Don Sherwood (September 12, 1930 – March 6, 2010) was an American
cartoonist
A cartoonist is a visual artist who specializes in both drawing and writing cartoons (individual images) or comics (sequential images). Cartoonists differ from comics writers or comic book illustrators in that they produce both the literary and ...
and
illustrator
An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicat ...
who created ''Dan Flagg'', the first nationally syndicated
comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings, often cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions. Traditionally, throughout the 20th and into the 21st ...
to feature a
U.S. Marine
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through com ...
.
Biography
Early life and career
Don Sherwood, a native of rural
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, turned a childhood love of drawing into a six-decade career as a cartoonist and illustrator. Born on September 12, 1930, Sherwood was enthralled by radio and movie entertainment, and the adventures of heroes such as ''
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture.
He first appeared in 1933 in ...
'' and ''
Hopalong Cassidy
Hopalong Cassidy is a fictional cowboy hero created in 1904 by the author Clarence E. Mulford, who wrote a series of short stories and novels based on the character. Mulford portrayed the character as rude, dangerous, and rough-talking. He was ...
'' fueled his artistic imagination. As a teenager, Sherwood sent samples of his art to
Chester Gould
Chester Gould (; November 20, 1900 – May 11, 1985) was an American cartoonist, best known as the creator of the '' Dick Tracy'' comic strip, which he wrote and drew from 1931 to 1977, incorporating numerous colorful and monstrous villains.
...
, the creator of ''
Dick Tracy
''Dick Tracy'' is an American comic strip featuring Dick Tracy (originally Plainclothes Tracy), a tough and intelligent police detective created by Chester Gould. It made its debut on Sunday, October 4, 1931, in the ''Detroit Mirror'', and it ...
''. Gould was impressed and wrote back, telling Sherwood that he had talent and encouraging him to move to Gould's city of Chicago to study the craft. Sherwood took the advice, leaving high school and enrolling at the
Chicago Academy of Fine Arts
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is a private art school associated with the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) in Chicago, Illinois. Tracing its history to an art students' cooperative founded in 1866, which grew into the museum and ...
. While in Chicago, Sherwood visited Gould regularly to observe his cartooning habits and worked as a copy boy at the ''
Chicago Daily News
The ''Chicago Daily News'' was an afternoon daily newspaper in the midwestern United States, published between 1875 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.
History
The ''Daily News'' was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty ...
''.
Also at that time, Sherwood enlisted in the
U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He was called into active duty and fought with the
First Marine Division in the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
, spending 18 months in combat operations in the Korean mountainside. The experience had a transformative effect on Sherwood, who developed a deep respect and appreciation for the Corps and its values. Upon returning to the United States, Sherwood moved to New York and resumed his young cartooning career by working as a bylined staff artist for the ''
New York Mirror
The ''New-York Mirror'' was a weekly newspaper published in New York City from 1823 to 1842, succeeded by ''The New Mirror'' in 1843 and 1844. Its producers then launched a daily newspaper named ''The Evening Mirror'', which published from 1844 ...
'', as an illustrator on the comic strips ''Cotton Woods'' (
General Features
General Features Corporation was a syndication service that operated from 1937 to 1974. It was founded by S. George Little and billed itself in the early 1950 as "America's Leading Independent Syndicate." By 1967, General Features distributed 80 c ...
) and ''Will Chance'' (
Columbia Features
Columbia Features was a syndication service that operated from 1953 to 1994. Originally located in New York City, The syndicate specialized in comic strips based on licensed characters such as Smokey the Bear, Bat Masterson, and Nero Wolfe.
Not ...
), and then as an assistant for
George Wunder
George S. Wunder (April 24, 1912 – December 13, 1987) was a cartoonist best known for his 26 years illustrating the ''Terry and the Pirates (comic strip), Terry and the Pirates'' comic strip.
Born in Manhattan, Wunder grew up in Kingston, New Y ...
on the adventure strip ''
Terry and the Pirates
''Terry and the Pirates'' is an action-adventure comic strip created by cartoonist Milton Caniff, which originally ran from October 22, 1934, to February 25, 1973. Captain Joseph Patterson, editor for the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate, ...
''.
Sherwood entry
Lambiek's ''Comiclopedia''. Accessed Oct. 26, 2018.
