Frank Doyle (writer)
Encyclopedia
Frank Doyle was the head writer for Archie Comics
for over thirty years. He wrote over 10,000 stories featuring the Archie characters. Artist Dan DeCarlo
referred to Doyle as "the best".
Doyle, one of several Archie contributors who studied art at the Pratt Institute
, was originally a penciller for Fiction House
comics, working on such titles as Planet Stories
. After he was let go from Fiction House, he decided that he was better suited to writing stories: "It was easier," he said. "My mind worked better that way." In 1951 he joined Archie Comics as a writer. Though he no longer drew stories himself, he continued to write in storyboard form, using a desk that used to belong to Fiction House artist Fran Hopper.
By the end of the '50s, Doyle was writing the majority of stories for such important Archie titles as Archie and Betty and Veronica; DeCarlo said that when he joined Archie Comics, most of the scripts he was given were written by Doyle. In the mid-'60s, he also began writing many of the stories for adventure-themed titles like Life With Archie
; he wrote all the stories featuring the Archie characters' superhero alter-egoes such as Pureheart the Powerful.
According to DeCarlo, Doyle did "all the writing" for the early issues of She's Josie. Though he did not write the issue where the title was retooled into Josie and the Pussycats, he returned to the title soon after, writing many of the Pussycats-era stories. Doyle wrote the first issue of the Archie title That Wilkin Boy
, and wrote the debut stories for several Archie supporting characters, including the first appearance of Cheryl Blossom
.
Starting in the late '80s, Doyle became less prolific, but continued to write Archie stories every month until his death. His last story, "Cry Me a River," appeared in Betty and Veronica after his death, with art by DeCarlo. Archie editor Victor Gorelick
called him "just a tremendous writer" who was "responsible for so many things that people don't know about," while Kurt Busiek
said that Doyle was "one of the best writers comics ever had."
Archie Comics
Archie Comics is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, New York, known for its many series featuring the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones. The characters were created by...
for over thirty years. He wrote over 10,000 stories featuring the Archie characters. Artist Dan DeCarlo
Dan DeCarlo
Daniel S. DeCarlo was an American cartoonist best known as the artist who developed the look of Archie Comics in the late 1950s and early 1960s, modernizing the characters to their contemporary appearance and establishing the publisher's house style...
referred to Doyle as "the best".
Doyle, one of several Archie contributors who studied art at the Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
, was originally a penciller for Fiction House
Fiction House
Fiction House is an American publisher of pulp magazines and comic books that existed from the 1920s to the 1950s. Its comics division was best known for its pinup-style good girl art, as epitomized by the company's most popular character, Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.-History:-Jumbo and Jack...
comics, working on such titles as Planet Stories
Planet Stories
Planet Stories was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published by Fiction House between 1939 and 1955. It featured interplanetary adventures, both in space and on other planets, and was initially focused on a young readership. Malcolm Reiss was editor or editor-in-chief for all of its 71...
. After he was let go from Fiction House, he decided that he was better suited to writing stories: "It was easier," he said. "My mind worked better that way." In 1951 he joined Archie Comics as a writer. Though he no longer drew stories himself, he continued to write in storyboard form, using a desk that used to belong to Fiction House artist Fran Hopper.
By the end of the '50s, Doyle was writing the majority of stories for such important Archie titles as Archie and Betty and Veronica; DeCarlo said that when he joined Archie Comics, most of the scripts he was given were written by Doyle. In the mid-'60s, he also began writing many of the stories for adventure-themed titles like Life With Archie
Life with Archie
Life with Archie was a comic book published by Archie comics from 1958 to 1991. It featured Archie Andrews in adventure stories that were more dramatic than the standard Archie tales...
; he wrote all the stories featuring the Archie characters' superhero alter-egoes such as Pureheart the Powerful.
According to DeCarlo, Doyle did "all the writing" for the early issues of She's Josie. Though he did not write the issue where the title was retooled into Josie and the Pussycats, he returned to the title soon after, writing many of the Pussycats-era stories. Doyle wrote the first issue of the Archie title That Wilkin Boy
That Wilkin Boy
This article is about a spinoff series of Archie Comics.That Wilkin Boy is a comic book series about a teenage boy, Bingo Wilkin, who lives in Midville, next door to his girlfriend, Samantha Smythe...
, and wrote the debut stories for several Archie supporting characters, including the first appearance of Cheryl Blossom
Cheryl Blossom
Cheryl Blossom is a fictional character of the Archie Comics universe. She is a wealthy teenage girl, the privileged daughter of a software engineer.-History and character:...
.
Starting in the late '80s, Doyle became less prolific, but continued to write Archie stories every month until his death. His last story, "Cry Me a River," appeared in Betty and Veronica after his death, with art by DeCarlo. Archie editor Victor Gorelick
Victor Gorelick
Victor Gorelick is an American comic book editor and executive. Currently the Editor-in-Chief of Archie Comics, he has worked for the company for over fifty years in a wide variety of roles....
called him "just a tremendous writer" who was "responsible for so many things that people don't know about," while Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.-Early life:...
said that Doyle was "one of the best writers comics ever had."