Bill Spicer

Bill Spicer (born October 1, 1937) is an American editor and publisher who spearheaded the 1960s movement away from commercial comics, opening the gateway to underground, alternative, and independent comics, notably with his publication Graphic Story Magazine.

Biography

Born in

With the introduction of the column "Graphic Story Review" by Richard Kyle, the focus began to shift to articles, reviews, and interviews in addition to the stories, resulting in a change to a new title, Graphic Story Magazine with issue #8 (Fall 1967).^[2] Issues #12 and #14 were devoted entirely to the work of Basil Wolverton. Interviews included Alex Toth (#10). Will Gould (#11), John Severin (#13), Gahan Wilson (#15) and Howard Nostrand (#16). After the run ended with issue #16, Spicer then launched Fanfare, a magazine devoted to all aspects of popular culture.^[1]

In 1971, Spicer partnered with Michael Moore and Fred Walker to form the Los Angeles Comic Book Company, which published

Comic strips

Spicer continued as a Western Publishing letterer from 1967 to 1982. He also lettered for Dark Horse, Another Rainbow, Fantagraphics. From 1988 to 2005, he lettered manga for Viz. He also lettered two comic strips in the 1980s, Rick O'Shay and Conan the Barbarian.^[1] He was contracted by Richard Kyle to letter Jack Kirby's "Street Code", published 1990 in Argosy (magazine) issue two.^[3]

Awards

In addition to his