Wallace Wood: Comic Strip Tips

Wallace Wood

Wallace Wood

Wallace Wood

Marvelmaniac: Marvel Masterwork Pin-Ups

Hooray for Wally Wood

Wallace Wood

Thanks to his (literally) stellar work on the EC Comics line, Wallace Allan Wood (1927-1981) is widely considered America's greatest science fiction cartoonist, but he was also one of the brightest lights of the early Mad comic ("Superduperman") and, later, a pioneering alternative/underground cartoonist/publisher with his magazine witzend.

"Wood's work seemed like snapshots of a lush and vibrant reality where even madmen, monsters and mayhem possessed a stately grace. There might be pandemonium but, oddly, the panic never seemed to reach the eyes of Wood's regal heroes." - Geoff Boucher, The Los Angeles Times

"Legendary artist [Wally] Wood mastered every comic-book genre -- humor (he was one of Mad's first artists), horror, superheroes, war — but is best known for the 1950s science-fiction stories he drew for EC Comics, in which, one commentator noted, he 'began drawing things into panels that no human being seemed capable of before.' His heroic spacemen, intricate rocket ships, and frightening aliens embodied classic space opera, and his influence remains visible in the work of many leading comics artists today." - Gordon Flagg, Booklist

RIP Spain Rodriguez, Underground Comix Legend

Underground cartoonist the legendary Spain Rodriguez, the creator of Trashman, died this morning at his home In San Francisco.

Zippy the Pinhead auteur Bill Griffith announced the sad news on Facebook, “Legendary cartoonist Spain Rodriguez died this morning at home in San Francisco. He was a great friend and raconteur--and one of the best cartoonists of his or any other generation. I'll always remember our talks on comics and drawing. He had so much more wonderful work inside him--I'll miss him forever.”

Hailing from Buffalo, New York Spain studied at the Silvermine Guild Art School in New Caanan, Connecticut.

Heading for the happening New York City, during the late 1960s, he became a contributor to the  East Village Other and soon published his own underground indie tabloid, Zodiac Mindwarp (1968).

A founder of the United Cartoon Workers of America, he contributed to numerous undergrounds including Zap Comix.

He also drew uber-liberal Salon's continuing graphic story, The Dark Hotel.

Strongly influenced by 1950s EC comic book artist Wally Wood, Spain pushed Wood's sharp, crisp black shadows and hard-edged black outlines into a more simplified, stylized direction, Wikipedia noted.

Wally Wood Daredevil #6

Wally Wood's Daredevil is still my favorite version of the Marvel character. Daredevil #6, 1965. This was the first issue I bought off the racks. I was hooked instantly.