Anyone know anything about John Forte, LSH artist?

[shadroch]

The Legion was far and away my favorite book as a youngster, and many of my favorite early stories are drawn by Mr Forte. He appears to have been a mainstay at DC yet a web search reveals almost nothing about him.

Anyone know much about him or have any articles been written on him/ Thanks.

[Dick Pontoon]

He drew tons of Atlas post-code fantasy stories in the neutered horror books; probably some pre-code too, but the mid-to-late 50s is what leaps to my mind.

[rjpb]

Looks like he goes back to the Golden Age.

 

http://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/forte-john.htm

 

It appears he moved to DC once they picked up Quality's romance titles.

[adamstrange]

I've read lots of books and magazines and can't recall any more than minor mentions of him or his art.

[shadroch]

In 1963/64 he was a mainstay at DC, but he dies in 1965. I can't find a cause of death, or an article on his life. Its strange as the Legion has had many fan publications over the years.

[telerites]

Here's a blog I found that mentions about how little Forte is talked about - http://toobusythinkingboutcomics.blogspot.com/2010/06/strange-awkward-silences-of-john-fortes.html

 

I wonder if Paul Levitz ever wrote or talked in detail about him.

 

 

[Dick Pontoon]

As I re-read this thread, I remembered he also drew war and romance books, and looked him up on Atlas Tales. Their database lists 193 stories. Link.

[MB1952]

he work also at the Iger Shop along side Matt Baker,Robert Webb,Bob Lubbers Jack Kamen etc...

[shadroch]

Thanks for all the responses, but I'm more eager to find out something about the man, not his credits.

[markseifert]

Thanks for all the responses, but I'm more eager to find out something about the man, not his credits.

 

If you haven't seen this, there is a short bio of Forte in the Legion Companion. You can read most of the details via google books preview here:

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=lEWHfXUwUAwC&lpg=PA36&dq=%22john%20forte%22%20artist&pg=PA36#v=onepage&q=%22john%20forte%22%20artist&f=false

 

Some details:

Born Oct 6, 1918 in Rockaway, Long Island.

Attended an art school called Art Career School in NYC.

Earliest known work is illustrations in the pulp Future Science.

Served as an army infantryman in WWII, took part in the D-Day landings at Normandy.

Drew the illustration for the cover of the 1950 hardcover Conan The Conqueror.

Was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1963, had two surgeries, and died on May 2, 1966.

 

Numerous other details at the link.

 

[shadroch]

Thank you very much. I'm not sure how I missed that, but miss it I did.

Wiki has his death in 1965, not 1966.

[MB1952]

 

fiction house work. John forte