Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jul 6, 2024 | 8 comments

A great himself, he worked with virtually all the greats — including Kirby, Romita, Kane, Infantino and so many more…

By PETER BOSCH

Frank Giacoia, one of comic books’ greatest inkers, was born 100 years ago, on July 6, 1924. He was treasured by pencillers for bringing out the special magic they intended in their covers and pages, and they knew he would never try to dominate their work with his own artistic style as other inkers did.

Giacoia’s respect for them may have been because he started as a penciller himself. In his youth, he had gone to Manhattan’s School of Industrial Art, as well as the Art Students League of New York. His first published pencil work was in U.S.A. Comics #3 (Jan. 1942, Timely) with friend and classmate Carmine Infantino doing the inking (a situation that would be reversed in years to come).

Frank Giacoia’s first professional comic book work, inked by Carmine Infantino. U.S.A. Comics #3 (Jan. 1941, Timely). Writer: undetermined.

Over the years, Giacoia’s comic book art was seen in a great many titles from various publishers, and during the 1950s he expanded his career into the world of newspaper comic strips, among them drawing the daily and Sunday feature of Sherlock Holmes.

The March 3, 1954 comic strip of Sherlock Holmes. Written by Edith Meiser.

However, early on in his career – and especially during the 1960s – he was sought after more as an inker for other illustrators’ work than drawing his own. (While acting as such at DC, he freelanced for Marvel under the name of “Frankie Ray” for a time. Other pseudonyms included “Phil Zupa” and “Espoia.”)

In 1974, he was nominated for best inker in the “dramatic division” by the Academy of Comic Book Arts. In 2016, 28 years after his death (on February 4, 1988), he posthumously received the Inkwell Awards’ respected Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award. (Sinnott was once asked who his favorite inker was. He replied, “Frank Giacoia.”)

In honor of Giacoia’s centennial, here are 13 examples of his work — including one of his own covers and 12 where he superbly inked different artists — including Infantino, Alex Toth, Gil Kane, John Romita, Jack Kirby and more.

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Danger Trail #5 (Mar.-Apr. 1950, DC). Art by Frank Giacoia. Giacoia added his name to the green hotel on the right. Oddly, he spelled it “Giacioa.”

Flash Comics #90 (Dec. 1947, DC). Carmine Infantino, penciller.

All-American Western #103 (Nov. 1948, DC). Alex Toth, penciller.

Strange Adventures #95 (Aug. 1958, DC). Gil Kane, penciller.

Daredevil Annual #1 (Sept. 1967, Marvel). Gene Colan, penciller.

The Avengers Annual #2 (Sept. 1968, Marvel). John Buscema, penciller.

Tales of Suspense #82 (Oct. 1966, Marvel). Jack Kirby, penciller.

Tales to Astonish #93 (July 1967, Marvel). Marie Severin, penciller.

Undersea Agent #2 (Apr. 1966, Tower). Mike Sekowsky, penciller.

Amazing Spider-Man #100 (Sept. 1971, Marvel). John Romita, penciller.

Legion of Super-Heroes #290 (Aug. 1982, DC). Keith Giffen, penciller.

Wonder Woman #245 (July 1978, DC). Joe Staton, penciller.

Mighty Crusaders #2 (May 1983, Red Circle). Rich Buckler, penciller.

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MORE

— ALEX TOTH’s Enduringly Entertaining and Influential ZORRO. Click here.

— AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1: A 60th Anniversary Tribute to One of the Greatest Comics Ever. Click here.

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13th Dimension contributor-at-large PETER BOSCH’s first book, American TV Comic Books: 1940s-1980s – From the Small Screen to the Printed Page, was published by TwoMorrows. He is currently at work on a sequel, about movie comics. Peter has written articles and conducted celebrity interviews for various magazines and newspapers. He lives in Hollywood.