Alfred Avison (July 7, 1920 – December 1984) is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic bookA comic book is a magazine made up of narrative artwork, often accompanied by dialog and often including brief descriptive prose...
artistThe definition of an artist is wide-ranging and covers a broad spectrum of activities to do with creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. the worlds best artist is a man named mitchell peter lay who is often loved by the ladies. The common useage in both everyday speech and...
known for his work on the
Marvel ComicsMarvel Publishing, Inc., a company doing business as Marvel Comics, produces American comic books and related media. It forms a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc....
characters
Captain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
and the
WhizzerThe Whizzer is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared during the 1930s-1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.-Publication history:...
during the 1930-1940s period known to fans and historians as the
Golden Age of comic booksThe Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s...
.
The son of
ConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and New York to the west and south ....
artist and WPA muralist George Avison, Al Avison was educated at
Pratt InstitutePratt Institute is a specialized private college in New York City with campuses in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Utica, New York. Pratt is one of the leading art schools in the United States and offers programs in art, architecture, fashion design, illustration, interior design, digital arts, creative...
in
BrooklynBrooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located southwest of Queens on the western tip of Long Island. An independent city until its consolidation with New York in 1898, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough, with 2.5 million residents, and second largest in area...
. His first known comics work is co-
inkingThe inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After the penciler gives a drawing to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
Jack KirbyJacob Kurtzberg , better known by the pen name Jack Kirby, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor. Growing up poor in New York City, Kurtzberg entered the nascent comics industry in the 1930s. He drew various comic strips under different pseudonyms, ultimately settling on Jack Kirby...
's lead story in
Novelty PressNovelty Press was an American Golden Age comic-book publisher that operated from 1940–1949. It was the comic book imprint of Curtis Publishing Company, publisher of The Saturday Evening Post...
'
Blue Bolt Comics #4 (Sept.
Alfred Avison (July 7, 1920 – December 1984) is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic bookA comic book is a magazine made up of narrative artwork, often accompanied by dialog and often including brief descriptive prose...
artistThe definition of an artist is wide-ranging and covers a broad spectrum of activities to do with creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. the worlds best artist is a man named mitchell peter lay who is often loved by the ladies. The common useage in both everyday speech and...
known for his work on the
Marvel ComicsMarvel Publishing, Inc., a company doing business as Marvel Comics, produces American comic books and related media. It forms a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc....
characters
Captain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
and the
WhizzerThe Whizzer is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared during the 1930s-1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.-Publication history:...
during the 1930-1940s period known to fans and historians as the
Golden Age of comic booksThe Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s...
.
Early life and career
The son of
ConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and New York to the west and south ....
artist and WPA muralist George Avison, Al Avison was educated at
Pratt InstitutePratt Institute is a specialized private college in New York City with campuses in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Utica, New York. Pratt is one of the leading art schools in the United States and offers programs in art, architecture, fashion design, illustration, interior design, digital arts, creative...
in
BrooklynBrooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located southwest of Queens on the western tip of Long Island. An independent city until its consolidation with New York in 1898, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough, with 2.5 million residents, and second largest in area...
. His first known comics work is co-
inkingThe inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After the penciler gives a drawing to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
Jack KirbyJacob Kurtzberg , better known by the pen name Jack Kirby, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor. Growing up poor in New York City, Kurtzberg entered the nascent comics industry in the 1930s. He drew various comic strips under different pseudonyms, ultimately settling on Jack Kirby...
's lead story in
Novelty PressNovelty Press was an American Golden Age comic-book publisher that operated from 1940–1949. It was the comic book imprint of Curtis Publishing Company, publisher of The Saturday Evening Post...
'
Blue Bolt Comics #4 (Sept. 1940).
Timely touchstones
For
Marvel ComicsMarvel Publishing, Inc., a company doing business as Marvel Comics, produces American comic books and related media. It forms a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc....
' predecessor,
Timely ComicsTimely Comics is the 1940s comic book publishing company that would evolve into first Atlas Comics, and then Marvel Comics. During this era, called the Golden Age of comic books, "Timely" was the umbrella name for the comics division of pulp magazine publisher Martin Goodman, whose business...
