Every once in a while, a comic book artist comes along who rises above the rest and not only establishes a unique visual language, but cements himself for years to come in the minds of fans. The late Gene Colan was one of those artists. An integral part of Marvel Comics editor Stan Lee’s juggernaut of style in the “Silver Age” of the 1960s, Colan, who died June 23, leaves behind a body of work that’s still discussed by aficionados.

“Gene ‘The Dean’ Colan has left us for that drawing table in the sky,” said Jim Collins of JC’s Comic Stop. “It saddens me that Gene was never thought of in the same light as Jack ‘King’ Kirby by the industry as a whole, but this does not diminish the body of work he produced over fifty years. As with Jack, Gene most certainly influenced a generation of artists.”

A kid from The Bronx, Colan gained art experience in the 1940s in the neophyte comics industry as well as in the Army Air Corps in World War II. He went on to win multiple awards and also give back to budding illustrators as an art instructor.

“I was first aware of Gene when he was doing the art on Sub-Mariner in ‘Tales to Astonish’ for Marvel (1965-66),” Collins said. “He quickly became one of my favorite artists, working on ‘Iron Man,’ ‘Daredevil,’ ‘Tomb of Dracula,’ ‘Captain America,’ ‘Doctor Strange’ and ‘Howard the Duck.’ Gene’s art style was unlike anyone else’s; there was no mistaking him for [artists] Don Heck, George Tuska, Gil Kane, John Romita, Steve Ditko or Kirby.

“His storytelling was unique onto itself. My favorite work of his had to be ‘Howard the Duck.’ Along with Steve Gerber’s writing, Gene’s art had me looking forward each and every month to see what was in store for the fowl that was ‘Trapped in A World He Never Made’.”

Collins said Colan lives on in the comics he drew, easily accessed in this day of reprints and digital copies.

“Gene,” he said, “thank you for the enjoyment you’ve given me and your legion of fans out there. It’s a sadder world without you.”

Tags: Captain America, Comics, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, Gene Colan, Howard the Duck, Iron Man, JC's Comic Stop, Jim Beard, Marvel, Sub-Mariner, Tales to Astonish, Tomb of Dracula

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 at 10:29 am and is filed under Comics, Star.
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Even if you know almost nothing about comics, you at least know that their pages are filled with birth, death and rebirth. In fact, outside of religion, comics practically hold the patent on such life cycles — which leads us to the newest Marvel Comics event, “Shadowland.” Converse of the cosmic catastrophes usually committed by comics, Marvel is getting down and dirty with superhero Daredevil and a host of other too-human heroes.

“Shadowland” has Jim Collins excited, as he doles out copies at JC’s Comic Stop, while celebrating the store’s 25th anniversary in Toledo. The Marvel saga stretches across almost a dozen different ongoing series and one-shots — par for the course with today’s “in for a penny, in for a pound” mentality throughout the industry. Collins said the latest installment of the lead title, “Shadowland” No. 3, “a showcase for Daredevil Matt Murdock’s fall from grace as the leader of The Hand, an 800-year-old organization.

“Daredevil has tried to turn The Hand into a force for good in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, but as we all know, ‘power corrupts’,” he said. “So this brings the street-level heroes into play trying to help the Man Without Fear get back onto the path of the noble.”

And what, pray tell, could be the consequences for ol’ DD should he step off that path for good? Well, no surprise, but Marvel’s not being too forthcoming, only hinting that its red-clad hero may die and be replaced by a new Daredevil. Wouldn’t be the first time, won’t be the last. Birth, death, rebirth … repeat. Wouldn’t be comics without the cycle.

Speaking of street-level playas, Collins also wants to remind us that Thursday is new comics day this week  — ’cause of Labor Day — and that two issues of “Amazing Spider-Man” are shipping. With them we get another ending and beginning.

“No. 642 promises, ‘Things will never be the same again.’ We’ve heard this many times before,” Collins said. “But looks like it’ll live up to the hype. Face front, True Believers; this is a must-have!”

Tags: Comics, Daredevil, Jim Beard, Marvel Comics

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at 10:44 am and is filed under Comics, Star.
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