''Dan Flagg''
In 1963, at the age of 32, Sherwood launched ''Dan Flagg''. The strip, featuring a Marine hero appeared in 400 newspapers and in most major metropolitan markets, including the ''New York Daily News'', the ''Los Angeles Times'', the ''Chicago Tribune'' and the ''Washington Post''. It was originally syndicated with the McNaught Syndicate
The McNaught Syndicate was an American newspaper syndicate founded in 1922. It was established by Virgil Venice McNitt (who gave it his name) and Charles V. McAdam. Its best known contents were the columns by Will Rogers and O. O. McIntyre, the ' ...
, later moving to Bell-McClure.[Holtz, Allan]
"Don Sherwood's Dan Flagg,"
''Stripper's Guide'' (December 03, 2005).
The creation of ''Dan Flagg'' launched Sherwood forward in his profession. He was invited to lunch with President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House, joining four other famed military cartoonists (Milton Caniff
Milton Arthur Paul Caniff (; February 28, 1907 – April 3, 1988) was an People of the United States, American cartoonist famous for the ''Terry and the Pirates (comic strip), Terry and the Pirates'' and ''Steve Canyon'' comic strips.
Biography
...
, Mort Walker
Addison Morton Walker (September 3, 1923 – January 27, 2018) was an American comic strip writer, best known for creating the newspaper comic strips ''Beetle Bailey'' in 1950 and ''Hi and Lois'' in 1954. He signed Addison to some of his strips. ...
, Bill Mauldin
William Henry Mauldin (; October 29, 1921 – January 22, 2003) was an American editorial cartoonist who won two Pulitzer Prizes for his work. He was most famous for his World War II cartoons depicting American soldiers, as represented by the ...
and Wunder). He was a presenter at the 1964 World's Fair
The 1964–1965 New York World's Fair was a world's fair that held over 140 pavilions and 110 restaurants, representing 80 nations (hosted by 37), 24 US states, and over 45 corporations with the goal and the final result of building exhibits or ...
in New York, and "Dan Flagg Day" ceremonies were held in New York City and Philadelphia. Sherwood researched his strip exhaustively, visiting Marine installations, talking to recruits and generals, and studying the Corps and the subjects of planned storylines. As a result, Sherwood was commended for the authenticity of his artwork (after one strip contained a drawing of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, Sherwood received a letter from the architect of the building, Edward Durell Stone
Edward Durell Stone (March 9, 1902 – August 6, 1978) was an American architect known for the formal, highly decorative buildings he designed in the 1950s and 1960s. His works include the Museum of Modern Art, in New York City, the Museo de A ...
, praising its accuracy) and for the timeliness of his storylines (after one adventure involving Cuban relations, a group seeking to oust Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (; ; 13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and president from 1976 to 200 ...
wrote to Sherwood to ask for Dan Flagg's cooperation). Sherwood consistently appeared on behalf of the Marine Corps, with whom he shared a mutual respect; the Marine Corps Commandant, David Shoup
David Monroe Shoup ( December, 30 1904 – January, 13 1983) was a general of the United States Marine Corps who was awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II, served as the 22nd Commandant of the Marine Corps, and, after retiring, beca ...
, met with Sherwood and called him "a master of his art." Among his commendations, Sherwood received a plaque from the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association and a citation from the National Press Club.
As ''Dan Flagg'' continued to establish its place in newspapers in the mid-1960s, Sherwood was approached by Universal Studios about having the Marine hero appear on television. Sherwood had modeled Dan Flagg after his movie hero, Robert Taylor, and Taylor agreed to star as Dan Flagg in the proposed television series. Taylor visited Sherwood at his home in Oneonta, New York
Oneonta ( ) is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, United States. It is one of the northernmost cities of the Appalachian Region. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Oneonta had a population of 13,079. Its nickname is "City of the Hil ...
, appearing at the city's "Dan Flagg Day" ceremony. However, with war escalating in Vietnam, public sentiment for military-themed entertainment was turning. A ''Dan Flagg'' television deal was not finalized, and by mid-1967 the ''Dan Flagg'' strip had been discontinued.
