| Carmine Infantino | |
|---|---|
 Infantino in October 2010 | |
| Born | (1925-05-24)May 24, 1925 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | April 4, 2013(2013-04-04) (aged 87) New York City, U.S. |
| Area | Penciller, Editor, Publisher |
Notable works | Detective Comics,Flash, Showcase,Star Wars |
| Awards | Full list |
Carmine Infantino (/ɪnfənˈtiːnoʊ/; May 24, 1925[1] – April 4, 2013)[2][3] was an Americancomics artist andeditor, primarily forDC Comics, during the late 1950s and early 1960s period known as theSilver Age of Comic Books. Among his character creations are theBlack Canary and theSilver Age version of theFlash with writerRobert Kanigher,Elongated Man withJohn Broome, theBarbara Gordon incarnation ofBatgirl with writerGardner Fox,Deadman with writerArnold Drake, and Christopher Chance, the second iteration of theHuman Target, withLen Wein.
He was inducted into comics'Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2000.
Carmine Infantino was born viamidwife in his family's apartment inBrooklyn, New York City. His father, Pasquale "Patrick" Infantino, born in New York City, was originally a musician who playedsaxophone,clarinet, andviolin, and had a band with composerHarry Warren. During theGreat Depression, he turned to a career as a licensedplumber. Infantino's mother, Angela Rosa DellaBadia, emigrated fromCalitri, a hill town northeast ofNaples, Italy.[4]
Infantino attended Public Schools 75 and 85 in Brooklyn before going on to theSchool of Industrial Art (later renamed theHigh School of Art and Design) inManhattan.[5] During his freshman year of high school, Infantino began working forHarry "A" Chesler, whose studio was one of a handful of comic-book "packagers" who created complete comics for publishers looking to enter the emerging field in the 1930s–1940sGolden Age of Comic Books. As Infantino recalled:
I used to go around as a youngster into companies, go in and try to meet people — nothing ever happened. One day I went to this place on 23rd Street, this old broken-down warehouse, and I metHarry Chesler. Now, I was told he was a mean guy and he used people and he took artists. But he was very sweet to me. He said, 'Look, kid. You come up here, I'll give you a dollar a day, just study art, learn, and grow.' That was damn nice of him, I thought. He did that for me for a whole summer.[5]
Infantino was the uncle of musicianJim Infantino, whose 2003 albumThey're Everywhere featured a song called "The Ballad of Barry Allen". Infantino created the artwork for the album cover.[6]
WithFrank Giacoiapenciling, Infantinoinked the feature "Jack Frost" inUSA Comics #3 (cover-dated Jan. 1942), fromTimely Comics, the forerunner ofMarvel Comics. He wrote in his autobiography that
...Frank Giacoia and I were in constant contact. One day in '40 we decided to go up to Timely Comics ... to see if we could get some work. They gave us a script called 'Jack Frost' and that story became our first published work. Frank did the pencils and I did the inking.Joe Simon was the editor and he offered us both a staff job. Frank quit school and took the job. I wanted desperately to quit school and I told my father that it was a great opportunity. He said, 'No way! You're gonna finish school.' Things were very bad, he was desperate for money, but he wouldn't let me quit school. He said, 'School comes first. If you're that good, the job will be there later.' I can't love the man enough for that. So Frank took the job and I didn't. I was 15 or 16 and I just kept making my rounds in the early '40s, looking for freelance work while continuing my studies.[7]
Infantino would eventually work for several publishers during the decade, drawingHuman Torch andAngel stories for Timely;Airboy andHeap stories forHillman Periodicals;[8] working for packagerJack Binder, who suppliedFawcett Comics; briefly atHolyoke Publishing; then landing atDC Comics. Infantino's first published work for DC was "The Black Canary", a six-pageJohnny Thunder story inFlash Comics #86 (Aug. 1947) that introduced the superheroine theBlack Canary.[9] Infantino's long association with theFlash mythos began with "The Secret City" a story inAll-Flash #31 (Oct.–Nov. 1947).[10] He additionally became a regular artist of the Golden AgeGreen Lantern and theJustice Society of America.[8]
During the 1950s, Infantino freelanced forJoe Simon andJack Kirby's company,Prize Comics, drawing the seriesCharlie Chan. Back at DC, during a lull in the popularity ofsuperheroes, Infantino drewWesterns,mysteries,science fiction comics.[8]
In 1956, DC editorJulius Schwartz assigned Infantino and writerRobert Kanigher to the company's first attempt at reviving superheroes: an updated version of the Flash who would appear in issue #4 (Oct. 1956) of the anthology seriesShowcase. Infantino designed the now-classic red uniform with yellow detail (reminiscent ofCaptain Marvel), striving to keep it as streamlined as possible, and he drew on his design abilities to create a new visual language to depict the Flash's speed, using vertical and horizontalmotion lines to make the figure a red and yellow blur. The success of the Flash heralded the wholesale return of superheroes, and the beginning of what fans and historians call theSilver Age of comics.[11]
