RIP Gene Colan

Tagsgene colanRelated PostsFarewell Gene ColanGene Colan: 1926-2011Undervalued Spotlight #90Just A Thought | With Age Comes…Share This Posted by Brent Chittenden on Jun 24, 2011 in Just a Thought | 0 comments

Another member of Marvel’s silver age bullpen has passed on as Gene Colan passed Friday morning.

I’ve written about Colan before but it can’t be overstated how important his work was.  Long runs on both Daredevil and Doctor Strange will always stand out but it’s his work on Tomb of Dracula is what I will remember him for.  His pencil work was just so amazing on those stories.

Clifford Meth, long time friend of Colan’s, is helping to set up a scholarship at the Joe Kubert School. Taken from Cliff’s site:

“In lieu of flowers and such, if you would like to contribute to this scholarship in Gene’s memory, please make your check payable to “Joe Kubert School” and mail it to my attention:

Gene Colan Scholarship
c/o Clifford Meth
179-9 Rt. 46 West
Rockaway, NJ 07866 “

RIP Gene.

Brent Chittenden is a Canadian freelance writer who also happens to write humorous things for Bite TV’s blog. If you have need of his services you can reach him at bcchittenden@gmail.com, twitter at @BCNerdhole and his podcastTwo Assholes Talking About Nerd Stuff. Feel free to become a fan of him at his Facebook group Brent Chittenden: The Writer.Share this:ShareRedditEmail Leave a Comment Click here to cancel reply.

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Gene Colan: 1926-2011

TagsDiary of a Comic Book Goddessgene colanMemorialRIPShelley SmarzRelated PostsGreen Lantern: Is that all there is?Farewell Gene ColanRIP Gene ColanUndervalued Spotlight #90Share This Posted by Shelley Smarz on Jun 26, 2011 in Diary of a Comic Book Goddess | 0 comments

On Thursday June 23, 2011 at around 11pm, Gene Colan died from complications related to liver disease and a broken hip. He was 84.

We’ve lost another one of the Silver Age greats, folks.

He made an indelible mark on the comics industry and, in an era where many were trying to copy the same style (like that of Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby), Colan forged his own style of work, one that would help define what Marvel would look like into the 1970s. His influence on the medium is indescribable and has been long-lasting; it can still be seen in today’s comic art.

Colan’s long career was distinguished:

From issue #20 (September 1966) to issue #100 (June 1973), he provided art for all but three issues of Daredevil (including the 1967 Daredevil Annual).Co-created Falcon with Stan Lee who was the first African-American superhero in mainstream comic books. Falcon first appeared in Captain America #117 (September 1969).Illustrated all 70 issues of The Tomb of Dracula in the 1970s.Provided the art for most issues of Howard the Duck. Worked as primary artist for Batman in the early to mid-1980s and Wonder Woman from 1982-1983.With Ed Brubaker, won the Eisner Award for Best Single Issue for his contributions to Captain America #601 (September 2009).

Colan was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2005.

As Brent mentioned, Clifford Meth is setting up a scholarship in Gene’s name at the Joe Kubert School. If you want to contribute to this scholarship, send a cheque or money order (payable to the “Joe Kubert Schol”) to:

Gene Colan Scholarship

c/o Clifford Meth

179-9 Rt. 46 West

Rockaway, NJ 07866

Shelley Smarz is a comic book scholar and business woman. She had, for a number of different reasons – some personal and others not so personal – a really difficult time writing this article. She thinks that Gene’s advice as to how to live our lives is something that we should all take to heart and strive for every second of our lives. This Howard the Duck cover is one of her favourites. She was also terribly sad to hear that Peter Falk, the indomitable Lieutenant Columbo, also shuffled off this mortal coil on Friday June  24th.

 

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Farewell Gene Colan

TagsBuffy The Vampire Slayergene colantomb of draculaRelated PostsGene Colan: 1926-2011RIP Gene ColanUndervalued Spotlight #90Pick Five | Successful AdaptationsShare This Posted by Comic Book Daily Staff on Jun 27, 2011 in Championing Comics | 0 comments

It is a sad day in the world of the hobby we love. Gene Colan passed away in his 84th year on June 23rd around 11:00 pm from on going health issues.

I never met Gene Colan but I grew up with him every step of the way. Gene was unique among the Silver Age legends. When everyone came into the field at Marvel Comics in the 60′s when the Marvel Age was just taking off, John Romita. John Buscema. Everyone worked over Jack Kirby’s pencils to learn the dynamic pacing and explosive layouts from the ”King” himself. Everyone that is except Gene Colan.

Gene had been working in the industry since the 40′s. Drawing everything from Western to Romance to Horror. Nobody looked remotely like Gene Colan. He had a sublety and nuance that spoke volumes when there were no words on the page.His range of emotion and mastery of light and shadow are second to none.

His first work that brought him notoriety at Marvel was in Tales To Astonish under the pseudonym Adam Austin bringing the adventures of the Sub-Mariner back from the Golden Age into the Marvel Age. Gene always said he didn’t enjoy the character and doing the under water scenes , but being the professional he was you could never tell. Even when matched with inker Vince Colletta who really did not mesh well with Colan’s fluid pencils. Gene to my knowledge really introduced the full page splash to the industry as well.

Always the family man and always struggling financially he came to Marvel under the name Adam Austin for fear of being fired from DC Comics where he was doing  romance titles with John Romita Sr. He soon took over Iron Man in Tales of Suspense inked more amiably by Jack Abel. This is where his style in super heroe books really started to develop. Next it was on to Daredevil where he really made his mark and which was a character he really loved. Nobody did Captain America the way Gene did either. Howard the Duck came alive under his hand!

In the 70′s he started Tomb of Dracula and went for the entire 70 issue run as well as numerous B&W magazine stories. In the 90′s Gene moved over to DC and had a great run on Batman, Wonder Women, Jemm Son of Saturn, Night Force ,and one of my favorites Nathaniel Dusk with Don McGregor and many more. Stewart the Rat for Eclipse. On and On it goes!
In the 2000′s he has kept active with Buffy Tales of the Slayers. “A Broken Bottle of Djinn” is a landmark piece of artistic story telling. Most of his latter work was all reproduced from his pencils!

His last published work was Captain America #601,for which he won the Eisner Award. Genes first cover was on Captain America in the 40′s so it is only fitting he end there.
I have had the good fortune of owning some original artwork from Gene including the above mentioned Buffy story, and have attached a couple of pages to accompany this article.
I had recently also began conversing with Genes agent Cliff Meth and was looking forward to meeting Cliff and Gene in October at New York Comic Con. That alas will now not happen,but knowing that Gene knew how much I appreciate and enjoy the original artwork as well as a very brief note between us I will always cherish.

If you don’t know who Gene Colan is or aren’t familiar with his work,check The Invincible Gene Colan, Secrets in the Shadows and Painting with Pencil. All available at fine comic shops everywhere. If it’s not in stock it soon will be. In this comic era where you can hardly tell one artist from another,do yourself a favor and check out Gene Colan’s work. Fortunately we will always have that to remember him by.

Dennis De Pues

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