Comics creator Joe Simon died Dec. 14. He was 98. The co-creator, with Jack Kirby, of Captain America, The Newsboy Legion, and The Boy Commandos, Simon also collaborated with Kirby on a re-invention of DC’s Sandman. Later, the duo created such series as Boys’ Ranch, Black Magic, and Fighting American as well as starting the romance genre with Young Romance in the late 1940s.
Born Oct. 11, 1913, Simon was born and raised in Rochester, N.Y., the son of a tailor. He was art director for both his school newspaper and yearbook before being hired as assistant art director at the Rochester Journal-American, where he produced occasional sports and editorial cartoons for the paper on top of his other duties. After working on other papers in Syracuse, Simon moved to New York City where he first found work retouching publicity photos for Paramount Pictures. He also freelanced for True Story and other magazines, producing spot illustrations, before art director Harlan Crandall recommended him to Lloyd Jacquet, head of Funnies, Inc., to work on features for the comics that the studio packaged for other publishers.
During this time, Simon met Kirby and the two began a working relationship that would last into the mid-1950s. Simon became Marvel predecessor Timely’s first editor and he and Kirby soon created Captain America in 1940, whose first issue featured the patriotic-themed hero punching Hitler square in the jaw. The duo stayed on the series for its first 10 issues, until a dispute over royalties caused them go to National Comics, the future DC, looking for better terms. There, they negotiated a deal for a combined $500 a week, as opposed to the $75 Simon earned and $85 Kirby was earning per week at Timely. Keeping their negotiations secret in fear of being fired by Timely Publisher Martin Goodman, the duo also produced Captain Marvel Adventures #1 for Fawcett during this time.
In addition to revamping or creating new characters for DC, Simon and Kirby also worked for such publishers as Harvey in the early 1940s before Simon enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and Kirby joined the Army.
After the war, Simon married Harvey Comics secretary Harriet and the couple moved to Mineola, N.Y., on Long Island where they lived in a house diagonally across the streeet from the Kirbys.
In late 1953 or early 1954, Simon and Kirby started Mainline Publications, which had four short-lived titles: Bullseye: Western Scout, Foxhole, In Love, and Police Trap. Unfortunately, the company was launched just as the industry was beset by negative publicity, government hearings, and self-imposed censorship, making it nearly impossible for a start-up company to remain in business.
Simon turned to advertising and commercial art, although he still kept his hand in comics with The Double Life of Private Strong and The Adventures of the Fly for Archie in 1959. In 1960, Simon began Sick as a competitor to Mad. In the mid-1960s, Simon again teamed with Kirby for Harvey’s short-lived line of super-hero comics, which included such titles as Unearthly Spectaculars and Double-Dare Adventures. Mr. Silver Age spotlighted those series in CBG #1680.
In 1968, Simon created the two-issue Brother Power the Geek for DC and later produced the four-issue Prez and six-issue Sandman, the latter with Kirby. The duo also created “The Green Team: Boy Millionaires” and “The Outsiders” for DC’s 1st Issue Special tryout series.
In later years, Simon was a guest at many comics conventions, frequently interviewed when significant events occurred for his characters, and engaged in a legal battle with Marvel to regain the rights to Captain America. He also produced a pair of books, The Comic Book Makers and his autobiography.
Joe Simon (left) was a longtime friend of Vanguard Publisher J. David Spurlock (right). Photo courtesy of J. David Spurlock.
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