Fred Ray
| Fred Ray | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frederic E. Ray, Jr. February 4, 1920[1] Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | January 23, 2001 (aged 80) |
| Area(s) | Penciller, Inker |
Notable works | Superman |
Frederic E. "Fred" Ray, Jr. (February 4, 1920 – January 23, 2001)Tomahawk". His cover of Superman #14 (Feb. 1942) is one of comics' most famous.
Biography
Early career
Fred Ray was born in
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.[6]
At 20, he broke into National Comics, the future
penciled and inked his first feature with the six-page Radio Squad story "Murder in the Street", by writer Jerry Siegel, in More Fun Comics #62 (Dec. 1940). He continued with that detective feature in most issues through #72 (Oct. 1941).[7]
Ray debuted as the
Robin on the cover of the anthology World's Best Comics #1 (undated; released early 1941), and almost simultaneously took over the cover-art duties for DC's two Superman starring titles, beginning with Superman #9 (April 1941) and Action Comics #34 (March 1941).[7] His redesign of the "S" symbol on Superman's costume became one of the defining features of the character's look during the 1930s to 1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.[8][9] Ray drew only one Superman story, the 12-page "I Sustain the Wings", in Superman #25 (Dec. 1943),[9] written by Mort Weisinger while he and Ray were doing their World War II military service. It was reprinted as the lead feature in DC 100 Page Super Spectacular #DC-18 (July 1973). His cover of Superman #14 (Feb. 1942) is one of comics' most famous.[9]
Ray also drew occasional Batman covers for Detective Comics and Batman, and various heroes for covers of the anthology titles Star Spangled Comics and World's Finest Comics.[7]
Ray wrote and drew the
McClure Syndicate.[6]
Later career
Ray continued drawing Tomahawk tales for more than two decades, through at least Tomahawk #119 (Dec. 1968), with incidental work appearing in some issues afterward. In 1969, he also began drawing and occasionally scripting anthological
war-comics stories in DC's G.I. Combat, Our Fighting Forces, and Our Army at War. Ray's last known comics work was the eight-page anthological story "The Lost Battle", written by Bob Haney, in Tomahawk #139 (April 1972).[7]
Ray, an authority on military uniforms of the Revolutionary War and a consultant to the
Civil War Times Illustrated, American History Illustrated, where he served as Art Director for Historical Times, Inc., and for True Frontier, The West and Yank, and designed historical medals and figurines for the Danbury Mint.[6] He was living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at the time of his death at age 80.[2]
References
- ^ "United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JRHC-CYW : accessed 02 Mar 2013), Frederic E Ray, 23 January 2001.
- ^ Social Security Number 204-03-7262, at Social Security Death Index.
- ^ a b c "Frederick [sic] E. Ray, Jr. (1920 - 2001)". AskART: The Artists' Bluebook. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Source gives birthplace and "Jr."
- ISBN 9781793637130. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ Packer, Sharon (2010). Superheroes and Superegos: Analyzing the Minds Behind the Masks. ABC-CLIO. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ a b c Shaw, Scott (September 3, 2007). "Tomahawk No. 70". Scott Shaw!'s "Oddball Comics (column) #1175. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Fred Ray at the Grand Comics Database
- Lambiek Comiclopedia. Note: gives incorrect birth date. Archivedfrom the original on July 12, 2012.
- ^ a b c Hughes, Bob (January 24, 2009). "Who Drew Superman in the War Years?". SupermanArtists.Comics.org. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
External links
- Fred Ray at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
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