The underrated artist was born 100 years ago…
Win Mortimer — who was born May 1, 1919, and died Jan. 11, 1998 — was one of the great Batman artists of the ’40s and ’50s, but his name is often lost in the mists of time.
It’s too bad too: I really dig his fluid style. And you know what else he did that was really cool? He inverted the eyeholes on Batman’s mask — giving the Caped Crusader a bit of an edgier look at a time when most other artists drew them arc-side up.
So check out these 13 COVERS. And for a second selection from a previous birthday celebration, click here. You’ll be happy you did.
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Most cover images and credits from the snazzy Grand Comics Database.
May 1, 2019
What impressive covers!
May 1, 2019
Articles like this are why I love this page.
What a great selection of covers. That last one gave me a chuckle. “Batman MUST be Bruce Wayne because no one else assumes such an arrogant posture! Now go get ‘im, boys!”
And I had no idea who to credit for that subtle but significant change to the Caped Crusader’s mask.
Thank you!
May 1, 2019
Hey, thanks! Much appreciated!
May 1, 2019
The villain on Detective #184 looks an awful lot like the comic “The Wrong Earth”.
May 1, 2019
He sure does!
May 1, 2019
A great sampling of Mortimer’s covers! That guy was all over DC in the 50s, like Neal Adams and Nick Cardy would be in the 70s! My personal favorite is this one: https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/5/57/Detective_Comics_164.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160408221050
Chris
May 1, 2019
Thanks, Chris! And that’s my fave too! I actually own a copy, if you can believe it. I just didn’t want to repeat what we’ve done in the past!
May 1, 2019
I’ve long thought Win is a big influence on Neal Adams. Simply because of his line work. Look at the legs of The Firefly on that Detective Comics cover. He was an underappreciated artist. I think his art was consistently great and a smart bridge between cartoony style & more realistic style.