Atlas Artist Edition Hardcover Volume 02 Al Williamson

The second volume in Fantagraphics' series of lavish, over-sized volumes collecting the best work of single artists for the pre-superhero 1950s Marvel Comics, spotlighting industry stalwart Al Williamson (EC Comics, Star Wars, Flash Gordon). After becoming a professional comics artist in 1948 at the age of 17, by 21 Al Williamson was well-regarded enough as a Western and science- fiction illustrator to be recruited for the EC Comics staff roster - the absolute peak of the field in the 1950s, and a team rarely challenged since. After the Comics Code forced EC to reduce their business, Williamson found himself at the door of Atlas Comics, the largest employer of freelancers in the field. From 1955-60, Williamson would draw 99 stories for Atlas (both solo and with help by "Fleagle Gang" studio cohorts Angelo Torres and Roy Krenkel, plus Gray Morrow and Ralph Mayo) in mostly western and fantasy genres, with a smattering of war, romance and "jungle girl adventure". He flourished on Wester