Ken Landgraf

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Ken Landgraf
BornKenneth Landgraf
1950 (age 70–71)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
NationalityAmerican
Area(s)
  • Cartoonist
  • Writer
  • Penciller
  • Inker
  • Publisher

    • Ken Landgraf (born 1950) is an American comic book artist and commercial illustrator.

    Early life and education[]

    Kenneth Landgraf was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.[citation needed] He admired the work of comic book artists like Reed Crandall, Russ Heath, Sam Glanzman, Jim Steranko, and Wally Wood, among others. Landgraf described his early interest in comics:

    "When I was a kid, I purchased a ditto machine, a Spirit Duplicator, and started printing my own comics like Crimestopper Monthly and Vampire Kiss— sold them through Rocket's Blast, a fanzine. Steve Ditko, the Spider-Man artist, even drew a cover for me. I had two fan letters published in Spider-Man #11 and Adventure Comics. I'd write letters to artists. Ditko and [Joe] Kubert wrote back to encourage me."[1]

    Landgraf attended Holy Name Catholic School and later graduated from North Sheboygan High School.[citation needed] As a young man he served in the Navy in Vietnam,[2] and upon returning from the war, joined the Navy Reserve.[citation needed] Landgraf settled in New York as a student attending the School of Visual Arts on the G.I. Bill.[3] At this time he produced his first commercial artwork for various pulp magazines.[citation needed] Determined to become a professional comic book artist, he studied with Will Eisner and Harvey Kurtzman.[citation needed] Landgraf worked as an assistant to comic book artists Howard Nostrand, Gil Kane, and Rich Buckler.

    Landgraf took his early samples to DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Landgraf said:

    "I went up to Marvel around lunchtime and spotted Stan Lee coming out of Marvel’s building. I introduced myself and told him I just got out of the service and asked if I could show him my portfolio. He said he was going to lunch but that I could go up to Marvel and say that Stan said I could show my work to John Romita, the art director. I was able to go in right away to see him."[1]

    Comics[]

    Landgraf's artwork appeared in DC Comics publications from 1977 to 1981: The Witching Hour #85; Ghosts #68, #71 – 76, #82, #91, and #101; Weird Tales #89, and The Unexpected #202 and #216. He penciled "Adventures of Nightwing and Flamebird" stories[4] in The Superman Family from issues #184 -193, as well as Hawkman stories in World's Finest Comics #262, #264 – #266.[5]

    In addition, Landgraf worked with Tony DeZuniga's Action Art Studios as a member of "The Tribe," inking various Marvel Comics projects in the years 1977–1979.[6] He drew new material for Marvel Treasury Edition #26 (1980) for Marvel, which was reprinted in The Incredible Hulk and Wolverine #1 in 1986.[citation needed]

    Landgraf self-published Rock Comics #1 (1979) through his company Landgraphics Publications, in an 11" by 15" format. It featured art by Neal Adams, , Dave Simons, and Landgraf. It lasted one issue. He also created Starfighters, which lasted 5 issues.[citation needed]

    He illustrated comics for heavy metal bands Vikon and Thor Rock Warrior, as well as for Revolutionary Comics on a Pink Floyd comic book series.[citation needed] He inked John Jacobs on Dr. Peculiar comics. [7] He also produced fetish comics using the pseudonym "Dancer" under the direction of Eric Stanton.[8]

    Other work[]

    Landgraf created storyboard and onscreen art for television shows such as Law & Order, MTV, The Cosby Mysteries, HBO, Showtime, and Lifetime Network, as well as The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers and Avenue Amy animated TV shows.[2][citation needed] Landgraf painted a large mural at the New York Film Academy.[citation needed]

    He produced color illustrations for the Harris Publications magazines Tactical Knives, Combat Handguns, and White Tail Deer Hunter.[citation needed]

    In the 1980s, Landgraf taught comic book drawing and anatomy at Parsons School of Design.[9]

    Landgraf was referenced in Can Rock & Roll Save the World?: An Illustrated History of Music and Comics by Ian Shirley; The Weird World of Eerie Publications by Mike Howlett; and Bad Mags by Tom Brinkmann.[citation needed]

    References[]

    1. ^ Jump up to: a b Schmidt, Joseph. "I Want My Comic Books Back!".
    2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Comic creator: Ken Landgraf – Lambiek Comiclopedia".
    3. ^ "Treasurycomics.com Interview with Ken Landgraf".
    4. ^ Siegel, Jerry; Shuster, Joe (2009). Superman: Adventures of Flamebird & Nightwing: Paul Kupperberg, Ken Landgraf: 9781401225254: Amazon.com: Books. ISBN 978-1401225254.
    5. ^ "Romitaman: World's Finest".
    6. ^ The Tribe entry, Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
    7. ^ "REVIEW: Doctor Peculiar #1".
    8. ^ THE BEST OF DANCER trade edition, Blurb.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
    9. ^ Isabel Kreitz entry, Lambiek's Comiclopedia. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
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