A hardcover collection of art and essays showcasing the best african american artists in todays vibrant comic book culture. Al feldstein, who was an artist, editor, and writer at ec, had worked with matt baker. I found this book to be interesting, fun, and welldone. The son of clarence and ethel baker, matt and his brothers robert and john, moved with their parents to pittsburgh, pa. This is because my first real connection to comics was with the art.
Since artists books are not normally associated with african art, our goal in this exhibition is to introduce the genre and survey its african manifestations. Matt baker surrounded by his glamorous gals on the cover of twomorrows matt baker. Feb 06, 2016 was an african american comic book artist best known for his work on the marvel comics series luke cage, hero for hire, and jungle action feature, black panther, considered the first modern. My hope is that this will be a good primer for your own first steps into the work of black comic artists. Static was the first black comic book hero to star in his. Matt baker was among the first comic book artists to use a more realistic, more naturalistic style. Now, here is a list of five african comic artists you should know about right away. By 1944, he was employed in his first professional artist job with the s. See more ideas about matt baker, african american artist and comics. The author uses a great deal of jackies artwork throughout the book.
Celebrating the contributions of african american comic book. In character, their books tend to be the last outpost of the old comicbook fan syndrome. John publications digestsized picture novel it rhymes with lust. The art of glamour in the 1940s and 1950s, clarence matthew baker best known as matt baker was widely regarded as the master of the good girl style and is credited as the first successful black comic book artist in the comics industry. Opens september 16, 2015 at the national museum of african art in washington, dc. This was the golden age of comic books, when americans voraciously consumed stories about superheroes, determined detectives and thrilling romances. If youre looking for more, check out black comics month and the blerdgurl, two curators of black comics content across the web. Baker is considered to be the first africanamerican artist to make it into mainstream comics and is particularly well known for his excellent good girl art. Matt baker is recognized as the most known africanamerican comic book artist during the golden age of american comics. For my first post around the black comic creators you should know theme, i focused exclusively on artists. Matt baker surrounded by his glamorous gals on the cover of. Artists books african american collection by kyra hicks.
Aug 10, 2016 for my first post around the black comic creators you should know theme, i focused exclusively on artists. Africanamerican graphic artists from around the country are meeting in philadelphia this weekend for an annual convention. Black artists plot diverse themes for graphic novels. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The immense popularity of comics and graphic novels cannot be ignored. American art archives scans and text are ed material. He attended the cooper union school of engineering, art, and. Keep your eye on these african comics 8 comments im starting a series here on theblerdgurl called africa rising and through it i am going to highlight several artists and comic book companies that are based in africa, artists that are telling stories about africa or feature african characters. But as i matured as a reader, i began to appreciate the effort it takes to successfully write an engaging comic book. Matt baker is often considered the first known successful black comic book artist. Jackie ormes 19111986, first africanamerican female cartoonist. African american graphic novels for teens or anyone. Matt baker was one of the first important artists in comics, arnold drake recalls. Clarence matthew baker was born on december 10, 1921 in forsyth county, north carolina.
Baker was inducted into the will eisner comic book hall of fame in 2009. Celebrating the contributions of african american comic. The books on black art history goodreads share book. Then this is your home, we have been waiting for you. African american comic book history detectives pbs. A collection of great graphic novels with african american themes and characters. Associated press article on african american comic book artists donald mcquay pictured and turtel onli. Matt baker comic book artists, african american artist. Clarence matthew baker was an american comic book artist and illustrator, best known for drawing early comics heroines such as the costumed crimefighter phantom lady, and romance comics. This comic book trilogy, which tells the story of the civil rights movement and its nonviolent philosophy, is being. Readers also get a very detailed biography about the woman who is known as the first african american woman cartoonist. John publications digestsized picture novel it rhymes with lust 1950. Kuumba artistunited states an art director visual artist comics creator, cover artist, dancer, martial.
Their latest isolated offering, a hardcover celebration of comic book artist matt baker, follows the expected pattern. He matt had contracted rheumatic fever as a child, which had caused heart problems for him and classified him as draft exempt for world war ii. Her characters were fashionable and intelligent, setting a new precedent for black depictions of that day 193756. Andrew loomis, and comic book artists will eisner, reed crandall. But it wasnt the color of his skin which made him such a significant figure in the history of the medium. Now, of course, this isnt every black comic book artist worth mentioningnot even close. Piedmontborn comic book pioneer matt baker news yesweekly. Clarence matthew baker december 10, 1921 august 11, 1959 was an american comic book artist and illustrator, best known for drawing early comics heroines such as the costumed crimefighter phantom lady, and romance comics. Ormes comic strips were syndicated in black newspapers in the 1930s and 40s, making her the only nationally syndicated black woman cartoonist until the 1990s.
African american independent comics, art and culture duffy, damian, jennings, john, knight, keith on. Feb 26, 2016 26 of the greatest black characters in comic book history. In celebration of black history month, cbldf has partnered with black nerd. African comic book artists bring new superheroes to life. Robbins library at the national museum of african art and the national museum of african art collection. Feb 04, 2014 urbanmediatoday this black history month, the city of pittsburgh is celebrating the rich tradition of african american comic book artist from the pittsburgh area. In the early 1940s, matt baker became of one the earliest africanamerican comic book artists. Jan 14, 2016 matt baker is often considered the first known successful african american artist in the comic book industry. Comic stripbook creators of africanamerican heritage. Matt bakers influence would be seen most immediately on ec comics titles in the early fifties.
Matt baker is an africanamerican comic book artist whose pioneering work is mostly unknown today. The featured books are from the smithsonian libraries warren m. Check out the africanamerican artists to watch right now. Michigan state university libraries special collections division reading room index to the comic art collection african american back to the a index screen back to the a to z index screen back up the list. African superheroes are emerging, as comic book creators from the continent seek to change the meaning of diversity, bringing relatable characters and rich storytelling traditions to the. Baker attended the cooper union school of engineering, art, and design in new york.
