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Pat Boyette
Pat Boyette
Pat Boyette
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Aaron P. "Pat" Boyette (July 27, 1923 – January 14, 2000)[2][3] was an American broadcasting personality and news producer, and later a comic book artist best known for two decades of work for Charlton Comics, where he co-created the character the Peacemaker. He sometimes used the pen names Sam Swell, Bruce Lovelace, and Alexander Barnes.[3]

Key Information

Biography

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Broadcast career

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Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas,[4] Pat Boyette entered radio drama as a youngster, performing on a local soap opera. He became a broadcast journalist at radio station WOAI, and returned to this career following his World War II military service as a cryptographer. He later segued into television, becoming a TV news anchor in San Antonio, Texas. Additionally, Boyette became the producer of a daytime talk show, a puppet show, and TV commercials.[3][4]

Films

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Boyette directed, co-wrote, scored and narrated the low-budget 1962 horror movie The Dungeon of Harrow (Dungeons of Horror), which was reminiscent of Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe cycle of films.[5] He also wrote, produced and directed the science-fiction comedy The Weird Ones a.k.a. The Weird One (1962), and co-directed the Korean War picture No Man's Land (1964).[4] All the films were shot in Texas. In 1970 he wrote the screenplay for David L. Hewitt's girl moonshiners vs. bikers film The Girls from Thunder Strip.

Comics

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While continuing to work in television, he wrote and drew the short-lived Western comic strip Captain Flame for a syndicate owned by Charlie Plumm. He returned to comics after first leaving broadcasting and spending most of the 1960s shooting movies in San Antonio.[4]

Charlton

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Turning to comic books, Boyette began a two-decade stint as a freelance artist for the Derby, Connecticut-based, low-budget Charlton Comics. His first known work for the company is the nine-page story "'Spacious' Rooms for Rent" in the supernatural-suspense anthology Shadows from Beyond #50 (Oct. 1966). The Grand Comics Database also tentatively identifies an additional nine-page story that issue, "Reprieve!", as being penciled by Boyette.

Boyette's art of the Peacemaker, debut in Fightin' 5 #40 (November 1966)
Boyette's art of the Peacemaker, debut in Fightin' 5 #40 (November 1966)

On his next assignment, Boyette co-created with staff writer Joe Gill the non-superpowered superhero The Peacemaker in the backup story in Fightin' 5 #40 (Nov. 1966). The Peacemaker was Christopher Smith, a pacifist diplomat so committed to peace that he was willing to use force to advance the cause, employing an array of special non-lethal weapons, and also founding the Pax Institute. Most of his antagonists were dictators and warlords. The Peacemaker received his own title which lasted five issues, cover-dated March to November 1967, with the Fightin' 5 as a backup series. DC Comics acquired the character following Charlton's demise in the mid-1980s, and the Peacemaker became the basis for the character the Comedian in writer Alan Moore's DC Comics miniseries Watchmen.[6]

Boyette drew, and often wrote, hundreds of stories for Charlton through to at least 1976, for such supernatural series as Ghost Manor, Ghostly Tales, and The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves; science fiction series like Outer Space, Strange Suspense Stories, Space: 1999 and Space Adventures; Western series such as Billy the Kid, Cheyenne Kid, and Outlaws of the West; romance comics such as Love Diary and Secret Romance; war comics like Attack and Fightin' Marines; and the licensed-character series Flash Gordon, Jungle Jim and The Phantom from King Features, the prehistoric adventure series Korg: 70,000 B.C. and The Six Million Dollar Man. Boyette also took on the writing and art for the superhero series Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt, succeeding creator Pete Morisi. His work continued to be published at Charlton as reprints through to at least 1986. Some of his Charlton work was reprinted as late as 2002 in Avalon Communications' Enemies and Aces #1.

Other comics work

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For a brief period in 1968, Boyette drew issues of the DC Comics aviator series Blackhawk. That same year, his friend and Charlton colleague Rocke Mastroserio helped Boyette join the stable of artists freelancing for Warren Publishing's black-and-white horror-comics magazines, initially having him ghost-pencil, uncredited, "The Rescue of the Morning Maid" in Creepy #18 (Jan. 1968), which credited artist Mastroserio inked.[7] Boyette would go on to do credited work for such other Warren titles as Eerie occasionally through 1970[8] before making Charlton his base. In the mid-1970s, he drew the feature "The Tarantula" in Atlas Comics' Weird Suspense.[8]

Boyette's other comic work includes a Black Hood story for Archie Comics' eponymous costumed crime-fighter comic, in 1983;[8] an issue of the science-fiction series Revolver for Renegade Press in 1986;[8] his self-published SF/fantasy anthology The Cosmic Book #1 (Dec. 1986), under the imprint Wandering Star Press;[8] issues of Blood of Dracula for Apple Press in 1988 and 1989;[8] and inking penciler Howard Simpson on the 21-page story "White Men Speak with Forked Tongue (Jurassic Politics part 2)" in Acclaim Comics' Turok, Dinosaur Hunter #18 (Dec. 1994).[8]

