259:(1950–51), about do-gooder Mr. Holiday and his young assistant Rod O'Keef, who is concerned about the state of holidays: "Last New Year's showed a steep increase in hangovers... Lovers' quarrels on Valentine's Day... Tree chopping on Arbor Day... Hunger at Thanksgiving... Even the ground hog refused to live up to his tradition." The strip was "not successfully distributed" by the syndicate, the
176:, Matera was promised a staff position starting after graduation. (During this period, Matera also studied with the Correspondence Art Institute.) Following his graduation in 1942, Matera returned to spend eight months with Quality, though his credits for that time are spotty due to the industry's then-prevalent practice of rarely crediting comic-book creators.
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comic given to teachers and school administrators in introduce the concept. He was the initial artist on writer-creator Max Pine's long-running feature "Chuck White" (later "Chuck White and His
Friends"), contributing to that schoolboy's
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from 1984 to 2004. In addition to his extensive experience in newspaper strips, Matera also spent many years in the
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in 1936, but supporting character Steve Roper edged into the title in 1944, with the dramatic adventure renamed
290:(1956–65) in 1957, between artists Mike Roy and Jim Christiansen; ghosted for credited artist Marvin Bradley on
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Upon his military discharge in 1947, Matera found work assisting
Andriola on the dramatic strip
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https://web.archive.org/web/20140108193903/http://penandbrush.net/MATERA_.html%7D%7D
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Beginning with the strip for April 8, 1985, Matera began his two-decade run drawing
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424:'s 46-page story "The Boy Who Cried Hulk!" in the black-and-white comics magazine
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In 1950, Matera and comic book writer Chad Kelly teamed to do the short-lived
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316:(1982), written by Sharman DiVono. He additionally had brief stints ghosting
208:. Requesting combat service, Matera was sent to for additional training in
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507:"Epilogue: Cartoonist Fran Matera drew 'Steve Roper' adventure series"
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during World War II. During basic training, he was assigned to the
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resident in his later years, Matera was a guest at that state's
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from 1947 to 1969. The series originated as the comedy strip
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After marrying his wife
Patricia, Matera moved with her to
296:(1948- ) from 1976 to 1978; drew the movie tie-in
710:. Tampa Comic Book & Toy Convention. Archived from
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244:(1932–57) from 1947 to 1949, succeeding strip creator
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United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
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Matera died from prostate cancer on March 15, 2012.
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stories and covers. In the 1950s, he contributed to
109:(December 9, 1924 – March 15, 2012) was an American
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598:"Pinellas cartoonist drew a piece of WWII history"
771:. (entry) ERBZine: ERB Illustrated Encyclopedia.
200:department to help create a camp newspaper, the
363:Between 1950 and 1976, Matera drew hundreds of
716:10/7/08 - Added Pablo Marcos, Fran Matera....
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493:via GenealogyBank.com. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
328:. From 1974 to 1975, he worked on the strip
240:(1943–83). Matera went on to draw the strip
204:, and he drew the Marine Corps' comic strip
577:. Fran Matera official site. Archived from
549:Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999
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219:, where he drew a portrait of the visiting
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674:. Ohio. December 26, 2004. Archived from
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708:"Next Show: Sunday, November 28, 2008"
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775:from the original on October 29, 2010
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760:at the Comic Book DB (archived from
596:Ackerman, Sherri (August 7, 2009).
280:(1927–66) in 1951; drew the portly
519:from the original on July 18, 2012
391:. In 1959, he helped initiate the
212:and eventually shipped out on the
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818:People from Delray Beach, Florida
263:, according to Matera's website.
808:American comic strip cartoonists
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583:Additional on February 4, 2010.
468:. There Patricia died in 2004.
339:, which had been titled simply
403:Treasure Chest Advance Edition
332:for the international market.
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261:George Matthew Adams Service
184:Matera left to study at the
629:Social Security Death Index
491:Social Security Death Index
430:#11 (Oct. 1978), and inked
410:family drama through 1971.
349:Chief Wahoo and Steve Roper
127:industry, particularly for
113:artist best known for his
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645:Don Markstein's Toonopedia
353:Steve Roper and Mike Nomad
337:Steve Roper and Mike Nomad
120:Steve Roper and Mike Nomad
98:Steve Roper and Mike Nomad
302:(1981), and, assisted by
131:. His influences include
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662:"Roper Out, Fuzzy In on
248:and consecutive artists
186:Art Institute of Chicago
164:While in high school in
107:Francis A. "Fran" Matera
313:The Legend of Bruce Lee
115:King Features Syndicate
678:on September 30, 2007.
466:Safety Harbor, Florida
823:United States Marines
696:Grand Comics Database
462:Delray Beach, Florida
369:St. John Publications
160:Early life and career
750:. Archived from the
625:Lambiek Comiclopedia
581:on December 6, 2010.
434:'s 33-page story in
270:for credited artist
754:on January 8, 2014.
746:{{official website|
714:on March 16, 2012.
610:on October 8, 2012.
277:Little Annie Rooney
16:American cartoonist
252:and Odin Burvick.
202:Parris Island Boot
769:"Matera, Francis"
651:October 25, 2011.
603:The Tampa Tribune
487:Francis A. Matera
282:private detective
190:U.S. Marine Corps
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441:#2 (Nov. 1978).
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293:Rex Morgan, M.D.
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117:adventure strip
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777:. Retrieved
762:the original
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676:the original
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666:Comic Pages"
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552:. Retrieved
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541:Bails, Jerry
521:. Retrieved
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180:World War II
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803:2012 deaths
798:1924 births
758:Fran Matera
692:Fran Matera
621:Fran Matera
575:"Biography"
515:. Florida.
432:Sal Buscema
417:, he inked
395:comic book
384:Gabby Hayes
359:Comic books
341:Steve Roper
257:Mr. Holiday
242:Dickie Dare
237:Kerry Drake
166:Connecticut
111:comic strip
65:Nationality
33:Fran Matera
22:Fran Matera
792:Categories
779:January 4,
641:Mike Nomad
523:2012-10-19
475:References
422:Ron Wilson
365:comic book
304:Dick Kulpa
287:Nero Wolfe
149:Bud Fisher
133:Hal Foster
125:comic book
83:, Artist,
81:Cartoonist
56:2012-03-16
221:President
214:USS
155:Biography
773:Archived
752:original
649:Archived
554:June 13,
517:Archived
427:The Hulk
419:penciler
210:Virginia
69:American
694:at the
623:at the
489:at the
446:Florida
284:series
268:ghosted
266:Matera
216:Augusta
196:base's
145:Al Capp
76:Area(s)
54: (
439:Annual
437:Tarzan
330:Galexo
310:strip
306:, the
147:, and
664:Blade
450:Tampa
85:Inker
781:2016
556:2011
413:For
387:and
377:and
322:and
49:Died
39:Born
643:at
274:on
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