Combat Gallery Sunday: The martial art of Norem
Born in April 1924, a young man by the name of Earl Norem found himself as part of the first unit in the U.S. military trained to fight modern warfare in the mountains. This group, the famed 10th Mountain Division, became Earl’s home once he joined the U.S. Army in World War Two.
The 10th Mountain saw hard combat up and down the Italian boot at places like the North Apennine Mountains, where their training came in handy. In those craggy peaks men fought hand-to-hand, waist deep in snow at times. The 10th participated in some of the last bayonet charges of that war, clearing the mountains one inch at a time. Norem was a 20-year old squad leader. His war ended with a wound picked up in the madness that was the Po Valley.
Coming home after the conflict, he became an illustrator. Using acrylics, he crafted work for Marvel on the early Silver Surfer (Kirby’s, you know, the only real Silver Surfer) and on books in the He-Man, Tales of the Zombie and Planet of the Apes.
If it wasnt for Norem, the Damned Dirty Apes may not have ever made it to the big screen
Nice British Lanchester SMG
Well old Norem also gave pulps a try and did a great job,
Perhaps the widest submarine ever, but hey, Norem is a mountain trooper, not a bubblehead. More importantly, what is going on in that forward torpedo room?
Why yes those are zombies…in a hurricane…in a life raft…what else could it be?
Pesky Nazis hiding out in South America was a reoccurring theme in 1960s pulp. You also have to love the fact that the SS oberts still has his boots on but no pants.
Seems possible
Norem had first hand knowledge of all the small arms seen on this cover from Action For Men
Courtesy Comicfans
Vietnam era Norem. Get some M60 love
Union Bank Robbery. Great depiction of the Tommy guns.
You can really tell that the artist knew his way around some firearms by the way they are depicted in his work.
Then of course there are the Mars Attacks series that he illustrated for Topps back in the 1960s
Ack Ack! And yes, these were sold to kids in the 1960s. Back when the gum actually tasted good.
Norem is retired now but is still around at 90 years young. A living legend.
Note the 10th Mountain distinctive unit insignia on Mr. Norem’s ski cap in 2012. A true hero.