Richard Joseph Giordano (July 20, 1932[1] – March 27, 2010)[2] was an Americancomics artist and editor whose career included introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes and serving as executive editor of DC Comics.
Early life
Dick Giordano, an only child, was born in New York City on July 20, 1932, in the borough of Manhattan to Josephine Labruzzi and Graziano "Jack" Giordano. He was "sickly as a child" and spent a significant amount of his childhood in bed. After his father brought him a copy of Famous Funnies, he became hooked on comics and, by age seven, began to draw his own stories on brown paper grocery bags.In elementary school, he played baseball and began writing and drawing sports stories and adaptations of pulp adventures.[3]
He attended New York's vocational high school, the School of Industrial Art, and began reading EC Comics, becoming inspired by cartoonists Al Feldstein and Harvey Kurtzman.[3]
Career
Charlton Comics
Beginning as a freelance artist at Charlton Comics in 1952, Giordano contributed artwork to dozens of the company's comics, including such Western titles as Annie Oakley, Billy the Kid, and Wyatt Earp, the war comicFightin' Army, and scores of covers.[4][5]
Giordano's artwork from Charlton's Strange Suspense Stories was used as inspiration for artist Roy Lichtenstein's 1965/1966 Brushstroke series, including Brushstroke, Big Painting No. 6, Little Big Painting and Yellow and Green Brushstrokes.[6][7][8]
By the mid-1960s a Charlton veteran, Giordano rose to executive editor, succeeding Pat Masulli, by 1965.[9] As an editor, he made his first mark in the industry, overseeing Charlton's revamping of its few existing superheroes and having his artists and writers create new such characters for what he called the company's "Action Hero" line.Many of these artists included new talent Giordano brought on board, including Jim Aparo, Dennis O'Neil, and Steve Skeates.[9][10]
DC Comics
DC Comics vice president Irwin Donenfeld hired Giordano as an editor in April 1968, at the suggestion of Steve Ditko,[11] with Giordano bringing over to DC some of the creators he had nurtured at Charlton.[9] Giordano was given several titles such as Teen Titans, Aquaman and Young Love,[10] but none of DC's major series.He launched the horror comics series The Witching Hour in March 1969.[12] and the Western series All-Star Western vol. 2 in September 1970.[13]
Continuity Associates
By 1971, frustrated by what he felt was a lack of editorial opportunities, Giordano had left DC to partner with fellow artist Neal Adams for their Continuity Associates studios,[16] which served as an art packager for comic book publishers, including such companies as Giordano's former employer Charlton Comics,[17]Marvel Comics, and the one-shot Big Apple Comix.Several comics artists began their careers at Continuity[10] and many were mentored by Giordano during their time there.
He had a brief run as penciler of the Wonder Woman series which included a two-issue story in issues #202–203 (October and December 1972) written by science-fiction author Samuel R. Delany.[18] Giordano drew several backup stories in Action Comics
Return to DC
In 1980, DC publisher Jenette Kahn brought Giordano back to DC.[23][24] Initially the editor of the Batman titles, Giordano was named the company's new managing editor in 1981,[25] and promoted to vice president/executive editor in 1983, a position he held until 1993.[9] DC Comics writer and executive Paul Levitz observed in 2010 that "Giordano held the respect of talent as one of their own, and kept their affection with his reassuring calm and warmth."[26]
Giordano provided art for several anniversary issues of key DC titles. He and television writer Alan Brennert crafted the story "To Kill a Legend" in Detective Comics #500 (March 1981).
