National Cartoonist Society Profile: John Cullen Murphy

I was born in New York City 1919. Raised in Chicago. Studied at Art Institute age nine. Moved East in 1930, studied with Booth, Rockwell, Bridgman, Dickson, etc. Did covers for Liberty and Collier's magazines. Spent six years in army from 1940-46. Was battery commander G-2, Aide de-Camp, in the Pacific Theater from Private to Major. Painted MacArthur Family and many military people plus war paintings for Chicago Tribune. After the war, illustrations and covers for Sport, Holiday, Look, etc. Started "Big Ben Bolt" with E. Caplin in 1949 for King Features Syndicate ... Married Joan Byrne in 1951 and have eight wonderful children, fourteen grandchildren. In 1970 began illustrating "Prince Valiant" for Hal Foster... Was President of National Cartoonist Society ...won six story strip and Segar Awards. Son Cullen now writes the Val stories while Meg letters and colors them.

Frank Thorne's "A Bullett for my Brother"

You could always tell when Frank Thorne enjoyed the subject matter of a story he was illustrating, since he was so devoted to accurately reflect the costumes, architecture, and props of a specific time period. Such was the case with the frontier adventures of a DC title that was a favorite of mine, Tomahawk, and its later incarnation, Son of Tomahawk. With so many distinct characters, the writers developed a series of back up stories, such as this one featured from Tomahawk #130, to help introduce the different freedom fighters that stood by Tomahawk in his quest for justice. It even looks like Thorne included a Richard Nixon cameo on the second page in this tale of that dapper Parisian gentleman called "Frenchie" as shown in this episode entitled...

National Cartoonist Society Profile: Milton Caniff

I might as well start off the new year right with the brief biography of one of the top cartoonist's of all time, and an inspiration to many, the multi-talented National Cartoonist Society member, Milt Caniff. Born in Hillsboro, Ohio February 28th, 1907 ... my first job plus office boy duties for Dayton Journal Herald ... Art Staffs at Miami News, Columbus Dispatch, Associated Press Features Service, New York - "Dickie Dare" and "Gay Thirties" for A. P. 1932 - 34 ... "Terry and the Pirates" for Chicago Tribune, New York News Syndicate 1934 -46 (Did Male Call for Camp Newspaper Service 1942-46) "Steve Canyon" for Field Enterprises 1947 - now King Features Syndicate ... Many pleasantries along the way... friendships in and out of cartooning ... awareness of how deeply the daily newspaper feature probes and reflects life in the United States ... and my constant surprise that a single drawing on the board may reach out and touch so many people ... the gag strips are rising in favor! Better get back to work!