One of comics’ most popular artists was born 77 years ago, on Jan. 19, 1948…
By Joe Staton and Bob Layton, from Amazing World of DC Comics #16 (Dec. 1977)
By CHRIS FRANKLIN
Artist Joe Staton (born January 19, 1948) has had a stellar career in comics. Rising up through the fanzines, he began working for Charlton in 1971, where he co-created the cult-favorite comic E-Man with Nicola Cuti. He eventually landed at DC where he had several celebrated runs on Green Lantern, and co-created enduring characters such as Kilowog.
Elsewhere at DC he co-created both the Helena Wayne and Helena Bertinelli versions of the Huntress. Staton also worked on DC’s licensed animated titles, including a very long stint on Scooby-Doo. He moved from the comic-book page to newspapers when he took over as artist on the Dick Tracy strip in 2011, a position he held until his retirement in 2021.
All-Star Comics #74 (Oct. 1978), the title’s final issue. Cover art by Staton and Dick Giordano. This was my first encounter with the JSA and the concept of parallel worlds!
But Staton gained much of his fan-favorite popularity drawing the adventures of the Justice Society of America in the revived All-Star Comics in the late ’70s. It was there with writer Paul Levitz that he introduced the heroic Huntress, daughter of the Earth-Two Batman and Catwoman. He even illustrated the tragic death of the original Caped Crusader when the JSA strip moved to Adventure Comics.
Back cover to Adventure Comics #461 (Feb. 1979), by Staton and Giordano
Sometime during this period, Staton created the following illustrations showcasing the members of the JSA, 15 pieces in total. In TwoMorrows’ Alter Ego #14 and the All-Star Companion Vol. 4, editor Roy Thomas shared scans of these mysterious pieces, and the opinion that these may have been created for the aborted DC Super-Stars Society Fan Club, since there was a Justice Society chapter of that club advertised.
Thanks to research by my late friend, comics historian, artist, writer and podcaster Xum Yukinori, and his son Isamu Hideaki-Yukinori, we now know very little original artwork was created for this new club. Isamu speculated that perhaps these were created as plates for a proposed Justice Society portfolio, like those published by Sal Quartuccio Productions in the late 1970s. Since Staton himself doesn’t seem to remember, we may never know for sure.
From Alter-Ego #14 (April, 2002), courtesy of Isamu Hideaki-Yukinori
While there’s little information available on the genesis of these illustrations, we can be certain that they are stunning examples of Staton’s ability to capture the feel of the Golden Age characters, while injecting new life into them. I felt they were too strong to languish in relative obscurity, and what better time to share them than on Mr. Staton’s birthday!
My apologies to Green Lantern, Hawkman and their fans for them not getting the full gallery treatment, but producing good individual shots of those integral JSA members proved difficult. (On the other hand, fans of the Earth-Two Robin should click here for Walt Grogan’s gorgeous color version of the Grown-Up Ex-Boy Wonder.) Unless otherwise noted, images come from scans of the highly-recommended All-Star Companion Vol. 4, published by TwoMorrows, edited by Roy Thomas, and designed by Christopher Day.
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Dr. Fate
Starman and Sandman
Star-Spangled Kid
The Flash
Dr. Mid-Nite
Hourman and the Atom
Wildcat
Wonder Woman
Superman
Power Girl, from the collection of Miki Annamanthadoo at Comicartfans.com
Batman, from the collection of Brian M at Comicartfans.com
Robin (Click here for Walt’s version)
The Huntress, from the collection of John Burk at Comicartfans.com
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MORE
— Behold This Wondrous EARTH-TWO ROBIN by JOE STATON. Click here.
— PAUL KUPPERBERG: My 13 Favorite Collaborations with JOE STATON. Click here.
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13th Dimension contributor Chris Franklin is a graphic designer, illustrator, writer, and podcaster, who co-hosts and produces several shows on the Fire and Water Podcast Network, including JLUCast.