Creators' rights
Beginning in 1987, Giordano was in the middle of an industry-wide debate about the comics industry, ratings systems, and creators' rights.[37][40] Veteran writers Mike Friedrich, Steven Grant, and Roger Slifer all cited Giordano in particular for his hard-line stance on behalf of DC.[41][42][43][44][45]
Later career
Giordano left DC in 1993, and still did the occasional inking job, but later returned to freelancing full-time.[46] In 1994 Giordano illustrated a graphic novel adaptation of the novel Modesty Blaise released by DC Comics, with creator/writer Peter O'Donnell.[5][47] He was one of the many artists who contributed to the Superman: The Wedding Album one-shot in 1996 wherein the title character married Lois Lane.[48]
In 2002, Giordano launched the short-lived Future Comics with writer David Michelinie and artist Bob Layton
Personal life
Giordano married Marie Trapani, sister of fellow comics artist Sal Trapani, on April 17, 1955.[53] She died from complications of her second stomach cancer surgery in February 1993.[54] They had three children together; Lisa,[55] Dawn, and Richard Jr.[56] Marie's death, combined with Giordano's increasing hearing loss, hastened his decision to retire from DC.[54] Following the death of his wife, Giordano split time between homes in Florida and Connecticut.[9] In 1995, he moved to Palm Coast, Florida, where he continued to work full-time freelancing, until his death.[57] Giordano had suffered from lymphoma and later from leukemia, secondary to the chemotherapy.[58] He died on March 27, 2010, due to complications of treatment for leukemia.[59]
Shortly after Giordano's death in 2010, The Hero Initiative created "The Dick Giordano Humanitarian of the Year Award", which debuted at the 2010 Harvey Awards ceremony held at the Baltimore Comic-Con.The award recognizes one person in comics each year who demonstrates particular generosity and integrity in support of the overall comic book community.[63]
Awards
Giordano received recognition in the industry for his work, including the Alley Award for Best Editor in 1969.[64] He won the Shazam Award for Best Inker (Dramatic Division) in 1970 (for Green Lantern),[65] 1971,[66] 1973 (for Justice League of America),[67] and 1974.[68] He won the 1971 Goethe Award for "Favorite Pro Editor."Giordano received an Inkpot Award in 1981.[69] In 2009 he was awarded the Inkwell AwardsJoe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award.[70]
Bibliography
Comics work (interior full art – pencils and inks, except where noted) includes:
Archie Comics
Archie's Super Hero Comics Digest Magazine (Black Hood) #2 (inks over Neal Adams) (1979)
Chilling Adventures in Sorcery #4 (1973)
Charlton Comics
Brides in Love #1 (1956)
Love Diary #1–3, 6, 10, 21, 23–24, 31–32 (1958–1964)
7.Diane Waldman. Roy Lichtenstein Guggenheim Museum Publications, 1994^
8.Antonia Boström, Christopher Bedford, Penelope Curtis, John Dixon Hunt. The Fran and Ray Stark Collection of 20th-Century Sculpture at the J. Paul Getty Museum Getty Publications, 2008^
9.The New Teen Titans Archives, Volume 1 DC Comics, 1999^
19.Robert Greenberger, Matthew K. Manning. The Batman Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the Batcave Running Press, 2009^
20.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 170: "Many talents from both DC and Marvel contributed to this landmark publication - in addition to inker Dick Giordano, Neal Adams provided several redrawings of Superman while John Romita Sr. worked on numerous Peter Parker/Spider-Man likenesses"^
21.Brett Weiss. Superman vs. Muhammad Ali Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, December 2012^
25.Jack Adler Retires, Dick Giordano Promoted The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, October 1981^
26.Paul Levitz. 75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking Taschen, 2010^
27.Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 193: "The comic responsible for DC's name reached its 500th issue with the help of a variety of talented comic book icons...In a dimension-spanning story by writer Alan Brennert and fan-favorite artist Dick Giordano, Batman traveled to an alternate Earth to save the parents of a young Bruce Wayne."^
28.Robert Greenberger. Memories of Detective Comics #500 Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, December 2013^
29.Peter Sanderson. Justice League #200 All-Star Affair Comics Feature, New Media Publishing, September–October 1981^
