Curt Swan Death 30th Anniversary

Curt Swan, the artist who produced the definitive Superman for over 30 years, died on this date in 1996. Today marks 30 years since his passing. He was my favorite comic book artist.

I first discovered his passing while perusing a comic book at a convenience store. In it, a house ad announced his passing.

Above, many faces of Superman artist guide by Curt Swan.

The actual death date is somewhat questionable as he was found dead at home surrounded by comic books. He had been dead for some time. Some placed his death as June 16 (this is interesting as Superman actor George Reeves died on June 16, 1959) while others place it on June 17.

According to a Wikipedia footnore:

 Curt Swan, Social Security Death Index details, FamilySearch gives June 17, 1996, as the date of death, and was verified by a family member; verification date can be the same as the death date, or one or more days afterward.

As Swan's family recognizes June 17, 1996, I will do so as well (although I have it at June 16 in Find a Grave based on information at the time).  

I am lucky to have a page of original Curt Swan Superman art (inked by Murphy Anderson). I bought in the early 2000s at a reasonable price. 

Original Curt Swan Art Page

Somewhere around 20 years ago, I purchased a page of original art of Action Comics no. 405. It is the October 1971 issue.

The page was pencilled by Curt Swan and inked by Murphy Anderson (with backgrounds inked by Jack Abel). At the time I bought mine, original comic book art was not too expensive. Mine was $100. I have forgotten who the dealer was that I bought it from.

The page was signed by Swan. 

Today, Swan's original artwork, highly sought after, sells in the thousands of dollars. Key issue art commands more as do covers and splash pages. No, I don't plan on selling my page.

Here is the cover of the issue (by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano):

Here's the page I bought as it appeared in the comic book:

Here's the original artwork as it appears in my home:

Superman #233 Published A Half-Century Ago

Above, the iconic cover artist Neal Adams doesn't like.

Fifty years ago this month, I was in the first half of my sophomore year in high school.

This month fifty years ago was when Superman #233 (cover date January 1971) hit the newsstands at the "expensive" price of fifteen cents. This issue marked the beginning of the "Bronze Age" of comics for Superman.

A post at the "Neal Adams Almanack" Facebook page caught my attention on the issue.

In this issue, kryptonite was done away with, and Clark Kent was reassigned from the Daily Planet newspaper to Galaxy Broadcasting Company's newsroom. In other words, Clark Kent became John Chancellor (the then-anchor of NBC Nightly News). 

Above, #233's "splash" page by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

Superman #233 also featured an iconic cover by Neal Adams of Superman bursting kryptonite chains from his chest. It is interesting to note that Adams did not like the artwork, feeling it was "rushed". The interior featured the story of "Superman Breaks Loose" by Denny O'Neill with superb artwork by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

The "splash" page of the story states "a return to greatness" for the Man of Steel. Yes, a return was needed as stories became dull and formulaic since the glory days of the early 1960s when science-fiction writer Edmond Hamilton wrote for the comic.

Above, artist Neal Adams and your truly at Comikaze Expo in 2012.

I know it has been a long time since Superman #233 came out, but seeing that it is now a half-century ago, it puts it into a whole different perspective for me. (Jeez, I'm getting old!)

For more details on Superman #233, go here.

Oh, yes. I still have Superman #233 in my collection. I'm hanging onto it since it is considered a "key issue" by collectors.

June 16, A Sad Date In Superman History

Above, a publicity photo of George Reeves as Superman.

June 16 is a significant date in Superman history, although a sad date.

First, in 1959, actor George Reeves, the star of the Adventures of Superman, was found dead in his bedroom allegedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The circumstances surrounding his death are still debated to this day.

In 1997, Superman artist Curt Swan died in Wilton, Connecticut.

Above, artist Curt Swan sketches the Man of Steel.

Dennis Hayes wrote:

The artist most associated with Superman during the period fans and historians call the Silver Age of comic books, Swan produced hundreds of covers and stories from the 1950s through the 1980s.

I have a page of Swan's artwork (inked by Murphy Anderson) that was signed by Swan.

Two Comic Books From 1962

While going through a box this afternoon, I came upon a couple of Silver Age comic books from 1962.

The following are scans of these comics.

The first was Action Comics No. 285 (cover date February 1962), which featured a full-issue story of the presentation of Supergirl to the world by Superman. The cover was by Curt Swan (pencils) and George Klein (inks) with the interior story by Jim Mooney.

The next one was Green Lantern No. 16 (cover date October 1962), which featured "The Secret Life of Star Sapphire". The cover was by Gil Kane (pencils) and Murphy Anderson (inks) with the interior story by Kane with inks by Joe Giella.

Seeing these reminded me that these were the days when comic book reading was fun.

Curt Swan's Birthday

Above, Curt Swan sketching Superman.

Today marks what would have been Superman artist Curt Swan's 97th birthday.

Unfortunately, he passed away unexpectedly in 1996. He is considered by many (including me) the "definitive" Superman artist.

