Sheldon Mayer
Encyclopedia
Sheldon Mayer was an American
comic book
writer, artist and editor. One of the earliest employees of Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
's National Allied Publications, Mayer produced almost all of his comics work for the company that would become known as DC Comics
.
He is credited with rescuing the early Superman strip from the rejection pile, and should not be confused with fellow Golden Age
comics professional Sheldon Moldoff
.
Mayer was inducted into the comic book
industry's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2000.
as an "opaquer" in 1934.
He began working for National Allied Publications (Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
's initial company, later known as DC Comics
) shortly after it was founded, in 1935
, writing and drawing stories and "thus becoming one of the very first contributors [of original material] to comic books."
Between 1936 and 1938, Mayer worked for Dell Comics
, producing illustrations, house advertisements and covers for titles including Popular Comics, The Comics and The Funnies. Also in 1936
, he joined the McClure Syndicate "as an editor working for comics industry pioneer M.C. Gaines." While working for the McClure syndicate, Mayer came across a strip which he "immediately fell in love with." He recalled in a 1985 book that, "The syndicated press rejected it about fifteen times. I was singing [its] praises so much that in 1938 Gaines finally took the strip up to Harry Donenfeld
, who was looking for original material to run in his new title, Action Comics
."
Rescued from the slush pile
, the McClure-rejected strip had been similarly rejected elsewhere, but upon publication in Action Comics #1, Jerry Siegel
and Joe Shuster
's Superman
became an overnight success, single-handedly kickstarting the Golden Age of Comic Books
, and going on to become one of the most iconic characters ever.
Mayer recognised the character's potential from the start. Quoted in 1985, he recalls:
, "Gaines left McClure to enter into a partnership with [National Periodical Publications]," and Mayer went with him, becoming the first editor of the All-American Comics line, then run as a separate entity from National/DC, publishers of Superman and Batman. Mayer edited and participated in the creation of - among others - the Flash (in Flash Comics
), Green Lantern
, Hawkman
, Wonder Woman
and All-Star Comics, home to the Justice Society of America
.
Among his non-superhero work, Mayer assisted with lettering and logo creation on several All-American titles, and drew a number of covers for the "Mutt & Jeff" reprints appearing in the companies flagship title All-American Comics
(1939–1958). Having created the semi-autobiographical strip "Scribbly, the trials of a novice cartoonist," for Dell Comics
in 1936
, (where the character appeared in The Funnies #2-29 and Popular Comics #8-9), Mayer moved Scribbly to All-American Publications
in 1939. Soon after, the strip included the supporting character of "Ma" Hunkel, who would go on to become the Golden Age
incarnation of the Red Tornado, with Mayer writing, penciling and inking the re-named Scribbly and the Red Tornado for All-American Comics between 1941 and 1944 (when All-American merged with National).
, "Leave It to Binky
, a teenage humor book... [and] Sugar and Spike
." This last title proved to be one of Mayer's longest-lasting strips, starring two babies who could communicate in baby-talk that adults could not understand. Mayer even signed the stories he drew, something rare at National Periodical Publications in the late 1950s when Sugar and Spike debuted.
In the 1970s, when failing eyesight limited his drawing ability, he continued to work for National/DC, contributing scripts to the companies horror and mystery magazines, including most notably House of Mystery
(from c. 1970 for nearly 20 years), as well as House of Secrets, Forbidden Tales of the Dark Mansion and Black Orchid
, a character he created. In the 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great
, Mayer is cited as still writing and drawing "for the company that first published his great discovery, Superman, forty-seven years ago."
After successful cataract
surgery, Mayer returned to drawing Sugar and Spike stories for the international market.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
writer, artist and editor. One of the earliest employees of Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson was an American pulp magazine writer and entrepreneur who pioneered the American comic book, publishing the first such periodical consisting solely of original material rather than reprints of newspaper comic strips...
's National Allied Publications, Mayer produced almost all of his comics work for the company that would become known as 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...