Matt baker first black comic artist the museum of uncut funk. May 16, 2016 african superheroes are emerging, as comic book creators from the continent seek to change the meaning of diversity, bringing relatable characters and rich storytelling traditions to the. After collaborating on a variety comicsrelated projects over the last 5 years, john jennings and damian duffy have put together an anthology, black comix. Jan 4, 2020 research about artists book created by african american artists. Matt baker is often considered the first known successful africanamerican artist in the comicbook industry clarence matthew baker was born on december 10, 1921 in forsyth county, north carolina. African american comic artists through history, part 4. Death of captain america ultimate collection tp, signed by ed brubaker. An admirer of such comics artists as lou fine, reed crandall and will. Comic strip book creators of african american heritage. Matt baker 1921 1959 golden age comic artist, specializing in good girl art for adventure and romance comics, but also involved with adventure and western titles. This was the golden age of comic books, when americans voraciously consumed stories about superheroes, determined detectives and thrilling romances yet very few featured african american characters. Active in the 1940s and 1950s golden age of comic books, he is the first known african american artist to find success in the comic book industry. Matt baker is recognized as the most known african american comic book artist during the golden age of american comics.
Africanamerican artists are hot right now, with more and more of them exhibiting in big chelsea galleries, as well as in major museums like moma, the whitney and the met. Feb 17, 2016 now, of course, this isnt every black comic book artist worth mentioningnot even close. Matt baker, the first black comic book artist, was born on december 10, 1921, in forsyth county, north carolina. The longrunning jack kirby collector is a defining project. Black comic book artists gather in philadelphia for ecbacc. Clarence matthew baker december 10, 1921 august 11, 1959 was an american comic. Clarence matthew baker was an american comic book artist who drew the costumed crime fighter phantom lady, among many other characters. Samella lewis has brought african american art and artists fully up to date in this revised and expanded edition. Matt baker comic book artist bio, facts, family famous. See more ideas about african american artist, american artists and african. African american graphic novels for teens or anyone by kendrawilk a staffcreated list. Born clarence matthew baker on december 10, 1921 in north carolina, he came of age in pittsburgh, pennsylvania.
As far back as 2006, a new york times article headline read african comics is now far beyond the funny pages. Manga and animeyesterday, it was announced that author milton davis, yours truly and artist sarah bowman macklin known worldwide as ssama will collabora. Among the most famous comic book artists to emerge during the latter half of the golden age of comic books was matt baker. He was the son of clarence and ethel baker, matt had two brothers, robert and john. Cbr reflects on over two dozen black heroes who have had the greatest impact in comics and beyond. He quickly developed a reputation as one of the best good girl artists in the business for his. But as i matured as a reader, i began to appreciate the effort it takes to. Tired of visions of the future where black people and africa dont seem to exist. Lewis is a visual artist and pioneer in the field of art history.
Weary of worlds where black superheroes are an afterthought. African american comic book artist a shroud of thoughts. A list of graphic novels written by african americans andor about the african american experience. Matt baker was a prolific africanamerican comic book artist from the mid1940s to his death from heart disease in the late 1950s, when baker was only in his late. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Jackie ormes 19111986, first africanamerican female. Clarence matthew baker, commonly known as matt baker, was one of the first successful black comic book artists.
Matt baker is called the first known africanamerican artist to find success in the comic book industry, but that claim presents a lot of questions. Black artists plot diverse themes for graphic novels more writers and artists are using graphic novels and comic art as a way to take on major issues. It includes comics creators that can also be found in the parent category, or in diffusing subcategories of the parent. Keep your eye on these african comics 8 comments im starting a series here on theblerdgurl called africa rising and through it i am going to highlight several artists and comic book companies that are based in africa, artists that are telling stories about africa or. Dec 16, 2016 african american artists are hot right now, with more and more of them exhibiting in big chelsea galleries, as well as in major museums like moma, the whitney and the met. The book now looks at the works and lives of artists from the eighteenth century to the present, including new work in traditional media as well as in installation. Click for more information none of it is in the public domain. Clarence matthew baker was a black comic book artist who died in 1959. Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book. The east coast black age of comics convention gathers africanamerican comic book artists every year to share their work and techniques and the latest in the genre.
Active in the 1940s and 1950s golden age of comic books, he is the first known africanamerican artist to find success in the comicbook industry. Clarence matthew baker worked during the goldenage, cocreator of the phantom lady at fox feature syndicate, he was noted for his good girl art and for being the artist on st. Matt bakers rightful place in the annals of comic book history has been debated by followers of the genre. In describing lead feature ace harlem, time magazine wrote, the villains were a couple of zootsuited, jivetalking negro muggers, whose presence in anyone elses comics might have brought up complaints of racial distortion. African american graphic novels for teens or anyone the. Matt graduated from westinghouse high school in homewoodbrushton. Urbanmediatoday this black history month, the city of pittsburgh is celebrating the rich tradition of african american comic book artist from the pittsburgh area. But by most accounts, he is considered the first successful black comic book artist, and perhaps the first altogether. Jan 21, 2019 active in the 1940s and 1950s golden age of comic books, he is the first known african american artist to find success in the comic book industry. But in light of the comics boom that has taken place over the past 10 years, the artists, writers and publishers that make up the vibrant african american independent comics community have remained relatively unknown. The books on black art history a grand and brilliant list of the discipline of black art history and an invaluable resource for students, teachers, bibliophiles and all those interested in black visual culture from ghana to black america. Most, but not all, have black authors and artists as well.
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