Joseph Messerli (1930 - 2010)
JOSEPH MESSERLI was from Texas. His first important job
was to assist cartoonist Charlie Plumb on the ELLA CINDERS
comic strip (United Features Syndicate) at the age of 18.
Since then, a myriad of art jobs, mostly free-lance, everything
from DAFFY DUCK to the TWILIGHT ZONE logo.
Served in the U.S. Army (Korea 1950-1952).
Attended Chouinard Art Institute, Los Angeles on the G.I. Bill.
He "ghosted" the NAPOLEON AND
UNCLE ELBY comic strip in the early '50s
(while at the same time attending Art School).
Assisted Al Wiseman on DENNIS THE MENACE comic books in
the Sequoia National Forest in California (1955-56).
He worked at UPA Studios (designed the very first TWILIGHT ZONE logo)
and NBC Burbank Graphic Arts Department (color illustrations for
the BONANZA credits); he was at Cambria Studio when they
did CLUTCH CARGO, CAPTAIN FATHOM, SPACE ANGEL etc;
for most of the 60s he did the inking and lettering on the FLINTSTONE
daily and Sunday strip and YOGI BEAR daily panel and
Sunday page for Hannah Barbera. His comic book work for
Western Publishing in L.A. included THREE STOOGES,
BUGS BUNNY, PORKY PIG, YOSEMITE SAM,
DAFFY DUCK, CAVE KIDS, FLINTSTONES,
PINK PANTHER, BABY SNOOTS,
WOODY WOODPECKER,
ANDY PANDA and others.
He spent many years doing coloring and activity books
for Western Publishing in New York, L.A., and Racine.
Also in New York: Little Golden Books (Warner Bros. characters),
Marvel Children's Books (FLINTSTONE KIDS,
FOOFUR, SCOOBY-DOO), DC Comics Publications
(DISNEY characters); Random House (Sesame Street).
Born 1930 in Kingsville, Texas.
Print Media
COMIC STRIPS
(Pen & Ink = Pencil and INK)
Assistant and Freelance
ELLA CINDERS daily/Sunday (assistant pen & ink) 1949-51/53-54 for Charlie
Plumb, Fred Fox and Roger Armstrong /United Feature Syndicate;
NAPOLEON AND UNCLE ELBY Daily Sunday (write, ghost pen & ink) for
Mirror Enterprise Syndicate 1953-56
Hanna-Barbera
FLINTSTONES (assistant pen & ink) 1962-69
for Gene Hazelton (McNaught Syndicate)
DENNIS THE MENACE (assistant to Al Wiseman/pen & ink) 1955-57
Magazines
WESTWAYS MAGAZINE (Illustrations); FAIRFIELD
COUNTY MAGAZINE (Cover Art);
LOONEY TUNES & TINY TOONS Magazines (for
DC Comics New York. All Warner Bros. Characters) 1980s
Golden Books (all art in color)
BUGS BUNNY MAROONED! '85; BUGS BUNNY CALLING! '88; TELL-A-TALE:
TOM & JERRY'S BIG MOVE '85; BUGS BUNNY RIDES AGAIN '86; TOM and
JERRY: A VISIT TO THE VET '88; THE PORKY PIG COUNTING BOOK '86
Random House (all art)
SESAME STREET: ELMO and ZOE'S ALPHABET/Coloring Book 2005; HOW
DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? (Paint Box Book) 2002; RAIN OR SHINE
(Painting Book) 2000 FUN IN THE SUN (Sticker Time) 2000; HAPPY EASTER
(Stickerific) 2000; ON THE FARM (Coloring Book) 2000; ON THE GO
(Coloring Book); SESAME STREET MAGAZINE (Color Illustrations)
Artist: Juvenile books 1974-04
Marvel Children's Books
(pen & ink/some color)
FLINTSTONE KIDS; FOOFUR; HEATHCLIFF; FISHER-PRICE
LITTLE PEOPLE; SMOOSHEES; SNUGGLEBUMMS; SCOOBY-DOO
COMIC BOOKS
Western Publishing
BABY SNOOTS (pen & ink) 1974-75; BUGS BUNNY (pen & ink) 1975-83;
CAVE KIDS (pen & ink) 1960s; DAFFY DUCK (pen & ink) 1975-83;
FLINTSTONES (ink) 1970s; PINK PANTHER (pen & ink/) 1979; PORKY PIG
(pen & ink) 1975-83; ROBIN HOOD (ink/some pen/) 1973; THREE STOOGES
(pen & ink) 1960s; ANDY PANDA & WOODY WOODPECKER (pen & ink/)
1975-84; YOSEMITE SAM (pen & ink/) 1981/84
Marvel Comics
Disney Characters: ALADDIN (ink) 1995 BONKERS (ink) 1994;
CHIP 'N' DALE RESCUE RANGERS (ink) 1995;
DARKWING DUCK (ink) 1995; TALESPIN (ink) 1994-95
Non Print Media
NBC Burbank Graphic Arts Department '59-60
SHOW TITLES/BONANZA credits
ILLUSTRATIONS, etc./TONIGHT SHOW
BREAK CARDS ('74)
ANIMATION STUDIOS
UPA Pictures Artist (Staff): 1957-60 '57-59 TWILIGHT ZONE logo; various
TITLES, COMMERCIALS
Cambria Studio Staff Artist: 1960-63-68 Clutch Cargo '60-61;
Space Angel '67; Captain Fathom '65
Animedia, Inc.
Art Director: 1969-73
CHECK OUT these sites:
An article about the Twilight Zone Titles at The Twilight Zone Museum
A blog post about Joe's work on Flintstones comic strips
Joe Messerli's JacketFlap Profile
An article on 'The Distinct Graphic Look of The Twilight Zone' at the Paley Center for Media
mark a. hicks illustrator
Joe Messerli's LinkedIn Profile
Book Landing's List of Bookmark and Share Children's Authors & Illustrators on the Web
© Joseph Messerli
draw.lots@yahoo.com
