CREATOR PROFILE: FLETCHER HANKS
Fletcher Hanks may not be a household name in the world of comic books, but his sheer creativity and influence on the underground comics of the 1960s have earned him a lasting place in comic book history.
Early Life and Career
Born on December 1st, 1889, Hanks was active in the comic book industry for only three years, from 1939 to 1941. Despite his brief career, he created some of the most imaginative characters and storylines ever seen in comics—both before and after his time. During his career, Hanks worked under a variety of pseudonyms, including Hank Christy, Charles Netcher, C.C. Star, Barclay Flagg, Bob Jordan, Lance Ferguson, Chris Fletcher, Henry Fletcher, and Carlson Merrick. His most notable creations were Stardust the Super Wizard and Fantomah.
Breaking In
Hanks got his start through a correspondence school and eventually found himself working under Will Eisner at the Eisner & Iger Shop. This bustling studio was responsible for creating comic book content for numerous major publishers. Eisner recalled Hanks as an extremely punctual artist, whose early work was influenced by the renowned Basil Wolverton.
Hanks was unique in that he was the sole creator behind his comic stories, handling not only the writing and art but also lettering and coloring. At the time, Hanks was one of the oldest creators in the comic book industry.
Notable Works: Stardust and Fantomah
Hanks produced most of his work for Fiction House and Fox Features Syndicate. His ghostly "mystery woman of the jungle," Fantomah, first appeared in Jungle Comics #15 in 1940—months before the debut of Wonder Woman.
Fantomah was visually striking. Hanks had a unique ability to render a beautiful woman, influenced by the fashion illustrators of the time. Fantomah’s power, however, was what made her stand out: the ability to transform into a hideous, skull-faced creature in order to punish evildoers. This transformation was part of Hanks’ larger theme of blending the supernatural and bizarre into his stories.
Hanks' most famous creation, Stardust the Super Wizard, was a towering figure with an oversized body and a head that appeared too small for his massive frame. Stardust was portrayed as a near-omnipotent hero capable of taking on the most incredible challenges, including surviving the destruction of planets. His bizarre adventures often broke conventional comic book norms, such as stories where bodiless heads attack or where the Earth loses its gravitational pull, sending humanity floating into space.
Hanks' Style and Influence
Hanks’ crude, exaggerated art style fit perfectly within the Golden Age of Comics, a time when many artists were just starting their careers or had been rejected by more prestigious comic strip syndicates. His work was eccentric, often venturing into the surreal and bizarre—perfectly suited to the experimental nature of early comic books.
A Mysterious Exit and Later Rediscovery
Though it remains unclear whether Hanks left the comics industry in 1941 or simply faded out of view, records indicate that he resurfaced in 1958 as a politician in Oxford, Maryland, where he remained active until the 1960s.
In the late 1960s, a group of underground comic creators rediscovered Hanks' work and gave it a cult following. They admired his oddball style, strange characters, and completely out-there storylines. His influence was particularly felt in the emerging underground comics scene, which was known for its embrace of non-mainstream, avant-garde material.
Personal Life and Final Years
Little is known about Hanks' personal life beyond the fact that he married a woman named Margaret in 1912, and they had four children. Many of the scant biographical details we have about him come from his children.
Sadly, Hanks’ later years were marked by hardship. He was found dead on January 22, 1976, penniless and frozen to a park bench in Manhattan. Despite this tragic end, his legacy endures through his work.
Legacy
Hanks’ work has been rediscovered and celebrated posthumously. In 2007, Fantagraphics Books published I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets, a collection of his most notable stories, followed by You Shall Die by Your Own Evil Creation in 2009. In 2016, both volumes were combined into a single omnibus edition titled Turn Loose Our Death Rays and Destroy Them, ensuring that his unique contributions to the world of comics continue to inspire fans and creators alike.
