Dick Ayers, R.I.P.

Another of silver age greats is gone.

I took the above picture of Dick Ayers at the Pittsburgh Comicon back in 1997.

From Bleeding Cool --

Roy Thomas wrote to the Timely-Atlas-Comics mailing list, then passed to Bleeding Cool,

It’s my sad fate to relate that I received word a little while ago from Fred Ayers that his father has passed away yesterday, May 4, a few days after his 90th birthday. Stan and I had each sent greetings, as doubtless did some of you. I know no other details at present. 

Regretfully,
Roy

His first comics work publisher in World War II newspapers in 1942, Dick Ayers began work for Dell after the war. He studied under Burne Hogarth and worked for Joe Shuster‘s studio, before drawing horror comics for Marvel-predecessor Atlas Comics and Charlton.

However  he is best known for being Jack Kirby‘s inker in the fifties and sixties, primarily at Marvel Comics on the Fantastic Four, as well being as the penciller for Sgt Fury And His Howling Commandoes for ten years, nicknamed “Daring” Dick Ayers. He also created the original fifties Western version of Ghost Rider.

Ayers kept working into the noughties, and was a keen attendee of comic conventions, where he found a new brace of fans. He was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2007.

Incredible Hulk print that Dick Ayers autographed for me.

Sue Storm print he signed for my brother.