William Dean (February 10, 1913 - October 27, 1984)
During the early 1940s, Dean drew 'Pokey Oakey', 'Senor Siesta' and other characters for Archie.
Dean was an assistant artist on Elmer Woggon's 'Big Chief Wahoo' from 1930 to 35.
His daily strip, 'Cranberry Boggs' (a Li'l Abner clone), debuted January 8, 1945 and lasted to April 25 1948.
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/dean_don.htm
That's it for this update. Part 2 next time!
-Yoc
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