Leo Bachle
Encyclopedia
Leo Bachle a.k.a. Les Barker, was a Canadian comic book artist
and comedian
.
In late 1940, fourteen year-old Bachle was hired by John Ezrin, the manager of Bell Features in Toronto, Canada to come up with something exciting for the company's growing comic book
line. Bachle's character, Johnny Canuck
, debuted in the first issue of Bell's Dime Comics, dated February 1941. In the first Canuck story he confronts Adolf Hitler
and propelled Dime Comics to become the best-selling comic in the Bell line. Leo became one of Bell’s key artists, drawing characters like Wild Bill
, The Invisible Commando, Chip Pipher, Southpaw, Super Sub, and The Brain
. Bachle's success led to the company hiring a number of new, young artists, including Ross Saakel and Jerry Lazare.
Bachle's character, Johnny Canuck
, was considered invaluable to the war effort. Apparently, the Canadian government refused to grant Bachle a visa to move to the States until he’d completed a backlog of Johnny Canuck adventures for Bell Features. Canuck remains his most enduring creation.
After the war, Bachle changed his name to Les Barker and gave up drawing comic books. He became a well-regarded comedian
and toured the globe performing his unique comedy act.
Canada Post
put Johnny Canuck on a postage stamp with other Canadian comic book heroes, such as Superman
by Joe Shuster
, Nelvana of the Northern Lights
by Adrian Dingle, Captain Canuck
by Richard Comely and Northguard
by Mark Shainblum
(but not Alpha Flight
by John Byrne, often credited as a Canadian).
Leo Bachle died in May, 2003.
In April 2004, Leo Bachle was among the first batch of Canadian comic book artists inducted into the Joe Shuster Awards
Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame.
Comic Book Artist
Comic Book Artist was an American magazine founded by Jon B. Cooke devoted to anecdotal histories of American comic books, with emphasis on comics published since the 1960s...
and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
.
In late 1940, fourteen year-old Bachle was hired by John Ezrin, the manager of Bell Features in Toronto, Canada to come up with something exciting for the company's growing comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
line. Bachle's character, Johnny Canuck
Johnny Canuck
Johnny Canuck was a Canadian cartoon hero and superhero who was created as a political cartoon in 1869 and was later re-invented, most notably as a Second World War action hero in 1942...
, debuted in the first issue of Bell's Dime Comics, dated February 1941. In the first Canuck story he confronts Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and propelled Dime Comics to become the best-selling comic in the Bell line. Leo became one of Bell’s key artists, drawing characters like Wild Bill
Wild Bill
-People:* Wild Bill Hickok, or James Butler Hickok , gunfighter and legendary figure of the American West* "Wild Bill" Hickman, or William Adams Hickman , frontiersman, ex-Mormon, and purported murderer...
, The Invisible Commando, Chip Pipher, Southpaw, Super Sub, and The Brain
Brain, The (comics)
The Brain was a character created by Leo Bachle for Bell Features, a Canadian comic company in the 1940s. His secret identity was Gordon Bell and he first appeared in Active Comics #1.-External links:*...
. Bachle's success led to the company hiring a number of new, young artists, including Ross Saakel and Jerry Lazare.
Bachle's character, Johnny Canuck
Johnny Canuck
Johnny Canuck was a Canadian cartoon hero and superhero who was created as a political cartoon in 1869 and was later re-invented, most notably as a Second World War action hero in 1942...
, was considered invaluable to the war effort. Apparently, the Canadian government refused to grant Bachle a visa to move to the States until he’d completed a backlog of Johnny Canuck adventures for Bell Features. Canuck remains his most enduring creation.
After the war, Bachle changed his name to Les Barker and gave up drawing comic books. He became a well-regarded comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and toured the globe performing his unique comedy act.
Canada Post
Canada Post
Canada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
put Johnny Canuck on a postage stamp with other Canadian comic book heroes, such as Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
by Joe Shuster
Joe Shuster
Joseph "Joe" Shuster was a Canadian-born American comic book artist. He was best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, first published in Action Comics #1...
, Nelvana of the Northern Lights
Nelvana of the Northern Lights
Nelvana of the Northern Lights is a Canadian comic book character and the first Canadian national superhero, debuting in Hillborough Studio's Triumph-Adventure Comics #1 . She is also one of the first female superheroes, debuting before Wonder Woman but after Fantomah, the Golden Age Black Widow,...
by Adrian Dingle, Captain Canuck
Captain Canuck
Captain Canuck is a fictional Canadian comic book superhero. Created by writer Ron Leishman and artist/co-writer Richard Comely, the original Captain Canuck first appeared in Captain Canuck #1 ....
by Richard Comely and Northguard
Northguard
Northguard is a Canadian superhero created in 1984 by Mark Shainblum and Gabriel Morrissette.Developed during the mid-1980s burst of small- and medium-press comics publishing by Canadians, Northguard was one of several serious efforts at developing a made-in-Canada superhero series for modern...
by Mark Shainblum
Mark Shainblum
Mark Shainblum is a Canadian writer who lives in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Though he has worked as a journalist and editor, Shainblum is best known as a science fiction and comic book writer....
(but not Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight is a fictional superhero team published by Marvel Comics, noteworthy for being one of the few Canadian superhero teams. Created by John Byrne, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #120 ....
by John Byrne, often credited as a Canadian).
Leo Bachle died in May, 2003.
In April 2004, Leo Bachle was among the first batch of Canadian comic book artists inducted into the Joe Shuster Awards
Joe Shuster Awards
The Joe Shuster Awards are given out annually for outstanding achievements in the creation of comic books, graphic novels and webcomics by Canadians, there are additional awards for Retailers and Publishers. The full name is the Joe Shuster Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards.The Joe Shuster Awards...
Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame.