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A number of creators and online comic sites have been passing along the word that the great Al Williamson has passed away.
I've known for some time now that Al was not well, but I'm still saddened to hear of his passing. Like Wally Wood and Frank Frazetta, Al was one of the great artists illustrators in comics history.
Al's last professional artwork was a Sunday FLASH GORDON strip drawn for King Features. At that time, Jim Keefe, FLASH GORDON'S regular writer/artist was taking a small vacation from the book, and he asked a handful of comic creators to each draw a Sunday strip for him. Al Williamson was one of the artists invited to draw one of the Sundays, and it was my privilege to have followed Al's strip the following Sunday. It remains one of the highlights of my career.
Al Williamson was an incredible illustrator. Only Alex Raymond, the original creator, is more identified with FLASH GORDON than Al. I've followed Al's work for decades--his EC work, the artwork he did for Warren Publishing, Marvel Comics, and of course his SECRET AGENT X-9 work. He worked on STAR WARS, SPIDER-MAN, DAREDEVIL, FLASH GORDON, WEIRD SCIENCE and too many comic titles to mention. He was just an amazing artist. I got to meet him once, and he was very nice to me. He signed my SECRET AGENT X-9 books, and told me a story about Frank Frazetta. I've tried to assemble a few scans of Al's work below as a tribute to one of my favorite artists.
Rest In Peace, Al.
I've known for some time now that Al was not well, but I'm still saddened to hear of his passing. Like Wally Wood and Frank Frazetta, Al was one of the great artists illustrators in comics history.
Al's last professional artwork was a Sunday FLASH GORDON strip drawn for King Features. At that time, Jim Keefe, FLASH GORDON'S regular writer/artist was taking a small vacation from the book, and he asked a handful of comic creators to each draw a Sunday strip for him. Al Williamson was one of the artists invited to draw one of the Sundays, and it was my privilege to have followed Al's strip the following Sunday. It remains one of the highlights of my career.
Al Williamson was an incredible illustrator. Only Alex Raymond, the original creator, is more identified with FLASH GORDON than Al. I've followed Al's work for decades--his EC work, the artwork he did for Warren Publishing, Marvel Comics, and of course his SECRET AGENT X-9 work. He worked on STAR WARS, SPIDER-MAN, DAREDEVIL, FLASH GORDON, WEIRD SCIENCE and too many comic titles to mention. He was just an amazing artist. I got to meet him once, and he was very nice to me. He signed my SECRET AGENT X-9 books, and told me a story about Frank Frazetta. I've tried to assemble a few scans of Al's work below as a tribute to one of my favorite artists.
Rest In Peace, Al.
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