Above left: Dell Corky #707, May 1956
Above right: Dell Brave Eagle #705, June 1956
contact. Alex Toth was my favorite artist. Alex and I would have lunch sometimes. He was quiet and very serious about his work but a real genius. He was always experimenting with the new Japanese pens and markers. I was greatly influenced by his work and started using “Rapidograph” pens and markers, but found that
Per the Grand Comics Database (www.comics.org) Dan’s earliest published comic book work listed is Dell’s Four Color Comics #707, May 1956—featuring the modern day western adventures of Corky and White Shadow; “Corky” was a character played by Darlene Gillespie on Walt Disney’s then popular Mickey Mouse Club. However, Four Color Comics #705, June 1956, featured the popular western TV character “Brave Eagle,” and was coverdated a month later; there is no way of knowing which story was drawn first. Both publishing dates sync with Dan’s account of moving to Western Publishing in late 1955. the early markers were not permanent so I gave up the markers, but am still using “Micron” and “Microperm” pens. COATES: Any other artists come
to mind? SPIEGLE: Russ Manning was also a terrific artist. I enjoyed looking at his Tarzan pages when we would meet at Western Publishing. Nick
Opposite Above: Penn and Chris daily strip, mid-1950s Opposite Below: Dell Annie Oakley & Tagg #7, Spring 1956 Right: Dell Corky #707, May 1956 CHAPTER THREE: WESTERN PUBLISHING
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