John Burton Davis Jr. (Spouse: Dena Davis; Children: Jack III and Katie)
Jack Davis (1924–2016) was one of the most prolific and versatile American illustrators and cartoonists of the 20th century. Renowned for his incredibly fast drawing speed and a signature “rubbery” anatomical style, his work spanned across comic books, movie posters, magazine covers, and advertising.
Davis’s career skyrocketed in the 1950s when he became a founding member of the “Usual Gang of Idiots” at MAD Magazine. Before transitioning to satire, he was a mainstay at EC Comics, where his gritty, detailed style defined the look of legendary horror titles like Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror. His ability to shift from gruesome realism to extreme, big-footed caricature made him a unique force in the industry.
In the 1960s and 70s, Davis became a household name through his commercial work. He designed iconic movie posters for films such as It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, American Graffiti, and The Bad News Bears. His work was so ubiquitous that he illustrated dozens of covers for TV Guide and Time magazine, often capturing entire political or sporting events in a single, crowded, and energetic composition.
A master of the “long-legged, big-footed” character design, Davis influenced generations of character designers and animators. His work is characterized by a frantic energy, masterful cross-hatching, and a deep sense of humor that never sacrificed technical drawing skill. In 1996, he was inducted into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame, cementing his status as a titan of the visual arts.
Active in others filds : Movie Poster Illustration, Advertising (notably for Raid and Nesquik), Animation (Character Design for Mad Monster Party?), Record Jacket Art.
