Kurt Schaffenberger
| Kurt Schaffenberger | |
|---|---|
 Schaffenberger self-portrait from Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #155 (Jan. 1973) | |
| Born | December 15, 1920 Thuringian Forest, Germany |
| Died | January 24, 2002 (aged 81) Brick, Ocean County, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Nationality | Naturalized American |
| Area(s) | Penciller, Inker |
Notable works | Captain Marvel, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane |
| Awards | National Cartoonists Society Comic Book Award, 1984. |
Kurt Schaffenberger (December 15, 1920
Biography
Early career
Schaffenberger was born on a farm in the
While working for Binder's studio, which was located in Englewood, New Jersey, Schaffenberger took over an apartment from the local high school football coach, Vince Lombardi, who had yet to achieve success in the National Football League.[4]
During this time, Schaffenberger's work was also published by Prize, Street & Smith, and Pines.[6]
Schaffenberger served in the
Schaffenberger returned to the world of professional sequential art soon after war's end. He resumed his work for the Captain Marvel family of titles, and expanded his reach to an even more diverse group of publishing houses, including EC Comics, Gilberton, Premier Magazines, American Comics Group, and Marvel Comics. At Gilberton, Schaffenberger provided the interior art for Classics Illustrated No. 119, Soldiers of Fortune (May 1954).[7]
DC Comics
In 1957 Otto Binder recruited Schaffenberger to DC to work on the Superman family. He stayed at DC for the next 30 years, making an especially large contribution to the development of Lois Lane. In this capacity, he was the lead artist on the Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane series for the entirety of its first decade. Indeed, Schaffenberger's rendition of Lane became cited by many[8][9] as the "definitive" version of the character, and Schaffenberger was often asked by DC editor Mort Weisinger to redraw other artists' depictions of Lois Lane in other DC titles where she appeared.[9] Catwoman made her first appearance in the Silver Age of Comic Books in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #70 (Nov. 1966) in a story drawn by Schaffenberger.[10] In issue #80 (Jan. 1968), Schaffenberger updated the character's fashions to a then-more contemporary look.[11]
He was essentially fired from DC in 1970 for helping to organize other artists to protest bad working conditions.[12] He then briefly freelanced and worked for Marvel, but returned to DC in 1972.
When, in the 1970s, DC acquired the rights to the Marvel Family, Schaffenberger was one of the key players in the revival of those characters. The late 1970s saw him contribute outside the Superman family of titles, including work on titles such as Wonder Woman and Super Friends.[5]
In 1980, Schaffenberger was again leading a Superman family title,
Schaffenberger was a special guest at the 1996
Personal life
Schaffenberger and his wife, the former Dorothy Bates Watson,[16] who married in Englewood, New Jersey, on March 30, 1946,[17] had two children, Susan and her three-years-younger brother, Karl.[18] The family lived for four decades in the same house in River Edge, New Jersey, before moving in 1989.[19]
Awards
Schaffenberger's work won him the 1984 National Cartoonists Society Award in the "Comic Book" division.[20] He received an Inkpot Award in 1996.[21]
Bibliography
Apple Press
- Mr. Fixitt #2 (1990)
Claypool Comics
- Phantom of Fear City #4–7, 9–11 (1993–1995)
DC Comics
- Action Comics #274, 359, 361–372, 374–376, 437, 442, 445, 460, 464, 474–476, 486, 501, 556, 558–559, 561–562, 565, 567, 570, 573–576, 578, 580–583, 600, 637-640 (1961–1989)
- Adventure Comics #382–389, 391–396 (1969–1970)
- Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld vol. 2 #4 (1985)
- Blue Devil #30 (1986)
- DC Comics Presents #32, 50, 59, 93, 96 (1981–1986)
- DC Special Series #11 (The Flash) (1978)
- Detective Comics #456–457 (Elongated Man), #483–488 (Robin) (1976–1980)
- The Flash #264 (1978)
