George Wildman

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George Wildman
Born(1927-07-31)July 31, 1927
DiedMay 23, 2016(2016-05-23) (aged 88)
NationalityAmerican
Area(s)Cartoonist, Penciller, Inker, Editor
Notable works
Popeye
AwardsNational Cartoonists Society, "Best Cartoonist, Humor Division"
Popeye Fan Club's Lifetime Achievement Award
http://www.GeorgeWildman.com

George Wildman (July 31, 1927 – May 22, 2016)

comic books industry. From 1971 until 1985 he was a top editor at Charlton Comics, where he also became the long-time regular artist on Popeye
comic books.

Biography

Early life and career

Wildman, a lifelong resident of

Naval Reserves. Recalled to duty in Korea, he served on the USS New Jersey
.

Returning home, Wildman studied advertising at what later became the

Paier College of Art. In the 1950s, he was a commercial artist, first working for an ad agency and then as a freelance artist. During this time, he began producing art for Charlton Comics in Derby, Connecticut
.

Popeye

When

Nicola Cuti
wrote several of the later Popeye scripts for Charlton.

Wildman's tenure as editor continued through 1985, while Western Publishing picked up Popeye under its Gold Key and Whitman trademarks. Bill Pearson, by then assistant editor at Charlton, began writing scripts, and Wildman produced illustrations while off-duty from Charlton.

In 1979, the release of Robert Altman's Popeye film led to a demand for Popeye-related merchandise. For Random House, Wildman illustrated a "Pop-Up Book" that was later displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. Wildman was also invited to produce a painted wooden Easter egg for the White House Easter event; this egg was also donated to the Smithsonian.

Freelance

Western Publishing ceased its comics line in the early 1980s, and Wildman retired from Charlton Comics in 1985, moving into a freelance comic book and children's book illustration career. His pencils, inks and paints graced publications featuring

Disney, Hanna-Barbera, Harvey and Warner Bros.
characters along with countless designs for various businesses.

In 1994, Wildman and his wife Trudy were guests of honor at a festival in

Elzie Crisler Segar
. Wildman received the Popeye Fan Club's Lifetime Achievement Award. Wildman was also a guest of the 2004 festival, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of Popeye.

As of the late 2000s, Wildman and his son Karl operated their own ad agency, producing computer animation, greeting cards and other products. Wildman's work was seen regularly in the "Hidden Pictures" of

Highlights for Children
.

Awards

The

Shazam Award for Best Penciller (Humor Division) in 1974, and another nomination for the Shazam Award for Best Inker (Humor Division) that same year.[5]

Death

George Wildman died at the age of 88 on May 22, 2016.[6]

References

  1. Lambiek Comiclopedia
  2. Connecticut Historical Society. Archived from the original
    on September 27, 2007.
  3. ISBN 978-0-7864-1605-9
  4. ^ "Division Awards Comic Books". National Cartoonists Society. 2013. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  5. ^ *Comic Book Awards Almanac Archived January 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "George Wildman, R.I.P." News from ME. Mark Evanier. May 23, 2016. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Wildman&oldid=1181125942"