John Calnan

This article is about the comic book artist. For the rugby union player, see Joseph Calnan.

John Calnan
BornJohn Calnan
(1932-02-26)February 26, 1932
DiedDecember 27, 2016(2016-12-27) (aged 84)
NationalityAmerican
Area(s)Penciller, Inker
Notable works
Batman, World's Finest Comics

John Calnan (February 26, 1932 – December 27, 2016)[1][2] was an American comics artist best known as the co-creator of Lucius Fox with writer Len Wein.

Early life

John Calnan graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.[2] One of his instructors was Jerry Robinson.[3]

Career

John Calnan's first work in the comic book industry was with fellow artist Tom Gill on The Lone Ranger series.[4] Calnan later moved into the advertising field. He stated in a 2011 interview that he "became an advertising art director and TV producer for agencies and still kept the comic work on the side."[4] Calnan began working for DC Comics in 1966 and drew a large number of stories for that publisher's horror comics titles such as Ghosts, The Unexpected, and The Witching Hour.[5] His earliest credited work at DC Comics appeared in Our Fighting Forces #104 (Nov.–Dec. 1966).[6] He worked primarily with editors Murray Boltinoff, Joe Orlando, and Robert Kanigher.[7] A "Johnny Peril" story drawn by Calnan for The Unexpected series in 1969 was put into inventory and finally published ten years later in the APA-I fanzine.[8] Calnan was the main artist on the "Metamorpho" back-up feature[3] in Action Comics and World's Finest Comics.[9] He later became the regular artist on the Superman and Batman team-up stories which were the main feature in World's Finest Comics. Soon after leaving that series, he and writer Bob Rozakis introduced the Quakemaster, an enemy of the Batman in DC Special #28 (July 1977).[10] Calnan then became the artist on the main Batman solo-series.[5] His debut on the series was "Where Were You On The Night Batman Was Killed?", a four-issue storyline in issues #291–294 (Sept.–Dec. 1977) written by David Vern Reed.[11][12] Calnan drew the first appearance of Lucius Fox, a supporting cast member of the Batman mythos, in Batman #307 (Jan. 1979).[13] This character was later portrayed by Morgan Freeman in the movies Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises. Calnan's last work for DC Comics appeared in Action Comics #538 (Dec. 1982).[6]

Personal life

Calnan retired in 1996 and died on December 27, 2016, at the age of 84.[2] He was survived by his wife, Barbara, his daughters, Donna, Susan, and Diane and his grandchildren.[14]

Bibliography

DC Comics

George A. Pflaum

Western Publishing

References

  1. ^ Reed, Gene (December 2017). "John Calnan (1932–2016) 'An Editor's Favorite'". Alter Ego. 3 (151). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 79.
  2. ^ a b c "John Calnan". Lambiek Comiclopedia. March 4, 2017. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Evanier, Mark (March 3, 2017). "John Calnan, R.I.P." www.newsfromme.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Stroud, Bryan D. (September 13, 2011). "John Calnan Interview". www.wtv-zone.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Bails, Jerry (n.d.). "John Calnan". Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020.
  6. ^ a b John Calnan at the Grand Comics Database
  7. ^ Carmichael, Michael C. (November 1981). "DC Profile #81: John Calnan". The Superman Family (212). DC Comics. Archived from the original on April 24, 2022.
  8. ^ Wells, John (February 2020). "The 'Lost' DC Stories of the 1970s". Back Issue! (118). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 20.
  9. ^ Stroud, Bryan (May 2013). "Metamorpho in Action Comics". Back Issue! (64). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 22–27.
  10. ^ Manning, Matthew K. (2014). "1970s". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). Batman: A Visual History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 125. ISBN 978-1465424563. A lead feature by writer Bob Rozakis and penciller John Calnan starring Batman as Gotham City suffered earthquakes.
  11. ^ Manning "1970s" in Dougall, p. 126: "Writer David V. Reed delivered one of his most enjoyable Batman stories in this four-part saga illustrated by John Calnan."
  12. ^ Sims, Chris (June 29, 2012). "Ask Chris #112: Where Were You On The Night Batman Was Killed?". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015.
  13. ^ McAvennie, Michael (2010). "1970s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 180. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Batman #307 (Jan. 1979) Writer Len Wein and artist John Calnan introduced Bruce Wayne's new executive, Lucius Fox, in this issue of Batman
  14. ^ Stroud, Bryan D. (December 2016). "In Memoriam: John Calnan". previewsworld.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022.
Preceded by World's Finest Comics artist
1975–1976 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Batman artist
1977–1979 		Succeeded by