Billy Tucci - Shi

Billy Tucci - Shi 2010.10.02 Wizard-Big Apple Comic Con, NYC

Billy Tucci created his own publishing company, Crusade Comics, allowing him to publish his personal projects.

Shi is a young woman of Japanese and American heritage drafted into present day shadow war between descendants of shoei warrior monks from medieval Japan. Shi translates to death in Japanese. Her signature weapon is the naginata.

Shi first appeared in Razor Annual #1 1993. Shi's adventures have included cross-overs with Daredevil, Witchblade, Vampirella, Lady Death and Wolverine.

I decided to use the 1960 US - Japan stamp commemorating the centennial anniversary of the first treaty to promote mutual understanding and good will, for the Shi sktech. The stamp depicts the Washington Monument with Cherry Blossoms, that were donated by the Japanese government in 1912. The US-Japan Treaty stamp was designed by Gyo Fujikawa, children's book author and illustrator.

Gyo Fujikawa

Gyo Fujikawa (1908-1998) Illustrator and children's book author, whose work has been published in 22 countries.

Her most popular book "Babies and Baby animals" has sold over 1.7 million copies. Fujikawa is recognized as being the earliest mainstream illustrator to include children of many races into her work.

Ms. Fujikawa has created many stamps for the U.S Postal Service, including the 1960 US Japan Treaty and the 1982 International Peace Garden.

Mike Rhode at CartoonPhilately has written an excellent article on the various stamps that were created by cartoonists, including caricaturist Al Hirschfeld, Mad Magazine's Jack Davis and editorial cartoonist Herblock......

Carmine Infantino - The Flash

Carmine Infantino - The Flash 2010.10.02 Wizard-Big Apple Comic Con, NYC

Infantino started his comics career as a freshmen in high school working with Harry A Chesler, inking the feature Jack Frost for USA Comics #3, 1942.

Infantino would move on to work with various publishers drawing Airboy and the Heap at Hillman Periodicals, Holyoke Publishing and eventually at DC where he would become the regular artist for Golden Age Flash, Black Canary, Green Lantern and Justice Society of America, westerns and science fiction. At Prize Comics Infantino drew Charlie Chan.

1956 DC decided to revive the superhero market starting with an updated Flash. Infantino would design the now famous streamlined red suit. Infantion used the blurring effect to depict Flash's speed. the success of the Flash began the Silver Age of comics...

Infantino would also draw Adam Strange in Mystery in Space, Batman and Robin and Elongated Man.

At Marvel, Infantino would draw Star Wars, Spider-Woman and Nova.

A winner of numerous awards, Infantino was elected to the Comic Book Hall of Fame 2000.

The Flash stamp is credited to Carmine Infantino and Murray Anderson. Infantino is also credited with the Marvel stamp issue Spider-Woman, with Tony DeZuniga.

Rich Buckler - Captain America

Rich Buckler - Captain America 2010.10.02 Wizard-Big Apple Comic Con, NYC

Buckler co-created the character Deathlok in Astonishing Tales #25, and has drawn virtually every major character at Marvel and DC, often as a cover artist.

Buckler's first work was part of the 1967 King Features comics Flash Gordon with a 4-page story Freedom Fighters:Washington Attack Trenton.

At Marvel, Buckler would draw Fantastic Four, Black Panther and Spiderman. In the 1980's working alongside Roy Thomas at DC, All-Star Squadron would be launched.

The Uncle Sam stamp from the Celebrate the Century issue 1998, reminded me of the first All-Star Squadron issue with Uncle Sam dispatching the All-Star Squadron. I had requested the Star Spangled Kid, but Buckler was unsure of the character's look and without a reference could not reproduce it faithfully. Keeping with the Uncle Sam theme, I requested Captain America and received a for beautifully rendered sketch.

Buckler and John Romita are credited with the artwork for the Marvel stamp issue for the Incredible Hulk, and Buckler and Dick Giordano are credited with the artwork for the DC stamp issue for the Supergirl comic cover.

