Redartz: A little over five years ago, my first guest post appeared over at the great Bronze Age Babies blog. Little did I know where that single post would lead! Anyway, the subject of that post was a review of an Archie comic;today's topic is a long-delayed follow up to it.
Like some of you, I've been a fan of Archie comics for many years. And for most of that time, I had no inkling of the people behind those comics- Archie Comics generally didn't credit the creators until the 1980's. And with the 'house style' intended to keep the Riverdale gang looking consistent througouht the years, determining who did what could be challenging.
That said, there are definite differences in style among Archie's illustrators. I'm still learning about them, and thought you might enjoy a look as well. Here's a few I most enjoy.
Oh, and a few notes: we're looking at pencillers today, some of whom did their own inks. And the list isn't comprehensive, but at least it's a start. Also, credit must be given to Wikipedia and the Grand Comic Book Database, without which much of this page would be empty.
Harry Lucey
I found his work recognizable long before I knew his name. Clean lines, flawless comic timing, and a great talent for drawing physical action. Look below at Archie's reverberating jalopy, Betty and Veronica having a tug-of-war, and the gang whaling on Archie in a snowbank. Anyone who read Archie comics in the 60's and 70's will find Lucey's work familiar; he was highly prolific. As comparison, perhaps he could be considered the Jack Kirby of Archie comics.
Incidentally, I rather like his somewhat unorthodox rendition of Sabrina, What think you?
 |
| Harry Lucey pencils, Marty Epp inks |
 |
| Harry Lucey pencils, Chic Stone inks |
 |
| Harry Lucey pencils, Marty Epp inks |
Bob White
Bob White's work was commonly seen on covers and interiors of Archie comics of the 50's and into the mid 60's. Quite the illustrator, I like the detail his artwork displays. Check out the look of Veronica "Elizabeth Taylor" on the cover below. And the other covers, with the robotic jukebox and a dinosaur, feature another facet of White's work: a fondness for science fiction and fantasy. Often using aliens, monsters, robots and such, his art illustrated some of Archie's wildest adventures.
 |
 |
| Bob White |
 |
| Bob White |
Stan Goldberg
Now here's a fellow with a resume. He was all over the industry. While researching this post, I learned that Stan (Goldberg, not Lee) helped design the original color schemes for Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and other Marvel giants. Often seen credited as a colorist, Goldberg also pencilled and inked, working for Atlas and Marvel. Some years later, he moved over to Archie comics and drew a huge number of stories from the late 60's on into the 90's. His style was warm, comfortable and familiar to Bronze age readers everywhere.
 |
| Stan Goldberg |
Samm Schwartz
Samm was known as the "Jughead" artist, handling Juggie's book for years. But he worked on other titles as well, from the 50's to the 80's. He did take a few years off from Archie to work at Tower Comics and DC in the mid to late 60's.
 |
| Samm Schwartz |
Dan Parent
Dan may not be known to some of you; he started for Archie in the 90's and continues to this day. He has a style well-fit to the traditional look of the Archie gang, yet also brings a more contemporary feel. He was credited with creating the first gay character in Archie comics: Kevin Keller, and has produced many fine stories (recently the fun "Archie Meets Batman 66).
 |
| Dan Parent pencils, Dan DeCarlo inks |
 |
| Dan Parent pencils, Mike Esposito inks |
Hartley is another artist who has 'made the rounds'. Working for Timely /Atlas in the 50's, he illustrated Patsy Walker, and did stories for some of early Marvel's horror books. He even did an issue of Thor. In the later 60's Al left Marvel and went to Archie, where he did stories for many titles.His style had a ...sweetness...almost a sparkle; lots of emotion and sentiment. This sentimentality, and his personal conviction, led him to work at Spire Christian comics by the mid 70's. You might remember seeing "Archie's One Way" and other such books, on stands at the time.
Two points of interest: on the "Subject Matter" page, Veronica mentions the names of several boys, much to Miss Grundy's annoyance. Those names refer to some of Archie Comics' big guns: George (George Gladir), Al (Al Hartley), Marty (Marty Epp), Vince (Vince DeCarlo), Bob (Bob Bolling) and Frankie (Frank Doyle).