, penciler Avison and an unknown writer, co-created super-speedster the
WhizzerThe Whizzer is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared during the 1930s-1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.-Publication history:...
in
U.S.A. ComicsU.S.A. Comics was an American comic-book series published by Marvel Comics' 1930-1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books....
#1 (August 1941). The character would appear in most issues of that comic, and was part of Timely/Marvel's first superhero team, the
All-Winners SquadThe All-Winners Squad is a fictional superhero team in the Marvel Comics universe. The company's first such team, it first appeared in All Winners Comics #19...
.
After Captain America creators
Jack KirbyJacob Kurtzberg , better known by the pen name Jack Kirby, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor. Growing up poor in New York City, Kurtzberg entered the nascent comics industry in the 1930s. He drew various comic strips under different pseudonyms, ultimately settling on Jack Kirby...
and
Joe SimonJoseph H. Simon is a Jewish-American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics...
moved on following
Captain America Comics #10 (Jan. 1942), Avison and
Syd ShoresSydney Shores was an American comic book artist known for his work on Captain America both during the 1940s, in what fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books, and during the 1960s Silver Age of comic books....
became regular pencilers of the celebrated title, with one generally inking over the other. Avison had been the inker over penciler Kirby on
Captain America Comics #4-6 (June-Sept. 1941), and had penciled or inked Cap stories in
All Winners ComicsAll Winners Comics was the name of two American comic book series of the 1940s, both published by Marvel Comics predecessor Timely Comics during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. A superhero anthology comic in both cases, they variously featured such star characters...
as early as issue #3 (Winter 1941-42). Shores would take over as regular penciller, inked by
Vince AlasciaVincent Alascia , also known as Nicholas Alascia, was an American comic book artist known for his work on Captain America during the Golden Age of comics, and for his 23-year run as inker on a single creative team, with penciler Charles Nicholas Wojtkowski and writer Joe Gill at Charlton Comics...
, while Avison did his
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
military serviceConscription is a general term for involuntary labor demanded by an established authority. It is most often used in the specific sense of requiring citizens to serve in the armed forces...
.
Avison also worked as a penciler or, more often, as inker on characters including The Vision (in
Marvel Mystery ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics is an American comic book series published during the 1930s-1940s period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
); the
Blonde PhantomThe Blonde Phantom is a fictional masked crimefighter in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Syd Shores for Marvel predecessor Timely Comics, she first appeared in All Select Comics #11 , during the 1940s period fans and historians call the Golden...
; The
Young AlliesThe Young Allies is the name of two superhero teams in the Marvel Universe.-Golden Age:The Golden Age of Comic Books' Young Allies were a gang of kids who fought the axis...
(in
Amazing Comics,
Kid Komics and
Mystic ComicsMystic Comics is the name of several comic book series published by the company that would later become Marvel Comics. The first two series were superhero anthologies published by Marvel Comics' 1930-'40s predecessor, Timely Comics, during what fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books...
); writer-editor
Stan LeeStan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
's the
Black MarvelThe Black Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Al Gabriele, he first appeared in Mystic Comics #5 , published by Marvel's 1940s forerunner Timely Comics during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic...
(in
All Winners Comics); and Tommy Tyme (in
Mystic Comics). With Joe Simon, he was one of two inkers on the Kirby-drawn debut of
Marvel BoyMarvel Boy is the name of several fictional comic book characters in the Marvel Comics universe, including predecessor companies Timely Comics and Atlas Comics.-Martin Burns:...
in
Daring Mystery Comics #6 (Sept. 1940). Avison's Timely work appears as late as
Captain America Comics #71 (March 1949).
Other work
Avison additionally worked on the original
Captain MarvelCaptain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
for
Fawcett ComicsFawcett Comics, a subsidiary of Fawcett Publications, was one of several successful comics publishers during the Golden Age of Comic Books in the 1940s...
in 1941-42. He also freelanced for
Harvey ComicsHarvey Comics was an American comic book publisher, founded by Alfred Harvey in 1941, after buying out small publisher Brookwood Publications. His brothers Robert B. Harvey and Leon Harvey joined soon after. The company soon got into licensed characters, which by the 1950s, became the bulk of...
both during and after his Timely stint, on such features as "The Red Blazer" (introducing him in
Pocket Comics #1, Aug. 1941), "
Casper the Friendly GhostCasper the Friendly Ghost is the protagonist of the Famous Studios theatrical animated cartoon series of the same name. As his name indicates, he is a ghost, but is quite personable...