.
He is credited with rescuing the early Superman strip from the rejection pile, and should not be confused with fellow Golden Age
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
comics professional Sheldon Moldoff
Sheldon Moldoff
Sheldon "Shelly" Moldoff is an American comic book artist best known his early work on the DC Comics characters Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and as one of Bob Kane's primary "ghost artists" on the superhero Batman. He co-created the Batman supervillains Poison Ivy, Mr...
.
Mayer was inducted into 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...
industry's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2000.
Early career
Mayer's career in the days before comic books was a diverse one. He worked as writer and artist on "scores of titles" for a juvenile audience circa 1932-33, before joining the Fleischer animation studiosFleischer Studios
Fleischer Studios, Inc., was an American corporation which originated as an Animation studio located at 1600 Broadway, New York City, New York...
as an "opaquer" in 1934.
He began working for National Allied Publications (Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson was an American pulp magazine writer and entrepreneur who pioneered the American comic book, publishing the first such periodical consisting solely of original material rather than reprints of newspaper comic strips...
's initial company, later known as 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...
) shortly after it was founded, in 1935
1935 in comics
-February:* Famous Funnies #7 - Eastern Color* New Fun Comics #1 - National Allied Publications - The first comic book with all original material rather than comic-strip reprints as well as the first comic book published by the company that would become DC.-March:* Famous Funnies #8 - Eastern...
, writing and drawing stories and "thus becoming one of the very first contributors [of original material] to comic books."
Between 1936 and 1938, Mayer worked for Dell Comics
Dell Comics
Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium...
, producing illustrations, house advertisements and covers for titles including Popular Comics, The Comics and The Funnies. Also in 1936
1936 in comics
-January:* Famous Funnies #18 - Eastern Color* More Fun the Big Comic Magazine #7 - National Periodical Publications* New Comics #2 - National Periodical Publications-February:...
, he joined the McClure Syndicate "as an editor working for comics industry pioneer M.C. Gaines." While working for the McClure syndicate, Mayer came across a strip which he "immediately fell in love with." He recalled in a 1985 book that, "The syndicated press rejected it about fifteen times. I was singing [its] praises so much that in 1938 Gaines finally took the strip up to Harry Donenfeld
Harry Donenfeld
Harry Donenfeld was an American publisher who is known primarily for being the owner of National Allied Publications, which distributed Detective Comics and Action Comics, the originator publications for the superhero characters Batman and Superman...
, who was looking for original material to run in his new title, Action Comics
Action Comics
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
."
Rescued from the slush pile
Slush pile
In publishing, the slush pile is the set of unsolicited query letters or manuscripts sent either directly to the publisher or literary agent by authors, or to the publisher by an agent not known to the publisher....
, the McClure-rejected strip had been similarly rejected elsewhere, but upon publication in Action Comics #1, Jerry Siegel
Jerry Siegel
Jerome "Jerry" Siegel , who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S...
and Joe Shuster
Joe Shuster
Joseph "Joe" Shuster was a Canadian-born American comic book artist. He was best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, first published in Action Comics #1...
's Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
became an overnight success, single-handedly kickstarting the Golden Age of Comic Books
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
, and going on to become one of the most iconic characters ever.
Mayer recognised the character's potential from the start. Quoted in 1985, he recalls:
All-American Comics
In 19391939 in comics
-Year overall:* A boom year for the burgeoning American comic book industry, as Archie Comics, Fawcett Comics, Fox Feature Syndicate, Lev Gleason Publications, Marvel Comics, Nedor Comics, Quality Comics, and Timely Comics all begin publishing.-January:...
, "Gaines left McClure to enter into a partnership with [National Periodical Publications]," and Mayer went with him, becoming the first editor of the All-American Comics line, then run as a separate entity from National/DC, publishers of Superman and Batman. Mayer edited and participated in the creation of - among others - the Flash (in Flash Comics
Flash Comics
Flash Comics was an anthology comic book published by All-American Publications and later National Periodicals . The title ran for 104 issues between January 1940 to February 1949. Although the name of the comic book was Flash Comics, the Flash was only one of many different series featured in the...
), Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
, Hawkman
Hawkman
Hawkman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by All-American Publications in 1940....
, Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
and All-Star Comics, home to the Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
.
Among his non-superhero work, Mayer assisted with lettering and logo creation on several All-American titles, and drew a number of covers for the "Mutt & Jeff" reprints appearing in the companies flagship title All-American Comics
All-American Comics
All-American Comics was the flagship title of comic book publisher All-American Publications, one of the forerunners of DC Comics. It ran for 102 issues from April 1939 to October 1948, at which time it was renamed All-American Western. In 1952, the title was changed again to All-American Men of...
(1939–1958). Having created the semi-autobiographical strip "Scribbly, the trials of a novice cartoonist," for Dell Comics
Dell Comics
Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium...
in 1936
1936 in comics
-January:* Famous Funnies #18 - Eastern Color* More Fun the Big Comic Magazine #7 - National Periodical Publications* New Comics #2 - National Periodical Publications-February:...
, (where the character appeared in The Funnies #2-29 and Popular Comics #8-9), Mayer moved Scribbly to All-American Publications
All-American Publications
All-American Publications is one of three American comic book companies that combined to form the modern-day DC Comics, one of the world's two largest comics publishers...
in 1939. Soon after, the strip included the supporting character of "Ma" Hunkel, who would go on to become the Golden Age
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
incarnation of the Red Tornado, with Mayer writing, penciling and inking the re-named Scribbly and the Red Tornado for All-American Comics between 1941 and 1944 (when All-American merged with National).
Editorial retirement
Mayer retired from editing in 1948, "to devote himself full-time to cartooning" he began to write and draw a number of humor comics for National, including the features The Three MouseketeersThe Three Mouseketeers
The Three Mouseketeers were comic book characters appearing in their own series of comics for DC Comics from 1956 to 1960, for 26 issues. They were created by Sheldon Mayer, though most of the work was done by Rube Grossman after the first issues....
, "Leave It to Binky
Leave It to Binky
Leave It to Binky is a comic book series published by DC Comics which ran for 82 issues. It started in February-March 1948 and ran for 60 issues coming to an end in 1958. The series was revived in June-July 1968 and continued the numbering of the original series. With issue #72 , the title was...
, a teenage humor book... [and] Sugar and Spike
Sugar and Spike
Sugar and Spike is the name of a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1956 through 1992, and the names of the main protagonists. Sugar and Spike was created, written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer.-Publication history:...
." This last title proved to be one of Mayer's longest-lasting strips, starring two babies who could communicate in baby-talk that adults could not understand. Mayer even signed the stories he drew, something rare at National Periodical Publications in the late 1950s when Sugar and Spike debuted.
In the 1970s, when failing eyesight limited his drawing ability, he continued to work for National/DC, contributing scripts to the companies horror and mystery magazines, including most notably House of Mystery
House of Mystery
The House of Mystery is the name of several horror-mystery-suspense anthology comic book series. It had a companion series, House of Secrets.-Genesis:...
(from c. 1970 for nearly 20 years), as well as House of Secrets, Forbidden Tales of the Dark Mansion and Black Orchid
Black Orchid
Black Orchid is the name of three fictional superheroines published by DC Comics. The original version of the character first appeared in Adventure Comics #428 .-Susan Linden-Thorne:...
, a character he created. In the 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great
Fifty Who Made DC Great
Fifty Who Made DC Great is a one shot published by DC Comics to commemorate the company's 50th anniversary in 1985. It was published in comic book format but contained text articles with photographs and background caricatures...
, Mayer is cited as still writing and drawing "for the company that first published his great discovery, Superman, forty-seven years ago."
After successful cataract
Cataract
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light...
surgery, Mayer returned to drawing Sugar and Spike stories for the international market.