Then on the Archie /Veronica page, note the inks by Joltin' Joe Sinnott. Very nice.
 |
| Al Hartley pencils, Jon D'Agostino inks |
 |
| Al Hartley pencils, Joe Sinnott inks |
 |
| Al Hartley |
Bob Montana was Archie's creator, back in the 40's at MLJ comics. Although he didn't do any comic book work within our Bronze age, he did the Archie newspaper strip until 1975, and some of those strips were reprinted in the Archie comics of our day...
 |
| Bob Montana |
Bob Bolling
Bob started working at Archie in the 50's, most notably on "Little Archie". His stories were adventurous, touching, wild, and very clever. Some have compared Bolling's "Little Archie" to Carl Barks' work on the Disney ducks.
Bolling has said that his favorite story is one called "The Long Walk" from Little Archie 20. I discovered this tale in one of the "Best of Archie" collections a couple of years ago, and it was instantly one of my favorite comic book stories of all time.
By the way, Bob is still active today, doing work for the Archie digests....
 |
| Bob Bolling |
Dan DeCarlo
Dan is perhaps my favorite Archie illustrator. He started out with Atlas Comics, illustrating Millie the Model, among others. He also did a fair bit of magazine illustration, of the fashion and pin-up variety. You can see that influence on the work he did at Archie, from the 50's to the 90's. Absolutely gorgeous illustration, DeCarlo essentially defined the look for the Archie crowd for decades. DeCarlo also created Josie (as in Josie and the Pussycats), and also Sabrina, the Teen age Witch.
 |
| Dan DeCarlo pencils, Rudy Lapick inks |
 |
| Dan DeCarlo pencils, Rudy Lapick inks |
 |
| Dan DeCarlo pencils, Rudy Lapick inks |
24 comments:
Red - Thank you for this gift on Tuesday morning!
As a kid growing up in the 60s, Archie had a big hunk of the spinner rack, and I dare say that between Archie and Harvey they had the majority.
I enjoyed reading them growing up. The zaniness and levity left one feeling in a good mood and I still read Archie regularly today!
Just curious... I know you are a big fan of original art. Do you have any original Archie pieces?
Here in the UK Archie is almost completely unknown except for the song Sugar, Sugar which was a massive hit in 1969 (it stayed at #1 for 8 weeks).
I have wonderful memories of buying Archie comics in the summers of the late '60s. The cartoon was popular by then, but I only saw the comic strip in the Sunday paper. After swim lessons in a very small midwestern town where my grandparents lived, I would go to a little mom 'n' pop soda shop that had a great magazine rack and spinner rack of comics.
It became a fairly regular thing for me to pick up 3 Archie comics after swimming, then walk on to my grandparent's house to read. My grandmother got a kick out of them, too.
Just looking at your terrific breakdown of Archie artists, I would have to say that the ones that look most familiar are:
1. Bob Montana from the Sunday comic strips;
2. Dan DeCarlo from most of the comic books I would buy;
3. An equal mix of Al Hartley, Stan Goldberg & Harry Lucey.
Though I don't remember doing it, I must have traded my Archies for Marvel by the mid-'70s, because I don't own any of them anymore. I really loved them and must have had close to 100 by the time I switched to Marvel.
Between the comic strip, the comic books, the cartoon, the hit songs and the fun cereal premium toys, Archie made a big impact on me in the late '60s! Thanks for the fun trip down memory lane!
Charlie- glad you enjoyed the post! Yes, I do have a page of original art by Dan Parent, as well as a sketch by Dan. I'd love a page by one of the vintage artists, but original art prices are way beyond my reach now. However, one benefit of the internet is the accessibility to images you might never see otherwise. Comic art auction houses and collectors post scans of original pages. I'm building a virtual collection of such scans on my tablet. I just added a beautiful page by Dan DeCarlo. It joins work by Romita, Smith, Byrne, Zeck, and other favorites.
Colin- yes, "Sugar Sugar " was a huge hit here too. Actually Billboard's number 1 song for 1969. Was the Archie cartoon show ever broadcast in the UK?
Disneymarvel- thanks for sharing those memories of summer! Sounds great. Glad you mentioned the premiums, too. Archie was everywhere in the late 60s and early 70's. I had one of those cardboard records cut off the back of a cereal box: "Jingle,Jangle" I believe.
Red, no it wasn't as far as I know. I definitely don't remember ever seeing it.
