Post by B5Erik on Aug 25, 2022 7:22:15 GMT
In the world of comic books there have been dozens of great artists over the last sixty years. John Romita Sr, John Buscema, Jack Kirby, Neal Adams, John Byrne, Jim Aparo, George Perez, and the list goes on and on. There has been a literal ton of talent (several tons, really) in the modern (Silver Age to present) comic book era. One name that is often left out, however, should be front and center whenever talking about the greats.
Nick Cardy.
Cardy got his start in comics in 1939 at the age of 19. Initially, he worked on newspaper comic strips as well as comic books, whatever work the Iger/Eisner studio could get as contractors doing comic strips and comic books for larger publishing houses. The artists and writers did their work anonymously, but even early on Cardy's work stood out as some of the best.
After working in the comics field for a few years, on April Fools Day in 1943 (no joke) Cardy was drafted and sent to Europe to fight in World War II.
He took with him a spiral sketch pad, and used it to draw and paint what he was seeing while in the war. That sketch pad has been reprinted as a full book, with a lot more details, and it's fantastic stuff. It does a great job of taking you in to what the daily life of an American soldier in World War II was really like. Some of the drawings are rushed and haphazard (but still giving a great idea of what he was seeing), but other drawings and paintings were very detailed and fairly well polished pieces of art.
When he got back from the war, he went back to work doing comics and comic strips, toiling away anonymously (no credits given for the work done - the industry standard at the time). In the early 1960's he took over the art for the Teen Titans at D.C. - an assignment that would make him a well known figure in the comics world. From there he went to Aquaman, as well as occasional assignments on The Brave and the Bold. He got a ton of work at D.C. as a cover artist, as well, creating some of the most memorable covers of that era.
Then in 1971 he co-created Bat Lash, a Western character who hated violence, but was really skilled at it. It was a half serious, half comedic title, and it went over the heads of most comic buyers and didn't last long. But his work on the title was outstanding. The black and white reprints in the Bat Lash Showcase edition really show all the detail of his art, and it really is fantastic.
Nick Cardy.
Cardy got his start in comics in 1939 at the age of 19. Initially, he worked on newspaper comic strips as well as comic books, whatever work the Iger/Eisner studio could get as contractors doing comic strips and comic books for larger publishing houses. The artists and writers did their work anonymously, but even early on Cardy's work stood out as some of the best.
After working in the comics field for a few years, on April Fools Day in 1943 (no joke) Cardy was drafted and sent to Europe to fight in World War II.
He took with him a spiral sketch pad, and used it to draw and paint what he was seeing while in the war. That sketch pad has been reprinted as a full book, with a lot more details, and it's fantastic stuff. It does a great job of taking you in to what the daily life of an American soldier in World War II was really like. Some of the drawings are rushed and haphazard (but still giving a great idea of what he was seeing), but other drawings and paintings were very detailed and fairly well polished pieces of art.
When he got back from the war, he went back to work doing comics and comic strips, toiling away anonymously (no credits given for the work done - the industry standard at the time). In the early 1960's he took over the art for the Teen Titans at D.C. - an assignment that would make him a well known figure in the comics world. From there he went to Aquaman, as well as occasional assignments on The Brave and the Bold. He got a ton of work at D.C. as a cover artist, as well, creating some of the most memorable covers of that era.
Then in 1971 he co-created Bat Lash, a Western character who hated violence, but was really skilled at it. It was a half serious, half comedic title, and it went over the heads of most comic buyers and didn't last long. But his work on the title was outstanding. The black and white reprints in the Bat Lash Showcase edition really show all the detail of his art, and it really is fantastic.
