Artist Spotlight - Tony Abruzzo

Tony Abruzzo Cover Pencils Falling in Love #95 (November 1967)

Writing about comic book history wouldn't be nearly as fun or gratifying were it not for the amazing community surrounding it. There are so many wonderful people studying comic books who are willing to share their time, knowledge, and expertise in a field which we are all collectively trying to understand. In the grand scheme of things, it is still a very new field of study and we all benefit from one another's research. Anyhow, one such fellow scholar, Steve Rowe, contacted me a while back and gave me some information on the iconic romance comic book artist Tony Abruzzo. It came at a time when it was most appreciated; quite a few other people had been asking me if I had any information about Abruzzo, and at the time, I was pretty much at a loss. So, thanks to Steve and his generosity, I now have some more information on Abruzzo to share for all our benefit!

"Mad Mad Modes for Moderns" Heart Throbs #107 (April/May 1967)

Before I dive in to what I've learned about Tony Abruzzo, it is important to understand the reason why Abruzzo is so darn important. Besides the fact that Abruzzo was an extremely talented artist in his own right, he is in need of remembrance because his work in large part, is what Roy Lichtenstein built his fame on. Now, the whole Lichtenstein thing is a topic for another post, but I don't think anyone can deny Abruzzo's significance in the history of not only comics, but in popular culture and the arts in general.

Abruzzo and Lichtenstein -- Side by Side from David Barsalou's Deconstructing Roy Lichtenstein

The coolest thing Steve dug up was a 1942 Long Island Daily Press newspaper article about Abruzzo. The article was a great help in tracking down Abruzzo's census information, since the article gave his civilian address at the time. Utilizing the article, the 1940 census, and the United States Social Security Death Index, I was able to come up with a few tidbits. Born June 21st, 1916, Anthony Abruzzo was of Italian heritage. His occupation on the 1940 census is listed as "Fashion Artist" for a dress house. After a career in both the military and the arts, he passed away December 30th, 1990. Though it appears that Abruzzo remained unmarried and without children, he left behind a prolific body of work. The newspaper article is a really great read, and gives us a snapshot of Abruzzo as a young artist:

Dress Designer's Doing Swell Illustrating Lines of Jeeps

     It wasn't so long ago Tony Abruzzo of Ozone Park was designing dresses and his creations were eagerly snapped up by many of Park Avenue's best-dressed women.
     Now he is at Fort Knox, Ky., drawing tanks, scout cars and jeeps for special training manuals prepared for members of the Army Armored Force.
     The ex-dress designer, now Corporal Abruzzo, is doing a swell job at his new assignment.
     One of his superior officers, describing the military sketches, said:
     "They are a far cry from the old style diagrams. Abruzzo's drawings have perspective. They show the reader exactly what happens under given military situations."
     Until he was called to service on Jan. 28, Corporal Abruzzo resided at 102-03 103rd avenue. He lived in Ozone Park for 14 years.
     Abruzzo studied at Pratt Institute and the Traphagen Institute of Design.
     In addition to creating dress designs, he did fashion ads for the big stores and sold free lance sketches.
     "I was all ready to go to Paris," he said, "when the Nazi war machine changed my plans. Then I was called to service so I'll have to forget about dress designing for the duration."
     His aunt was a dressmaker and, as a girl in Italy, his grandmother made trosseaus [sic] for the royal family.
     He sketches dress designs in his spare time and vainly tries to find copies of the current fashion magazines at the Post Exchange.
     "But I don't have much spare time," he grinned. "Every day, and quite a few nights, I'm making illustrations for the Army training manuals.
     "And I don't think the Army khaki needs redesigning. It's made for fighting and I can't think of any improvements.
     "Until the war is over, I draw tanks instead of dresses."

There really isn't a whole lot of concrete information about Abruzzo besides the previously mentioned items. I have not been able to find any details on how he entered into the comic book business, or what he did after, but his legacy remains in the pages of the romance comics. I will certainly do an update if I acquire any more information on this important artist and fascinating man.

With a signature tilted neck, Abruzzo's characters are equal parts sweet and sassy "Mad Mad Modes for Moderns" Young Love #63 (September/October 1967)

Abruzzo frequently used floral motifs in his work. Young Romance #144 (October/November 1966)

Steve suggested I get in touch with Robin Snyder and see if he had any information on Abruzzo from Robert Kanigher's files. When I contacted Robin Snyder he wrote to me in an email,

"I have been looking for this fellow for over 30 years. He is the great lost mystery man of the comics. Tony worked for National for about 20 years and no one could tell me his name when I uncovered a huge number of pages of his original artwork during my tour of duty there. I advertised for help and asked everyone at the company. No one knew or cared. You may have noticed most fans dismiss love unless it is in a so-called super title... 

"Love 'Em and Leave 'Em!" Pencils: Tony Abruzzo Girls' Romances #131 (March 1968)

...Robert Kanigher walked into my office one day, glanced at the pages, and asked me what I was doing with so many pages by Tony Abruzzo. Several years later I was sitting on a convention panel with John Romita and mentioned this mystery. He not only remembered Tony but told me he had inked some of his stories. That is just about it. How is that for a tragic love story?"

"Too Late for Love!" Pencils: Tony Abruzzo Young Romance #153 (April/May 1968)

Tragic indeed. So today, let's remember and celebrate this amazing artist who doesn't get nearly enough credit for his contributions to modern culture, and hope that someday, more clues on the life of this talented man will surface. 

For more information on other creators of the romance comics, read How to Go Steady!