Career
Born in Los Angeles, Spicer began reading science fiction fanzines in 1951-1952. He learned professional lettering techniques while working at an ad agency from 1955 to 1967, and he became a letterer with Western Publishing in 1967. Three years earlier, he had entered the publishing arena himself after placing a want ad in a fanzine seeking contributors.
After responses from artist Landon Chesney and others, he launched a 500-copy offset print run of Fantasy Illustrated #1 (February 1964) displaying a cover by Chesney and graphic stories in a variety of genres.
With the introduction of the column "Graphic Story Review" by Richard Kyle, the focus began to shift to articles, reviews and interviews in addition to the stories, resulting in a change to a new title, with issue #8 (Fall 1967). Issues #12 and #14 were devoted entirely to the work of Basil Wolverton.
Interviews included Alex Toth (#10). Will Gould (#11), John Severin (#13), Gahan Wilson (#15) and Howard Nostrand (#16).
After the run ended with issue #16, Spicer then launched Fanfare, a magazine devoted to all aspects of popular culture.
In 1971, Spicer partnered with Michael Moore and Fred Walker to form the Los Angeles Comic Book Company which published Mickey Rat, Los Angeles Comics, Mutants of the Metropolis and the full-color Weird Fantasies. Spicer continued as a Western Publishing letterer from 1967 to 1982. He also lettered for Dark Horse, Another Rainbow, Fantagraphics.
From 1988 to 2005, he lettered manga for Videlicet
He also lettered two comic strips in the 1980s, Rick O"Shay and Conan the Barbarian.
