Owen McCarron
Encyclopedia
Owen McCarron was a Canadian cartoonist
and publisher.
As a publisher, he was a prolific packager of promotional comic book
s. He also produced work for American
comic book publishers, including Charlton Comics
, DC Comics
and Marvel
.
and The Mail Star, which are distributed throughout the province of Nova Scotia
. His "Fun and Games" puzzles entertained and delighted readers for over thirty-two years. McCarron pitched the same concept behind his original puzzles to his friend Marvel Comics
publisher Stan Lee
, who quickly approved the long-running strip, Marvel Fun And Games, and gave puzzlemaster McCarron free rein on the comic book
series of the same name. He also self-published many comic books at his own expense, most were giveaways intended to entertain children during the 1960s and 1970s. McCarron was very easy-going, family-oriented, friendly, and was always ready to share his jokes and good-natured sense of humour. One of his relatives is the young NHL hockey star, Sidney Crosby
.
Despite living in Nova Scotia
, McCarron managed to establish himself in the American comics scene. He drew, inked and coloured many war and western-themed stories for Charlton Comics
, and later working for DC
, before settling at Marvel Comics
working on Ghost Rider
, Spidey Super Stories
, and other titles, including Marvel Fun and Games.
McCarron's reputation for speed and reliability made him one of Stan Lee
’s go-to men for emergency work. In the early 1960s he had the opportunity to do a cover (never published) for a new Marvel comic called Spider-Man
. That alternate take on the cover to The Amazing Spider-Man
#10 remains with McCarron's family to this day.
Owen McCarron died in 2005. A productive storyteller and historian, McCarron was spotted just days before his death at his local library, hard at work on his next project.
, and many others. There were also signed letters from President Ronald
and Nancy Reagan
as well as Bill Clinton
, thanking Owen McCarron for his lifetime of comic art.
Among his numerous honours was a Nova Scotia Environment Award for advancing environmental concerns through perspective written stories from his various characters. In 2006, the year after his death, he was inducted into the Joe Shuster Award's Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame, which celebrates that achievements of landmark Canadian comics artists such as McCarron.
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
and publisher.
As a publisher, he was a prolific packager of promotional comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s. He also produced work for American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book publishers, including 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...
, DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
and Marvel
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
Career
For thirty-two years McCarron worked for the Hallifax Herald Limited, publishers of The Chronicle-HeraldHalifax Chronicle-Herald
The Chronicle Herald is a broadsheet published in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The largest newspaper company in Nova Scotia, The Chronicle Herald is also the highest circulation newspaper in the Atlantic provinces and is currently the largest independently owned newspaper company in Canada...
and The Mail Star, which are distributed throughout the province of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. His "Fun and Games" puzzles entertained and delighted readers for over thirty-two years. McCarron pitched the same concept behind his original puzzles to his friend Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
publisher Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
, who quickly approved the long-running strip, Marvel Fun And Games, and gave puzzlemaster McCarron free rein on the comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series of the same name. He also self-published many comic books at his own expense, most were giveaways intended to entertain children during the 1960s and 1970s. McCarron was very easy-going, family-oriented, friendly, and was always ready to share his jokes and good-natured sense of humour. One of his relatives is the young NHL hockey star, Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
.
Despite living in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, McCarron managed to establish himself in the American comics scene. He drew, inked and coloured many war and western-themed stories 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...
, and later working for DC
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, before settling at Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
working on Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (comics)
Ghost Rider is the name of several fictional supernatural antiheroes appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Night Rider and subsequently to Phantom Rider.The first supernatural Ghost Rider is...
, Spidey Super Stories
Spidey Super Stories
"Spidey Super Stories" was a live-action, recurring skit on the PBS children's television series The Electric Company. Episodes featured the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, provided to the Children's Television Workshop free of charge, and was played by puppeteer Danny Seagren...
, and other titles, including Marvel Fun and Games.
McCarron's reputation for speed and reliability made him one of Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
’s go-to men for emergency work. In the early 1960s he had the opportunity to do a cover (never published) for a new Marvel comic called Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
. That alternate take on the cover to The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
#10 remains with McCarron's family to this day.
Owen McCarron died in 2005. A productive storyteller and historian, McCarron was spotted just days before his death at his local library, hard at work on his next project.
Awards
The walls of McCarron's home were festooned with countless gifts he'd received of signed original artwork, including some by Charles Schulz, Alex RaymondAlex Raymond
Alexander Gillespie "Alex" Raymond was an American cartoonist, best known for creating Flash Gordon for King Features in 1934...
, and many others. There were also signed letters from President Ronald
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
as well as Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, thanking Owen McCarron for his lifetime of comic art.
Among his numerous honours was a Nova Scotia Environment Award for advancing environmental concerns through perspective written stories from his various characters. In 2006, the year after his death, he was inducted into the Joe Shuster Award's Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame, which celebrates that achievements of landmark Canadian comics artists such as McCarron.