Herb Trimpe - The Incredible Hulk

Herb Trimpe - Hulk 2010.10.02 Wizard-Big Apple Comic Con, NYC

Trimpe is a comic artist who is best known for his work with the Incredible Hulk, as well as being the first artist to draw Wolverine. Trimpe joined Marvel in 1967, making his pencilling debut with Kid Colt Western stories. Staring with The Incredible Hulk #106, 1968, Trimpe would continue to draw the Hulk for seven straight years through to issue #142, returning for issue #145-193 and additional drawings for Hulk Annuals and Specials up until 1983.

Trimpe also drew every starring Marvel character including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Thor, Killraven, Captain Britain...

Trimpe has received a nomination for the Shazam Award for best inker 1973, Comic-Con International Humanitarian of the Year Award 2002, for his work as a chaplain at the World Trade Center site after 9/11, and the Inkpot Award 2002.

The Hulk - stamp artwork by Rich Buckler - was created by Stan lee and Jack Kirby 1962. After exposure to gamma radiation Dr. Bruce Banner transformed into the giant raging monster, a cross between Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Frankenstein...

Chris Giarrusso - Silver Surfer

Chris Giarrusso - Silver Surfer - 2010-May-15 Wild Pig Comic Con, Springfield, NJ

Chris Giarrusso has drawn the Mini Marvels, featuring Marvel superheroes as children, at Marvel Comics.

Giarrusso has also created G-Man, published by Image Comics, a kid superhero whose powers come from a magic cape. Giarrusso's comic style is influenced by Chareles Schulz, Erik Larsen and his brother Dave.

Silver Surfer was created by Jack Kirby, first appearing in Fantastic Four #48, 1966.. Surfer would become a recurring character in the Fantastic Four comics. The Silver Surfer was launched on a solo career in 1968. The Silver Surfer would be the main adversary in the Fantastic Four's second movie, with the Surfer being played by Doug Jones.

Doug Jones was appearing at Wizard-Big Apple Comic Con, NYC 2010-Oct-02 and signed the Silver Surfer cover.

Jones, besides the Surfer has portrayed Abe Sapien from Hellboy, El Fauno and the Pale Man from Pan's Labyrinth. Jones first appearance was as a thin clown in Batman Returns.

The Silver Surfer stamp's artwork is credited to Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott.

Rickman -Poison Ivy

Rickman - Poison Ivy aircraft nose art...2010.09.26 Comic Fest, East Hanover, NJ

Since I have several first day covers honoring the Air Force, I wanted to have some covers drawn to duplicate the "cheesecake" pin-up style of nose art many of the US aircraft had painted on their planes during World War II.

Rickman accepted the challenge and draw Poison Ivy in the often seen reclining pose featured on many of the planes.

While researching the nose art, I came across a site where a collector has put together an impressive collection of nose art he calls "Bombshells!" featuring heroines from the 1940-50s.

Rickman has created the comics The Sock, Fishman and Toteman's World, which is an epilepsy awareness comic, as well as drawing editorial comics for a local newspaper. Rickman has previously worked as a graphic designer for the NFL, Lucent Tech, Warner Bros and Disney, and taught at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Design.

You can view a beautiful Captain America, by Rickman, my son picked up on Matt's Page.

Elvis and the Comics

1993-Jan-08 Memphis TN

Hi & Lois by Chance Browne

Luann by Greg Evans

The Legends of American Music Series debuted on January 8, 1993 and ran until 1999. More than 90 performers and musicians are represented from all styles of music: rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country and western, jazz and pop, opera and classical, gospel and folk. In addition to individual singers and Broadway musicals, subjects include bandleaders, classical composers, Hollywood songwriters and composers, plus conductors and lyricists.

The Legends of American Music Set was a huge advancement for diversity because it honored so many Black and female artists.

The 29c “young Elvis” – #2721, kicked off the series in a big and very public way. Its design was voted on by over one million Americans, about 75% of whom favored the young Elvis over the “old Elvis” version.

updated 2025-Oct

Dave Fox -Ghost Rider (Elvis Presley)

Dave Fox - Ghost Rider Elvis - Elvis first day cover June 16, 1993

Dave Fox, freelance artist from NYC, has contributed to several trading card sets including Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Lord of the Rings Masterpieces, Wizard of Oz, Fantastic Four Archives and DC: Legacy.

When the Elvis stamp was announced the the USPS, they had a fan vote either a young rock n' roll Elvis or the Vegas Elvis wearing a jumpsuit. Thankfully the fans voted for the younger version. What they didn't offer, Dave Fox provided...Ghost Rider Elvis!

