By George Wunder (Stackpole Books)
ISBN: 0-8117-0096-8
George Wunder (1912-1987) is another unsung hero of the comics industry. He began as a gag cartoonist, assisted Noel Sickles on Scorchy Smith (who shared a studio with Milton Caniff), reputedly worked in Military Intelligence during World War II and then took over Terry and the Pirates when Caniff left to create Steve Canyon. He wrote and drew the adventures of Terry until the strip ended (1946-1973). He was also a brilliant painter and he loved military history.
This book, relating events of the American Revolutionary War of 1775-1883, is a beautiful – if perhaps a tad jingoistic – series of folksy and engaging vignettes, forty-two in all, accompanied by an equal number of absolutely glorious narrative paintings, combining historical accuracy with superbly observed humanism and a huge helping of broad humour. The War was full of everyday heroes that the Movies have left behind, and this volume brings some of them to vibrant life with magical effect both in words and pictures.
Although not strictly comics, I’ve used this book to highlight this wonderful creator (many ‘ghosts’ and follow-up artists suffer unjustly in that their efforts are seldom reprinted). With his charming grasp of history and his lush art (very reminiscent of our own Ron Embleton) George Wunder made history as gripping as any strip. This is a wonderful book any art-loving fan-boy would be proud to own.
© 1975 George Wunder. All Rights Reserved.