Captain America illustrator Allen Bellman whose career spanned decades at Marvel Comics dies at 95
It is a sad day for Marvel fans. Allen Bellman, a Golden Age artist who worked at Timely and Atlas in the years before they became Marvel Comics, died at the age of 95.
Born in June of 1924, he became one of the earliest artists to draw Captain America. During the span of his illustrious career, he worked on numerous Timely and Atlas Comics, including 'All Winners' Comics, 'Young Allies', 'The Human Torch' and 'Sub Mariner Comics'. Just like other artists of his era, his oeuvre expanded beyond superheroes and his work included Western, jungle adventures and much more.
Bellman had a personal website that included a history of Timely comics. While many of his comics were mentioned on the website, there was no mention of his name on it. His bio read, "I eventually became a staff artist at Timely during the Golden Age of comics and worked on titles such as: 'The Patriot', 'The Destroyer', 'The Human Torch', 'Jap Buster Johnson' and Jet Dixon of the 'Space Squadron', 'All Winners Comics', 'Marvel Mystery', 'Sub Mariner Comics', 'Young Allies' and so much more."
Many are mourning the loss of the artist. Matthew Rosenberg of 'Hawkeye: Freefall tweeted, "Rode to the airport with him and his wife after a con, and when I told him I wrote for Marvel, he lit up. He was genuinely thrilled people still loved and cared for the characters and universe he helped forge. Its an honor to carry the torch."
Comic writer and TV host Brad Meltzer wrote, "He understood the value of history — and also how our industry sadly treats and overlooks its elders. Amazingly, Allen was never bitter. He was a sun, hining from his booth, thankful for this life and all that comics gave him. If I live to be that old, I pray I can have that light and excitement and thankfulness forever in me."