Influences File #2

Howdy,

In 1967, my family was going somewhere on vacation. I can't remember what we did, it might be the one to Disneyland where my sister and I threw salami on raisin bread sandwiches out the back window of the station wagon, but I do remember getting this comic for the trip. Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #46. It was a revelation. I knew then I wanted to draw like John Severin! He has had a long and varied career in comics, doing everything from science fiction to war to westerns to sword and sorcery to horror to Mad and Cracked humor mags. You name it and he's probably done it. And his style has hardly wavered. It's like he sprang full blown from day one as this amazing artist. I am truly in awe of his talents. I was exposed to his work early on without really knowing it by my uncle Stan who gave us kids Mad and Cracked magazines when he visited.

This is the cover of Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #46. This is the book that started me thinking seriously about doing comic books. This is the book that put the name John Severin into my head forever.



This is one of my favorite panels from the story. The detail of the equipment, the poses and placing of the soldiers blow me away.



I also love his faces. From Two Fisted Tales #21