E. C. Stoner

Elmer Cecil Stoner was born on October 20, 1897, in the United States, and died on December 16, 1969. He is remembered as one of the earliest African-American comic book artists and a prolific commercial illustrator. Stoner is widely believed to have created the iconic Mr. Peanut mascot for Planters. His comic book career began in the Golden Age, and he contributed pencil art to the very first issue of *Detective Comics* for National Comics Publications, the company that would become DC Comics. Over the years, he worked for a variety of publishers including Timely Comics, Street & Smith, EC Comics, Fawcett Comics, and Dell Comics. Stoner’s credited work spans 32 issues, with notable titles such as *Blue Beetle*, *The Funnies*, and *Shadow Comics*. He also illustrated the science-fiction serial *Jim Solar Space Sheriff* in stories like "Pirates of the Planet X" and "Jim Solar Space Sheriff Defeats the Moon Missile Men." In his later years, Stoner became a spokesman for Gordon's Gin. His legacy endures as a trailblazing African-American artist who helped shape the early comic book industry.