Infantino drew "Flash of Two Worlds," a landmark[12] story published inThe Flash #123 (Sept. 1961) that introducedEarth-Two and the concept of themultiverse to DC Comics.[13] Infantino continued to work for Schwartz in his other features and titles, most notably "Adam Strange" inMystery in Space, succeeding the character's initial artist,Mike Sekowsky. In 1964, Schwartz was made responsible for reviving the fadedBatman titles. WriterJohn Broome and artist Infantino jettisoned the series' sillier aspects (such asAce the Bat-Hound andBat-Mite) and gave the "New Look" Batman and Robin a more detective-oriented direction and sleeker draftsmanship that proved a hit combination.[14]
Other features and characters Infantino drew at DC include "The Space Museum", andElongated Man. WithGardner Fox, Infantino co-created theBlockbuster inDetective Comics #345 (Nov. 1965)[15] andBarbara Gordon as a new version ofBatgirl inDetective Comics #359 (Jan. 1967).[16] WriterArnold Drake and Infantino created the supernatural superheroDeadman inStrange Adventures #205 (Oct. 1967).[17][18] This story included the first known depiction ofnarcotics in a story approved by theComics Code Authority.[19]
In late 1966/early 1967, Infantino was tasked byIrwin Donenfeld with designing covers for the entire DC line.Stan Lee learned this and approached Infantino with a $22,000 offer to move to Marvel. PublisherJack Liebowitz confirmed that DC could not match the offer, but could promote Infantino to the position of art director. Initially reluctant, Infantino accepted what Liebowitz posed as a challenge, and stayed with DC.[20] When DC was sold toKinney National Company, Infantino was promoted to editorial director. He started by hiring new talent, and promoting artists to editorial positions. He hiredDick Giordano away fromCharlton Comics, and made artistsJoe Orlando,Joe Kubert and Mike Sekowsky editors. New talents such as artistNeal Adams and writerDennis O'Neil were brought into the company. Several of DC's older characters were revamped by O'Neil includingWonder Woman;[21] Batman;Green Lantern andGreen Arrow; andSuperman.[22]
In 1970, Infantino signed on Marvel Comics' star artist and storytelling collaboratorJack Kirby to a DC Comics contract. Beginning withSuperman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, Kirby created hisFourth World saga that wove through that existing title and three new series he created. After the "Fourth World" titles were canceled, Kirby created several other series for DC includingOMAC,Kamandi,The Demon, and, together with former partner Joe Simon for one last time, a new incarnation of theSandman before returning to freelancing for Marvel in 1975.[2]
Infantino was made DC'spublisher in early 1971, during a time of declining circulation for the company's comics, and he attempted a number of changes. In an effort to increase revenue, he raised the cover price of DC's comics from 15 to 25 cents, simultaneously raising the page-count by adding reprints and new backup features.[23] Marvel met the price increase, then dropped back to 20 cents; DC stayed at 25 cents for about a year, a decision that ultimately proved bad for overall sales.[24][25]
Infantino and writerLen Wein co-created the "Human Target" feature inAction Comics #419 (December 1972).[26] The character was adapted into a short-livedABC television series starringRick Springfield which debuted in July 1992.[27]
After consulting with screenwriterMario Puzo on the plots ofSuperman: The Movie andSuperman II,[28][29] Infantino collaborated with Marvel on the crossover publicationSuperman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man. In January 1976,Warner Communications replaced Infantino with magazine publisherJenette Kahn, a person new to the comics field. Infantino returned to drawing freelance.[30]
Infantino later drew for a number of titles forWarren Publishing and Marvel, including the latter'sStar Wars,[31]Spider-Woman,[32] andNova. His brief collaboration withJim Shooter saw the introduction ofPaladin inDaredevil #150 (Jan. 1978).[33] During Infantino's tenure on theStar Wars series, it was one of the industry's top selling titles.[34] In 1981, he returned to DC Comics and co-created a revival of the "Dial H for Hero" feature with writerMarv Wolfman in aspecial insert inLegion of Super-Heroes #272 (February 1981).[35] He and writerCary Bates crafted a Batman backup story forDetective Comics #500 (March 1981).[36][37] Infantino returned toThe Flash title with issue #296 (April 1981) and drew the series until its cancellation with issue #350 (October 1985). He drewThe Flash #300 (Aug. 1981), which was in theDollar Comics format,[38] and was one of the artists on the double-sizedJustice League of America #200 (March 1982), his chapter featuring the Flash andElongated Man, characters he had co-created.[39]