He also was assigned to illustrate the Legion of Super-Heroes, Lois Lane, Superboy, Jimmy Olsen, Aquaman, Batman and many others by DC Comics over the course of his career.

Above, two pages of Swan's Superman pencil work.

According to Wikipedia:

Douglas Curtis "Curt" Swan (February 17, 1920 – June 17, 1996) was an American comic book artist. The artist most associated with Superman during the period fans call the Silver Age of comic books, Swan produced hundreds of covers and stories from the 1950s through the 1980s.

Thankfully, I own a page that Swan drew that was inked by Murphy Anderson during the early 1970s.

Jack Abel Inks On Curt Swan-Murphy Anderson Superman Pages

Back in my comic book reading days back in the early 1970s, artist Murphy Anderson became the primary inker for Superman artist Curt Swan.

I noticed a peculiarity in the artwork. The backgrounds looked like the work by artist Jack Abel. I wondered then (up until now) if Abel assisted Anderson with the background inking. The page above is a Curt Swan-Murphy Anderson page. The backgrounds look like Abel's.

I went over to the Facebook page devoted to Swan, Curt Swan, Legendary Comic Book Superman and asked if this were so.

I have my answer:

Artist Murphy Anderson Dies At 89

Above, Murphy Anderson. Image: Murphy Anderson.com.

One of the greatest artists and inkers of the Silver and Bronze Ages of comic books has passed away yesterday at age 89.

DC Comics posted:

The DC Entertainment family is deeply saddened by the loss of Murphy Anderson. 

Anderson was a giant in the comics industry and one of the driving forces in the evolution of not only DC Comics, but the Silver Age of comics in general. As one of the great artists and inkers at DC Comics, his style helped define the DC look in the Silver Age, and brought to life some of DC Comics’ most prolific characters, including Adam Strange, Atomic Knight, Hawkman and Zatanna, as well as his genre-defining collaborations with Superman artist Curt Swan.

Anderson's inks on Curt Swan's pencils helped to revitalize Superman during the early 1970s.

The image below is a page from Action Comics of Anderson's inks over Swan's pencils.

From the collection of Armand Vaquer.

 To read more, go here.

Action Comics #405 Artwork

While chatting with a friend who just scored a Thomas Kinkade painting, it got me to do some digging on the original Curt Swan/Murphy Anderson artwork for Action Comics #405 (October 1971) that I own. It was for the story, "Superman, Bodyguard or Assassin?"

Here's the page:

And here's the cover to the comic it's from (by Neal Adams):

I must've bought the art page about 10-12 years ago. I paid $100 for it. Checking around, it appears that comparable original art from Swan and Anderson during that period now fetches around $500. See this.

"The Origin Of Superman" by Swan, Anderson and Infantino

Back in the 1970s, a project to build a Superman amusement park in Metropolis, Illinois was conceived.  Funds were being raised to get the park constructed.

One means of raising funds was the publication of The Amazing World of Superman, a one-shot special comic book that sold for $2.00 by DC Comics.

One feature in the comic was a new origin story, "The Origin of Superman."  It featured pencils by long-time Superman artist Curt Swan, inks by Murphy Anderson on layouts by Carmine Infantino.

This blog has the story reproduced.  It is worth a look as example of the talents of Swan, Anderson and Infantino are gloriously displayed.

Legendary Comics Artist Carmine Infantino Dies At 87

Above, an Infantino and Anderson Flash cover from the 1960s.

Another fixture of my youth has passed away.

Above, an Infantino and Anderson
Batman pin-up from the 1960s.

Artist Carmine Infantino died today at age 87.

Comic Book Resources.com reported:

Carmine Infantino, legendary comic book artist and former DC Comics editorial director, passed away today. He was 87. 

Born May 24, 1925 in Brooklyn, New York, Infantino attended the School of Industrial Art for high school in Manhattan. Perhaps best known for his work on "Batman" with writer John Broome during the reinvention of the character in 1964, Infantino also designed the Silver Age Flash's now-iconic red and yellow costume and co-created a number of his rogues, including Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Gorilla Grodd and Captain Boomerang.

Infantino's artwork, when he inked his own work, was too sketchy for my tastes.  But when inked by Joe Giella, Sid Greene or Murphy Anderson, they were sights to behold.  He was topnotch in comic page (and cover) layouts and would do layouts for other DC artists such as Curt Swan.

Above, an ingenious Batman cover from Infantino and
Anderson from the 1960s.

Above, your truly with a copy of the above Batman comic.

For more on Infantino, go here.

Curt Swan/Murphy Anderson Original Art

As I mentioned in my blog today on Boy Commandos no. 25 from 1948, Curt Swan is my all-time favorite comic book artist.

One of my prized possessions is a piece of original art by Swan (pencils) and Murphy Anderson (inks). It is a page from a 1970s issue of Action Comics (featuring Superman) and is signed by Swan.

This is it:



Nice, eh? (No. It's not for sale.)