Nice Red, an untapped topic; "The Artist's of Archie"
My experience with those mag's were of the Digest variety I used to pick up at the flea market.
Over a hundred pages, fun stories puzzles and stuff. Really enjoyed those. A mystery why I never bought them off the rack, I guess I saved that for superheros only.
As for the artist's ,I always thought whoever was doing them kept it neat and clear, perfect for the genre.
I actually didn’t become a fan of the Archie stuff until I was a full-grown adult. I watched the cartoon when I was a kid (and yep, we had one of those flexi-disc singles from the cereal box, pretty sure ours was ‘Jingle Jangle’, too) and had a few ‘hand-me-down’ comics but when I started actively buying and collecting comics in ‘73, The Archies were something I thought I’d outgrown’ (at the ripe old age of twelve). I was in my early 30s when a few of my fellow nerds turned me to ‘em. And then it was like being a Born-Again Christian or something — started buying the few trade paperbacks that were available and snagging back issues whenever I could find ‘em.
Dan DeCarlo was the guy who created the stylistic template for everyone else to follow. His impact on the entire line was so over-whelming and so ubiquitous that it’s kind of become fashionable for people these days to claim that he wasn’t All That. Sorry, but he really WAS All That. His stuff was so appealing, his storytelling and staging were great, and Boy Howdy, could that man draw pretty girls!
Also, his style changed all the time. When he first started at Archie, the girls were STACKED, with very voluptuous figures, not quite as ‘va-VOOM’ as his Men’s Mag gag cartoons, but just as ‘womanly’ as his Millie and Chili for Atlas. I don’t know if he ‘self-corrected’ or was ordered to tone things down by the Archie editors, but Betty and Veronica’s figures both looked decidedly slimmer and more ‘teenage’ in the early 60s. He eventually found a delightful ‘middle ground’ in the mid-60s, with both girls looking curvy but still youthful, that lasted through most of the 70s and into the early 80s. ‘65 to about ‘76 is my favorite period for his stuff, but I find it ALL enjoyable and appealing.
I’ll have more later (because you know I will!) . GREAT topic, Red.
-b.t.
Yes, I agree, great topic, and very apposite for me right now, as - among other things, I'm just reading through the Archie American Bronze Age digest (which covers the 1980s and 1990s). Earlier this year, I read the Golden (1940s/1950s) and Silver Age (1960s/1970s) volumes as well. Also, over about the past year and a half, I've read a number of other Archie digests that were published a few years ago for the character's 75th anniversary (which can now usually be found online a significantly discounted prices). So I have thoughts on Archie artists.
I would say that my very favorites are Harry Lucey and Samm Schwartz - that style that they adopted in the 1950s, which held sway until the end of the 1960s, simply epitomizes what Archie comics should look like. I recall, when I went through my Archie phase in the 1970s, that I always liked their work the best in the digests. Although, of course, as you noted, back then there were no creator credits so I had no idea what their names were.
In my personal rankings, Dan DeCarlo comes next - his work really became the house style at Archie by the 1970s. After that, it's Bob Montana (specifically his style that became solidified by the late 1940s) and Bill Vigoda - another of the pioneers from the 1940s.
As for the more 'recent' artists, like you I also like Dan Parent, as well as Fernando Ruiz.
Like Colin, all I know about Archie is the hit single, but otherwise its all a mystery to me.
Actually, thats not quite true - I did read ages ago in an interview with Neal Adams that they were the first comic book company he ever did some work for. Maybe if he does Archie Odyssey at some point I'll give it a try...
-sean
Thanks for commenting, all! Great to hear from fellow Archie aficionados.
b.t.- Your experience 'outgrowing' Archie comics mirrors my own. Once I got hooked on Marvel at 14, I dropped Archies like the proverbial hot potato. I got rid of most of them quickly. But some years later, I rediscovered them and started hunting back issues of Pep and Archie's Pals n'Gals right alongside back issues of Avengers. And a hat tip to your in-depth remarks about Dan DeCarlo. Fascinating to read up about these fellows...
Edo- love those digests. Those you mention sound great; I haven't seen them but have picked up three volumes of "The Best of Archie"; each about 400 pages and covering stories from each decade with some nice remarks from various notables.These also are available for a reasonable price, for anyone interested...
