George Edward Papp[1] (January 20, 1916 – August 8, 1989)[2] was an American comics artist best known as one of the principal artists on the long-running Superboy feature for DC Comics. Papp also co-created the Green Arrow character with Mort Weisinger and co-created Congo Bill with writer Whitney Ellsworth.

George Papp
BornGeorge Edward Papp
(1916-01-20)January 20, 1916
DiedAugust 8, 1989(1989-08-08) (aged 73)
Oradell, New Jersey, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Area(s)Penciller, Artist, Inker
Notable works
Superboy
"Green Arrow"
"Congo Bill"

Career

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George Papp began his comic book career with the occasional feature and cartoon in early issues of the Superman line of comics. "Pep Morgan" and "Clip Carson" were the first features he worked on for Action Comics.[3] Papp's comics work was primarily for DC Comics but he briefly worked for Columbia Comics and Harvey Comics as well.[4] He and writer Whitney Ellsworth created Congo Bill in More Fun Comics #56 (June 1940).[5] Papp and Mort Weisinger co-created Green Arrow in More Fun Comics #73 (Nov. 1941).[6] World War II interrupted Papp's comics career and he joined the U.S. Army.[3] In 1946, Papp returned to DC Comics and drew the "Green Arrow" feature in both Adventure Comics and World's Finest Comics until 1958. He drew the "Superboy'" feature in Adventure Comics from 1958–1963 as well as the Superboy solo title until 1968.[4] Bizarro's first comic book appearance, in Superboy #68 (Oct. 1958), was drawn by Papp.[7] Robert Bernstein and Papp introduced the Phantom Zone and General Zod into the Superman mythos in Adventure Comics #283 (April 1961).[8] His other work includes some of the early appearances of the Legion of Super-Heroes. He drew the Green Arrow character for the final time in The Brave and the Bold #71 (April–May 1967).[4] Papp was fired by DC in 1968 along with many other prominent writers and artists who had made demands for health and retirement benefits.[9] His final new work in the comics industry appeared in Superboy #148 (June 1968).[4] He then worked in commercial art and advertising.[1]

Bibliography

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Columbia Comics

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DC Comics

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Harvey Comics

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  • Champion Comics #2, 5 (1939–1940)
  • Cyclone Comics #1, 3 (1940)

References

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  1. ^ a b Bails, Jerry (n.d.). "Papp, George". Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016.
  2. ^ "George E Papp, 8 August 1989". Social Security Death Index. n.d.
  3. ^ a b "George Papp". Lambiek Comiclopedia. 2016. Archived from the original on October 28, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d George Papp at the Grand Comics Database
  5. ^ Markstein, Don (2007). "Congo Bill". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Nobody knows for sure who wrote Bill's first adventure, but it's likely to have been editor Whitney Ellsworth. The artist was George Papp...Ellsworth and Papp didn't stay with Bill very long — he was handled by a variety of creative personnel over the years.
  6. ^ Wallace, Daniel; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1940s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Writer Mort Weisinger and artist George Papp ushered in the era of Green Arrow by foregoing a traditional origin story. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 91: "A book-length story by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp took up the entirety of Superboy #68. Bizarro was a copy of the Boy of Steel, created by a malfunctioning prototype duplicator ray."
  8. ^ McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 102
  9. ^ Barr, Mike W. (Summer 1999). "The Madames & the Girls: The DC Writers Purge of 1968". Comic Book Artist (5). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing.
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Preceded by
n/a
"Green Arrow" feature
in Adventure Comics artist

1946–1958
Succeeded by
Preceded by
n/a
"Green Arrow" feature
in World's Finest Comics artist

1946–1958
Succeeded by
Jack Kirby
Preceded by
John Sikela
Superboy artist
1958–1968
Succeeded by
Preceded by
John Sikela
"Superboy" feature
in Adventure Comics artist

1958–1963
Succeeded by
n/a