 In particular , Raymond has been named as a key influence by many of the most influential and important comic book artists of all time . EC Comics @-@ staple Al Williamson cites Raymond as a major influence , and is quoted as saying that Raymond was " the reason I became an artist " . Indeed , Williamson ultimately assisted on the Flash Gordon strips in the mid @-@ 1950s , and Rip Kirby in the mid @-@ 1960s ( all post @-@ Raymond ) . Key Golden Age artists credit Raymond with influencing their work . The artistic creators of Batman ( Bob Kane ) and Superman ( Joe Shuster ) credit him ( alongside Milton Caniff , Billy DeBeck and Roy Crane ) as having had a strong influence on their artistic development . Decades later , the herald of the Silver Age ( and co @-@ creator of most of Marvel Comics 's pantheon of heroes ) , Jack " King " Kirby also credits Raymond , alongside fellow strip artist Hal Foster , as a particular influence and inspiration . 