", "Captain Freedom" (including inking Jack Kirby's cover art on
Speed Comics #16 & #18, Jan. & May 1942), "
Joe PalookaJoe Palooka was an American comic strip about a heavyweight boxing champion, created by cartoonist Ham Fisher. With various assistants and successors, the strip lasted for over half a century with spin-offs to radio, movies, television and merchandising....
", "
The Green HornetThe Green Hornet is a fictional masked crime fighter. Originally created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker for an American radio program in the 1930s, the character has appeared in other media as well, including film serials in the 1940s, a network television program in the 1960s, and multiple...
", "Humphrey", "
Little DotLittle Dot was a comic book character published by Harvey Comics between 1949 and 1982, and then sporadically until 1994. A little girl obsessed with dots, spots, and round, colorful objects, she first appeared in 1949 as a supporting feature in Sad Sack and by 1953 was given her own series,...
" and "
Shock GibsonShock Gibson is a fictional comic book superhero who first appeared in Speed Comics #1 , from Brookwood Publications, a company later absorbed by Harvey Comics). He was created by artist Maurice Scott, who drew it through issue #11, and an unknown writer...
" (including the cover of
Speed Comics #14, Dec. 1941), through at least the early 1950s.
Avison's last known work is penciling and inking the cover of Harvey's
horrorHorror fiction is a genre of fiction in any medium intended to scare, unsettle and horrify the audience. Historically, the cause of the "horror" experience has often been the intrusion of a disturbing supernatural element into everyday human experience...
anthologyAn anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
Chamber of Chills #26 (Dec. 1954).
Golden Age reprints
As inker, unless otherwise specified (p) for penciler, or (p)(i) for penciler & inker
- Marvel Super-Heroes #17 (Nov. 1968)
-
- (p) The All-Winners Squad in "Chapter 1: Menace from the Future World", All Winners Comics #21 (Winter 1946-47)
- Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (Jan. 1969)
- (p) The All-Winners Squad in "Chapter 4: Wave of Destruction", All Winners Comics #21 (Winter 1946)
- The All-Winners Squad in "Chapter 7: War Between the Worlds", All Winners Comics #21 (Winter 1946)
- Comix: A History of the Comic Book in America, by Les Daniels and John Peck (Bonanza Books, 1971; reprinted Random House Value Publishing, 1988; ISBN 0-517-11037-7)
- (p) (i) "The Vampire Strikes", Captain America Comics #24 (March 1943)
- Captain America: The Classic Years (1998) ISBN 0-7851-0660-X
- "Bomb Sight Thieves", Captain America Comics #4 (June 1941)
- "Captain America and Ivan the Terrible", Captain America Comics #4 (June 1941)
- "Captain America in Horror Hospital", Captain America Comics #4 (June 1941)
- "The Case of the Fake Money Fiends", Captain America Comics #4 (June 1941)
- "The Unholy Legion", Captain America Comics #4 (June 1941)
- "Captain America and the Ringmaster of Death", Captain America Comics #5 (Aug. 1941)
- "Killers of the Bund", Captain America Comics #5 (Aug. 1941)
- "The Gruesome Secret of the Dragon of Death", Captain America Comics #5 (Aug. 1941)
- "The Terror that was Devil's Island, Captain America Comics #5 (Aug. 1941)
- The Golden Age of Marvel Comics, Vol. 2 (1999) ISBN 0-7851-0713-4
- (p) The Black Marvel in "The Order of the Hood", All Winners Comics #1 (Summer 1941)
- (p) "The Whizzer", USA Comics #1 (Aug. 1941)
- Captain America: The Classic Years, Vol. 2 (2000) ISBN 0-7851-0743-6
- "Meet The Fang, Arch Fiend of the Orient", Captain America Comics #6 (Sept. 1941)
- "The Camera Fiend and His Darts of Doom", Captain America Comics #6 (Sept. 1941)
- "The Strange Case of Captain America and the Hangman Who Killed Dr. Vardoff?", Captain America Comics #6 (Sept. 1941)
- Marvel Visionaries: Stan Lee (2005) ISBN 0-7851-1693-1
- (p) Captain America in "The Red Skull's Deadly Revenge", Captain America Comics #16 (July 1942):