Bill Draut (August 14, 1921–March 3, 1993)[1] was an American comic book artist best known for his work at Harvey Comics and DC Comics from the 1940s to the 1970s.
Biography
Bill Draut began his career as an artist in the 1940s by drawing the "Sergeant Stony Craig" comic strip for the Bell Syndicate.[1] After service in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, he then moved into the comic book industry with his earliest confirmed credit appearing in Harvey Comics' Stuntman Comics #1 (April–May 1946).[2] He worked with Joe Simon and Jack Kirby at Crestwood Publications.[3]
In 1956, Draut began drawing romance stories for DC Comics.[2] He later did extensive work on that publisher's mystery titles including House of Mystery, House of Secrets, The Unexpected, and Weird War Tales.[1] In 1966, Draut co-created Bee-Man with writer Otto Binder for Harvey Comics' Double-Dare Adventures.[4] Draut drew Teen Titans #18 (Nov.–Dec. 1968) which was writer Marv Wolfman's first Teen Titans story and introduced the character originally called Starfire and later renamed Red Star.[5] Draut inked the revival of the Phantom Stranger in Showcase #80 (Feb. 1969)[2] and then drew the first four issues of the Phantom Stranger ongoing series.[6] He and Mark Hanerfeld created Abel in DC Special #4 (July–Sept.1969) and the character soon became the "host" of the House of Secrets series.[7] Draut was to have drawn the first appearance of Marvel Comics' Scarecrow character but did not complete the assignment.[8] He was a character designer on the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero animated series for Sunbow Entertainment.[9] Draut's final published work in comics was inking Steve Ditko's pencilled artwork in the story "Who Is The Monster?" in The Fly #3 (Oct.1983).[2]
Bibliography
Archie Comics
Adventures of the Fly #1 (1959)
The Fly #3 (1983)
Charlton Comics
Cody of the Pony Express #8 (1955)
Crazy, Man, Crazy #v2#2 (1956)
Fox Hole #5–6 (1955)
From Here to Insanity #11 (1955)
In Love #6 (1955)
Police Trap #5 (1955)
Crestwood Publications/Prize Comics
All for Love #1 (1957)
Black Magic #1–4, 6–7, 9, 12–15, 17, 20–24, 32 (1950–1954)
