PROLIFIC AL MCWILLIAMS REACHED INTO THE SILVER AGE OF COMIC BOOKS !!!

For me, Al (Alden) McWilliams was a terrific comic book artist working primarily in TV tie-in comics from Gold Key Comics in the Silver Age of comic books. 

In fact, amazingly enough, Al was toward the end of his illustrious career when he worked for Gold Key Comics on Star Trek, Girl from U.N.C.L.E., Wild Wild West & I Spy (cannot wait for the Hermes Press I Spy collection.) I loved those TV & movie tie-in comic books from Gold Key, Charlton & Dell Comics, those painted & photo covers reached out to me.

McWilliams worked for Warren (Blazing Combat, Eerie, Creepy), Gold Key (Questar, Doctor Solar), Tower, DC (Justice Inc.), Marvel, Atlas, Dell & Red Circle (Black Hood, Red Circle Sorcery) Comics during the Golden & Silver Age.

I was a child of the Silver Age, so I remember Al mainly for the Gold Key Comics, most notably, Star Trek #38-#61, Girl from U.N.C.L.E. #1, Questar TP, I Spy #1-#5, Wild Wild West #1 & #2 and Doctor Solar #20-#28.

Later I enjoyed his work on Red Circle Sorcery #10, Black Hood #1 (Stunning Alex Toth cover), Justice, Inc. #1. Blazing Combat #2, Eerie & Creepy came later, with the hardback publications. 

I trust you also have some fond memories of Al McWilliams. Let me know, I'd love to know more about him.

Live Large. 

Thank you. 

INCREDIBLE COMIC BOOK ARTIST FRANK SPRINGER'S BEST LOVED COMIC BOOKS !!!

Frank Springer has some incredible credentials I've enjoyed over the years. His earliest comic book was Brain Boy for Dell Comics. A precursor to the X-Men, with a mutant lead character.

Frank also worked for Atlas (Cougar), Continuity (Armor), Gold Key (Wild Wild West-come on Hermes-collected this series!), Warren (1984), Dell (Cimarron Strip, New People, Iron Horse, Toka), DC (Action Comics Weekly, Secret Six, Green Arrow) & Marvel Comics (the iconic Captain America #241, Captain Marvel, Dazzler, Transformers, GI Joe, She-Hulk.)

For me, his best comic books were Secret Six & Nick Fury. He took over Fury after Jim Steranko, some pretty big shoes to fill. I enjoyed the issues he drew, working out of the box with graphics we had grown accustomed to with Steranko.

My other favorite comic book of Springer's was Secret Six. I loved it! It was created by E. Nelson Birdwell & Carmine Infantino. Carmine based the King Savage character on Frank Springer. Frank went on to draw the first two issues, with the others drawn by Jack Starling. 

The Secret Six was a group of heroes secretly led by Mockingbird, who was actually one of them. It was a mysterious series which had the feel of The Prisoner (my all time favorite TV series.)


E. Nelson Birdwell was to have said nothing else I've written in comics had the originality, maturity & daring to try new fields that Secret Six possessed.

The series was followed up years later in Action Comics Weekly #612 stunning Paul Gulacy cover), #619 up to & concluding in #630. 

Frank Springer also worked in television on the cartoon, Space Ghost. You may have heard of it!

What a guy. Be sure to check out his stuff, you won't be sorry.


Live Large.

Thank you. 

 

REMEMBERING PAUL REINMAN'S ARCHIE COMICS HIGH CAMP SUPERHEROES !!!

Paul Reinman was probably most remembered for his inking of Jack Kirby artwork in the Hulk & X-Men comic books.

However, I like to remember him for the Archie Comics he drew the Fly Man, The Shadow & Mighty Crusaders. Paul provided artwork for nearly all of their superhero comic books.

Originally, Reinman had worked for Archie in the Golden Age working on The Shield, Wizard & Steel Sterling. Back then he also worked for DC, Marvel, Dell & Charlton Comics. He also drew many mystery, war, western & crime comic books. In the Silver Age, he also worked for Tower, Skywald & Harvey Comics.

With Archie Comics, I enjoyed the Mighty Crusaders, Black Hood, Fly Man & Web comic books. They were what I remember comic books to be, fun & exciting. They also provided a rare look at married superheroes (The Web.)

It was quite funny.

Paul also provided artwork for Tower Comics in their T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents (NoMan) & Dynamo comic books. I still remember mailing quarters to Tower Comics for issues of Dynamo & T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comic books. I was so thrilled receiving them in the mail, like a present.

Another of the memorable purchases was for the High Camp Superheroes (mass market) paperback filled with Reinman's Archie Comics characters.

It was so much darn fun.

Look them up, you may be glad you did.

Live Large. 

Thank you.