MOREY, Leo

(? -1965)

   US illustrator, born into a well-to-do family in Peru, educated in the USA, where he studied engineering at Louisiana State University; he worked as an artist in New Orleans before entering sf ILLUSTRATION. He took over from Frank R. PAUL as cover illustrator for AMAZING STORIES after it changed hands in 1929 (his first cover was Feb 1930), and painted 77 covers and many interior black-and-white illustrations for thatmagazine, and another 12 for Amazing Stories Quarterly. When these magazines were sold again he freelanced, doing covers for small magazines like Super Science Stories and quite a few interiors for Thrilling Wonder Stories, then worked mostly in COMICS. His archetypal PULP-MAGAZINE-stylecovers used a wider range of colours than Paul's; and, though naive and crudely executed, they were vigorous and dramatic. His imaginary technology was not as interesting as Paul's but his rendering of people was superior. Though perhaps a better artist than Paul - some of his black-and-white work was very imaginative - he was never as popular.

   JG/PN