Montana, Bob

Bob Montana (1920-1975) was born in Stockton, California to a vaudeville family. A self-described "art school dropout" from the Boston Museum, the Phoenix Institute and the Art Students League of New York, he is best known as the creator of the popular comic character Archie. His other cartoons include Danny in Wonderland, Inspector Bentley, Lu-Nar, and Spark Stevens . He also created cover art during World War II for Pep, Zip, Top-Notch, and Jackpot, frequently depicting superheroes such as The Shield, Steel Sterling, and the Black Hood battling Japanese and Nazi soldiers.

Archie debuted in Pep and Jackpot in 1941 and got his first solo comic book in 1942 but was put on hold for four years when Montana joined the Army Signal Corps where he worked on training films with fellow cartoonists Sam Cobean and Charles Addams. After leaving the army, Montana started the Archie newspaper strip, which ran in both daily and Sunday versions. Since Montana did not own the character, other artists also drew the red-headed teenager, but Montana remained with the strip until his death.

From the guide to the Bob Montana Cartoons, 1946-1970, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)