Legendary EC Comics artist Al Williamson, whose work in the 1950s, on titles such as Weird Science and Weird Fantasy, helped make that company so special, passed away on Sunday at the age of 79.
Williamson also produced classic work for Warren Magazines on Creepy and Eerie, in the 1960's & 1970's and he gained additional recognition for his syndicated newspaper strip, "Secret Agent X-9". In the 1980's he became well-known for his work adapting the popular Star Wars films for comic books and newspaper strips. From the mid-1980s to 2003, he was primarily active as an inker, mainly on Marvel Comics titles starring Daredevil, Spider-Man, and Spider-Girl.
Williamson was a major stylistic influence on many artists, and encouraged others, helping such creators as Bernie Wrightson and Mike Kaluta break into the business.
One of his best 1950's science fiction stories: Food For Thought, a collaboration with Roy Krenkel.
I met Al Williamson at a comic con in Greensboro, NC in 1990. He was a super-nice, very friendly with us fans. I was really getting into classic illustration at the time, and talked his ear off about a bunch of the old greats. I told him I was working on an article for an APA on Howard Pyle and his influence on comic book artists. Williamson gave me his phone number, and when I called him he was very generous with his time and gave me a lot of good quotes and insights for my little fanzine article.
A good guy, a fantastic artist, and a mentor to a couple generations of artists to follow. He had a hell of a collection of original comic strip and illustration art too.
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:49 PM on June 14, 2010