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Archie Comics Legend Tom Moore Dies: Discovered Talent During Korean War

By Stacey Cole

From the archive: published Jul 24, 2015, 11 years ago. Details may have changed since.

Archie Comics cartoonist Tom Moore, who helped catapult the freckled youth from the fictional town of Riverdale into popular public imagination, passed away in his Texas home in the early hours of Monday morning.

There is an amusing story attached to Moore’s beginnings as a cartoonist. While serving for the US Navy during the Korean War, he started caricaturing the captain of the ship he was stationed in, much to the mirth of his colleagues. However, when his drawings were discovered by the captain, Moore expected to get in trouble, but his senior was so impressed by Moore’s abilities that he reassigned him as the staff cartoonist on board.

The El Paso native then went on to study illustration in New York before joining Archie Comics’ famed team in 1953 (Archie Comics was created in 1941 by John L. Goldwater), and continued drawing for the series for well over thirty years before finally ending his tenure in 1988.

Speaking to the El Paso Times in 1996, Moore had said that he had thoroughly enjoyed his time with Archie Comics, and was proud to have helped one of the most celebrated comic characters of all time find his signature style and looks.

“I have enjoyed what I’ve done and I am pleased that others liked it, too. Who knew Archie could have such universal appeal? I did one comic book a month. I did everything. We always worked six months ahead. I’d be doing Christmas issues in June and beach stories with a foot of snow outside my window.”

A man with a razor sharp sense of humor, Moore was equally well-regarded by his editors. Victor Gorelick, Archie Comics’ editor-in-chief , spoke to Associated Press about Moore’s fantastic ability to draw hilarious gags while never deviating from the core personalities of his main characters, NPR reported.

“Tom was very funny and had a knack for putting together really great, hilarious gags and special pages when he worked at Archie.”

Moore too believed the main character traits have to remain consistent for any comic series to find a sustained readership. During his time with Archie Comics, Moore had said in an interview.

“It’s important to create characters that can adapt to anything, but whose personalities are consistent. Establish that, and don’t deviate. Betty doesn’t act like Veronica, and Charlie Brown doesn’t act like Lucy.”

Archie Comics paid a tribute to Moore by uploading a strip made by him on its official Archie Comics Facebook page with a touching caption.

“Archie Comics is saddened to hear of the passing of artist Tom Moore. Our thoughts are with his family and fans.”

https://www.facebook.com/ArchieComicsOfficial/photos/a.135460744524.107590.91179009524/10153541148304525/?type=1

Archie Comics fans will forever be in debt to this genius for helping to bring Archie and his friends from Riverdale to life.

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