BOB CORREA

Obscure Comic Artists No. 3

BOB CORREA

Non molto si sa di Robert Correa. Pare che sia nato il 7 giugno 1919  a Portorico. Ben presto si trasferisce a New York, dove frequenta la Grammar school. Sta studiando architettura, quando viene arruolato il 16 settembre 1940, con il grado di soldato semplice, nei Corpi di Artiglieria Costiera.

All’inizio del 1951 disegna fumetti in uno stile che ricorda marcatamente quello di Alex Raymond. In realtà, Correa imiterà costantemente volti e posture dei personaggi ispirandosi alla striscia quotidiana di Rip Kirby. Abile nel realizzare storie Western, debutta presso la Lev Gleason Publications su Black Diamond Western. Contribuisce poi con storie romantiche e poliziesche agli albi della Fawcett Publications. Per circa un anno, nel 1953-54, fa apparentemente parte dello staff dei Majestic Studios, che producono storie soprattutto per gli albi della Trojan di Harry Donenfeld e Frank Armer. Dopo un brevissimo interludio con la Marvel Comics, Correa si accasa con la Western Printing, che produce gli albi con etichetta Dell. Vi resta per circa cinque anni (1953-58), disegnando adattamenti di romanzi e film western quali Luke Short’s Six Gun Ranch, Zane Grey’s Shadow on the Trail and Drum Beat, ma anche serie come Jace Pearson of the Texas Rangers, Buffalo Bill Jr. e Have Gun, Will Travel. Illustra anche The Quest of Zorro, ed è uno dei primi disegnatori della serie Turok, Son of Stone.

Apparentemente, Correa lascia i fumetti nel 1958 per dedicarsi completamente all’illustrazione. Dalla fine degli anni Cinquanta fino all’inizio dei Sessanta, le sue tavole appaiono su numerosi men’s magazines, tra i quali All Man, Bluebook, Man’s Adventure, Savage Adventures e See for Men. Illustra poi diversi libri e copertine di dischi. Il suo ultimo lavoro conosciuto è la copertina per una edizione in audiocassetta delle storie di Sherlock Holmes The Case of the Six Napoleons and The Case of the Norwood Builder, pubblicata dalla Nostalgia Lane nel 1982.

Correa scompare a New York il 3 febbraio 2001, all’età di 82 anni.

Not much is known about artist Robert Correa. He was apparently born June 7, 1919  in Puerto Rico. Early on, he moved to New York, where he attended Grammar school. He was studying to become an architect when he was drafted on September 16, 1940, serving as a private in the Coast Artillery Corps.

By early 1951 he was drawing comics in a style which was definitely inspired by Alex Raymond’s. Actually, Correa would constantly swipe faces and characters’ poses from the Rip Kirby daily strip. He was good at western stories, and his art was first seen at Lev Gleason Publications in Black Diamond Western. He then did some work on romance and crime stories for Fawcett Publications. For about a year, during 1953-54, he was apparently on the staff of  Majestic Studios, an outfit which produced stories mainly for Harry Donenfeld and Frank Armer’s Trojan comics line. After a brief stint with Marvel Comics, Correa found his niche at Western Printing, which produced the Dell-labeled comic books. There he stayed for about five years (1953-58), drawing such western one-shot adaptations as Luke Short’s Six Gun Ranch, Zane Grey’s Shadow on the Trail and Drum Beat, as well as series like Jace Pearson of the Texas Rangers, Buffalo Bill Jr., Have Gun, Will Travel. He also drew The Quest of Zorro, and was one of the first artists on Turok, Son of Stone.

Correa apparently left comics in 1958 to devote himself to illustration. During the late fifties and early sixties his drawings graced several men’s magazines, including All Man, Bluebook, Man’s Adventure, Savage Adventures, and See for Men. He also illustrated a few books and record sleeves. His last known work is the cover to a 1982 audiocassette edition of Sherlock Holmes’ The Case of the Six Napoleons and The Case of the Norwood Builder, published by Nostalgia Lane.

Correa passed away February 3, 2001 in New York at age 82.

COMIC BOOKS

Editore/Publisher: BETTER/STANDARD

Intimate Love (1952) [Non confermato / Unconfirmed].

I Can’t Love You – New Romances #14 (12/1952) [Correa?].

Popular Romance (1953).

Editore/Publisher: CHARLTON

White Birds of Death! – Strange Suspense Stories #22 (11/1954) [R Underworld Crime #1 (06/1952)].

Editore/Publisher: DELL (aka K.K., WESTERN PRINTING)

The Big Country – Four Color #946 (08/1958).

