Alexander Raymond, noted for his illustrative style, rose from the bullpen at King Features Syndicate to become one of the most celebrated cartoonists of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. In a career that spanned a quarter of a century, Raymond was responsible for four influential strips: Secret Agent X-9, Flash Gordon, Jungle Jim, and the cerebral Rip Kirby.

Alexander Gillespie Raymond was raised in the affluent suburb of New Rochelle, New York, the son of a civil engineer. If he showed any sign of following in this fathers footsteps, it was a closely guarded secret. In fact, he credits his father for having "a vision to see beyond his own business, to realize that art could be a worthwhile career, too", and claimed the elder Raymonds of...