James Sherman (comics)

James Sherman
Sherman at the November 2008 Big Apple Con in Manhattan.
Bornc. 1948 (age 75–76)
Area(s)Penciller, Inker
Notable works
Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes

James Sherman (b. c. 1948)[1] is an artist known for his work in American comic books, movies, and logos.

Career

James Sherman is an artist and colorist who worked for DC Comics and Marvel Comics in the 1970s and 1980s.[2] His first professional comics art appeared in Tarzan Family #65 and Blackhawk #248 (both cover dated Sept.–Oct. 1976).[3] He drew the Challengers of the Unknown lead feature in Super-Team Family #8–10 in collaboration with writer Steve Skeates and inker Jack Abel.[4] Sherman is best known for his pencil work on Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes in the late 1970s, when he took over as regular artist following Mike Grell.[3][5] He and writer Paul Levitz introduced the Dawnstar character in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #226 (April 1977).[6] Sherman's run ended halfway through the multiple issue "Earthwar" story arc[7] due to his displeasure with the direction of the storyline.[8] He did not like the ending which had Mordru the magician revealed as the final villain behind all the different factions attacking Earth. He left the title and was replaced by Joe Staton. Sherman's run as the regular penciller on Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes ran from issue #225 (March 1977) to #242 (Aug. 1978).[3]

In 1980, Sherman joined Upstart Associates, a shared studio space on West 29th Street in New York City. Founded by Howard Chaykin, Walt Simonson, Val Mayerik, and Jim Starlin;[9] Sherman replaced Mayerik, who had left the city. The membership of the studio changed over time,[10] and eventually Sherman took the space over for his own use.[8]

At Marvel Comics, Sherman worked on various titles including The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #3 (1981) which featured a guest appearance by the Man-Wolf.[11] Sherman was the artist on Elaine Lee's 1991 noir space opera The Transmutation of Ike Garuda.[3] He has done fill-in work from time-to time on a number of titles, but primarily works in commercial art.[8]

Sherman created the logo for the supermarket chain ShopRite. Sherman formerly claimed to have created the logo for Major League Baseball.[8] He has since acknowledged that a logo he designed for MLB is similar to the original logo, but that he did not design the original logo.[1]

Bibliography

Comics work (interior pencil art) includes:

DC Comics

Eclipse Comics

First Comics

Harvey Pekar

Marvel Comics

Epic Comics

Now Comics

References

  1. ^ a b Lukas, Paul (November 10, 2008). "The mystery of the Major League Baseball logo designer". Bristol, Connecticut: ESPN. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013.
  2. ^ Bails, Jerry (2006). "Sherman, Jim". Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999. Archived from the original on January 25, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d James Sherman at the Grand Comics Database
  4. ^ Johnson, Dan (August 2013). "We Are (Super-Team) Family". Back Issue! (66). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 12–13.
  5. ^ "James Sherman". Lambiek Comiclopedia. 2014. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012.
  6. ^ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1970s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 172. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Wildfire...recruited the young Dawnstar from the Legion Academy, in a story by scribe Paul Levitz and artist James Sherman. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 178: "[Paul Levitz] demonstrated his great affinity for the Legion...when he and artist James Sherman waged 'Earthwar'."
  8. ^ a b c d Cadigan, Glen (2003). The Legion Companion. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 113–114. ISBN 978-1893905221.
  9. ^ Cooke, Jon B. (October 2000). "Simonson Says The Man of Two Gods Recalls His 25+ Years in Comics". Comic Book Artist (10). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 25.
  10. ^ Nolen-Weathington, Eric (2006). Modern Masters, Volume 8: Walter Simonson. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 1-893905-64-0.
  11. ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2012). "1980s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 121. ISBN 978-0756692360. John Jameson and his werewolf alter ego Man-Wolf returned in this yarn by writer David Kraft and penciler Jim Sherman. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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Preceded by Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes
artist
1977–1978 		Succeeded by