The Grand Dame of Comics turns 97!
If you don’t love Ramona Fradon, you don’t love comics.
Ms. Fradon, born 97 years ago on Oct. 2, 1926, is one of the last living links to the Silver Age. For this year’s 13 COVERS birthday salute, we’re going with what was her greatest creation (with writer Bob Haney) — Metamorpho.
I mean, he was so popular in the ’60s, he even got his own song:
Unfortunately, Ms. Fradon didn’t do 13 covers featuring Metamorpho, but that’s OK. We’ve filled this gallery out with sketches and re-creations — including a masterpiece colored by none other than the late Marie Severin. What a dynamic duo!
Oh, and Ms. Fradon is still at it. You can check out her latest work at Catskill Comics.
Holy Blue Hannah!
Charles Paris inks
Paris inks
Paris inks
Paris inks
Paris inks
Paris inks
A Fradon re-creation of Metamorpho #6, which was originally done by Joe Orlando and Paris.
Paris inks
Fradon re-creation, with colors by Severin
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MORE
— 13 GREAT SKETCHES: A RAMONA FRADON Birthday Celebration — 2022 EDITION. Click here.
— 13 COVERS: A RAMONA FRADON Birthday Celebration — 2021 EDITION. Click here.
October 2, 2023
No First Issue Special (1975) #3?
October 2, 2023
I was thinking….no link. https://www.catskillcomics.com/
October 2, 2023
Fixed. Thanks!
October 2, 2023
Can’t win ’em all!
October 2, 2023
According to Lou Scheimer’s Filmation book, the studio produced 1 Metamorpho episode but the series was scrapped when the Batman animated rights became available. Since the Filmation library has changed hands so many times, finding the lost Metamorpho cartoon would be like finding the holy grail.
October 3, 2023
I hope whoever did Rex’s voice did him as Humprey Bogart—I always imagined Bogie as Metamorpho’s voice when I read the comics some fifty years ago!
October 3, 2023
What little chemistry I know I learned, not from classes but from Metamorpho and Metal Men comics I read as a kid! Happy Birthday, Ramona!
October 3, 2023
She’s a treasure. I got to interview her a number of years ago and got to meet her in San Diego in 2015 where I purchased a pencil sketch. Long live Ramona!