A birthday salute to artist FRED RAY, who doesn’t get nearly enough attention…
Joe Shuster, Jerry Robinson, Dick Sprang, even Bob Kane. These are the artists who immediately come to mind when you consider who defined Superman and Batman in the Golden Age. But then people tend forget about guys like Jack Burnley and, in particular, Fred Ray, who in the 1940s illustrated some of the most famous images of the most famous heroes.
The late Ray — who was born 104 years ago on Feb. 4, 1920 — gave us a run of Batman and Superman covers (together and separately) that are burned into the comics cognoscenti consciousness, though I’d wager most fans don’t even realize it.
So here are 13 COVERS by someone whose name should be on everyone’s lips. (Plus, click here for a groovy SUNDAY FUNNIES WITH KERRY CALLEN that pays tribute to this unsung artist.)
Right on.
Ray inks
Jerry Robinson inks. My all-time favorite Golden Age cover.
Ray inks
Ray inks
Robinson inks
Ray inks
Ray inks
Robinson inks
Ray inks
Robinson inks
Ray inks
Robinson inks. Not the greatest cover, but the ish does feature the Penguin’s debut.
Ray inks
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MORE
— FRED RAY’s Classic WORLD’S FINEST COVER — Two Seconds Later! Click here.
— Dig JOHN K. SNYDER’s Gorgeous Homage to the Classic BATMAN #11 Cover. Click here.
February 4, 2024
These are all classics. The BATMAN 11 is my oldest title in my collection of BATMAN. 9 & 10 would also be great to have one day. Jerry’s style really comes through in his inks.
February 5, 2024
They came close to re-creating Batman #9 in the opening credits of the campy Batman movie in the 60s. And I had seen most of them reprinted years before but I never noticed the tanks and planes in the background of Superman #14 before this moment!
February 5, 2024
Beautiful.
Ray’s inks on #12 especially so.
April 13, 2024
And I will add; someone needs to do a feature here on “Red, White and Blue.” I’ve read about them but never read them!