Zekley - Dud Dudley comic strip 13rd november 1955 Artist: Zeke Zekley (Penciller)

Zekley - Dud Dudley comic strip 13rd november 1955

Artist: Zeke Zekley (Penciller) 

 Dud Dudley Sunday comic strip by Zeke Zekley, 11/13/55. Pen and ink with blue pencil shading. 59 cm * 41 cm (23 1/8" * 16 1/8").  The name “Charlie McAdam” seen in the balloon in the top, first panel is an inside joke: McAdam was president of McNaught Syndicate, Zekley’s employer. 

Zeke Zekley, George McManus’ longtime assistant on ‘Bringing Up Father’, worked as a cartoonist in Detroit before moving to California. Discovered by McManus’ brother, Zekley was hired as McManus’ assistant in 1935. He helped on the inking and lettered the strip, but soon became a collaborator, pencilling and scripting. When McManus died in 1954, it wasn’t Zekley who succeeded him, but Vernon Greene. Zekley then created ‘Dud Dudley’ in 1955, as well as ‘Peachie Keen’ and a panel, ‘Popsie’. Zekley devoted his energy to his own company, Sponsored Comics, which produced comic books for commercial and advertising purposes. The comics were given out at McDonald’s and regional stores, etc. He also handled PS Magazine, the Army’s semi-educational book, produced for many years by Will Eisner.