Next year, Netherlands-based John Wigmans hope to publish a collection of “The Story of Hiawatha” painted by Dutch artist Hans G. Kresse from the pages of the Amalgamated Press comic Playhour, published in 1957. As part of the project, he’s trying to track down information on one of the company’s Art Editors, Lionel Morgan, who worked on the strip.
The title and content of Playhour is owned by Look and Learn Limited.
“Over the past two decades I have conducted in-depth research on this story, the nursery weekly it was first published in, and the people involved,” John tells downthetubes.
“The story was written by Playhour’s assistant editor, David Roberts, the artwork was done by Dutch artist Hans G. Kresse, his pencil roughs were commented upon by Playhour’s art editor Basil Reynolds, and Kresse’s art agent J.A. de Zwaan (Swan Features Syndicate, Amsterdam) knew how to get him this commission. About all of them, I have enough information to go on.
“Unfortunately, there is one person involved about whom I cannot find much factual information. From Playhour’s pay-sheets I know that Lionel Morgan from the AP art departement drew the heading (‘Inside The Story of Hiawatha in colour’) on the cover of Playhour No. 138 and the internal title for “The Story of Hiawatha” on the centre-pages. But that’s about it. Even the dates/places of his birth and death are unknown to me.
“Any information on the elusive artist Lionel Morgan is appreciated.”
Thanks to previous discussion on the ComicsUK forum, John has been able to discover Lionel was part of the design and lettering department of the Amalgamated Press. He worked on aspects of nursery comics Playhour and Jack & Jill as required, not a regular member of staff on those titles, and the Sexton Blake Library.
He is mentioned in passing in John Sanders book, King’s Reach: John Sanders’ Twenty-Five Years at the Top of Comics, as heading up Leonard Matthews “Experimental Art” department with Gordon Wesley.
Can anyone help? If so, please comment below – or drop us a line and we’ll pass the information onThat is why I turn to the readers of this group.
• Lambiek: Hans G. Kresse (3rd December 1921 – 12th March 1992)
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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