Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:45PM5 comments ›
Fri Oct 16, 2009 — by Mike Gold
George Tuska, 1916 - 2009
One of the last of comics' first generation
Pioneer comic book and newspaper strip artist George Tuska died yesterday at the age of 93.
It’s hard to imagine an artist with a greater pedigree. Beginning in 1939, George worked on such features as The Avengers, Black Terror, Buck Rogers, Captain America, Captain Marvel (both Fawcett and Marvel), Challengers of the Unknown, Doc Savage, Green Lantern, The Hulk, Iron Man, Justice League of America (a.k.a. “The World’s Greatest Superheroes” newspaper stip), Luke Cage, Planet of the Apes, Scorchy Smith, Sub-Mariner, Superboy, Superman, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Teen Titans, Uncle Sam… and that merely scratches the surface.
George was a gentle man who once had taken the extraordinary step of punching out well-known wiseass cartoonist Bob Powell while working in the Eisner-Iger shop. Will Eisner said Powell, as brilliant an artist as anybody in that hallowed shop, absolutely deserved it. The stuff of legend.
On a personal note, George was drawing the Buck Rogers newspaper strip during its final years, from 1959 to 1967. During that last year, I was an unpaid intern at the National Newspaper Syndicate and was allowed to contribute story concepts and ideas. As a 16 year-old, I was amazed and thrilled to be working anywhere near George Tuska.
Jump to comments (5) 
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Comments (5)
MARK WHEATLEY (2:18 PM on Fri Oct 16, 2009)
For my money Tuska was the best Buck Rogers artist and the best Iron Man artist. He could really tell a story.
mike weber (3:27 PM on Fri Oct 16, 2009)
"George was a gentle man who once had taken the extraordinary step of punching out well-known wiseass cartoonist Bob Powell while working in the Eisner-Iger shop."
Eisner's rendition of the incident in his semi-autobiographical-book-whose-title-i-have-forgot is wonderful.
John McCarthy (4:39 PM on Fri Oct 16, 2009)
Wow. This man contributed to making my childhood fun. One of the names I'd instantly recognize when I cracked open a comic book. I've got a saying that I've been using since shaking Stan Lee's hand at his MoCCA exhibit, it aptly describes how these creators have affected me.
Thank you, Mr. Tuska, your work has added to my life.
John McCarthy (4:38 PM on Fri Oct 16, 2009)
Wow. This man contributed to making my childhood fun. One of the names I'd instantly recognize when I cracked open a comic book. I've got a saying that I've been using since shaking Stan Lee's hand at his MoCCA exhibit, it aptly describes how these creators have affected me.
Thank you, Mr. Tuska,
Delmo Walters Jr. (3:53 PM on Fri Oct 16, 2009)
I'm still surprised that DC hasn't collected the whole run of "The World's Greatest Superheroes" strip. I doubt Tuska's passing will stir them to action. It was nice to see him still working, doing variant covers for Dynamite's "Project Superpowers" titles.