Edmond Good

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Edmond Elbridge Good (July 1, 1910 – September 22, 1991) was a Canadian illustrator, writer and co-author of more than a dozen comics during the Golden Age of Comic Books.

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

Born in Saco, Maine, Good's parents were both Canadian and returned to their home town of Hamilton Ontario when Edmond was 10.[1] Ed showed a keen interest in art at an early age, and excelled at drawing in high school. After graduation Good's father, a seasonal fisherman, insisted his son continue his education and paid for his tuition at the Hamilton school of art and design.[citation needed] Upon graduation Edmond went to work as a commercial illustrator before making his debut in comics for Bell Features,[2] a comic strip syndicate owned by Cy Bell in 1941.[3] His only marriage was to Audrey Harrison whom he wed in June 1936, the couple had two children together Aledra and Barton.[1]

Comic industry[edit]

After shadowing artists on various titles at Bell Features, Cy Bell impressed with Ed's work ethic and natural affinity toward color theory and good design, promoted Good to Art Director.[1] A year later in 1942, the comic industry continued to suffer through anemic sales on traditional titles and Bell hired Adrian Dingle (Triumph Comics, No. 7 May/June 1942) to replace Good as director.

One of Good's earliest contributions to the ten cent cover was a male character he helped develop named Rex Baxter; the series was one of the longest running of the Canadian Sign/Bell Features titles. During this time Good simultaneously moonlighted for various publishers, mainly pulp fiction titles such as Thrilling Detective Stories.[4][verification needed] Other notable titles Good either co-authored or created under Bell were Dagar Desert Hawk, Sky Ranger, Ghost Breaker and Magnet.[5]

Near the end of 1943, Edmond relocated to upstate New York,[6] settling in at a position for Adventure Comics and as a splash page/cover artist for Thrilling Comics in what would be considered his most notable role as a professional artist for the AP Newsfeatures stripScorchy Smith.[7]

In 1955 Good left his position at AP Features to start his own comic agency Good Comics which produced Johnny Law and Sky Ranger, both of which were met with poor commercial success.[1][7]

Jerry Bails Who's Who In Comics listed Good as Art director of Tupperware Incorporated until his retirement in 1974,[8] he was known to frequent Comic Cons in the East U.S. well into his late seventies.

Published works[edit]

Year/s Title Frequency Materials Publisher Notes Ref
1949 Bruce Gentry – Daredevil of the Skies Daily Ghost pen and ink
1953–1954 Casey Ruggles Sundays United Feature Syndicate
1944 Manhunter (DC) Pen DC Comics
Mike Gibbs, Guerilla Pen and ink
1944–1950 Scorchy Smith Daily WR, pen, and ink Associated Press
1947–? Tomahawk (DC) Pen and ink DC Comics First artist
1948–1949 Dagar, the Desert Hawk WR, pen, and ink Fox Feature Syndicate
Rulah, Jungle Goddess
1949–1951 Monte Hale Pen and ink Fawcett Comics
1955 Buzzy Bean WR Good Comics
Covers Pen and ink
Filler WR, pen, and ink
Johnny Law
Sky Ranger
Support Publisher, editor
Text WR
1953 Love Confessions Pen and ink Marvel Comics
Two-Gun Lil Quality Comics
1954 Mystery/Occult Marvel Comics
Love Secrets Pen Quality Comics
1953, 1955–1956 T-Man Pen and ink
Unknown Dixie Dugan Daily Ghost pen and ink McNaught Syndicate
Red Ryder Daily Asst pen and ink NEA

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Edmond Good • Comic Book Daily". Comic Book Daily. 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  2. ^ "Edmond Good". Comic Book Daily. 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  3. ^ Bell, John (2006). Invaders from the North: How Canada Conquered the Comic Book Universe. Dundurn. p. 114. ISBN 978-1-55002-659-7. such Bell Features stalwarts as ... Edmond Good.
  4. ^ Strickler, Dave (1995). Syndicated Comic Strips and Artists, 1924–1995: The Complete Index. Cambria, California: Comics Access. pp. 205. ISBN 0-9700077-0-1.
  5. ^ Bell, John; Viau, Michel. "Beyond the Funnies: The History of Comics in English Canada and Quebec". Library Archives of Canada. Retrieved 2017-10-31.
  6. ^ Bell, John (1999). "Comic Books in English Canada". In Marsh, James H. (ed.). The Canadian Encyclopedia. McClelland & Stewart. p. 514. ISBN 978-0-7710-2099-5. Crackdown on Comics: 1948-66: Following the end of the Golden Age period, Edmond Good ... and a few other artists found employment in the US comics industry.
  7. ^ a b Magers, Donna. "Monte Hale - Comic Book Cowboys, by Boyd Magers". www.westernclippings.com. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  8. ^ Bails, Jerry. "Good, Edmond". Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999. Retrieved 2017-09-07.