His last known comics work was penciling and inking the three-page story "The Head of Joaquin Murieta" in The Big Book of the Weird Wild West (Aug. 1998), one of DC Comics/Paradox Press's The Big Book of... trade paperback series.[8]

Death

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Boyette died in Fort Worth, Texas, of cancer of the esophagus. He was predeceased by his wife, Betty or Bette (sources differ). The couple had a daughter, Melissa.[4]

References

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Pat Boyette

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Pat Boyette is an American comic book artist known for his prolific output in the horror, war, and adventure genres, particularly during his long association with Charlton Comics, where he created the character Peacemaker and contributed extensively to titles including The Phantom. Born Aaron Patrick Boyette on July 27, 1923, in San Antonio, Texas, he initially built a career in broadcasting, starting in radio as a teenager and later becoming a television news anchorman and producer in his hometown, where he also hosted programs and created commercials. During World War II, he served as a cryptographer. In the mid-1950s, he drew the syndicated newspaper strip Captain Flame before briefly entering low-budget filmmaking in the early 1960s, writing and directing features such as The Weird Ones and The Dungeon of Harrow. He entered the comic book industry relatively late, in his forties, with his first professional work appearing in 1966 at Charlton Comics. Boyette became one of Charlton's most reliable and versatile contributors through the 1970s, frequently writing, penciling, inking, lettering, and coloring his own stories across numerous anthology titles in horror, war, western, and science fiction, while also working on licensed properties and painted covers. He followed editor Dick Giordano to DC Comics for limited assignments and contributed to Warren Publishing's horror magazines Creepy and Eerie, as well as to other publishers including Marvel, Skywald, and Valiant over the decades. In the 1980s, he provided storyboards for animated series such as Defenders of the Earth and The Real Ghostbusters. Known for his distinctive brush style and multi-talented approach, Boyette received the Inkpot Award at San Diego Comic-Con in 1980 and remained active in comics until near the end of his life. He died on January 14, 2000, in Fort Worth, Texas, after a long illness.

Early Life

Birth and Youth in San Antonio

Aaron P. "Pat" Boyette was born on July 27, 1923, in San Antonio, Texas. He was raised in San Antonio, though his childhood included periods living in various locations due to his father's employment, and he considered himself first and foremost a San Antonian. During his youth in San Antonio, Boyette became involved in local radio as a performer, acting in soap operas and drama programs. This early participation in radio performances provided his initial exposure to media production and laid the groundwork for his subsequent broadcasting career.

World War II Service

Pat Boyette received a draft deferment during World War II due to his essential role as a news announcer in radio broadcasting. When the deferment was not renewed for a second six-month period, he was drafted into the United States military. He served as a cryptographer during the wartime years. Following the conclusion of the war, Boyette returned to San Antonio and resumed his broadcasting career in civilian life.

Broadcasting Career

Radio Beginnings

Pat Boyette began his involvement in radio as a youngster in San Antonio, performing on a local soap opera. At age 16, he started at WOAI radio as an office boy before advancing to roles including news producer and on-air announcer, where he developed his characteristic warm baritone voice and often worked 60 to 70 hours per week due to his enthusiasm for the medium. His position as a news announcer provided a draft deferment during World War II until he was later drafted and served as a cryptographer. Following his military service, Boyette returned to radio broadcasting in San Antonio, working on-the-air at stations including KMAC, KTSA, and KONO, continuing his on-air work in news and announcing. In the mid-1950s, while still active in broadcasting, he briefly drew the syndicated Western comic strip Captain Flame as a side project. He later transitioned to television broadcasting in San Antonio.

Television News and Production

Pat Boyette transitioned from radio to television in the 1950s, becoming a news anchorman in San Antonio, Texas. He served in this role at KENS-TV for nearly 20 years. In addition to his anchoring duties, Boyette produced a daytime talk show, a puppet show, and television commercials. He left full-time broadcasting in the 1960s to pursue independent projects. Boyette remained involved with television and radio in a limited capacity for the rest of his life.

Independent Filmmaking

Transition to Film

In the 1960s, Pat Boyette transitioned from his long-standing career in broadcasting to independent filmmaking in Texas. After establishing himself as a television news anchorman at KENS-TV in San Antonio during the 1950s, he left full-time broadcasting work to pursue writing, directing, and producing low-budget films locally. This shift reflected his ongoing creative drive, as he channeled his multifaceted skills into regional, independent production in his home state. All of Boyette's films were shot in Texas, primarily in San Antonio, underscoring the regional and low-budget nature of his work. He focused on exploitation, horror, and science fiction genres typical of independent cinema during that period. Boyette handled multiple roles across his projects, serving as director, writer, producer, composer, narrator, and occasionally actor. This hands-on approach highlighted his versatility and the constrained resources of Texas-based independent filmmaking. His brief foray into film served as a creative bridge before he later focused on comic book illustration.

