'Cosmo the Merry Martian' #1 (1959).
Bob White was an American comic artist, working on the staff of Archie Comics during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Besides being a productive cover artist for the company's many titles, he was also co-creator of the 'Cosmo the Merry Martian' (1958-1959) character.
Early life
Robert "Bob" White was born in 1928 in Portland, Maine. A graduate of Deering High School, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Back in civilian life, he was able to use the G.I. Bill to finance art studies at the Vesper George Art School in Boston.
Archie Comics
By 1952, Bob White was working in New York City as part of the art staff of Archie Comics, a comic book company specializing in children's comics and romance comics for teenagers. Their flagship characters were a group of teenagers in the town of Riverdale, consisting of Archie Andrews, Jughead Jones, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge and Reggie Mantle, created in 1941 by publisher John Goldwater and comic artist Bob Montana. During about two decades, White produced a great many cover illustrations and art for short comic stories for the many titles revolving around these characters. He was also active as an editorial and production artist. As a staff artist, Bob White also introduced fellow Vesper George graduates Bob Bolling and Dexter Taylor to the Achie editors, who later became instrumental in the company's popular 'Little Archie' title (1954-1983).
Cover illustrations by Bob White.
Bob White's own work with the Archie characters appeared in titles like 'Archie Giant Series Magazine' (1955-1969), 'Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica' (1957-1975), 'Life With Archie' (1958-1968), 'Archie' (1959-1966), 'Archie's Madhouse' (1959-1968), 'Archie's Pals 'n' Gals' (1959-1970), 'Laugh Comics' (1960-1966), 'Archie's Pal Jughead' (1960-1963), 'Pep' (1960-1970), 'Archie Annual' (1961-1971), 'Jughead' (1965-1970), 'Reggie and Me' (1966-1970) and 'Everything's Archie' (1969-1971). With writer Frank Doyle, he was co-creator of the short-lived comic book series featuring Archie's superhero persona, 'Archie as Pureheart the Powerful' (1966-1967). The other artist during its three-issue run was Bill Vigoda. Bob White was also the artist for the 1964 New York World's Fair Archie giveaway comic book.
'Archie as Pureheart the Powerful' #1 (1966).
Besides the regular Archie gang, White also drew stories for 'Pat the Brat' (1957-1959), a comic book about a mischievous boy, obviously inspired by Hank Ketcham's 'Dennis the Menace'. With writer Sy Reit, White co-created the 'Cosmo the Merry Martian' comic book (1958-1959), an attempt by Archie Comics to tie in with the then-current space race. It starred the first Martian to visit Earth, but who ends up on the moon after his spaceship is hit by a meteor. Among the other characters are Cosmo's companion astronaut Orbi, his girlfriend Astra and underground moon creatures called the Oogs. While the original 'Cosmo the Merry Martian' title was canceled after only six issues, the series was rebooted in 2018 by writer Ian Flynn and artists Tracy Yardley and Matt Herms.
Later career
In the mid-1960s, Bob White joined former Archie Comics editor Harry Shorten at his new Tower Comics imprint. There, he drew for 'Tippy Teen', a teen comic book created by former Archie artist Samm Schwartz. As this title was set up as a direct competition to Archie's own teen line, White was fired from his staff position at Archie Comics. In the following years, he however returned to the company on a freelance basis. After his work for Archie Comics, White worked for the United Artists film production company in New York City. He then moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he was active for USAA Insurance and the Oblates Missions before retirement.
Death
Bob White's wife Lili Cortese White died in 1996 after 40 years of marriage. He died in 2005 in San Antonio of complications arising from heart problems.
'Volley Folley' (Tippy Teen #2, 1966).