Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.12: Wally Wood

No.12: Wally Wood

Wally Wood was for the most part the artist that brought the most to EC Comics’ table, a virtuoso illustrator whose fastidious attention to detail brought praise from fandom and his peers alike. His artistic ability was extremely versatile, capable of adapting to any genre, but he will always be remembered for being the main player in the development and key stories of E.C.’s science-fiction books, where his gift for drawing fantasy and alien worlds was unsurpassed. Words: Andrew Colman…

Wood grew up, like so many of his contemporaries, with the works of Foster, Hogarth, Canniff and Eisner. Arriving in New York at the age of 20 in the late 1940s, Wood attended various art schools but never finished any of the courses. After experiencing no luck finding work, a chance meeting with John Severin he was invited to his studio where he would mingle with several future EC alumni, such as Harvey Kurtzman and Will Elder. From there he found work as a background artist for Eisner’s The Spirit before moving into lettering and inking work at Fox Features, where he focused on western and romance books. By 1950, he was at Avon and primarily EC, where he began his tenure on Mad and Shock Suspenstories.

Wood’s time at Mad saw him produce numerous parodies, in tandem with Harvey Kurtzman, of characters he had treasured when he was younger, such as Flash Gordon or Prince Valiant. The freedom and anarchy of the title allowed Wood self-expression, with the artist adding as many jokes and references as he could muster. Wood also worked with Kurtzman on EC’s war titles, Two Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat, where his war experiences informed the stories he drew, as well as providing the odd piece for the company’s horror books –  Tales from the Crypt, Vault of Horror and Haunt of Fear.

His most important contribution to the publisher was of course his science-fiction art, on Weird Science and Weird Fantasy. Wood illustrated many stories for the two books, and their follow-up, Weird Science-Fantasy, collaborating primarily with Joe Orlando on some of the most memorable tales ever published by EC, which were all highly redolent of the prevailing science fiction tone of the era.  It was said by EC historian Grant Geissman that “Wood essentially created a new visual vocabulary for science fiction art, with a propensity for depicting the ornate, complicated interiors of spaceships”. His innovative, hyper realistic and atmospheric artwork eventually earned Wood the title “The Dean of Science Fiction Artists”, his art evoking both the claustrophobia and wonder of space and distant planets.

After EC folded in 1955, Wood continued to work on Mad Magazine, but his time was divided with other pursuits as he drifted away from Gaines’s title and for a period, comics. Wood began illustrating covers and interiors for the digest Galaxy Science Fiction, as well as Amazing Stories, Original Science Fiction Stories and Worlds of Tomorrow. Illustrating stories from major science fiction authors such as Isaac Asimov, Philip K Dick and Robert Silverberg, Wood’s luminous fine line work throughout his ten-year tenure at the publisher was every bit as good as his art for EC, once again conveying the mystery of space and the future.

The prolific Wood continued to work in diverse fields in the 1960s, drawing gags for humour magazines, advertising art, bubble gum cards and novelty card series such as Ugly Stickers and Crazy Cards.  He also designed the infamous Mars Attacks cards for Topps in 1962. Throughout the 50s and 60s, Wood had ghosted on many newspaper strips for Eisner, Frazetta and Kirby, as well as on (ironically enough) Prince Valiant and Flash Gordon. His other work in the 1960s included time at Warren and of course Marvel Comics. Having worked for both Marvel and DC in the late 50s, Wood returned to the former in 1964 to draw several issues of Daredevil. Although the art he produced for this title wasn’t in the same league as his E.C. work, he did redesign Daredevil’s costume and create Stilt Man. Not long after leaving Marvel, Wood joined new publisher Tower Comics, where he was given free rein to create the superspy team book T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, along with several spinoffs. This quirky series, which like Nick Fury was redolent of Bond movies, was an interesting run for Wood which lasted for twenty issues before Tower ended.

 

From the late 60s into the 70s, Wood returned to Marvel and DC on minor or mystery titles, as well as Atlas Seaboard. He also published the highly acclaimed and influential indie magazine Witzend, which allowed its creators full ownership of their work and was a launchpad for new artists, like Art Spiegleman. And there was also time for him to work on his Cannon and Sally Forth series. It seemed that Wood was constantly working throughout his career, much to the detriment of his health. That and an agglomeration of illnesses led him to take his own life in 1981. One of the most cherished of artists by the cognoscenti, Wally Wood poured his heart and soul into everything he did, which, coupled with his overly-prodigious work rate proved to be so self-destructive. It is a shame that his relationship with his art was so fractious, as he has left behind a considerable canon of tremendous work.

 

Here’s the rest of our 101 Greatest Comic Artists list so far

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.13: Jim Steranko

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.14: Alex Raymond

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.15: Harvey Kurtzman

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.16: Walter Simonson

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.17: Russ Heath

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.18: Bill Sienkiewicz

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.19: Jack Cole

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.20: Bernie Krigstein

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.21: Graham Ingels

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.22: Al Williamson

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.23: Barry Windsor-Smith

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.24: Alex Ross

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.25: John Byrne

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.26: Mike Mignola

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.27: Basil Wolverton

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.28: Howard Chaykin

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.29: Moebius

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.30: Dave Gibbons

 

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.31: Creig Flessel

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.32: Milt Caniff

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.34: Burne Hogarth

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.35: LB Cole

 

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.37: Bill Everett

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.38: Robert Crumb

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.39: Mac Raboy

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.41: Jim Starlin

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.42: Mike Zeck

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.43: Adam Hughes

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.44: Daniel Clowes

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.45: Gene Colan

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.46: George Perez

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.47: Michael William Kaluta

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.48: Cary Nord

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.49: Frank Quitely

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.50: Mike Ploog

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.51: Johnny Craig

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.52: Darwyn Cooke

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.53: Steve Dillon

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.54: Gil Kane

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.55: Michael Zulli

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.56: John Romita

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.57: Joe Maneely

 

 

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.58: Marshall Rogers

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.59: John Severin

 

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.60: Alex Toth

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.61: Brian Bolland

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.62: David Mazzuchelli

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.63 Reed Crandall

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.64 Harry Anderson

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.65 Nick Cardy

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.66 Matt Wagner

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.67 Bryan Hitch

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.68 Shawn Martinbrough

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.69 Al Feldstein

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.70 Nestor Redondo

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.71 Tarpe Mills

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.72 Eduardo Risso

 

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.73 JH Williams III

 

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.74 Irv Novick

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.75 Dan Zolnerowich

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.76 Gilbert Shelton

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.77 Tommy Lee Edwards

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.78: Sean Phillips

 

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.79: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.80: Dan DeCarlo

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.81: Marie Severin

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.82: John Paul Leon

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.83: Jim Lee

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.84: Denys Cowan

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.85: Ross Andru

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.86: Paul Gustavson

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.87: George Evans

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.88: Michael Golden

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.89: Matt Baker

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.90: Todd McFarlane

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.91: Fiona Staples

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.92: Carl Barks

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.93: Carmine Infantino

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.94: Alan Davis

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.95: CC Beck

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.96: Syd Shores

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.97: Bob Fujitani

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.98: Tim Sale

Tripwire’s 101 Greatest Comic Artists Of All Time: No.99: Jim Aparo

https://tripwiremagazine.co.uk/headlines/tripwires-101-greatest-comic-artists-of-all-time-no-100/

https://tripwiremagazine.co.uk/headlines/tripwires-101-greatest-comic-artists-of-all-time-no-101/