Peter Millar (1929 – 2003) was an American

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 ...

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

drag racer Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most c ...

best known for his work with ''

CARtoons A cartoon is a type of visual art that is typically drawn, frequently animated, in an unrealistic or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved over time, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or series of images ...

'' and ''Drag Cartoons'' magazines. Millar often used the pen name "Millarkey".

Career

''Arin Cee''

Millar's first published strip was ''Arin Cee'', produced for ''Rod & Custom'' (''R&C'') magazine beginning in 1955 and continuing into the 1960s.

''CARtoons Magazine''

Millar co-created ''

CARtoons Magazine ''CARtoons magazine'' is an American publication that focuses on automotive humor and hot rod artwork. Originated by Carl Kohler and drag-racing artist Pete Millar, it was published by Robert E. Petersen Publication Company as a quarterly startin ...

'' in 1959, which was published by the

Petersen Publishing Company Robert Einar "Pete" Petersen (September 10, 1926 – March 23, 2007) was an American publisher who founded the Petersen Automotive Museum in 1994.Hevesi, Dennis (March 27, 2007)Robert Petersen, Publisher of Auto Buff Magazines, Dies at 80.''Ne ...

. The first issue of ''CARtoons'' included the story of the

hot rod Hot rods are typically American cars that might be old, classic, or modern and that have been rebuilt or modified with large engines optimised for speed and acceleration. One definition is: "a car that's been stripped down, souped up and made ...

community as a social collective and introduced the term " Rumpsville" (referring to "

heaven"). Millar worked on ''CARtoons'' until 1963, when he was replaced by ''

Hot Rod Hot rods are typically American cars that might be old, classic, or modern and that have been rebuilt or modified with large engines optimised for speed and acceleration. One definition is: "a car that's been stripped down, souped up and made ...

'' editor and "

Stroker McGurk Stroker McGurk is a cartoon character created by Tom Medley, featured in ''Hot Rod'' and ''Rod & Custom''. Medley's famed creation debuted in the third issue of ''Hot Rod'', and continued in the magazine until 1955. He would reappear briefly in ...

" creator

Tom Medley Tom or TOM may refer to: * Tom (given name), a diminutive of Thomas or Tomás or an independent Aramaic given name (and a list of people with the name) Characters * Tom Anderson, a character in '' Beavis and Butt-Head'' * Tom Beck, a character ...

''Drag Cartoons''/Millar Publishing

In June 1963 Millar founded ''Drag Cartoons'' under the Millar Publishing Company label. ''Drag Cartoons'' featured early adventures of

Gilbert Shelton Gilbert Shelton (born May 31, 1940) is an American cartoonist and a key member of the underground comix movement. He is the creator of the iconic underground characters ''The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers'', '' Fat Freddy's Cat'', and ''Wonder W ...

's iconic

underground comix Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books that are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, ...

character

Wonder Wart-Hog Wonder Wart-Hog (the "Hog of Steel") is an underground comic book character, a porcine parody of Superman, created by Gilbert Shelton and first published in 1962. Over the years, Shelton has worked on the strip in collaboration with various writer ...

, who appeared in many issues. Millar published 49 issues of ''Drag Cartoons'' between 1963 and 1968. Then Mike Doherty published at least six issues of ''The Best of Drag Cartoons'' from 1969 to 1971, and the one-shot ''The Wildest Drag Cartoons'' #1 in 1970. (The title was later continued for two additional issues by a different publisher in 1999 and 2000.)"Drag Cartoons,"
Grand Comics Database. Accessed Nov. 14, 2016: "There was a 31-year gap between #49 and #49 0 In the interim, the title was turned over to, and restarted by three other companies." Millar Publishing Company also produced two issues of a ''Wonder Wart-Hog'' comic book in 1968, as well as four issues of the popular ''

Big Daddy Roth Ed "Big Daddy" Roth (March 4, 1932 – April 4, 2001) was an American artist, cartoonist, illustrator, pinstriper and custom car designer and builder who created the hot rod icon Rat Fink and other characters. Roth was a key figure in So ...

'' magazine in 1964–1965.

European sabbatical

In 1968, Millar and his wife and three daughters left the U.S. and traveled through Europe, living in Sweden and Spain, and touring Finland, the Soviet Union, and other Eastern Bloc and Mediterranean countries. Millar financed much of their trip through illustration work for American magazines; he also began making fine art paintings.

''Drag Comics'' and other work

Returning to the U.S. in 1971, Millar created and published six issues of ''Pete Millar's Drag Comics'' while also working as an illustrator and

scale model A scale model is a physical model which is geometrically similar to an object (known as the prototype). Scale models are generally smaller than large prototypes such as vehicles, buildings, or people; but may be larger than small prototypes ...

builder. His work was used in court proceedings to demonstrate traffic and industrial accidents.

Sculpture

Millar was also a bronze sculptor with his main emphasis focus being

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

art depicting dramatic scenes of horseback riding, cowboys, bronco riders, mountain men, Native Americans, and more.Bernsau, Tim
"Pete Millar’s Western Sculptures,"
''Rod and Custom'' magazine website (June 26, 2009). His pieces are signed and numbered, usually limited to 200-300 per sculpture. They often sell for thousands of dollars, and one of his pieces was recently being offered in an art gallery in a large Las Vegas casino. Millar's sculpting began after his daughter brought home some clay for a school art project. He had fun with the clay and progressed from there. He was eventually commissioned by major galleries to produce works for their clientele.

Exhibitions

* 2008

Pasadena Museum of California Art The Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA) was an art museum located in Pasadena, California, United States, showcasing art and design originating from California. The museum was founded by long-time Pasadena residents and art collectors Robert ...

(Pasadena, California): "Tales from the Strip: The Hot Rod Comics and Drag Racing Cartoons of Pete Millar"

References

External links

LaffYerAsphalt.com
official Pete Millar site, maintained by his wife and daughter

{{DEFAULTSORT:Millar, Pete 1929 births 2003 deaths American cartoonists American comics artists American male sculptors Dragster drivers People from Palos Verdes, California