Alfredo Alcala
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- Not to be confused with Larry Alcala.
| Alfredo Alcala | |
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 Alcala in 1977. |
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| Born | Alfredo P. Alcala August 23, 1925 Talisay, Negros Occidental, Philippines |
| Died | April 8, 2000 (aged 74) Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Area(s) | Penciller, Inker |
| Notable works | Savage Sword of Conan Swamp Thing Voltar |
| Awards | Inkpot Award, 1977 |
Alfredo P. Alcala (August 23, 1925 – April 8, 2000) was a Filipino comic book artist, born in Talisay, Negros Occidental in the Philippines. Alcala was an established illustrator whose works appeared in the Alcala Komix Magazine. His 1963 creation Voltar introduced him to an international audience, particularly in the United States. Alcala garnered awards in science-fiction during the early part of the 1970s.[1]
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Biography[edit]
Alcala was born with a creative interest in designing. He was hooked on comic books in his early childhood, and his interest continued throughout his life. He was so compelled with art that he would start drawing pictures and begin posting them in his school's hallways. Alcala was so determined to pursue his career in art that he dropped out of school as a young teenager to do so. He first received his break by doing various commercials and painting signs. Later, he began working in an ironworker's shop, designing household materials like lamps, household furniture, and showed his excellence in craftsmanship by designing a church pulpit.
The biggest honor of his childhood came when he started drawing cartoons during the Japanese occupation in World War II. He acted as a spy for the American forces not even having intentions on doing so. Alcala would draw pictures and give them to the leader of the American unit which would help them in the war.
Alcala admired many different comic book artists during his time. He was so inspired by Lou Fine's works that he started working in the world of comic books in October 1948, starting with an illustration in one of the local comic magazines called Bituin Komiks. At the end of the year, he would find himself doing many works for Ace Publications, which was the biggest publishing company in the Philippines.
At that time, Ace Publications was the publisher of four comic books (Filipino Komiks, Tagalog Klassiks, Espesial Komiks and Hiwaga Komiks), with each featuring some of Alcala's work. Working with the company helped him develop many opportunities and expand his career. He took the challenge and made a good living by doing so. Alcala never used assistants to complete his work. He said, "I somehow felt that the minute you let someone else have a hand in your work no matter what, it's not you anymore. Its like riding a bicycle built for two."[2]
Alcala became a star of the Filipino comics scene. He was so famous that a comic magazine was named after him, the Alcala Komix Magazine. Alcala introduced himself to the American comic universe when he created the comic book Voltar in 1963, which was a major success. Alcala won numerous awards and became a worldwide attraction, which led him to work for DC Comics in the early 1970s, doing horror and fantasy titles. He also helped recruit up-and-coming Filipino artists such as Alex Niño. With his newfound success in the United States came a plethora of assignments; he moved to New York in 1976.
Alcala joined Warren Publishing in 1977 and would draw 39 stories for Warren from 1977 through 1981. His series Voltar would be reprinted in issues 2 through 9 of the magazine The Rook.
In the early 1980s, he moved on to take part in the art more suitable for his creative niche. Alcala went on to pencil popular comic books such as Star Wars and Conan the Barbarian. He also inked Don Newton's pencil artwork in Batman.
By 1990s, his booming career and popularity led him to different projects, including drawing animations for films. Alcala also illustrated the novel Daddy Cool written by Donald Goines. He also worked on Swamp Thing for DC, which marked his return to the comics business. His contributions spanned several genres, including superheroes, horror, and fantasy.
On April 8, 2000, Alcala died from cancer in Southern California. He was survived by his wife, Lita and two sons, Christian Voltar and Alfred Jr.