Sean- Neal Adams did indeed get a start at Archie. If I ever pick up one of his stories, I'll be sure to post it so everyone can get a look. Watching a couple on ebay as we speak...
It took me awhile to ‘get’ the appeal of Harry Lucey. The way he drew the girls’ faces was always a bit strange to me — actually, not just the girls, the GUYS looked kinda weird too! But his posing of the characters is more exuberant than the other artists (even I have to admit that DeCarlo relied a little too much on formula poses and compositions) and funnier too, with much broader slapstick. It’s also no secret that of all the Archie artists, Lucey was the ‘perv-iest’. Some of the poses he drew the girls in, holy cow. There’s this one ‘Archie 1’ splash page our pal the Groove Agent posted on his blog that has to be seen to be believed. How it got past the censors, I can’t imagine! Even more mind-boggling when you remember that Lucey always left his girl figures ‘au naturel’, requiring the inkers to put the clothes on ‘em....
I always thought Stan Goldberg was a passable ‘DeCarlo Clone’ but his style actually became much more personal and distinctive in just the past fifteen years or so, much looser and fun. I still check out the digests at Barnes and Noble (or, at least I DID, in the Before Times) and his more recent stuff is what I’m always on the look-out for, as well as good vintage DeCarlo goodies, of course.
Have to admit I never cared much for Al Hartley’s Archie stuff. Which is odd, because I’ve always liked his ’straighter’ romance stuff (Patsy and Hedy, etc), thought his girls were cute and appealing, but for some reason I think his Betty and Veronica faces look weird. I was chatting with Jaime Hernandez about Archie Comics at a con a few years ago and he said exactly the same thing.
— b.t.
Red, yeah the Archie Americana (spelled it wrong in my post) digests are really nice - they also have 400 pages of stories in each. I also have two of the 'Best of' digests you mentioned, nos. 3 and 4, as well as favorite Christmas stories and favorite high school stories, the "75 years/75 stories" book, and, in the slightly smaller 'classic' digest format, the giant comics 75th anniversary book and super comics digest 3 - the latter two have almost 500 pages each. I managed to find them all at pretty sharp discounts.
I had never even heard of ‘The Long Walk’ before you all brought it up, but fortunately I was able find scans of it on the internets. The title sounded pretty ominous, but it’s very, very charming. I love stories where Betty ‘wins’ (I’m ‘Team Betty’ all the way).
Even though ‘Long Walk’ turned out to be fun and sweet, the stories DO get a bit serious occasionally (and I’m not talking about the recent ‘realistic’ looking books). One of my favorites is ‘One Man’s Opinion’ from B AND V #201. Pool party at Veronica’s. Betty pours her heart out to Jughead: she’s been watching Archie being kinda loud and exuberant while he’s goofing around with Ronnie’s other friends. Not only is she concerned that the rich kids’ irresponsible and obnoxious ways are going to rub off on Archie, but these entitled jerks wouldn’t give him the time of day out in the ‘real world’, and he doesn’t even realize it. She leaves the party, bluer than blue. Juggle then angrily blows a big-ass raspberry at everyone and leaves himself. Pretty heavy for a lightweight ‘kids comic’ from 1972.
Some of those Scooby-Doo-ish spooky mystery adventures in the Josie and the Pussycats series were a little downbeat too. I seem to recall one with a mummy (I think) that ended with Melody in tears.
-b.t.
B.t.- so glad you liked "The Long Walk". As you noted, Archie stories did turn occasionally to some pretty dramatic subject matter. Life With Archie 112 is another: "The Tangled Web" tells of a day when Archie ducked out of escorting Betty home. She took a walk through a park and was brutally assaulted. Again, sobering stuff. But powerful; and part of what appeals to me about Archie comics.
And thanks for sharing about that BV story. Will have to find that one.
Anyone else know of any dramatic Archie tales?
Redartz, Dynamite have published a Betty & Veronica/Vampirella/Red Sonja crossover, which sounds like it could have a fair touch of drama to it.
Although possibly thats not the kind of thing you had in mind...
-sean
Ah, so Josie & The Pussycats is part of the Archie universe? We did get the Josie cartoon over here but I can't recall anything about it beyond the name. It might seem strange that we Brits got to see Josie but not Archie, but we also got Rhoda and Lou Grant without ever seeing the Mary Tyler Moore Show from which those two shows sprang. In fact, I didn't realise Rhoda and Lou Grant were spin-offs until just a few years ago. And I was astonished that Lou Grant had started life as a comedy character!
