Al Hartley Centennial

This week mark's what would have been the 100th birthday of Christian comics legend Allan "Al" Hartley. Just as I did in 2016 for the centennial birthday of Jack Hamm, I plan to create a page of resources for more information about Al Hartley's work. Return to this page for updates and a look at my growing Al Hartley Collection.

Christmas Library 2020: Singing "Joy To The World"

"Joy To The World" by James R. Stewart Jr.
This image may be freely used for ministry with source acknowledgments.

After years of studying Christian cartoonists Jack Hamm, Al Hartley, other Christian artists, and vintage Christmas artwork, I thought I would give a try at a teaching and inspirational one-panel drawing. This image is based on an old newspaper ad with choir boys. 

"Joy To The World" is the classic, traditional Christmas hymn written by minister Isaac Watts, and first published in 1719. While associated with Christmas, some of the inspiration behind Watts lyrics actually comes from Psalm 98 in which God revealed his plan for salvation through the nation of Israel, and that salvation is praiseworthy. Psalm 98 begins with:

Sing to the Lord a new song,

    for he has done marvelous things;

his right hand and his holy arm

    have worked salvation for him.

This Christmas season, while singing or listening to a Christmas hymn, pay attention to the message of the song. Many, including "Joy To The World", teaching not just about Christ's first coming at Christmas, but also for his second coming which will be even more glorious. 

 

Christmas Library 2020: Building An Al Hartley Christian Comics Collection

"Christmas With Archie" by Al Hartley, 1974 Spire Christian Comics.

Al Hartley (1921 - 2003) was a longtime cartoonist & writer for the Archie Comics company who famously used the teenage characters for Christian stories in the 1970s and 1980s. Hartley was a very versatile talent whose work is still distinguishable from most Archie artists with very colorful visual gags, character responses, and Christian inspired sentiment. His comics were very successful and are still sought after by collectors. After dedicating his life to Christ in the late 1960s, Christian messages began appearing in his Archie stories, Christmas tales in particular. 

When he was asked to tone down his messages, Hartley got permission to use the Archie characters for Christian comic books published by Spire Publishing, later Barbour Christian Comics.

One of Hartley's best titles was "Christmas With Archie" (1974). Full of inspiring stories, puzzles and and beautiful artwork it is a treasure of my "Christmas Library". As far as I know, this comic was not reprinted by Barbour publishing in the 1980s so it is one of Hartley's rarest books along with "Archie's Circus (1984) and his testimonial paperback book "Come Meet My Friend" (1977).

It would be great if a full reprinting of all of Hartley's Spire Barbour comics were released again one day. In the meantime, God has blessed me with a growing Hartley Collection of original comics including many biographies & book adaptations, children's books and a book by his son Fred that he illustrated.

I am finding not only the life and testimony of Al Hartley very inspiring but also his unique artistic and storytelling style. I will post more about Hartley in future posts, and like Jack Hamm, God willing I would also do a series for his 100th birthday next October.