Zekley, Zeke

Zeke Zekley, George McManus’ longtime assistant on ‘Bringing Up Father’, worked as a cartoonist in Detroit before moving to California. Discovered by McManus’ brother, Zekley was hired as McManus’ assistant in 1935. He helped on the inking and lettered the strip, but soon became a collaborator, pencilling and scripting. When McManus died in 1954, it wasn’t Zekley who succeeded him, but Vernon Greene. Zekley then created ‘Dud Dudley’ in 1955, as well as ‘Peachie Keen’ and a panel, ‘Popsie’. Zekley devoted his energy to his own company, Sponsored Comics, which produced comic books for commercial and advertising purposes. The comics were given out at McDonald’s and regional stores, etc. He also handled PS Magazine, the Army’s semi-educational book, produced for many years by Will Eisner.