Posted By Dan Greenfield on Feb 17, 2024 | 9 comments

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION…

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It’s the late Curt Swan’s birthday and this year, we’ve got a two-fer celebration, by Jim Beard and Chris Franklin. Both articles are quite distinct from one another but they dovetail in one area — characters drawn by Swan who are NOT Superman. Sure, Superman is central to both, but you get plenty of other heroes and villains, further proving Swan’s mastery (as if further proof were needed). Click here for Chris’ companion piece, 13 SUPER CURT SWAN CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS. Dig it. — Dan

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By JIM BEARD

Curt Swan. The Man. The Man Who Drew Superman. Arguably the artist who had the biggest artistic impact on the Man of Steel right after Joe Shuster. When you think of Superman, you think of Curt Swan.

But that ain’t all he ever drew. No, sir.

Don’t get me wrong, chums; I love the Swan Man of Tomorrow as much as the next aging fanboy, but I also love a whole passel of other characters he illustrated over his massive career. And in celebration of his birthday — he was born 104 years ago, on Feb. 17, 1920 — I picked and chose 13 of ’em to illustrate my point: Curt Swan could draw just about anything and anyone and it would be awesome.

Settle in, turn the lights down, and I’ll start the Swan slideshow…

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Batman. I have to start here because not only is Batman my all-time favorite character, he’s also terribly marginalized when it comes to superheroes Curt drew. My sweet Swan spot for the Caped Crusader is those halcyon days in the 1960s and story after story in World’s Finest.

George Klein inks

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Batgirl. Where there’s Batman, there must also be the Dominoed Daredoll. I think Curt’s Babs Gordon is my favorite right after Carmine Infantino’s.

Batman Family #11. Vince Colletta inks.

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Titano. It’s often been said that gorillas were once a sure-fire way to sell comics. Good thing Curt knew how to draw the most titanic of great apes.

Stan Kaye inks

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Wonder Woman. Anyone who knows me might think this an odd choice, me not being much of a WW fan, but Curt was one of the first artists I ever saw draw Diana, right around the time she got her powers back after the “mod” era and she was heading into her JLA trials.

Wonder Woman #212. Tex Blaisdell inks.

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Blackrock. Remember him? Probably a lot don’t, but as a kid I was very fond of Curt’s illustrations of this guy, a somewhat forgotten Superman baddie. I think it’s the helmet-mask. Yeah, pretty sure it’s that.

Who’s Who: The Definitive Guide to the DC Universe Vol. III. Murphy Anderson inks.

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Captain Thunder. Oh, how I wish Curt had been able to draw the classic Captain Marvel for full-length adventures… but at least we got this. Boy oh boy, did we get this.

Superman #276. Bob Oksner inks.

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Lois Lane. I’m here to tell you that Curt’s version of Lois is the definite article for me. And not necessarily what some fans look upon as the classic era of his LL, but a later time, around the early to mid-’70s when I was devouring issues of Superman and Action Comics. I always and still do believe his Lois was gorgeous.

Superman #333. Frank Chiaramonte inks.

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Robin. Remember back when the Boy Wonder and Superman’s Pal formed the Olsen-Robin Team? And they had their own secret hideout, the Eyrie? That was Curt Swan, baby, and his Boy Wonder was always a stand-out for me.

Klein inks

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Insect Queen. The great George Papp may have co-created and designed Lana Lang’s journey into entomology, but for my money I love to see the lovely Insect Queen drawn by Curt Swan.

Jack Abel inks

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The Flash. Here’s another Justice Leaguer who doesn’t exactly spring to mind in a flash when you ponder the characters Curt’s handled, but I’ve long admired his Barry Allen in the red and lightning.

Anderson inks

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Mon-El. Y’know, I knew I had to get a Legion character in here somewhere, and after only a moment’s thought Curt’s Mon-El popped into my head. He was born to draw that classic uniform from the LSH’s glory days.

Kaye inks

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Lori Lemaris. Proof that Curt could draw anything, even beautiful mermaids who loved Superman but couldn’t marry him so she married a merman.

Poss. John Forte inks

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Composite Superman. OK, yeah, this one is kind of a cheat. In fact, it’s a double cheat, him being half Superman and half Batman… but he’s glorious. One of my most favorite villains from one of my most favorite single comic stories. And who drew it? The Man.

Klein inks

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MORE

— Dig These 13 Super CURT SWAN Children’s Book Illustrations. Click here.

— 13 COVERS: The SUPERMAN ANNUALS of CURT SWAN. Click here.

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When JIM BEARD’s not editing and publishing through his two houses, Flinch Books and Becky Books, he’s pounding out adventure fiction with both original and licensed characters. In fact, he’s put words in the mouths of Luke Skywalker, Superman, Fox Mulder, Carl Kolchak, Peter Venkman and the Green Hornet… and lived to tell about it. His latest pop culture non-fiction tome is The Old Origin Changeth!, available here.