- Green Lantern Annual #3 (1987)
- Hero Hotline #1–6 (1989)
- History of the DC Universe hardcover (one page) (1988)
- Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2 #305 (1983)
- Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3 #45 (1988)
- M.A.S.K. vol. 2 #1–9 (1987)
- The New Adventures of Superboy #1–54 (1980–1984)
- Outsiders #20 (1987)
- Shazam #11, 14–20, 25–31, 35 (1974–1978)
- Super Friends #14, 18, 20, 29, 32 (1978–1980)
- Superman #121, 124–126, 128, 131, 142, 150, 282, 288, 327–329, 362, 365, 366, 370, 374, 405, 409 (1958–1985)
- The Superman Family #164, 167, 170, 172–180, 182–185, 188–193, 195–202, 204–212, 216–220, 222 (1974–1982)
- Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #1–28, 30–81 (1958–1968)
- Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #56, 66, 81, 89, 154–163 (1961–1974)
- Superman:The Secret Years #1–4 (1985)
- Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #7 (1988)
- Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #4, 11, 14–15, 19–21, 26 (1985–1987)
- Who's Who: Update '87 #5 (1987)
- Wonder Woman #218 (1975)
- World of Smallville #1–4 (1988)
- World's Finest Comics #246–249, 253–250 (1977–1979)
- Young Love #101, 124 (1972–1977)
Fawcett Comics
- Captain Marvel Adventures #91, 109, 142, 145, 147 (1948–1953)
- Captain Marvel Jr. #41, 45, 47, 55, 57–62, 88, 90, 94 (1946–1951)
- Ibis the Invincible #5 (1946)
- Marvel Family #53, 89 (1950–1954)
- Whiz Comics #88–89, 91, 95 (1947–1948)
HM Communications, Inc.
- Heavy Metal #v6#9 (1982)
Marvel Comics
- Adventure into Mystery #1 (1956)
- Astonishing #49, 51 (1956)
- Journey into Unknown Worlds #46, 49 (1956)
- Mystery Tales #41 (1956)
- Mystical Tales #2 (1956)
- Our Love Story #19 (1972)
- Strange Tales #39 (1955)
- World of Fantasy #2, 15 (1956–1958)
3-D Zone
- Daughters of Time 3-D #1 (1991)
References
- ^ Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- ^ Social Security Death Index, Social Security #040-14-9389.
- ^ "Kurt Schaffenberger (as Lou Wahl) Unknown Worlds #57 Cover Original Art (ACG, 1967)". Heritage Auctions.
- ^ a b c d e f "Jimmy Olsen's Pen-Pals," Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #155 (January 1973).
- ^ a b Kurt Schaffenberger at the Grand Comics Database
- ISBN 1-893905-29-2.
- ^ Jones Jr., William B., Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History, with Illustrations (Jefferson, NC, and London: McFarland & Company, 2002), p. 101.
- ^ Voger 2003, pp. 43–45.
- ^ ISBN 978-1893905610.
- ISBN 978-1465424563.
In this wacky story, written by Leo Dorfman and drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger, Catwoman kidnapped Lois Lane as she was investigating the Penguin's escape from prison.
- ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
She started trading in her generic blouse-and-pencil skirt combinations for a "mod" wardrobe filled with printed dresses, go-go boots, mini-skirts, and hot pants.
- ISBN 978-1893905139.
- ^ Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 186: "After recently departing the pages of Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superboy was free to pursue his own adventures...in this premiere issue written by Cary Bates and illustrated by Kurt Schaffenberger."
- ^ Voger 2003, p. 90.
- ^ Hamerlinck, P.C. (November 2020). "The 1996 San Diego Comic-Con Kurt Schaffenberger Panel". Alter Ego (166). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 4–16.
- ^ Voger, Voglesong, p. 15
- ^ Voger, Voglesong, p. 20
- ^ Voger, Voglesong, p. 56
- ^ Voger, Voglesong, p. 101
- ^ "1984 National Cartoonists Society Awards". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012.
- ^ "Inkpot Award Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012.
Further reading
- Interview, Comic Book Marketplace #59 (May 1998) pp. 18–33. Gemstone Publishing.
External links
- Kurt Schaffenberger at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- "DC Profiles #31: Kurt Schaffenberger at the Grand Comics Database
- Kurt Schaffenberger at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
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