Number 973


Russ Heath's Kid Colt


Russ Heath, Will Eisner Hall Of Famer and Inkpot Award winner, began his comic book career with Timely/Atlas in 1947, drawing Western comics. Quoted in a Wikipedia biography Heath says, "My father used to be a cowboy, so as a little kid I was influenced by Western artists of the time. Will James was one, an artist-writer—I had most of his books. Charlie Russell was my favorite because his work was absolutely authentic, because he drew what he lived..."

Heath was mostly self-taught, but his art had a polish even in his early days, as seen in this Kid Colt story, "Mystery Of The Mad Monk," from Best Western#59, 1949. Heath went on to draw in most every genre Atlas published, then went to DC Comics, doing science fiction (his run on Sea Devils being one of my favorites), but a lot of war comics with other great artists like Irving Novick and Joe Kubert.