George Wildman
Encyclopedia
George Wildman is an American
cartoonist
most noted for his work in the comic books industry. He was a top editor at Charlton Comics
from 1971–1985, where he also became the long-time regular artist on Popeye
comic books.
, served in the United States Navy
in both World War II
and the Korean War
. During World War II he was a Navy recruiter, and at war's end joined the Naval Reserves. Called back to duty in Korea, he served on the USS New Jersey
.
Returning home, Wildman studied advertising at what became the Paier College of Art
. During the 1950s, he was a commercial artist, first working for an advertising agency and then becoming a freelance artist. During this time, he began producing comic-book art for Charlton Comics
in Derby
, Connecticut
.
ceased publication of its Popeye title, Charlton Comics
acquired the rights. Longtime writer-artist Bud Sagendorf
was busy with the daily and Sunday newspaper comics and declined the job of continuing. Wildman was offered a contract to draw the Popeye comic, with the prolific Joe Gill
scripting. The first Charlton issue of Popeye was published in 1969, the final one in 1977. Hired as an assistant editor to Sal Gentile, Wildman was promoted in 1971 to managing editor and eventually executive editor. Assistant editor Nicola Cuti wrote several of the later Popeye scripts for Charlton.
Wildman's tenure as editor continued through 1985, while Western Publishing
picked up Popeye under its Gold Key
and Whitman trademarks. Bill Pearson, by then assistant editor at Charlton, began writing scripts, and Wildman produced illustrations while off-duty from Charlton.
Director Robert Altman
Popeye movie led to a demand for Popeye-related merchandise. For Random House
, Wildman illustrated a "Pop-Up Book" that was later displayed at the Smithsonian Institution
. Wildman was also invited to produce a painted wooden Easter egg for the White House
Easter event; this egg was also donated to the Smithsonian.
and Warner Brothers characters along with countless designs for various businesses.
In 1994, Wildman and his wife Trudy were guests of honor at a festival in Chester
, Illinois
, celebrating the 100th birthday of the creator of Popeye, Elzie Crisler Segar. Wildman received the Popeye Fan Club's Lifetime Achievement Award. Wildman was also a guest of the 2004 festival, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of Popeye.
As of the late 2000s, Wildman and his son Karl operate their own advertising agency, producing computer animation, greeting cards and other products. Wildman's work is seen regularly in the "Hidden Pictures" of Highlights for Children
.
awarded him "Best Cartoonist, Humor Division." His contributions have been recognized with a nomination for the Shazam Award for Best Penciller (Humor Division) in 1974, and another nomination for the Shazam Award for Best Inker (Humor Division) that same year.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
most noted for his work in the comic books industry. He was a top editor at Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
from 1971–1985, where he also became the long-time regular artist on Popeye
Popeye
Popeye the Sailor is a cartoon fictional character created by Elzie Crisler Segar, who has appeared in comic strips and animated cartoons in the cinema as well as on television. He first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929...
comic books.
Early life and career
Wildman, a lifelong resident of ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in both World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. During World War II he was a Navy recruiter, and at war's end joined the Naval Reserves. Called back to duty in Korea, he served on the USS New Jersey
USS New Jersey (BB-62)
USS New Jersey , is an , and was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of New Jersey. New Jersey earned more battle stars for combat actions than the other three completed Iowa-class battleships, and is the only U.S...
.
Returning home, Wildman studied advertising at what became the Paier College of Art
Paier College of Art
The Paier College of Art is a private 4-year art school in Hamden, Connecticut, on the outskirts of the greater New Haven area. Formerly the Paier School of Art, the institution's current name and form date from 1982 when it received a charter and accreditation for offering a 4-year Bachelor of...
