Joe Simon

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Joe Simon (October 11, 1913 – December 14, 2011) was an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. He is best known for co-creating Captain America with artist Jack Kirby. Simon was a key figure in the Golden Age of Comic Books and played a significant role in the development of the comic book industry.

Early Life

Joe Simon was born Hymie Simon in Rochester, New York. He was the son of Harry Simon, a tailor, and Rose Simon. Simon showed an early interest in art and attended Rochester Institute of Technology.

Career

Simon began his career in the 1930s as a newspaper artist for the Rochester Journal-American. He later moved to New York City where he entered the comic book industry. Simon's first published comic book work appeared in Funnies, Inc., a comic book packager.

Timely Comics

In 1940, Simon was hired by Timely Comics, the company that would later become Marvel Comics. It was here that he teamed up with Jack Kirby to create Captain America, who debuted in Captain America Comics #1 in March 1941. The character quickly became a patriotic symbol during World War II.

DC Comics

After leaving Timely, Simon and Kirby worked for DC Comics, where they created several notable characters, including the Boy Commandos and the Newsboy Legion.

Post-War Career

Following World War II, Simon and Kirby formed their own studio and produced a variety of genres, including romance, horror, and crime comics. They created the first romance comic book, Young Romance, which was a significant success.

Later Years

In the 1960s, Simon worked in advertising and returned to comics sporadically. He also wrote an autobiography, Joe Simon: My Life in Comics, which was published in 2011.

Legacy

Joe Simon's contributions to the comic book industry are immense. He was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1999. His work continues to influence comic book writers and artists.

Personal Life

Simon was married to Harriet Feldman, and they had three children. He passed away on December 14, 2011, in New York City.

Related Pages

• Captain America
• Jack Kirby
• Timely Comics
• Marvel Comics
• DC Comics
• Golden Age of Comic Books
• Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame

External Links

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