Stan Goldberg, the artist who, with Mike Esposito, drew the “Archie’s Ham Radio Adventure” comic for ARRL in the 1990s, died August 31. He was 82. A New York City native, Goldberg was Marvel Comics’ chief colorist during the 1960s, when most of the characters now associated with Marvel were created.

“He’s the reason Spider Man’s costume is red and dark blue, the reason the Incredible Hulk’s skin is green,” said Jim Massara, N2EST, who penned QST cartoons in the 1980s and also once worked for Marvel. “Goldberg was a giant in our industry.”

Massara said Goldberg was best known for drawing teen-related comics, first for Timely, a Marvel Comics predecessor, where Goldberg started as a staff colorist in 1949, when he was just 16. He went on to work for DC Comics and, finally, for Archie Comics starting in the early 1970s. “He was Archie Comics’ prolific lead artist for a number of years, and along with Dan DeCarlo was one of two artists who defined the look of Archie and the gang for several decades,” Massara told ARRL.

Massara said Goldberg was well liked and respected by his colleagues. In 1994, he was honored with an Inkpot Award at Comic-Con International in San Diego, and in 2012 he was inducted into the National Cartoonist Society’s Hall of Fame.

Unfortunately, Massara said, he never got to meet Goldberg, who was working as a freelancer when he worked for Marvel as an assistant editor.

“Even though I ended up working for Marvel, Archie Comics were a much bigger influence on my drawing style,” Massara told ARRL. “Goldberg was on my extremely short list of old pros I eventually wanted to meet and thank for their influence. Even though he and his wife had been in a severe car accident recently, I had heard they were both on the mend, and I had no reason to believe his passing was imminent. I’d never heard anything about Goldberg other than what a gentleman and professional he was. I’m sorry I never got to meet him.”

Goldberg had suffered a debilitating stroke in mid-August. His Facebook page includes more information on his work.