E. R. Cruz

Filipino comics artist

E. R. Cruz
Born	Eufronio Reyes Cruz 1934 (age 89–90) The Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Area(s)	Penciller, Artist, Inker
Notable works	Ghosts G.I. Combat The Shadow

Eufronio Reyes Cruz (born 1934)^[1] is a Filipino comics artist best known for his work on mystery comics and war comics for DC Comics in the 1970s and 1980s.

Biography

E. R. Cruz began his career as an artist by drawing for such publications as Liwayway in the Philippines.^[1] He worked in Tony DeZuniga's studio from 1963 to 1971.^[2] His first story for the U.S. comics industry, "Let's Scare Lisa to Death", was published in DC Comics' The Unexpected #139 (Sept. 1972).^[3] From 1972 to 1987, Cruz drew stories for various DC titles such as Ghosts, G.I. Combat, House of Mystery, House of Secrets, Our Fighting Forces, The Unexpected, and The Witching Hour.^[3] He collaborated with writer Dennis O'Neil on three issues of The Shadow^[4] as well as a Sherlock Holmes one-shot.^[5] Comics historian Chris Knowles noted that "E. R. Cruz had the most Asian style of the Filipino bunch. His art demonstrated a strong Chinese influence (as opposed to artists like [Nestor] Redondo whose work reflected a more American approach). Cruz's style was very dark and nebulous and was subsequently often difficult to parse."^[6] A rare example of Cruz drawing super-heroes was when he inked the first three issues of Moon Knight vol. 2 for Marvel Comics in 1985.^[3] In 1987, Cruz began working in animation and was a background artist/layout artist for Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Little Shop, The Transformers, and X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men.^[2] Beginning in 1991, he worked on Marvel's Savage Sword of Conan series and drew stories featuring Conan or Kull the Conqueror. His final new credited comic book story in the U.S. was "Death in a High Place" in Savage Sword of Conan #233 (May 1995).^[3]

Bibliography

DC Comics

All Out War #1–3 (1979–1980)
DC Special Series #4, 7, 22 (1977–1980)
Detective Comics #572 (1987)
Ghosts #11, 14, 24–26, 29–34, 36, 38–39, 42, 45, 47, 50–53, 56–60, 64, 78 (1973–1979)
G.I. Combat #190, 198–199, 201–219, 221–226, 228–241, 243, 245–248, 250, 252, 255, 257, 259, 262–266, 268–269, 272, 274, 279–280, 287 (1976–1987)
House of Mystery #208, 223, 225, 230, 238, 240, 254, 257–258, 278, 285, 287–288, 311 (1972–1982)
House of Secrets #102, 115, 121, 135, 141, 145 (1972–1977)
Jonah Hex #26, 28–29, 33 (1979–1980)
Limited Collectors' Edition #C–32 (1974)
Our Army at War #250, 255 (1972–1973)
Our Fighting Forces #164–181 (1976–1978)
Secrets of Haunted House #2, 4, 28, 34 (1975–1981)
Sgt. Rock #412, 417 (1986–1987)
The Shadow #10–12 (1975)
Sherlock Holmes #1 (1975)
Tales of Ghost Castle #2 (1975)
The Unexpected #139, 142–143, 149, 151, 153, 157, 171, 175–176, 178, 183, 188, 190, 192 (1972–1979)
Weird Mystery Tales #11, 17, 21 (1974–1975)
Weird War Tales #36, 38, 67, 90, 106 (1975–1981)
The Witching Hour #26, 29, 36–37, 39, 41, 49, 53, 57, 59, 61, 63–65, 68, 70, 72–73, 76–78 (1972–1978)

First Comics

Sable #9–10, 12–14, 18–19, 23–24 (1988–1990)

Heroic Publishing

Eternity Smith #2–3 (1987)
Flare #4 (1991)

Marvel Comics

Conan the Barbarian #261–262 (1992)
Doctor Strange Annual #2 (1992)
Marvel Classics Comics #6–7, 10–11 (1976)
Moon Knight vol. 2 #1–3 (1985)
Savage Sword of Conan #190–192, 196–199, 202, 207–210, 215–216, 218–221, 223–224, 226, 229–233 (1991–1995)

Warren Publishing

Eerie #113, 116–117, 119–120, 122, 124, 126–128, 130, 132, 134, 138 (1980–1983)

References

^ ^a ^b "E. R. Cruz". Lambiek Comiclopedia. July 29, 2012. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
^ ^a ^b Bails, Jerry (n.d.). "Cruz, Ernie". Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999. Archived from the original on May 11, 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d E. R. Cruz at the Grand Comics Database
E R Cruz at the Grand Comics Database
ER Cruz at the Grand Comics Database
^ Schweier, Philip (July 2016). "Shedding Light on The Shadow". Back Issue! (89). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 14.
^ Trumbull, John (April 2014). "221B at DC: Sherlock Holmes at DC Comics". Back Issue! (71). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 38–39.
^ Knowles, Chris; Cooke, Jon B. (2002). "Invasion from the Philippines: A Brief Survey of the Great '70s Filipino Artists at DC". Comic Book Artist Collection, Volume 2. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 129. ISBN 978-1893905139.