Current Frew Issue
Reference Guides
Phantom Phans
On This Day
Fan Art
Downloads
What's New
Links
Contact Me
Home

Wilson McCoy was born in Troy, Missouri on April 6th, 1902.   He had worked in an advertising agency for four years until being able to afford enrolment into Washington University's School of Fine Arts in St Louis.

McCoy had assisted Moore on the Phantom comic strip in the 1940s and had even taken over the strip while Moore was on active service during the second world war.  McCoy was not officially credited for his work on the Phantom strips until the story 'Fathers and Sons' on February 21st, 1949.

Below is part of the 1950 Sunday story, 'The Ape Idol of the Durugu' which Wilson McCoy was credited for.

� 1950 King Features Syndicate Inc.

Wilson was very active in the field of the Phantom.  He visited African countries to involve himself in the lives of the local natives and kept a photo file for future reference in his strips.  McCoy also began the very first Phantom 'club' known as The Ancient and Mysterious Order of the Phantom.  Below are two examples of the now rare certificates which were given away to members of this club.

Unfortunately, Wilson McCoy passed away on July 20th, 1961 after a heart attack.  His final daily story, 'The Werewolf' was completed soon before his death and finished running in U.S. newspapers on August 19th of that year.  The Sunday story running at this time, 'The Limper' was continued by Carmen Infantino (who only drew for one week) and later finished by Bill Lignante.

Below is a piece of original art from Wilson McCoy's final daily story, 'The Werewolf'.

� 1961 King Features Syndicate Inc.

Thanks to Ed Rhoades

The Phantom � ™ 1999 King Features Syndicate Inc.
Last Updated:  September 11th, 1999.