Harry Lucey

Harry Lucey (November 13, 1913 – August 28, 1984) was an American comic artist best known for his work in MLJ and Archie Comics. He was the primary artist on Archie, the company's flagship title, from the late 1950s through the mid-1970s.

Career

Lucey, who graduated from the Pratt Institute in 1935, worked on both adventure and humor titles for MLJ, including acting as the regular artist on The Hangman, before being drafted into the United States Army. After being discharged, he spent several years working in advertising. In 1949, he rejoined MLJ, which by that time had changed its name to Archie Comics.

Harry was as dedicated as they came. I remember Harry delivering a job three hours late. He came to the art department covered with blood. He had been hit by a car. Though not seriously hurt, he should have gone to a hospital. No way. He had to keep that deadline. He took some white paint, cleaned up the blood from the artwork and went home. Amazing.

In the late 1960s, Lucey's health began to deteriorate. He developed an allergy to graphite which required him to wear gloves while drawing. In 1976, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and abruptly retired from Archie Comics; his inker, Chic Stone, temporarily succeeded him as penciller on Archie. He died of prostate cancer and complications from ALS in 1984.

Personal life Lucey's wife Helen Tokar was the sister of Betty Tokar Jankovich, who briefly dated Bob Montana and was the inspiration for Betty Cooper.