Al Hartley, 'Archie' cartoonist, dies

[Brett Ferino]

FORT MYERS, Florida (AP) -- Al Hartley, who spent nearly three decades illustrating the "Archie" comic strips and also drew for Marvel Comics, died Tuesday after undergoing heart surgery earlier this month. He was 81.

At Marvel Comics, Hartley drew books including classic heroes such as "Spider-Man" and "The Incredible Hulk." He left the company to work on the "Archie" illustration team from 1966 through 1993.

Hartley's father was U.S. Rep. Fred Hartley, a New Jersey Republican who co-sponsored the Taft-Hartley Act of 1946. That act allows the president to force striking or locked-out workers back to their jobs if the standoff is deemed to endanger the national economy or security.

In retirement, Al Hartley wrote children's books and Christian-themed comic books. He also authored the book, "It Takes a Family: How To Create Hope and Celebrate Your Future."

Hartley, a native of Kearny, New Jersey, was a B-17 bomber pilot in Europe during World War II. After the war, his first full-time comics job was drawing a character called "Pickles."