Matt baker comic book artist

He is best known for the costumed crime fighter phantom lady. Matt graduated from westinghouse high school in homewoodbrushton. The art of glamour is a biographical graphic novel written by the team of jim amash and eric nolenweathington and illustrated by matt baker. Matt baker comic artist the most popular comic art by. Matt baker surrounded by his glamorous gals on the cover of twomorrows matt baker. Clarence matthew baker december 10, 1921 august 11, 1959 was an american comic book artist and illustrator, best known for drawing early comics. My passion is to get gods word in full into the hands of young believer and unbelievers and comic lovers of all ages, in the hope they will come to really know god. Baker is best remembered for the costumed crimefighter phantom lady and as the. Clarence matthew baker, commonly known as matt baker, was one of the first successful black comic book artists. As part of their tribute to black history month the westland public library invited comic book enthusiast john lay to discuss the work of matt baker who. But it wasnt the color of his skin which made him such a significant figure in the history of the mediumit was his innate ability to draw gorgeous, exciting women and handsome, dynamic men in a fluid, graceful style. Matt baker 1921 1959 golden age comic artist, specializing in good girl art for adventure and romance comics, but also involved with adventure and western titles. Back in the 1990s, sothebys held a breakthrough auction of comic book art.

Comic book artist matt baker baker was a hero in his own right as one of the earliest black comic book artists. Baker at his finest, its near impossible to pick a favorite out of the 2, so they share the number one spot on this list of a long overlooked artist who is finally getting his due for more than just seven seas and phantom lady covers. In the years hence, the genre has captured the imagination of collectors the world over. But it wasnt the color of his skin which made him such a. Baker was the master of a stylistic phase of comic books in the late 1940s, wedged in between the superhero and the horror comics, known to the fans and collectors as good girl art, which is to say comics that constituted a. Matt baker was a prolific africanamerican comic book artist from the mid1940s to his death from heart disease in the late 1950s, when baker was only in his late 30s. Creator of the phantom lady comic book character and the early graphic novel it rhymes with lust from 1950. Matt baker is often considered the first known successful africanamerican artist in the comicbook industry clarence matthew baker was born on december 10, 1921 in forsyth county, north carolina. Their latest isolated offering, a hardcover celebration of comic book artist matt baker, follows the expected pattern.

Shop for matt baker art comics on, your friendly online comic book store. He drew a variety of different types of comics, including some superhero, sicfi, and horror issues, but his greatest renown is for his work on romance comics. Many of you are likely familiar with the comic book art of matt baker, but for those of you who have not yet heard that name, you are in for a treat. We made 20 of these comic book style illustrations for the book altogether, and even snuck ourselves into one scene, im not saying where. The artist checklists will continue to expand as new posts go up. Youve reached the 100 greatest american comic book artists site, sponsored by atlas comics. View matt bakers profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. He matt had contracted rheumatic fever as a child, which had caused heart problems for him and classified him as draft exempt for world war ii. Although, baker was celebrated in the comics community for his strikingly beautiful and more anatomically correct portrayals of women, his art. Baker specialized in what has become known as good girl comic book art for such publishers as fox, fiction house and later developed a more sophisticated drawing style for st john, charlton, atlas and other publishers. Theres a lot one could say about artist matt baker. Matt baker is recognized as the most known africanamerican comic book artist during the golden age of american comics. In 1944, he got a job as a background artist with the s. Matt baker the art of glamour hc 2012 twomorrows comic.

A lot of best lists simply drop a group of names on you and leave it at that. Clarence matthew baker was an american comic book artist and illustrator, best known for drawing early comics heroines such as the costumed. The 98yearold british comic book artist has done well thus far. Clarence matthew baker was a black comic book artist who died in 1959. Matt baker, the first black comic book artist, was born on december 10, 1921, in forsyth county, north carolina. Matt baker comics checklist by pencil ink, a blog on comics and comic book artists of the past. The art of glamour in the 1940s and 1950s, clarence matthew baker best known as matt baker was widely regarded as the master of the good girl style and is credited as the first successful black comic book artist in the comics industry. Active in the 1940s and 1950s golden age of comic books, he is the first known africanamerican artist to find success in the comic book industry.

