Randy Garrett

By Lou Koza

Like many little boys and girls growing up across America in the 50’s, reading Superman and Action Comics was a daily activity. One could escape into a world far different than their own.  It didn't matter whether the child lived in the most remote rural local or the big city.  And it didn't matter whether or not you were happy or unhappy in the world you lived in.  If you're born to imagine, you're going to imagine, it’s that simple. If you read these two popular National Comics, most likely you watched each week, The Adventures of Superman. 

A young mind will adapt to just about anything, especially if stimulated by something that touches a nerve.  The young mind, will eventually try to emulate what it sees.  The mind, if encouraged will continue accordingly.  If the mind is discouraged by a parent hoping their child will grow up to be a doctor, or engineer it may either go that direction, or stay the course and develop what comes natural.  

In the late ’50, early 60’s lived a little boy somewhere between remotely rural and the big city, who just happened to liked drawing Superman  This little boy was heavily influenced by two very unique individuals, Curt Swan, who would become the definitive Superman artist and George Reeves who would become the definitive live action Superman / Clark Kent.  If one were to analyze the images Curt laid down to paper, you’ll notice he is an artist totally unique to his own style.  Each panel consist of many unique and imaginary people, moving in real life ways. Curt allowed his audience to transform themselves within a world other than their own, but yet not letting them get to far away that they could not understand the world they've been miraculously transferred to, is just slightly different.  That difference was Superman.       

Superman came to the television and moved in a way unlike the comics in the form of George Reeves.  Just as Curt Swan would bring Superman to life on the page, George Reeves did the same in moving images.  To millions of kids, this handsome man with a stern voice when locking up bad guys and an infectious smile once his rescuing of Lois, Jimmy and Perry from danger was over. Superman on television was an immediate sensation. Especially to a little boy named Randy Garrett. As a child, Randy would draw Superman in flight, winning the attention and approval of everyone he showed his colored Crayola drawings.

Thirty years later, Randy became a major contributor to The Adventures Continue, published by both Don Rhoden and Jim Nolt.  It was Randy’s work that gave readers the issues immediate identification with his logo design.  Fans eager for the next issue could count on Randy returning issue after issue.  It became the hallmark of each issue.  Randy’s work captured George perfect and had the right feel of the show.  But not just in a nostalgic way.  His illustrations generated a feeling of seeing George and his TV friends Phyllis Coates, John Hamilton, Noel Neill, Jack Larson and Robert Shayne in a new light. The work was always professional, well thought out and interesting to say the least.  His attention to detail was important to the readers and Randy continued to rise to the occasion.  Never in any image can it be pointed out Randy missed his marked. Each and every illustration is tight and refreshing.

In 1996, Randy combined his talents with the enormous gathering of information provided by Jim Nolt to develop a 1997 calendar of events.  These events reflected special dates associated with the life of George and also relative to The Adventures of Superman. With each calendar month, Randy provided a breathtaking image reminiscent to the show.  Randy gave fans twelve plus the cover new illustrations, in addition to the three per year with each TAC issue.  With each illustration, one could enjoy the special work that went into creating this.  In 1997, Randy and Jim would prepare the 1998 calendar an equal high standard of quality.   

If the output of all those calendar illustrations had any positive effect, it gave Randy the experience to take on another major project.  In 2001, Randy announced his intention to illustrate Superman and the Secret Planet.  Superman and the Secret Planet was a script to be turned into a film for a theater audience.  Probably for budget reasons, the script was never realized in its motion picture version.  Like Curt Swan of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s who bought Superman to life in the pages of Superman and Action Comics, Randy brought George to life.  He did so by taking his well tuned skills and developing the Superman and the Secret Planet script.  It is an artistic achievement no one other than Randy could have realized.  Randy perfected the likeness of each character.  Most unique and because of his well rounded knowledge of the subject, Randy was able to inject almost every character actor whose ever played in the episodes into Secret Planet.

In Secret Planet, you'll find the familiar faces of Tris Coffin as Zonar, also Peter Brocco, Richard Reeves, Lane Bradford, Philips Teed and many, many others.  To a standing ovation, Randy delivered fan favorite Joi Lansing to reprise her role as Sgt. Helen J. O’Hara.  Each illustrated character bears a remarkable resemblance.  Each character shown, are close to exact in size, build and age as they were in 1957, the year Secret Planet would have been filmed.  Well prepared was Randy and his work on Secret Planet is nothing short of astonishing.  Each completed page is followed by fan appreciation and tremendous applause and smiles from both Jack Larson and Noel Neill. 

If George Reeves is the definitive Superman, then it can be said Randy Garrett is the definitive George Reeves – Superman illustrator.  Absolutely no one could have illustrated Superman and the Secret Planet better than Randy Garrett.  Staying true to the subject, Randy kept Superman and the Secret Planet true to form.   There is no telling of how Secret Planet would have transformed had it had a director and live action actors behind it, but one thing is certain, the little boy who drew those colored Crayola drawings of Superman has come closest. 

The work exhibited by Randy is a true inspiration to others and a tribute to George Reeves.  George would have been pleased the impact his life had on others, especially Randy's.

For this, it is our honor to include Randy Garrett into the George Reeves Hall of Fame.

Credits Include:

The Adventures Continue: Issues no. 1 (1987) through 16 (2001).

1997 The Adventures Continue Calendar.

1998 The Adventures Continue Calendar.

The Adventures Continue: Superman and the Secret Planet, 2001 to 2006.