Al Williamson
1931-2010
Al Williamson, legendary comics illustrator, whose career spanned nearly 60 years, passed away on Sunday, June 13. He was 79.
A professional with the highest integrity, Al was one of the finest artists in the highly competitive business of sequential artwork. A true legend in the comics community, he served an inspiration to many aspiring artists.
Williamson began his own career as a teenager, first assisting Tarzan comic strip artist and mentor Burne Hogarth, then flying "solo" at EC Comics, where he collaborated with illustrators like Frank Frazetta, Roy Krenkel and others on titles like Weird Science and Weird Fantasy. Williamson's skill at illustrating science fiction served him well throughout his career, which included adaptations of Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Flash Gordon, and Blade Runner, as well as original material set in the Star Wars universe.
In the video clip below, recorded by Greensboro, NC's WFMY TV in 1990, Williamson talks about his work on the controversial EC Comics of the 1950s.