30.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 200: "The Amazing Amazon was joined by a host of DC's greatest heroes to celebrate her 300th issue in a seventy-two-page blockbuster...Written by Roy and Dann Thomas, and penciled by Gene Colan, Ross Andru, Jan Duursema, Dick Giordano, Keith Pollard, Keith Giffen, and Rich Buckler."^
31.Andy Mangels. Nightmares and Dreamscapes: The Highlights and Horrors of Wonder Woman #300 Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing, December 2013^
33.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 217: "Running for twelve monthly parts, and written by Marv Wolfman with art by George Pérez and Dick Giordano among others, Crisis led to many major characters - Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman - being relaunched."^
34.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 218: It was what many consider the greatest year in comics. DC debuted two of the industry's most influential works: Frank Miller supplied a gritty take on super-heroes with Batman: The Dark Knight, while writer Alan Moore brought a literary ear and sophisticated structure to DC's comics with the maxiseries Watchmen.^
35.Michael Eury. When Worlds Collided! Behind the Scenes of Crisis on Infinite Earths Back Issue!, TwoMorrows Publishing^
39.Hy Bender. The Sandman Companion DC Comics, 1999^
40.Gary Groth. Dick Giordano Interview The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, January 1988^
41.Mike Friedrich. Ownerous Differences The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, April 1988^
42.Steven Grant. What Dick Said The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, April 1988^
43.Roger Slifer. Screwed by DC The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, April 1988^
44.Richard S. McEnroe. Lies, Damned Lies, & Dick Giordano The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, April 1988^
45.Richard S. McEnroe. Packaging: Work-For-Hire in the Real Publishing Industry The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, April 1988^
46.Newswatch: Dick Giordano Retires Role as DC VP: Editorial Director Closes Out Position, Returns to Freelancing Full-Time The Comics Journal, Fantagraphics Books, August 1993^
47.Peter O'Donnell, Dick Giordano. Modesty Blaise DC Comics, 1994^
48.Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 275: " The behind-the-scenes talent on the monumental issue appropriately spanned several generations of the Man of Tomorrow's career. Written by Dan Jurgens, Karl Kesel, David Michelinie, Louise Simonson, and Roger Stern, the one-shot featured the pencils of John Byrne, Gil Kane, Stuart Immonen, Paul Ryan, Jon Bogdanove, Kieron Dwyer, Tom Grummett, Dick Giordano, Jim Mooney, Curt Swan, Nick Cardy, Al Plastino, Barry Kitson, Ron Frenz, and Dan Jurgens."^
He continued to freelance for DC as a penciler and inker.[14] As an artist, Giordano was best known as an inker.His inking was particularly associated with the pencils of Neal Adams, for their run in the early 1970s on the titles Batman and Green Lantern/Green Arrow.[5] Comics historian Les Daniels observed that "The influential Adams style moved comics closer to illustration than cartooning, and he brought a menacing mood to Batman's adventures that was augmented by Dick Giordano's dark, brooding inks."[15]
Throughout the late 1970s and the early 1980s, Ross Andru and Giordano were DC's primary cover artists, providing cover artwork for the Superman titles as well as covers for many of the other comics in the DC line at that time.
From 1983 to 1987,[36] Giordano wrote a monthly column published in DC titles called "Meanwhile..."which much like Marvel's "Bullpen Bulletins" featured news and information about the company and its creators.Unlike "Bullpen Bulletins," which was characterized by an ironic, over-hyped tone, Giordano's columns ". . . were written in a relatively sober, absolutely friendly voice, like a friend of your father's you particularly liked and didn't mind sitting down to listen to."[37] Giordano closed each "Meanwhile..." column with the characteristic words, "Thank you and good afternoon."
They had begun the project in 1974 but the cancellation of many of Marvel's black and white magazines put it into limbo.[50] The finished story was collected into a hardcover edition in 2005[51] and a colorized hardcover edition in 2010.[52] In 2005, F+W Publications Inc. published the instructional art book Drawing Comics with Dick Giordano, which he wrote and illustrated.
His last mainstream work appeared in Jonah Hex vol. 2, #51 (March 2010) for which he drew the interior art and the cover.[5] His last comics work was pencilling and editing Baron Five, published by Hound Comics.
