Five Oklahoma cartoonists, two toy lines receive honors

By Matthew Price

Published: November 2, 2007

PAULS VALLEY — One is from a galaxy far, far away. The other features the World's Greatest Superheroes. The Mego and "Star Wars” action figure lines were the two toy lines inducted to the Toy and Action Figure Museum's hall of fame last weekend.

In addition, five Oklahomans were named to the Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection Hall of Fame housed in the Toy and Action Figure Museum, 111 S. Chickasaw St.

The toy lines inducted were the Mego 8-inch action figure line, and the original Kenner "Star Wars” 3¾-inch action figure line.

"The Mego line was one of the earliest lines that highlighted superheroes, and they went on to get a lot of licenses,” museum curator Kevin Stark said.

Meanwhile, the George Lucas juggernaut "Star Wars” line showed how influential action figures based on a film could be.

"(The ‘Star Wars' line) was one of the first to bring vehicles and playsets into the action figure market,” Stark said.

Five Oklahomans were honored in the Oklahoma Cartoonist Collection: Steve Erwin, Don Flowers, Archie Goodwin, Zack Mosley and Don Woods.

"We're very honored to have these cartoonists in the hall of fame,” Stark said. "Their contributions to the world of comics are tremendous.”

Erwin, born in 1960, co-created the titles "Gunfire” and "Checkmate” for DC Comics, and was the artist for the popular "Deathstroke: The Terminator” comic featuring Slade Wilson. Erwin attended high school in Tulsa and graduated from Oklahoma State University Technical School in Okmulgee.

At the induction banquet, Erwin made an emotional speech, thanking his wife for helping support his efforts to break into the comics industry.

Flowers, who grew up in Custer City, drew the comic strips "Glamor Girls” for King Features and "Modest Maidens” for the Associated Press. At its peak, "Glamor Girls” ran in nearly 300 newspapers. Fantagraphics recently reprinted some of his work in the book "The Glamor Girls of Don Flowers.” Flowers died in 1968. More information can be found at www.donflowers.pinupcartoongallery.com/.

Goodwin, who attended Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, was an influential comic-book writer and editor. He was briefly Marvel Comics' editor-in-chief in 1976. As an editor at DC Comics, he shepherded James Robinson's acclaimed "Starman” and the award-winning "Batman: The Long Halloween.” As a writer, he created the Paul Kirk "Manhunter” character with artist Walter Simonson. Goodwin died in 1998.

Mosley was the creator of the aviation strip "Smilin' Jack.” He was born in Hickory in 1906. "Smilin' Jack” ran from 1933 to 1973, and Mosley was himself a licensed pilot. More information about Mosley is available at www.smilinjackart.com.

Woods was a Tulsa weatherman known for his creation, Gusty. Woods joined KTUL in Tulsa in 1954. Each day, Woods' Gusty drawing would indicate the day's weather. Gusty was named the official state cartoon symbol of Oklahoma in 2005. For more information, visit www.gusty.us.

More information about the Toy and Action Figure Museum is available at www.actionfiguremuseum.com.

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