Al Feldstein, a renowned comic book artist and editor, was born in 1925 in the bustling borough of Brooklyn, New York. His fascination with comics and comic art began at a young age, and he pursued his passion by attending art school at night while working as an assistant for a comic publisher during the day.
Following his stint in the Army Air Corp during World War II, Feldstein returned to the world of comics as a freelancer. In 1947, he landed a job with EC Comics, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become an editor. During his tenure at EC, Feldstein was responsible for editing, writing, drawing, and creating some of the company's most iconic titles, including Tales From the Crypt, Vault of Horror, Haunt of Fear, Weird Science, Weird Fantasy, Crime Suspenstories, Shock Suspenstories, and Panic.
Feldstein was particularly famous for his eerie and unsettling artwork, which often featured bizarre aliens and graphic horror imagery. However, he was also a skilled adapter, responsible for bringing the works of renowned authors such as Ray Bradbury to the comic book format. Additionally, Feldstein played a significant role in publishing the early works of celebrated writer Harlan Ellison.
In 1955, EC Comics exited the comic book business to focus on publishing its popular humor magazine, MAD. After MAD creator Harvey Kurtzman left the company, Feldstein became the editor, a position he held until his retirement in 1984. During his editorship, he oversaw the creation of MAD's iconic mascot, Alfred E. Neuman, and successfully increased the magazine's circulation to nearly 3,000,000.
Now residing in Montana, Feldstein still pursues his artistic passion, albeit with a focus on wildlife and nature subjects. Despite his retirement from the comic book industry, his legacy as a pioneer in the field of comics and his contributions to the world of MAD magazine continue to be celebrated.
