| Dick Dillin | |
|---|---|
 Dick Dillin fromThe Amazing World of DC Comics #11 (March 1976) | |
| Born | Richard Allen Dillin (1928-12-17)December 17, 1928 Watertown, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 1, 1980(1980-03-01) (aged 51) |
| Area(s) | Penciller |
Notable works | Blackhawk Justice League of America World's Finest Comics |
Richard Allen Dillin[1] (December 17, 1928 – March 1, 1980)[2][3] was anAmericancomics artist best known for a 12-year run as thepenciler of theDC Comicssuperhero-team seriesJustice League of America. He drew 115 issues from 1968 until his death in 1980.
Dick Dillin was born inWatertown, New York.[4] Determined since childhood to draw for comics, Dillin graduated from Watertown High School to become an art student atSyracuse University on theG.I. Bill, following hismilitary service with the8th U.S. Army in Tokyo,Yokohama, andOkinawa.[4]
Dillin eventually did art forFawcett Comics (on features including "Lance O'Casey" and "Ibis the Invincible" inWhiz Comics) and Fiction House ("Buzz Bennett", "Space Rangers") led to drawing forQuality Comics, beginning in 1952. He worked particularly on the popular titleBlackhawk but also onG.I. Combat,Love Confessions, andLove Secrets.[5] When Quality went out of business, Dillin, searching for new work, eventually triedDC Comics where he saw one or more issues ofBlackhawk on the desk as he was being interviewed, and to his relief was told, "We've been trying to get in touch with you."[6]
Dillin returned toBlackhawk, now a DC property, and when the book's initial run ended, went on to draw issues ofWorld's Finest Comics before being assignedJustice League of America, a superteam series featuring, at the time,Superman, Batman,Green Lantern,Wonder Woman,Green Arrow, and theAtom. Dillin penciled the series from #64–183 (Aug. 1968–Oct. 1980), except for the planned reprint issues #67, 76, 85 and 93; issue #153 which was pencilled byGeorge Tuska; and issue #157 where he provided the intro and epilogue pages while Juan Ortiz pencilled the main story.[5][7] He had completed the first 2½ pages of #184 when he died; pencilerGeorge Pérez and inkerFrank McLaughlin took over the title, starting that issue from scratch.[citation needed]
Dillin's tenure onJLA included the reintroduction ofRed Tornado. He and writerDennis O'Neil made several changes to the membership of the JLA by removing founding members Wonder Woman and theMartian Manhunter.[8] They also oversaw the migration of theBlack Canary from Earth-2 to Earth-1; and the introduction of theJLA satellite. Dillin and writerLen Wein produced the return of theSeven Soldiers of Victory in issues #100–102[9] and the introduction of theQuality Comics characters to theDC continuity as theFreedom Fighters in issues #107–108.[10]
In late 1972, Dillin drew the DC chapter of ametafictional unofficialcrossover crafted by writers Wein,Steve Englehart, andGerry Conway spanning titles from both major comics companies. Each comic featured Englehart, Conway, and Wein, as well as Wein's first wifeGlynis,interacting with Marvel or DC characters at theRutland Halloween Parade inRutland, Vermont. Beginning inAmazing Adventures #16 (by Englehart with art byBob Brown and Frank McLaughlin), the story continued inJustice League of America #103 (by Wein, Dillin andDick Giordano), and concluded inThor #207 (by Conway and pencilerJohn Buscema).[11][12][13]
Wein and Dillin created thesupervillainLibra inJustice League of America #111 (June 1974),[14] who would play a leading role inGrant Morrison'sFinal Crisis storyline in 2008. Dillin drew the return of Wonder Woman to the team in issues #128–129 (March–April 1976).[15] He and writer Steve Englehart crafted a new origin story for the JLA in issue #144[16] and inductedHawkgirl into the team two issue later.[17] Other highlights of Dillin's tenure included the 1976 integration of the defunct and newly acquiredFawcett Comics heroes in issues #135-137, and the murder of the originalMister Terrific in issue #171.[18] Dillin and writerBob Haney created theSuper-Sons, Superman Jr. and Batman Jr., inWorld's Finest Comics #215 (Jan. 1973).[19] He drew severalGreen Lantern backup stories inThe Flash from 1974 to 1977.[20] In 1975, Dillin drew the framing chapters for a 1940sSeven Soldiers of Victory script inAdventure Comics #438 and 443.[21][22][23]
He was living inPeekskill, New York, at the time of his death.[2] As per the letters page ofJustice League of America #184, Dillin suffered a heart attack.
Dillin drewanimationstoryboards for theTrans-Lux/Joe Oroliosyndicated TV seriesJohnny Zero (c. 1962), andThe Mighty Hercules (1963), among other shows.[1]
Comics work (interior pencil art) includes:
{{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)An unpublished script starring the Seven Soldiers of Victory was published within five issues ofAdventure Comics…Thirty years after the Seven Soldiers of Victory feature was canceled!
| Preceded by | Blackhawk artist 1951–1968 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Justice League of America artist 1968–1980 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | World's Finest Comics artist 1970–1976 | Succeeded by |
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