Paul Wheelahan

Paul Wheelahan was an Australian comic book writer, artist, and illustrator, best remembered as the creator of *The Panther* and *The Raven*. He was born on 6 November 1930 and passed away on 28 December 2018. Wheelahan entered the comic book field in the late 1940s, with his earliest credited work appearing in 1949. Over a career that stretched into the early 1960s, he contributed to 32 issues as an artist, inker, letterer, and writer. His signature titles included *Paul Wheelahan's The Panther*, *Yarmak Jungle King Comic*, *The Raven*, *Convicted*, and *Paul Wheelahan's Davy Crockett*. Wheelahan’s style was marked by a clean, energetic line that suited the adventure and crime genres he favored. He worked largely independently, crafting his own stories and art, and his characters—especially the costumed hero The Panther and the mysterious The Raven—became staples of Australian comics. Later in life, Wheelahan’s contributions were recognized with major awards, though specific honors are not detailed in available records. His legacy endures as a key figure in the golden age of Australian comics, remembered for his prolific output and for helping define the nation’s homegrown superhero tradition.