Key Films Directed and Written

Pat Boyette directed and wrote several low-budget independent films during the 1960s, with an additional writing credit in 1970. He made his directorial debut with The Weird Ones (1962), a sexploitation comedy that he also wrote and produced; the film is now considered lost after its prints and original negative were destroyed in a fire. In 1964, Boyette directed, co-wrote (with Henry Garcia), composed the score for, co-edited (with Don Russell), and provided uncredited narration for The Dungeon of Harrow (also known as Dungeons of Horror), a Gothic horror film. That same year, he directed No Man's Land (released under Russ Harvey's name but directed by Boyette), a black-and-white war drama set during the Korean War.) Boyette's final writing credit in feature films was the screenplay and original story for The Girls from Thunder Strip (1970), a biker exploitation film. These independent projects marked a transitional phase in his career toward comic book illustration in the late 1960s.

Comic Book Career

Entry into Comics and Early Work

Pat Boyette entered the comic book industry in 1966 at age 43, following careers in radio and television broadcasting as well as independent low-budget filmmaking. After leaving television and experimenting with film production, he contacted Charlton Comics with sample artwork and began freelancing for the publisher that year. His first known comic book story was the nine-page "'Spacious' Rooms for Rent," a supernatural-suspense tale scripted by Joe Gill with Boyette providing pencils and inks, published in Charlton’s anthology Shadows from Beyond #50 (October 1966). This marked his debut in comic books, where he soon became a prolific contributor across various genres including horror, war, science fiction, western, and romance. Boyette occasionally worked under pen names such as Sam Swell, Bruce Lovelace, and Alexander Barnes during his early freelance period.

Charlton Comics Era

Pat Boyette began his long and prolific tenure with Charlton Comics in 1966. His contributions continued steadily through the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, establishing him as one of the company's most dependable freelancers during a period that extended at least through 1976, with reprints of his work appearing into the 1980s. Boyette produced a substantial volume of material, often serving as both artist and writer on his stories, across diverse genres including horror, war, western, and science fiction. He contributed to numerous Charlton series, with representative examples including Ghost Manor, Ghostly Tales, The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves, Attack, Fightin' Marines, Billy the Kid, Outer Space, and Space: 1999. Boyette frequently collaborated with writers such as Joe Gill on adventure and other features, as well as Steve Skeates on various projects. Among his notable assignments, he assumed artistic responsibilities for Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt after original creator Pete Morisi departed the series. This era showcased Boyette's distinctive style and versatility within Charlton's low-budget but creatively flexible environment.

Notable Creations and Contributions

Pat Boyette co-created the Peacemaker with writer Joe Gill. The character debuted as a backup feature in Charlton Comics' Fightin' Five #40 (cover date November 1966). Christopher Smith, a career diplomat, resorts to a specialized suit and non-lethal weaponry when diplomacy fails, driven by his belief that peace is worth fighting for, though he strives to minimize harm to innocents. The Peacemaker soon received his own solo series beginning with issue #1 (cover date March 1967), which ran for five bimonthly issues through November 1967. The character's rights were later acquired by DC Comics, leading to his integration into the publisher's shared universe in 1988. The Peacemaker's violent pursuit of peace partially inspired the Comedian in Alan Moore's Watchmen, as Moore's original concept for the series planned to use Charlton characters directly, with Peacemaker serving as the basis for the Comedian before original analogues were developed. Boyette's contributions to comics were recognized with the Inkpot Award in 1980 from Comic-Con International, honoring his impact on the field. Beyond his extensive Charlton work, which laid the groundwork for his reputation, Boyette contributed to other publishers including DC Comics on Blackhawk #242 (1968), Warren Publishing on Creepy and Eerie (1968–1970), Atlas/Seaboard, Archie Comics, Renegade Press, Apple Comics, and Acclaim Comics as inker on Turok, Dinosaur Hunter #18 (December 1994). His comic book work continued until 1998.

Later Years and Death

Animation and Final Work

In his later career, Pat Boyette contributed storyboards to the animated television series Defenders of the Earth (1986) and The Real Ghostbusters. The Defenders of the Earth featured the Phantom among its team of heroes, providing Boyette an opportunity to revisit a character he had previously illustrated in comics. This work represented his primary involvement in animation during the 1980s. Boyette's comic book creation Peacemaker also received legacy credit in later media, with the character appearing in the video game Mortal Kombat 1 (2023), where he is credited as creator.

Personal Life and Passing

Pat Boyette was married to Bette Boyette for 54 years until her death, which preceded his own. He was survived by his daughter Melissa, and he relocated to Fort Worth, Texas, in his later years to be closer to her. Boyette died on January 14, 2000, in Fort Worth, Texas, after a long illness at the age of 76.
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