Richard Comely

Richard Comely (born October 9, 1950) is a Canadian comic book creator, penciller, inker, letterer, colorist editor, and publisher. He created and wrote the Captain Canuck comic book series which has been in and out of publication since its original release in 1975. In 2011, Minds Eye Entertainment bought the rights Captain Canuck to produce a live-action film adaptation. In 2012, Comely entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with CEO of Chapterhouse Comics Fadi Hakim to produce animation, merchandise, and a new comic book series under Captain Canuck Incorporated.

Life and career Richard Comely was born in Oxford, England in 1950 and relocated to Canada as a child in 1953. Comely was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in 1971. Married since 1975 to Evelyn, Comely is the father of eight children. Comely had worked as a sign painter; crest designer; fashion and embroidery designer; an illustrator/paste-up artist for a printer; and a graphic designer for newspapers, magazines, and advertising. He also produced a best-selling art education video "Drawing from the Pros".

He began publishing the Captain Canuck comic book series in early 1975 with co-creator Ron Leishman whom he met at an LDS Church meeting. It was the first independently published comic book to be printed in full color. The character was named Captain Canuck as a variation of Captain Canada. Despite being criticized for appearing to be a prank, the name was intended as a positive slang term for a Canadian.

Captain Canuck "[outsold] all other comic books in Canada in 1975," with 170,000 copies initially sent to stores and newsstands in the United States and Canada. Comely released a new Captain Canuck series in summer 2006.

According to the Panama City News Herald, Comely said that he has more interest in promoting his character Captain Canuck than creating new comics. In 2011, Minds Eye Entertainment acquired the right to Captain Canuck with intentions to adapt the series into a live-action film. In 2012, they hired Arne Olsen to write the screenplay; however, as of 2020, there have been no updates on the film adaptation.