During the heyday of the Golden Age of Comics, a young boy named Larry Ivie found joy and adventure in the newly popular “Superman” and “Lone Ranger” comic books. As a Utah grade-schooler in the ‘40s, he collected comic books, super-hero-themed toys and games. A decade later, he and his buddies acted out stories from the comics, dressed in hand-sewn costumes, immortalizing the drama on 16 mm film. Ivie’s interest in comics never waned, morphing into a popular fanzine, and growing into a career in comics in New York City and San Francisco.
Selections from Ivie’s massive and well-preserved, lifelong collection are showcased through May 4 at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum with a special, free event planned for the public on Saturday, March 29. Caitlin McGurk, associate curator of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, and cartoonist Sandy Plunkett are co-curators of the exhibition.
“The Lone Crusader” is a showcase for Ivie’s collection of Golden Age artwork, along with superhero and fantasy comic books, original artists’ sketches, merchandise, clothing and costumes, a montage of Ivie’s home movie reenactments and early Superman memorabilia. Artists highlighted include Al Williamson, Frank Frazetta, Joe Shuster, Jack Cole, Reed Crandall, Roy Kenkel and Wally Wood.
“The exhibition encompasses this one man’s incredible collection,” says McGurk. “What makes it so unique is that Larry was born a few years before the very first ‘Superman’ comic book was published. So, as the art form was being developed, he was growing up and the comic book was growing up, too.”
“He became engrossed in the world of comic books; they were entertainment like no one had seen en masse before,” she adds. “The stories were immersive; the characters were inspiring and real. And since Larry was a kid during World War II, many of the comics were stories like Captain America protecting the world.”
The exhibition also documents the origins of “fandom” in comics, before it became a norm in pop culture, McGurk explains. “The main thing Ivie is remembered for in the comics community is related to that idea of fandom. In the 1960s and ‘70s, he created a fanzine called Monsters and Heroes. It was very popular and was sold on newsstands across the U.S., covering the characters and their stories. He helped build the fandom community.”
He was an early initiator of cosplay, too, designing and sewing Superman costumes for his friends to wear for their reenactments. “We have what we believe are the earliest surviving examples of cosplay,” McGurk says. “Cosplay is bigger than ever today, but people don’t realize it was being done even back then.”
She adds that Ivie foresaw the importance of his comic books very early on. “Larry was collecting these things before comic books were considered to have any value, and we are so grateful he hung onto it all. He really understood the importance of this art form; it just took the rest of the world a while to catch up.”
Sandy Plunkett met Ivie when he was in high school and they both lived in Manhattan. Plunkett got Ivie’s address – just a few blocks away – and stopped by to show Ivie samples of his early comics. “He told me he thought I’d be ready for professional work when I graduated from high school,” Plunkett remembers. “That stunned me; I hadn’t really considered that I could do this professionally... but his confidence made all the difference in the world. I had the courage to try.”
Inspired, Plunkett went on to have a thriving career with Marvel and DC Comics and has lived in southeastern Ohio for the past 30-some years. Plunkett and fellow comics artist Mark Schultz will kick off the March 29 program, followed by a presentation by family members of noted comics artist Al Williamson.
Reception and Events: Saturday, March 29, 4-7 p.m.
Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
Room 205, Sullivant Hall
Free and open to all; registration not required
Join us on Saturday, March 29 for a FREE program and reception in honor of our current exhibit, The Lone Crusader: Larry Ivie and Fandom in the Golden Age of Comics! Attendees are invited to explore the galleries and learn more about the legacy of Larry Ivie from cartoonists Mark Schultz and Sandy Plunkett, as well as a very special presentation and show-and-tell about the late great EC Comics artist Al Williamson from his widow and son, Cori and Victor Williamson.
SCHEDULE:
- Larry Ivie: A Visionary Comics Collector, presented by cartoonists Mark Schultz and Sandy Plunkett
4 p.m., Jean and Charles Schulz Lecture Hall
Larry Ivie’s love of the adventure strips of the 1930s and superhero comics of the 1940s was an important link to the rebirth of the superhero genre in the 1960’s and its explosion into cinematic popularity in recent years. His acquisitions of both original comic art as well as comic memorabilia presaged the growing collectors’ market and his intent foresaw the creation of institutions such as the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. This presentation will be followed by an audience Q+A.
- Spotlight on Al Williamson, presented by Cori Williamson and Victor Williamson
5 p.m., Jean and Charles Schulz Lecture Hall
Al Williamson (1931-2010) is best remembered for his iconic science-fiction work for EC Comics in the 1950s on titles including Weird Fantasy and Weird Science, in addition to his later work on Flash Gordon. In this rare presentation from his immediate family, Cori and Victor Williamson will share stories about the legendary artist’s life and career, including an in-depth exploration of his creative process. Material from his personal archive will be available for attendees to view. This presentation will be followed by an audience Q&A.
- Reception
5:30 – 7 p.m., Museum Galleries, Will Eisner Seminar Room, and the Lucy Shelton Caswell Reading Room
Enjoy a catered reception and cash bar, and an opportunity to explore the exhibit The Lone Crusader: Larry Ivie and Fandom in the Golden Age of Comics in our Museum Galleries.
Visit our Lucy Shelton Caswell Reading Room on the first floor for an open house display of additional original art highlights from the Larry Ivie collection that was not included in the exhibition.
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, one of the 12 central campus library locations, houses the world’s largest collection of materials related to cartoons and comics, including original art, books, magazines, journals, comic books, archival materials and newspaper comic strip pages and clippings. To learn more about the current exhibits, events and other programming, visit their website.