Selected bibliography[edit]
Comics work (interior pencil art, except where noted) includes:
DC[edit]
- All-Star Squadron (inks over other artists pencils) #52, 54, 57 (1985–86)
- America vs. Justice Society (inks) #1-4 (1985)
- Arak, Son of Thunder (full art): #13-15; (inks): #10-12, 16-25, Annual #1 (1981–84)
- DC Comics Presents (inks) #48 (1982)
- Detective Comics (inks) #520, 526, 531, 534, 543-544, 576, 577 (1982–87)
- Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion #10-11, 13 (1973)
- Ghosts #9, 15, 17-19, 21, 24-25, 28, 33-34, 52 (1972–77)
- Hellblazer (inks) #8-9, 18-22 (1988–89)
- House of Mystery #209, 217, 219-220, 222, 224-228, 251-252, 254, 256 (1972–78)
- House of Secrets #100, 104-107, 109, 115, 117, 119-120, 122, 125 (1972–74)
- Infinity, Inc. (inks) #10, 43, Annual #1 (1985–87)
- Kamandi (inks) #47, 49-50 (1976–77)
- Kong the Untamed #1-3 (1975)
- Masters of the Universe (inks) #1-2 (1982–83)
- Our Army at War #251 (1972)
- Plop! #1-3 (1973–74)
- Secrets of Sinister House #6, 10, 12-14 (1972–73)
- Shadow (vol. 2) (inks) Annual #1 (1987)
- Swamp Thing (vol. 2) (inks) #30, 41, 45, 49, 51-52, 54-59, 61-85, 90-93, 95-101 (1984–90)
- Shadow War of the Hawkman (inks) #1-4 (miniseries, 1985)
- Unexpected #138, 140, 144, 150, 151-153, 156-157, 168-169, 177, 191 (1972–79)
- Vigilante (inks) #24-25 (1985–86)
- Weird Mystery Tales #5, 10, 13-14 (1973–74)
- Weird War Tales #9, 11, 15-16, 20, 23, 25-29, 35, 42-44, 72, 74 (1972–79)
- Weird Western Tales (El Diablo) #16-17 (1973)
- Witching Hour #24, 27, 33, 41, 43 (1972–74)
- World of Smallville (inks) #1-4 (miniseries, 1988)
- World's Finest Comics (inks) #309, 312-314, 318-321, 323 (1984–86)
- Young All-Stars (inks) #5 (1987)
Marvel[edit]
- Conan the Barbarian (full art): #137, 225; (inks over other artists pencils): #209-219, 223 (1982–89)
- Captain Marvel #35 (1974)
- Chillers Giant-Size #1 (1975)
- Doctor Strange (vol. 2) #19 (1976)
- Dracula Lives (inks) #9 (1974)
- Freddy Krueger's a Nightmare on Elm Street (inks) #1-2 (1989)
- Howard the Duck (inks) #7 (1980)
- Incredible Hulk (inks) Annual #8 (1979)
- Iron Man (inks) #112 (1978)
- Ka-Zar (inks) #6, 8 (1974–75)
- Kull the Destroyer #17 (1976)
- Man-Thing #14, Giant-Size #3 (1975)
- Marvel Comics Presents (inks) #16, 53 (1989–90)
- Marvel Comics Super Special (inks) #2 (1977)
- Marvel Two-In-One (inks) #42 (1978)
- Marvel Preview #14 (1978)
- Planet of the Apes #7-11, 17-21, 24 (1975–76)
- Rampaging Hulk (then Hulk) (inks) #1-3, 5, 8, 15, 17-20, 22-26 (1977–81)
- Savage Sword of Conan (full art): #55, 75, 80, 83, 89, 216, 223; (inks over John Buscema pencils): #2, 4, 7, 12, 15-20, 23-24, 28, 67, 76; (inks over other artists pencils): #34, 59, 69, 180, 184, 189 (1974–94)
- Tales of the Zombie #7-9 (1974–75)
- Tarzan (inks) #9, 10 (1977–78)
- Vampire Tales (full art): #6, 8; (inks): #9-10 (1974–75)
Warren[edit]
- Creepy #94, 99, 101-102, 104, 108, 125, 130 (1978–81)
- Eerie #96, 99-101, 104-105, 113 (1978–80)
- Rook Magazine (full art): #2-4, 6-9; (inks): #1 (1979–81)
- Vampirella #90 (1980)
Notes[edit]
- ^ Alfredo P. Alcala (23/8/1925 - 8/4/2000, The Philippines), lambiek.net
- ^ Spurgeon, Tom. "Alfredo Alcala, 1925-2000," The Comics Reporter (May 30, 2000). Accessed Feb. 13, 2009.
References[edit]
- Alfredo Alcala at the Comic Book DB
- Alcala's son's website, with tributes to Alcala
- Alfredo Alcala (posted May 5, 2000)
- Alfredo Alcala bio at Lambiek.net's Comiclopedia
- Alfredo Alcala, Wizards Keep Ltd.
External links[edit]
- Moon Shot: The Flight of Apollo 12 (comic book illustrated by Alcala)
- Tulad, Victoria Camille (March 23, 2012). "Pinoy comics pioneers celebrated in new docu". GMA News. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
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