Sean- yes, I've heard about the crossover you mentioned. Once the current quarantines end, I may pay a visit to my lcbs and try it. In fact, right before this all started I picked up one such crossover: Archie Meets the B-52's. Not drama, but certainly fun...
Colin - Intriguing that you saw Rhoda and Lou without seeing MTM. Ah, the vagaries of international television. And yes, Mr.Grant was a comedic figure, although portrayed as fairly curmudgeonly. For those of us who knew him from MTM, seeing his dramatic turn on " Lou Grant" was surprising. Absolutely loved it, though.
Also, Josie and Archie do share a universe, as does Sabrina (were her shows presented over your way?).
Yikes, ‘Tangled Web’ is messed-up! And then I read a blurb on the GCD about another LIFE WITH ARCHIE story where Betty comes to some harm because of Archie’s foolishness and found it on Groove Agent’s site — ‘The Wall Flower Girl’ in issue 114. In that one, Archie’s totally ignoring Betty at a party and she ends up in a car with an older guy who gets all handsy and ditches her on a deserted highway when she says ‘no’. Archie even has the nerve to yell at her for scaring the crap out of him and Juggie when they finally find her on the highway — AND THEN, they all go back to the party and Archie STILL ignores her! I swear, that guy is such a jackass sometimes.
-b.t.
Red, yes Sabrina the Teenage Witch is known in this country (but I personally am clueless about her).
Gents.
THe Archies over the past 3 - 4 years have been great!
BIG SPOILER WARNING!
Archie went from Bettie - to dating Sabrina - to now it looks like KATY KEENE!!!
Archie action as you like it!!!
I’ve been curious about the more ‘realistic’ Archie comics of the past few years, but haven’t read very many of them. I thought Adam Hughes’ B and V comic LOOKED amazing (of course) but I didn’t love the story, if I’m honest. That ‘Afterlife With Archie’ mini-series didn’t ‘wow’ me much either, though I guess it was pretty wildly popular, and led to the ‘Riverdale’ TV series and all the other more ‘YA’ takes on the characters. I’m not one of those ‘They’re Raping My Childhood’ people, but the new comics just seem a bit alien to me, and don’t interest me all that much. Since I’m nearing 60, I’m probably not the target audience anyway — and if the new direction increases their sales, and keeps the entire franchise fresh (and the company solvent), more power to ‘em.
- b.t.
Hi b.t.,
We're close in age (58).
I started reading Archie again in 2015 when they rebooted with Mark Waid. I enjoyed it. I'm not sure if that's what you are referring to by the Adam Hughes series? If not, you may want to give the Waid run a try! Cheers!
Hey Charlie
Adam Hughes wrote and drew a two-issue mini-series in 2016, I think. I’ve heard good things about Mark Ward’s Archie stuff, I really should check it out. I assume there’s some kind of trade paperback collection by now? Heading over to Amazon soon as I’m done with this comment...
Any mini-discussion of ‘adult-themed’ or ‘relevant’ Archie stories wouldn’t be complete without a mention of ‘Always a Bridesmaid’ from BETTY AND ME 40, where Archie and Betty end up in a motel room together, sans clothes, and a furious Mr. Cooper shows up and demands that Archie marry his daughter now that her reputation is ruined.
I suppose the first two issues of CHILLING ADVENTURES IN SORCERY can be considered ‘Adult Archie Adjacent’. They’re straight-forward ‘horror’ stories written by Frank Doyle, like what you’d find in HOUSE OF MYSTERY or the Charlton ‘Ghost’ comics of the period, but drawn by Stan Goldberg and Dan DeCarlo in a strange, not-quite successful hybrid of ‘realistic’ and ‘cartoon’ styles. One particular story has dated oddly — a young boy is being stalked by his ‘uncle Bruce’, an older male friend of the family, who is clearly a vampire and also quite clearly coded as being gay. Sure, the vampire just wants to suck the kid’s BLOOD — sometimes a banana is just a banana — but the story practically screams ‘Gay Panic’ when viewed through a 21st Century lens. Probably read that way back in ‘72, frankly — Kevin Keller was still 30 years away....
- b.t.
Post a Comment