Wilson McCoy

Robert Wilson McCoy, who always went by his middle name, was born on April 6, 1902, and passed away on July 20, 1961. An American illustrator and painter, he is best remembered as the second artist to helm *The Phantom* comic strip, a role that would define his legacy in the medium.

McCoy came to the strip with a background in illustration and fine art painting, and his tenure on *The Phantom* saw his work distributed across numerous international editions. Comics readers around the world encountered his draftsmanship through titles including *Fantomen*, *Fantomet*, *Le Fantôme*, and *Le Fantôme Spécial*, reflecting the strip's remarkably broad global reach during the mid-twentieth century. He handled not only the artwork but also inking and lettering duties across a substantial body of work. Interestingly, he maintained a clear professional distinction in his signature practice: strips produced for *The Phantom* carried the name Wilson McCoy, while his other artistic work was signed R. Wilson McCoy.

His contributions across more than 200 credited issues have ensured that his particular visual interpretation of the Ghost Who Walks remains a touchstone for enthusiasts and historians of adventure comic strips. McCoy's work continues to be reprinted in various international markets decades after his death.