. During the 1950s, he was a commercial artist, first working for an advertising agency and then becoming a freelance artist. During this time, he began producing comic-book art for Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
in Derby
Derby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Popeye
When King ComicsKing Comics
King Comics, a short-lived comic book imprint of King Features Syndicate, was an attempt by King Features to publish comics of its own characters, rather than through other publishers. The line ran for approximately a year-and-a-half, with its series cover-dated from August 1966 to December 1967...
ceased publication of its Popeye title, Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
acquired the rights. Longtime writer-artist Bud Sagendorf
Bud Sagendorf
Forrest Cowles Sagendorf , better known as Bud Sagendorf, was an American cartoonist, notable for his work on King Features Syndicate's Thimble Theatre Starring Popeye comic strip....
was busy with the daily and Sunday newspaper comics and declined the job of continuing. Wildman was offered a contract to draw the Popeye comic, with the prolific Joe Gill
Joe Gill
Joseph Gill was an American magazine writer and highly prolific comic book scripter. Most of his work was for Charlton Comics, where he co-created the superheroes Captain Atom, Peacemaker, and Judomaster, among others. Comics historians consider Gill a top contender as the comic-book field's most...
scripting. The first Charlton issue of Popeye was published in 1969, the final one in 1977. Hired as an assistant editor to Sal Gentile, Wildman was promoted in 1971 to managing editor and eventually executive editor. Assistant editor Nicola Cuti wrote several of the later Popeye scripts for Charlton.
Wildman's tenure as editor continued through 1985, while Western Publishing
Western Publishing
Western Publishing, also known as Western Printing and Lithographing Company was a Racine, Wisconsin firm responsible for publishing the Little Golden Books. Western Publishing also produced children's books and family-related entertainment products as Golden Books Family Entertainment...
picked up Popeye under its Gold Key
Gold Key
In fiction, a gold key is a special token granting access to and control of a mythical or ultra-private or secret bank account or vault, such as a Swiss bank account. In reality, the key is often a code word and accounts are not completely anonymous....
and Whitman trademarks. Bill Pearson, by then assistant editor at Charlton, began writing scripts, and Wildman produced illustrations while off-duty from Charlton.
Director Robert Altman
Robert Altman
Robert Bernard Altman was an American film director and screenwriter known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. In 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his body of work with an Academy Honorary Award.His films MASH , McCabe and...
Popeye movie led to a demand for Popeye-related merchandise. For Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
, Wildman illustrated a "Pop-Up Book" that was later displayed at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. Wildman was also invited to produce a painted wooden Easter egg for the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Easter event; this egg was also donated to the Smithsonian.
Freelance
Western Publishing ceased its comics line in the early 1980s, and Wildman retired from Charlton Comics in 1985, moving into a freelance comic book and children's book illustration career. His pencils, inks and paints graced publications featuring Disney, Hanna-Barbara, HarveyHarvey
- People :* Harvey , a given name and family name* William Harvey, 16th century physician, first to describe circulation of blood- Places :In the United States* Harvey, Illinois* Harvey, Iowa* Harvey, Louisiana* Harvey, Michigan* Harvey, North Dakota...
and Warner Brothers characters along with countless designs for various businesses.
In 1994, Wildman and his wife Trudy were guests of honor at a festival in Chester
Chester, Illinois
Chester is a city located on the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,400 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County and is located south of St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, celebrating the 100th birthday of the creator of Popeye, Elzie Crisler Segar. Wildman received the Popeye Fan Club's Lifetime Achievement Award. Wildman was also a guest of the 2004 festival, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of Popeye.
As of the late 2000s, Wildman and his son Karl operate their own advertising agency, producing computer animation, greeting cards and other products. Wildman's work is seen regularly in the "Hidden Pictures" of Highlights for Children
Highlights for Children
Highlights for Children is an American children's magazine. It began publication in June 1946, started by Garry Cleveland Myers and his wife Caroline Clark Myers in Honesdale, Pennsylvania...
.
Awards
The National Cartoonists SocietyNational Cartoonists Society
The National Cartoonists Society is an organization of professional cartoonists in the United States. It presents the National Cartoonists Society Awards. The Society was born in 1946 when groups of cartoonists got together to entertain the troops...
awarded him "Best Cartoonist, Humor Division." His contributions have been recognized with a nomination for the Shazam Award for Best Penciller (Humor Division) in 1974, and another nomination for the Shazam Award for Best Inker (Humor Division) that same year.