Billy the Dunce

It seems like comic artists don’t get their due when they pass on, unless they’re one of the super-stars of the genre. Frank Frazetta was eulogized fairly widely when he passed on last month, but I doubt that his one-time collaborator Al Williamson will get the same treatment, even though he was one hell of a talented artist.

I've held the original artwork for this page in my hands. MY HANDS.

I won’t get into his life story or anything, just to say that he, and other comics artists of his generation, presided over (in my opinion) the artistic and popular height of the medium. He not only played a part in EC comics storied rise and fall, but was taught by (and possibly worked on the Tarzan comic strip with) comics legend Burne Hogarth.

But the most important thing he did, in terms of influence on my life, is this:

Heaven.

I don’t remember when I got it, but this comic adaptation of Jedi was probably more important to me than the actual Star Wars movies. I read it over and over and over again. It may still be in my mom’s house somewhere, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it flat-out disintegrated from being read about a billion times.

So, go out and buy Al’s comics. You’ll love them.

Later,

J