Buffalo Bill Jr. – Four Color #673, 742, 766, 798, 828 (1956-57).

The Cowboy at Work – At Play [Text Article] – Zane Grey’s Stories of the West #28 (12/1955-02/1956) [Correa?].

Drum Beat – Four Color #610 (01/1955).

The Dude Greeters – Hugh O’Brian, Famous Marshal Wyatt Earp #5 (12/1958-02/1959).

Have Gun, Will Travel – Four Color #931 (08/1958).

Hired Gunmen – Four Color #931 (08/1958).

Introduction: The Governor’s Troops – Four Color #617 (03/1955) [Correa?].

Jace Pearson of the Texas Rangers – Jace Pearson of the Texas Rangers #3 (08-10/1953) [solo chine? / inks only?], #4 (11/1953-01/1954) [Correa?],

Knights of the Range – Zane Grey’s Stories of the West #37 (03-05/1958).

Luke Short’s Six Gun Ranch – Four Color #580 (08/1954).

No Sleep Till Dawn  – Four Color #831 (09/1957).

Turok, Son of Stone – Four Color #656 (10/1955) [firmata / signed BBJ]; Turok, Son of Stone #3 [chine / inks: Jack Abel], 4-5 [chine / inks: John Celardo – firmate / signed BBJ], 6-8 (1955-57).

The Quest of Zorro – Four Color #617 (03/1955).

Tenderfoot Jokes – Four Color #946 (08/1958).

Zane Grey’s Roundup – Zane Grey’s Stories of the West #27 (09-11/1955).

Zane Grey’s Shadow on the Trail – Four Color #604 (12/1954-02/1955).

Editore/Publisher: FAWCETT

I Can’t Love You! – New Romances #14 (1952) [Correa?].

White Birds of Death! – Underworld Crime #1 (06/1952).

Editore/Publisher: LEV GLEASON

The Girl from Hermit Hill – Black Diamond Western #27 (10/1951).

The Lost Mine of San Saba – Black Diamond Western #28 (11/1951).

Two Loves – Boy Loves Girl #30 (01/1953).

Stormy Romance – Boy Loves Girl #36 (07/1953).

Editore/Publisher: MARVEL

Dead Beat! – Strange Tales #29 (06/1954).

Editore/Publisher: TROJAN

Curse of the Jabberwock – Crime Mysteries V1#12 (03/1954).

“Find That Girl!” – Youthful Romances V1#18 [#4] (07/1953).

From out of Nowhere – Youthful Romances #7 (02/1954).

Knight Without Armor – Youthful Romances #8 (05/1954).

Sitting on Top of the World – Youthful Romances #5 (09/1953).

Tortured Love – Youthful Romances #6 (11/1953).

BOOK AND MAGAZINE ILLUSTRATIONS

Editore/Publisher: AMERICAN CONSUMER

The Friendly Alligator (1974) – Copertina e illustrazioni / Cover art and illustrations.

Editore/Publisher: BANTAM BOOKS

The Hundred Days of Lt. Machorton      (1979) – Illustrazioni / Illustrations.

Editore/Publisher: LITERARY ENTERPRISES/EXCELLENT/PAR PUBLICATIONS

See for Men – Illustrazioni / Illustrations c.1959-61.

Editore/Publisher: MADISON PRESS

Man’s Magazine – Illustrazioni / Illustrations 01/1959.

Editore/Publisher: MATCLIF PUBLICATIONS

Savage Adventures – Illustrazioni / Illustrations 1960-61.

Editore/Publisher: McCALL CORPORATION

Bluebook – Illustrazioni / Illustrations 12/1952, 07/1955.

Editore/Publisher: NORMANDY ASSOCIATES/STANLEY PUBLICATIONS

Men in Conflict – Illustrazioni / Illustrations 1961.

Editore/Publisher: NOSTALGIA LANE

Pardon My Blooper! #NLR-1026 (197?) – Copertina / Cover art [Record sleeve].

Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Six Napoleons and The Case of the Norwood Builder #GC309 (1982) – Copertina / Cover art [Cassette].

Editore/Publisher: STANLEY PUBLICATIONS

All Man – Illustrazioni / Illustrations V1#6 (11/1959);V3#3 (03/1962).

Battle Cry – Illustrazioni / Illustrations 02/1959; 09/1959.

Man’s Adventure – Illustrazioni / Illustrations 08/1959, 11/1959.

Real Men – Illustrazioni / Illustrations 11/1958.

Rugged Men – Illustrazioni / Illustrations c.1959-61.