Biljo White, who passed away last week, was one of the pioneers of comic book fandom both in terms of history — in 1964, he first published Batmania — and the creation of amateur comics. He drew many such strips but his most famous was The Eye, a freakish crimefighter with an eyeball for a head, far weirder than any evil-doer he vanquished. By day, White was a hero in his own right — a fireman in Columbia, MO — and one with a lifelong interest in comics. He actually purchased Batman #1 off the racks in 1940 and amazingly, his mother didn't throw it out. In fact, he amassed a truly splendid collection of comics with the emphasis on the Caped Crusader. The comics also inspired William J. White to take up drawing.
Sadly, in the mid-fifties when he journeyed to New York and sought employment at DC Comics, the experience was discouraging enough to un-inspire him — at least on comics as a profession. Thereafter, he did them only for fun, and it showed. I never had the pleasure of meeting the man they called "Cap'n Biljo," but I followed and enjoyed his work.
For more on Biljo White, check out Bill Schelly's excellent article on him done for Alter Ego.