Later career
During the 1970s, Sherwood worked in a variety of media. He handled character design for Hanna-Barbera Productions
Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ) was an American animation studio and production company which was active from 1957 to 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera following the decision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to c ...
, created storyboards for Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...
, and wrote and illustrated comic books including ''The Partridge Family'' and ''The Phantom'' for Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1945 to 1986, having begun under a different name: T.W.O. Charles Company, in 1940. It was based in Derby, Connecticut. The comic-book line was a division of Charlton ...
. Sherwood also drew upon his fondness for the popular culture of his youth in creating the syndicated nostalgia feature ''Return with Us To ...'', which appeared in more than 350 newspapers. Additionally, he collaborated with writer Louis Lomax on the proposed feature ''Deadline'' and with Carlton E. Morse on an adaptation of his old-time radio program, ''I Love a Mystery'', which ultimately was published as a graphic novel.
Beginning in 1981, Sherwood illustrated the comic-strip feature ''Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
''Challenge of the Yukon'' is an American radio adventure series that began on Detroit's WXYZ and is an example of a Northern genre story. The series was first heard on January 3, 1939. The title changed from ''Challenge of the Yukon'' to ''Se ...
'' for Lone Ranger Television. He again spent months of research in developing the strip, visiting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; french: Gendarmerie royale du Canada; french: GRC, label=none), commonly known in English as the Mounties (and colloquially in French as ) is the federal police, federal and national police service of ...
and the Alaska State Troopers
The Alaska State Troopers, officially the Division of Alaska State Troopers (AST), is the state police agency of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a division of the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS). The Alaska State Troopers is a full-se ...
. Following the run of the Mountie-hero feature, the latest in his line of adventure strips, Sherwood wrote and illustrated the comic-strip version of ''The Flintstones
''The Flintstones'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the activities of the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighb ...
'' for several years. He continued to showcase his distinct illustrative style and sharp, clear lines in producing work for Archie Comics
Archie Comic Publications, Inc., is an American comic book publisher headquartered in Pelham, New York.[Dick Clark
Richard Wagstaff Clark (November 30, 1929April 18, 2012) was an American radio and television personality, television producer and film actor, as well as a cultural icon who remains best known for hosting ''American Bandstand'' from 1956 to 198 ...]
about adapting his syndicated radio program ''Dick Clark's Rock, Roll & Remember
Dick Clark's Rock, Roll and Remember (sometimes shortened to ''Rock, Roll and Remember'') was a weekly American rock and roll radio documentary show hosted by Dick Clark featuring oldies music. It was broadcast on United Stations Radio Networks ...
'' for the Sunday comics page. Clark agreed and, together with Clark and writer Fred Bronson
Fredric M. "Fred" Bronson (born January 10, 1949) is an American journalist, author and writer. He is the author of books related to #1 songs on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and other books related to various music charts as well. He is also k ...
, Sherwood produced the Sunday feature, which appeared in top newspapers including the ''New York Daily News'' and the ''Chicago Sun-Times''. Clark later would option ''Dan Flagg'' for a television project.
Sherwood died on March 6, 2010, still pursuing his childhood love of drawing at the age of 79. He was buried with full military honors at Quantico National Cemetery.
References
Notes
Sources
* Bails, Jerry, compiler.
Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999
'.
* DeMarco, Mario. "Don Sherwood: Marines, Mounties, and Mysteries". ''Comic Buyer's Guide''. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications, February 27, 1987. p. 70–71.
* Green, Charles and Walker, Mort, compilers. ''The National Cartoonists Society Album''. Greenwich, Connecticut: Avenue Printers. 1980.
* Robinson, Jerry. ''The Comics: An Illustrated History of Comic Strip Art''. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1974.
* Sherwood, Don. "Reflections of a Cartoonist". ''Hartwick Review'' 4 (Spring 1968). Oneonta, New York: Journal published by Hartwick College. Fred Karl Scheibe, ed. p. 11–13.
* Shoup, David. Personal inscription to Don Sherwood: 1963.
* Walker, Brian. ''The Comics Since 1945''. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 2002.
* Walker, Mort. ''Backstage at the Strips''. New York: Mason/Charter. 1975.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sherwood, Don
1930 births
2010 deaths
American cartoonists
American comics artists
People from Oneonta, New York
Burials at Quantico National Cemetery