Over the weekend, comics artist Al Williamson passed away.

Williamson’s star-making break came in the 1950s after his peers and future comics legends Wally Wood and Joe Orlando helped the artist become established at EC Comics. There, he drew many of the iconic publisher’s sci-fi themed magazines including “Weird Science.” Science fiction would remain the artist’s calling card over the rest of his career with the most striking examples of his illustrative prowess coming in the ’60s when Williamson drew acclaimed issues of the “Flash Gordon” comic book – later editing the first book on “Flash Gordon” creator and boyhood favorite Alex Raymond – and eventually drawing the adaptation of “The Empire Strikes Back” for Marvel in the early ’80s. Williamson also contributed to the comic strip medium with a run on Raymond’s spy serial “Secret Agent X-9” along with writer and editor Archie Goodwin, whom he also worked with on Warren’s classic horror titles “Creepy” and “Eerie.” IDW will publish a collection of the pair’s “X-9” work in July.

Remembrances from the comics blogosphere:

• Jeff Parker: Al Williamson- I Went Backstage
• Jimmy Palmiotti: AL WILLIAMSON: R.I.P.
• Legendary illustrator Al Williamson passes away

Below the cut, a 1990 WFMY interview with the late Al Williamson, George Evans and the late Dave Stevens.

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