Matt baker artist 19211959, american comic book artist matt baker presenter born 1977, british television presenter matthew baker singer, australian bassbaritone opera singer sergeant matt baker, fictional video game character. Matt baker was a pioneering artist during comic books the. All comic art shown is owned or created by our gallery owners at. This graphic novel depict the life of little known comic book artist in the 1940s and 50s. Whereas most of the comic book artists belonging to bakers generation were clearly inspired by such syndicated strip masters as alex raymond, harold foster or. Matt baker was the original good girl golden age artist. Matt baker had a relatively short career in the four color world, as he passed away before his 40th birthday, but his work is held in very high regard and sought out by collectors worldwide. Born clarence matthew baker on december 10, 1921 in north carolina, he came of age in pittsburgh, pennsylvania.

Yet few of todays comic book fans know of the artist or his work, because he died in 1959 at the young age of 38, just as the silver age of comics was bringing in a. Though there is no denying these are on the top with good reason. Clarence matthew baker december 10, 1921 august 11, 19591 was an american comic book artist best known for the costumed crimefighter phantom lady. Mostly golden age, silver age and bronze age comics. He was the son of clarence and ethel baker, matt had two brothers, robert and john.

Please let other comic book art fans know about this site and visit often. Clarence matthew baker worked during the goldenage, cocreator of the phantom lady at fox feature syndicate, he was noted for his good girl art and for being the artist on st. Matt baker was a pioneering artist during comic books the golden age baker was a halloffame illustrator for much of the 1940s and 50s, the time period regularly referred to as. The first known african american comic book artist.

Matt baker, comic book artist fine art and antique appraiser. See more ideas about matt baker, comic book artists and american comics. During his career he drew more than 1,000 pages of comics and over 200 covers. Today the appraisal group celebrates the life and work of matt baker 19211959, the first africanamerican graphic artist. Baker was an africanamerican comic book artist active from the mid1940s until his death in 1959. The son of clarence and ethel baker, matt and his brothers robert and john, moved with their parents to pittsburgh, pa. He later collaborated with inker jon dagostino as matt bakerino at charlton comics. Episode 9 of my creator spotlight series to close out black history month, we spotlight matt baker, the first successful africanamerican comic artist. Clarence matthew baker december 10, 1921 august 11, 1959 was an american comic book artist. To complete the first book i need your help, as i am raising funds on kickstarter. He attended the cooper union school of engineering, art, and design in new york.

Baker was active as early as the 1930s and 1940s golden age of comic books. Matt baker is often considered the first known successful black comic book artist. See more ideas about matt baker, comic books and comics. Matt baker author of ghosts and girls of fiction house.

Clarence matthew baker december 10, 1921 august 11, 1959 was an american comic book artist and illustrator, best known for drawing early comics heroines such as the costumed crimefighter phantom lady, and romance comics. Baker contributed immensely to comic book artwork during the golden age of comic books 1930s1950s. Matt baker comic art member gallery results page 3. Imagine dave stevens or adam hughes working in the 40s, drawing a new story every month, and youll have a good idea of matt bakers place in the industry throughout his career. Please check it out at the ks page, its going well but i still need lots of backers so i hope as. Matt baker is often considered the first known successful africanamerican artist in the comic book industry clarence matthew baker was born on december 10, 1921 in forsyth county, north carolina. Most of matts money comes from being a comic book artist. Matt bakers rightful place in the annals of comic book history has been debated by followers of the genre. Before we begin we thought wed give you a little background. He is absolutely a pioneer in the comic industry, being the first known african american comic book artist to find success in the industry. Matt baker was a prolific africanamerican comic book artist from the mid1940s to his death from heart disease in the late 1950s, when baker was only in his late. But by most accounts, he is considered the first successful black comic book artist, and perhaps the first altogether.

In the early 1940s, matt baker became of one the earliest africanamerican comic book artists. The illustrations were for a book project titled the big bible challenge, which ended up winning childrens book of the year at christian resources together 2012, so id like to think that the illustrations played a part in that. Not much is known about matt because he died in his mid. Baker came of age as a comic book artist in the 1940s penciling characters white. He was active during the golden age of comics books, roughly the 1930s to 1950s.