The 70-year veteran comic book artist spent nearly 10 years on Iron Man and helped define the character of Luke Cage, Hero For Hire.
There are few comic book artists with a career as comprehensive--and lengthy--as the late George Tuska, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 93. Tuska officially retired last week, marking nearly 70 years in teh business of drawing comic books. Tuska's clean, traditional artwork has often been compared to that of legendary artists Gene Colan and Jack Kirby.
Tuska got his comic book start doing crime and science fiction comics, and had lengthy stints at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. At DC, Tuska worked on Teen Titans, Justice League of America, Legion of Super Heroes and Challengers of the Unknown. At Marvel, Tuska helped define Tony Stark/Iron Man during his 10-year run as penciller of Iron Man during the 60's and 70's. Tuska was also the original artist on Marvel's Luke Cage: Hero For Hire and worked on The Avengers, Captain America, Uncanny X-Men and Daredevi, among others.
In an interview with Two Morrows, Tuska discussed his entry into the world of comic books:
"I had filled out an application as an artist and cartoonist at a professional agency in New York City. Will Eisner and Jerry Iger called for me to submit some art samples. I was soon accepted and asked to work in their studio.
I soon left the Eisner & Iger studio to go work for Harry Chesler's shop. Chesler was currently handling some comics for Fawcett Publications, who couldn't keep up with the production of their successful and expanding line of comics. It was at this time I drew several early issues of Captain Marvel Adventures, as well as some other strips. We had a good group of artists at the Chesler shop: Ruben Moreira, Mac Raboy (who later worked for Fawcett), Ralph Astarita, and Charles Sultan, whom I had first met at Eisner & Iger's studio.
I left Chesler and found myself working again for Will Eisner, who had just separated from Iger. Will had his group of artists, including Alex Kotzky and Tex Blaisdell. Will was busy with The Spirit and also handled comics for Busy Arnold [Quality Comics]. While with Eisner, I penciled some Spirit and Uncle Sam stories.
To make some additional income, I decided to freelance a bit on the side. I paid a visit to the Fawcett offices at the Paramount Building. I met briefly with Fawcett Publications art director Al Allard. I ended up drawing a few more Captain Marvel stories. Allard had asked me to draw as close as possible to the way Captain Marvel had first appeared in Whiz Comics. I also drew two or three Golden Arrow stories while freelancing for Fawcett. A girl named Judy, I believe, handled the scripts for me. I would complete the entire final page; I drew all the figures and backgrounds, and inked everything. I was about 24 or 25 at the time. After those freelance jobs, I never worked for Fawcett again.
In the '60s I met Stan Lee and made Marvel Comics my comic book home. I illustrated Iron Man and probably just about every Marvel Comics super-hero there was!"
Tuska is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy, three children, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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