Dave is also the the vocalist, bassist and song writer for the group Dead on A Friday...

"Waiting for the train to take me far, far away from here

Looking for a change of pace where my mind is clear

The open road and the chance for something new

I never thought I'd meet someone like you...."

Bliss Hall by Dave Fox

Dead On A Friday

Fred Hembeck - The Beatles

Fred Hembeck...The Beatles...2010.09.26 Comic Fest, East Hanover, NJ

Hembeck's style is pure cartoon parody, his characters are always drawn with curlicues on the elbows and knees. Starting in 197o's Hembeck's work was published as a 3-panel comic strip appearing in the Daily Planet page of DC comics. Hembeck would also continue producing comics for Marvel (signed Fantastic Four Roast), First Comics, Krause Publications, Fantagraphics Books, Topps comics, TwoMorrows Publishing and Archie Comics.

Hembeck's work includes his comic character The Dog, Mr. Mumbo Jumbo, Little Freddy (fictionalized tales of a youthful Hembeck), Petey, the Adventures of Peter Parker Looong Before He Became Spider-Man and Kidz.

When I heard Hembeck would be at Comic Fest, I went to his website to learn about him. Then I found his Beatle page. The man is a big fan, he has a devoted to the beatles, their comic book appearances, CD and DVD reviews and some classic comic cover make-overs featuring the Beatles, by Hembeck.

There was little thought that I would ask for a Beatle related sketch on the Beatles Yellow Submarine first day cover from from the Celebrate the Century series. Hembeck did an excellent rendition of the Beatles in his unique style.

Weapon Brown - Jason Yungbluth

Jason Yungbluth - Weapon Brown - 2010-Sep-17

When Charles Schulz died many comic strips and editorial cartoonists paid tribute to what they envisioned as either a Peanuts final strip or their goodbyes. None of them came close to Weapon Brown....

the world of comics in a post-apocalyptic world. The adventures, adult in context, follow Weapon Brown and his pet dog Snoop in a parody of today's comics. With a cybernetic arm and plaz gun, Brown runs across many altered comic strip characters and fights against the villainous organization known as the Syndicate. Weapon Brown runs as a web comic, and his adventures have been printed in comic book format as well. A signed copy of the book is shown.

I dearly love Peanuts and I also enjoy the parody.

Charles Schulz - Snoopy

Charles M Schulz sketch of Snoopy

Schulz created one of the most popular comics when Peanuts hit the newspapers Oct 2, 1950.

Schulz's first comic was called Lil Folks (1947-1950) running in the St.Paul Pioneer Press. Schulz approached United Feature Syndicate about publishing his strip, and with some changes Peanuts was born. Charlie Brown is the main character, a lovable loser, but one who never gave up.

His dog Snoopy started as an ordinary dog, but has become one of the most recognized cartoon characters in the world. As Snoopy's character evolved he became more human-like, playing shortstop on Charlie Brown's team, flying his dog-house as a World War I ace pilot, playing tennis, serving in the French Foreign Legion...

Charles M Schulz has received many honors including the National Cartoonist Society Humor Comic Strip Award, the Elzie Segar Award, The Reuben Award and the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lester patrick Trophy for his contributions to the sport of hockey. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.......

Schulz announced his retirement with the final daily strip being published on January 3, 2000. The final Sunday comic was published on February 13, 2000 the day after Charles M Schulz died.

Ian Glaubinger - NY Rangers

2010-Sep-18 Wild Pig Con II, Springfield, NJ

Ian Glaubinger - NY Ranger Win the Stanley Cup

When I read Ian's bio he mentioned several times that he loves hockey. Being a hockey fan myself, I knew the perfect cover to get a sketch on. NY Rangers Stanley Cup Victory Commemorative cover.

June 14, 1994 the day the Rangers finally win the Stanley Cup, ending the 54 year wait. I had one requirement of my cover, that a superhero had to wear the Rangers jersey. It turns out that both Ian and I are actually Devils fans, but give the Rangers their due, they won. By the way the Devils won the following year!

I wonder if Ian knows the truth behind the Rangers victory, they had help from the Green Lantern!

What I like about Ian's work is the true comic style of the characters. Be sure to check out his work.

Go Samurai!