Al Williamson, 1931-2010

Artist Al Williamson, 79, died June 12, 2010 in New York from Alzheimer’s. Williamson was best known for his SF/fantasy work for EC Comics in the ’50s, including titles like Weird Science and Weird Fantasy, and for his work on Flash Gordon in the ’60s. He was nominated for and won numerous comics industry awards from the ’60s onward, notably eight Harvey Awards from 1988-1995 and an Eisner Hall of Fame Award in 2000.

Williamson was born March 21, 1931 in New York City, but moved to his father’s homeland in Bogotá Colombia when he was two years old. He stayed there until age 12, when his family relocated to San Francisco, later returning to New York. He soon broke into the comics market, becoming part of the EC Comics stable in 1952, where he often collaborated with Frank Frazetta, George Woodbridge, and other young artists in a close-knit group was called the “Fleagle Gang.” In 1966 he helped launch a new Flash Gordon series, and later took over Secret Agent X-9, which soon changed its title to Secret Agent Corrigan, a project he continued until leaving the strip in 1980. In the mid-80s he transitioned to being primarily an inker, working first at DC but later settling at Marvel.

Full obituary in the July issue of Locus.