Stan Drake

Stan Drake was born in Brooklyn in November, 1921. He went to the Art Students League, where he learned figure-drawing from the famous George Bridgman. During his education, he earned some money by illustrating for magazines like Popular Detective and Popular Sports. At the same time, he worked as an assistant on comic books like 'Black Window' and cooperated with Bob Lubbers, Bob Bugg and Stan Lee. In 1941, he went into the army, but after the war, he immediately reported to Madison Avenue at the Perlowin advertising studios.

While working in the advertising field, he began a studio with Bob Lubbers and John Celardo. Drake eventually teamed up with Al Capp's younger brother Elliot Caplin, and began the 'Heart of Juliet Jones' newspaper strip. Even before Drake created one drawing, the comic was sold to 90 newspapers. In March 1953, 'The Heart of Juliet Jones' began its run as a daily strip, distributed by King Features Syndicate. The Sunday comic began a year later. In 1956, he was seriously injured in an automobile accident that also ended the life of Alex Raymond.

Recovered, he continued to work on his highly successful soap opera newspaper strip. He also began to work as a sports illutrator, contributing to Golf Digest Magazine and several books on golf. In the late 1970s, Drake began 'Pop Idols', a series of pop star biographies, for the United Features Syndicate. Between 1981 and 1988, he drew for the French market and created 'Kelly Green' with Leonard Starr. From 1984 until his death in 1997, he also drew 'Blondie', created by Chic Young, and still written by the creator's son Dean Young. In 1989, he handed over 'The Heart of Juliet Jones' to Frank Bolle.