A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: Comics’ Norman Rockwell turns 56… — UPDATED 1/22/26: Alex Ross turns 56! Perfect time to reprint this piece from his birthday in 2024! Dig it. — Dan — By CHRIS FRANKLIN Having risen to the rank of comics’ preeminent painter, it’s not unusual to think of Alex Ross’ work as gallery worthy. In fact, Ross (born January 22, 1970) has had his work displayed in galleries worldwide, as well as on comics fans’ walls for the past 20 years. Whether as inexpensive posters or limited edition, high-end prints, Ross’ comic art elevates the medium, and any comics art collection, through his use of photo realism. For comics fandom, Ross’ art even managed to bring legitimacy to a medium once reserved for the paintings of famous clown Emmett Kelly Jr. and scenes from Gone With the Wind: the collector plate. Collector plates are an odd duck, really. Designed as if they were a vessel to eat from, no one ever seriously considered dumping mashed potatoes onto Clark Gable’s handsome visage. These plates were not only non-dishwasher save, they were meant to hang on the wall, perhaps in the dining room or kitchen, but more often in a sitting area in your household. They were the types of things our moms ordered on a whim from inserts in TV Guide, or later, QVC or HSN. But couldn’t comics fans, collectors by nature, have their own art plates too? Sure, like many forms of media, Star Trek had pioneered this first for fandom at large. But comics proper hadn’t gotten in on the trend until the late, lamented Warner Bros. Studio Store chain began offering a series of plates featuring DC Comics superheroes. Other artists such as Brian Stelfreeze and Glen Orbik contributed lovely, original art for the store, but none could match the consistency, scope and popularity of Alex Ross. He even had his own series, “The Alex Ross Collection.” Ross created quite a bit of original material for the chain, including limited-edition prints, but the plates have a unique appeal to them, both austere and slightly kitsch, due to the honestly strange format. As you’ll see, the character choices are often somewhat startling, but Ross’ unique take on the properties, and his love for their rich history shines through. After the WB store chain folded, he continued...