He was one of the contributors to theDC Challenge limited series in 1986.[40] Other projects in the 1980s included pencilingThe Daring New Adventures of Supergirl,[41] aRed Tornado miniseries, and a comic book tie-in to the television seriesV. In 1990, he followedMarshall Rogers as artist of theBatman newspaper comic strip and drew the strip until its cancellation the following year.[42] During the 1990s Infantino also taught at theSchool of Visual Arts before retiring.[43] Despite his retirement, Infantino made appearances at comic conventions in the early 21st century.[44]
In 2004, he sued DC for rights to characters he alleged he had created while he was afreelancer for the company. These included severalFlash characters includingWally West,Iris West,Captain Cold,Captain Boomerang,Mirror Master, andGorilla Grodd, as well asElongated Man andBatgirl.[45] The lawsuit was dismissed in September of that same year.[46]
One of his final stories for the company appeared inDC Comics Presents: Batman #1 (Sept. 2004), a tribute to Julius Schwartz.[47]
ArtistNick Cardy commented on the popular butapocryphalanecdote, told by Julius Schwartz, about Infantino firing Cardy over not following a cover layout, only to rehire him moments later when Schwartz praised the errant cover art:
[A]t one of the conventions ... I said, 'You know, Carmine, Julie Schwartz wrote something in [his autobiography] that I don't remember at all and it doesn't sound like you at all'. And I told him the incident ... and he said, 'That's crazy. You know I always loved your work. Gee, you were one of the best artists in the business. The guy's crazy'. So I said, 'Okay, come on'. We went over to Julie Schwartz's table and we told him what our problem was. And Carmine and I said, 'We don't remember the incident'. So Julie said, 'Well, it's a good story, anyway'. [laughs] And that was it. He let it go at that. [laughs] He just made it up.[48]
Infantino wrote or contributed to two books about his life and career:The Amazing World of Carmine Infantino (Vanguard Productions,ISBN 1-887591-12-5), andCarmine Infantino: Penciler, Publisher, Provocateur (Tomorrows Publishing,ISBN 1-60549-025-3).
Infantino died on April 4, 2013, at the age of 87 at his home in Manhattan.[3]
In season three ofThe CW TV showThe Flash, episode 22 is titled "Infantino Street".[49]
In the 2023Amazon Prime VideoChristmas special,Merry Little Batman, Infantino appears in a cameo via archive audio.[50]
Infantino's awards include:
Debuting as a supporting character in a six-page Johnny Thunder feature written by Robert Kanigher and penciled by Carmine Infantino, Dinah Drake [the Black Canary] was originally presented as a villain...The Black Canary's introduction in August [1947]'sFlash Comics #86 represented [Infantino's] first published work for DC.
{{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Gardner Fox and penciller Carmine Infantino introduced the villain Blockbuster in this issue.
{{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)One comic that I know preceded the 1971 amendment [to the Comics Code] wasStrange Adventures #205, the first appearance of Deadman! ... a clear reference to narcotics, overthree years before Marvel Comics would have to go without the Comics Code to do an issue about drugs.
Marvel took advantage of this moment to surpass DC in title production for the first time since 1957, and in sales for the first time ever.
My name was supposed to be on the script. I was supposed to be on the film, and then when they dumped me they took my name off the thing. You can't fight that, but I did a lot of work on that. An awful lot...I worked onSuperman I andII and saved both plots. They're pretty good, I think.
[The series' creative team] locked into place beginning with issue 11, when Archie Goodwin and Carmine Infantino took over.
Writer Marv Wolfman and penciling legend Carmine Infantino reintroduced fans to Spider-Woman in this new series all about the female wall-crawler.
{{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)The industry's top seller? We don't have complete information from our Circulation Scavenger Hunt for the years 1979 and 1980, but a very strong case is building forStar Wars as the industry's top-selling comic book in 1979 and its second-place seller (behindAmazing Spider-Man) in 1980.
Shortly after the 1989 feature [film], Batman even returned to the funny pages for a bit, in a comic strip by writer William Messner-Loebs...Lacking enough support from various papers to make it financially feasible, the new comic strip folded after two years, despite Carmine Infantino trying his hand at its art chores.
| Preceded by n/a | The Flash artist 1959–1967 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Detective Comics artist 1964–1967 | Succeeded by Sheldon Moldoff |
| Preceded by | Nova artist 1977–1979 | Succeeded by n/a |
| Preceded by n/a | Spider-Woman artist 1978–1979 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Star Wars artist 1978–1981 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | The Flash artist 1981–1985 | Succeeded by n/a |
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