Adventures in the DC Universe Annual (Rose and Thorn and Zatanna) #1 (1997)
Adventures of Superman #431 (inks over Erik J. Larsen), #466 (inks over Dan Jurgens), #536 (inks), #Annual 2 (inks over Kerry Gammill), 3 (inks over Bryan Hitch) (1987-1996)
All New Collectors' Edition #C-56 (inks over Neal Adams), C-58 (inks over Rich Buckler) (1978)
Batman (Batman backup stories) #247, 250; (Batman and Robin backup story) #327; (Batman) #421 (full art); #219–222, 224–227, 235–236, 239–242, 246, 249–250, 252–254, 256–261, 266, 310 (inks over Irv Novick); #232, 234, 237, 243–245, 255 (inks over Neal Adams); #248 (inks over Bob Brown); #262–264, 267 (inks over Ernie Chan); #298–299, 302 (inks over John Calnan); #300, 312, 321 (inks over Walt Simonson); #359 (inks over Dan Jurgens); Annual #9 (inks over Dan Jurgens); #409 (inks over Ross Andru); #497 (inks over Jim Aparo); #509 (inks over Mike Manley) (1973–1994)
Batman and the Outsiders #12 (inks over Jim Aparo) (1984)
Batman: Catwoman Defiant (inks over Tom Grindberg) (1992)
Books of Magic #Annual 1 (inks over Mark Buckingham) (1997)
The Brave and the Bold (Flash and Doom Patrol) #65; (Human Target) #143–144; (Batman and Black Lightning) #163; (Batman and Black Canary) #166 (full art); #80–81, 102 (inks over Neal Adams); #87 (inks over Mike Sekowsky); (1966–1980)
Celebrate the Century Super Heroes Stamp Album #1-5 (1998-1999)
Christmas with the Super-Heroes (Deadman) #2 (1988)
Crisis on Infinite Earths #1–3, 7 (inks over George Pérez) (1985)
DC Comics Presents #12, 33–34 (inks over Rich Buckler); #13–14 (inks over Dick Dillin); #26 (inks over George Pérez); #27 (inks over Jim Starlin); #31 (inks over García-López) (1979–1981)
DC Universe Holiday Bash #1 (inks over Paul Ryan) (1997)
Demolition Man, miniseries, #1–4 (inks over Rod Whigham) (1993)
Detective Comics (Elongated Man) #426, 430, 436, 449; (Batman) #457; (Human Target) #484, 486, 493; (Batgirl) #487; (Batman and Robin) #500 (full art); (Batman) #395, 397, 400, 402, 404, 407–408, 410 (inks over Neal Adams); #414–415, 418–419, 425, 427, 434–435 (inks over Irv Novick); #439–440 (inks over Sal Amendola); #411–413, 417, 422–424, 428 (inks over Bob Brown); #433 (inks over Dick Dillin); #447–448 (inks over Ernie Chan); #524 (inks over Don Newton); #525 (inks over Dan Jurgens); #529–530 (inks over Gene Colan); #572 (inks over Terry Beatty); #598–600 (inks over Denys Cowan); Annual #2 (inks over Dan Jurgens); #618 (inks over Norm Breyfogle); #665 (inks over Graham Nolan) (1972–1993)
Dreaming #7, 32 (inks over Steve Parkhouse) (1996-1999)
Green Arrow Vol 2 #1-6 (inks over Ed Hannigan), #7 (inks over Eduardo Barreto), #8 (inks over Paris Cullins), #9-12 (inks over Ed Hannigan), #13-14 (inks over Dan Jurgens), #15-16 (inks over Ed Hannigan), #17-18 (inks over Dan Jurgens), #19-20 (inks over Ed Hannigan), #21-24, 27-30 (inks over Dan Jurgens), #117 (inks over William Rosado), Annual #2 (1988-1997)
Secret Origins vol. 2 (Halo) #6, (Deadman, inks over Kevin Maguire) #15, (Batgirl, inks over Rick Leonardi) #20, (Legion of Super Heroes, inks over Rick Stasi) #25, (Green Arrow, inks over Hannibal King) #38, (Johnny Thunder, inks over Alan Weiss; Black Canary, inks over Joe Staton) #50, #Special (Two Face, inks over Pat Broderick), Annual #3 (inks) (1986-1990)
Secret Origins of the World's Greatest Super-Heroes (Batman) (1989)
Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #2,10-11,20 (1985-1986)
Wonder Woman #178–198 (inks over Mike Sekowsky); #199 (inks over Don Heck) #241 (inks over Joe Staton); #300 (inks over Ross Andru); #200–203, 220, 300 (full art) (1972–1983)
Wonder Woman: The Secret of the Magic Thiara (inks over Rich Buckler) (book set and record, 1978)
