Legendary comic book artist John Severin has died at age 90. One of the original MAD artists in the 1950's, he is also remembered for his effortless-looking brilliance as both penciler and/or inker on such series as AMERICAN EAGLE, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, KULL, THE RAWHIDE KID, THE SUB-MARINER, SGT FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS, THE LOSERS, about a zillion western and war comics over a 50 year period and, perhaps ultimately, as the image of CRACKED MAGAZINE where his work appeared in nearly every magazine issue of MAD's longest running rival. As recently as last year, he was still working in comics, putting these flashy younger kids to shame with style.
As a kid I always loved the photorealistic caricatures John Severin did in the pages of the original Cracked magazine, which were beautifully and always much funnier than the parodies they were accompanying. May he rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteNo one drew like him. The closest in style was the late Joe Maneely. Severin was an original and like you point out worked right until the very end, an admirable quality I want to emulate in my own life if I'm allowed the chance.
ReplyDeleteI've bought many a book just because he was included.
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