Alex Raymond (October 2nd 1909- September 6th 1956)

X-9 daily original art 4/25/1934

Alexander "Alex" Raymond was born in New Rochelle, NY. He studied art and illustration at the Grand Central School of Art in NYC. In the 1930s he began a series of illustrating jobs "ghosting" such comic strips as "Tillie the Toiler" and "Blondie". In 1933, Raymond and writer Don Moore were asked to develop a comic strip to compete with the popular character "Buck Rogers." Their creation, "Flash Gordon", was an immediate hit, spawning a number of Saturday morning serials, animated cartoons, and feature films.

Raymond also created a strip with mystery writer Dashiell Hammett, "Secret Agent X-9", and worked on both strips simultaneously. During this period, Raymond's style improved dramatically, and his work was very influential on such future artists as Frank Frazetta, Al Williamson, and Wayne Boring.

Raymond left both strips in 1944, when he joined the US Marine Corps. He served in the Pacific theatre during WWII, and left the Marines in 1946, with the rank of Major. After the war, Raymond developed one more comic strip, "Rip Kirby", about a detective/scientist. Raymond's life was cut short in 1956, when he was killed, but his creations live on.

Offered here is an X-9 daily, dated 4/25/1934, featuring one of the more beautiful women Raymond ever drew and the Villain! Pen and ink on paper, art measures 25" x 6" and is in overall Fine condition.