Joe Palooka by Ham Fisher
'Joe Palooka'. 

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Ham Fisher (Hammond Edward Fisher) started as a journalist during his teenage years. In 1919, Fisher got his first job as an editorial and sports cartoonist. In 1920, he drew his first 'Joe Palooka' episodes and tried selling them, without success. In the following years, he was a traveling strip salesman for the McNaught Syndicate. In 1927, Fisher moved to New York, where he began looking again for a syndicate willing to buy his comic.

Joe Palooka, by Ham Fisher
'Joe Palooka'.

In 1928, the strip about heavyweight boxing champion 'Joe Palooka' finally began its run. In 1946, 'Lady De Van' by Charles W. Winter ran as a topper comic to 'Joe Palooka'. 

Fisher immediately started looking for young talent to work on 'Joe Palooka' for him, and found Al Capp, among others, who later complained about Fisher's meager wages. In 1955 Ernie Colón also inked on 'Joe Palooka'.

Palooka Joe, by Ham Fisher (1946)
'Joe Palooka'.

Between Fisher and Capp was a 20 year mutual feud. Fisher hired away Capp's assistant Mo Leff, while Capp ridiculed Fisher's plastic surgery in his 'Li'l Abner' comic strip. Out of spite, Fisher took Capp to court on the accusation of obscenity in Capp's Strip, 'Li'l Abner'. To prove his point, he used faked examples of the strip, which he made himself. When this fact came out, Capp won the case, and Fisher was expelled from the National Cartoonists Society.

comic art by Ham Fisher
'Joe Palooka'.

In 1955, Fisher ended his life. 'Joe Palooka' was continued by Tony DiPreta until 1984. 

The feud with Capp and Fisher's suicide have been fictionalized with all names changed and many details altered in the Max Allan Collins mystery novel 'Strip for Murder'.

Ham Fisher was admired by James Montgomery Flagg

Joe Palooka by Ham Fisher
'Joe Palooka'. 

Series and books by Ham Fisher you can order today:

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