R. C. Harvey
Encyclopedia
Robert C. Harvey popularly known as R. C. Harvey, is an author, critic and cartoonist. He has written a number of books on the history of the medium, with special focus on the history of the comic strip
, and he has also worked as a freelance cartoonist
.
Harvey describes himself as having created cartoons
since the age of seven. He was educated at the University of Colorado
, where he submitted cartoons to the campus magazine, The Flatiron. Upon graduation, Harvey attempted to earn a living as a freelance cartoonist in New York, but eventually he changed his career path and enlisted in the US Navy. After a three-year tour, Harvey was discharged and found employ as an English teacher.
Dissatisfied with his pay and disillusioned with the work, Harvey left teaching and returned to freelance cartooning, specializing in cartoons of "sexy girls". Unable to make a living solely through cartooning, Harvey took a position with an educational conference company. In 1973, Harvey began writing on the medium, initially for The Menomonee Falls Gazette
.
, where he has a regular column to this day, and Comics Buyer's Guide
. The 1990s saw publication of Fantagraphics Books
' Cartoons of the Roaring Twenties, collated and edited by Harvey. Harvey was also a contributor to Oxford University Press
' American National Biography. In 1994, Harvey's The Art of the Funnies was published by the University Press of Mississippi
with The Art of the Comic Book following in 1996. He served as an associate editor for the journal Inks: Cartoon and Comic Art Studies, taking responsibility for submissions related to the comic strip. In 1998, Harvey was guest curator for the Children of the Yellow Kid exhibition, for which he also provided the catalogue.
Harvey's Milton Caniff: Conversations (2002) was published by the University Press of Mississippi, followed by a full biography of Caniff
, Meanwhile... A Biography of Milton Caniff, Creator of Terry and the Pirates
and Steve Canyon
(2007). Harvey also provided biographies for the long-running magazine Cartoonist PROfiles.
Harvey is a member of the National Cartoonists Society
, as well as an associate member of the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists and a member of the Comic Art Professionals Society.
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
, and he has also worked as a freelance 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...
.
Harvey describes himself as having created cartoons
Gag cartoon
A gag cartoon is most often a single-panel cartoon, usually including a hand-lettered or typeset caption beneath the drawing. A pantomime cartoon carries no caption...
since the age of seven. He was educated at the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, where he submitted cartoons to the campus magazine, The Flatiron. Upon graduation, Harvey attempted to earn a living as a freelance cartoonist in New York, but eventually he changed his career path and enlisted in the US Navy. After a three-year tour, Harvey was discharged and found employ as an English teacher.
Dissatisfied with his pay and disillusioned with the work, Harvey left teaching and returned to freelance cartooning, specializing in cartoons of "sexy girls". Unable to make a living solely through cartooning, Harvey took a position with an educational conference company. In 1973, Harvey began writing on the medium, initially for The Menomonee Falls Gazette
The Menomonee Falls Gazette
The Menomonee Falls Gazette was a weekly tabloid that reprinted newspaper comic strips from USA and UK. The first issue was published December 11, 1972, with the last issue on March 3, 1978...
.
Books
By the early 1980s, Harvey's columns were appearing in The Comics JournalThe Comics Journal
The Comics Journal, often abbreviated TCJ, is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels...
, where he has a regular column to this day, and Comics Buyer's Guide
Comics Buyer's Guide
Comics Buyer's Guide , established in 1971, is the longest-running English-language periodical reporting on the American comic book industry...
. The 1990s saw publication of Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, magazines, graphic novels, and the adult-oriented Eros Comix imprint...
' Cartoons of the Roaring Twenties, collated and edited by Harvey. Harvey was also a contributor to Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
' American National Biography. In 1994, Harvey's The Art of the Funnies was published by the University Press of Mississippi
University Press of Mississippi
The University Press of Mississippi, founded in 1970, is a publisher that is sponsored by the eight state universities in Mississippi:*Alcorn State University*Delta State University*Jackson State University*Mississippi State University...
with The Art of the Comic Book following in 1996. He served as an associate editor for the journal Inks: Cartoon and Comic Art Studies, taking responsibility for submissions related to the comic strip. In 1998, Harvey was guest curator for the Children of the Yellow Kid exhibition, for which he also provided the catalogue.
Harvey's Milton Caniff: Conversations (2002) was published by the University Press of Mississippi, followed by a full biography of Caniff
Milton Caniff
Milton Arthur Paul Caniff was an American cartoonist famous for the Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon comic strips.-Biography:...
, Meanwhile... A Biography of Milton Caniff, Creator of Terry and the Pirates
Terry and the Pirates (comic strip)
Terry and the Pirates was an action-adventure comic strip created by cartoonist Milton Caniff. Captain Joseph Patterson, editor for the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate, had admired Caniff’s work on the children's adventure strip Dickie Dare and hired him to create the new adventure strip,...
and Steve Canyon
Steve Canyon
Steve Canyon was a long-running American adventure comic strip by writer-artist Milton Caniff. Launched shortly after Caniff retired from his previous strip, Terry and the Pirates, Steve Canyon ran from January 13, 1947 until June 4, 1988, shortly after Caniff's death...
(2007). Harvey also provided biographies for the long-running magazine Cartoonist PROfiles.
Harvey is a member of the National Cartoonists Society
National 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...
, as well as an associate member of the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists and a member of the Comic Art Professionals Society.