Comics: Bob Lander, Letterer and Inker

Bob Lander was born Robert Charles Cohen on August 15, 1920, in Jersey City, New Jersey, according to his World War II draft card. However, census records had Charles as his first name. He was the second of three children born to Jacob Cohen and Rose Frank who married on January 21, 1917 in Brooklyn. 

In the 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Lander’s parents and sister were Brooklyn residents at 120 Grove Street. His father was a bookkeeper at a cigar manufacturer. 

The 1925 New York state census recorded the Cohen family of five in Brooklyn at 699 East New York Avenue. 

According to the 1930 census, the Cohen family resided at 971 47th Street in Brooklyn. 

In Alter Ego #90, December 2009, Leon Lazarus was interviewed by Jim Amash. (Pages 48 and 54 have photographs of Lander.) Lazarus said “Bob Landers* was my brother Harry’s brother-in-law. I had known him since I was 17.” On Christmas day 1938, Lander’s older sister, Evelyn, married Harry Joseph Lazarus, the middle brother of Sidney and Leon, who all worked in comics at various times. 

The 1940 census said Lander, his parents and younger sister, Adele, lived in Brooklyn at 356 Clifton Place. This location is about two-and-a-half miles west of Bushwick High School which Lander may have attended. He had some college education. Lander’s occupation was a record clerk at a shirt factory. He earned $480 working 32 weeks in 1939.

On February 15, 1942, Lander signed his World War II draft card. His Brooklyn address was 4307 12th Avenue. At the time he was unemployed. His description was five feet nine inches, 155 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. It’s not known if he served during the war. 

On September 21, 1943, Lander and Hadassah Cohen obtained a marriage license. They married on September 26 in Manhattan. Lazarus’ wife, Marjorie, said Lander “met his wife while trying to become an actor.” Lazarus said Lander “landed a walk-on part in the movie Stage Door Canteen.”

Noted on Lander’s draft card was the date, February 15, 1946, when his surname was updated from Cohen to Lander.

In 1946 Lander was employed at Timely Comics where he was a letterer. He was credited in two issues of Terry Toons, numbers 47 and 48. Information about his art training has not been found.

Terry Toons #47, August 1946

In an interview at Timely-Atlas-Comics, Allen Bellman said “Bob Landers* was a letterer who sat opposite me. There was a time that the office did not have air-conditioning and I always sat next to the window. Bob used to open it all the time and the wind blew in my ear constantly and caused my Bell’s Palsy.” 

Some of Lander’s comics credits are at the Grand Comics Database. (Please note, fourteen-year-old Lander did not contribute to New Fun #2, March 1935.) Who’s Who of American Comics Books 1928–1999 also has credits. 

Lander’s address in the 1950 census was 1346 Grant Avenue, apartment 2E, in the Bronx. He was a freelance artist with a wife and two daughters. Lazarus said “He was a very good letterer who taught me how to letter, and he was also an inker. When Timely let us all go, he left comics. Later on, he went to work for Esso, which is now Exxon. Before either Bob or I was married, we used to double-date. He had two daughters.” 

According to Florida records at Ancestry.com, Lander divorced Hadassah and married Charliann A. Ronson Young in August 1959. This was her second marriage, too. How Lander met Young could be explained in the 1957 Manhattan, New York City directory. Lander and Young (listed under her maiden name Ronson) resided one block from each other on West 21st Street. He was at building number 473 and she at 328.

The Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series, Volume 23, Parts 7–11A, Number 1, World of Art, January–June 1969 had an entry for someone who might be Lander. 

Lander, Robert.

Chessboard and full complement of chess pieces. [Abstract figures] Plaster & wood. Appl. ti.: Chess game, board and 6 pieces. © Robert Lander; 28Jan69; GP61679.

Standard Oil Company published a company magazine called The Lamp. The Winter 1971 issue included a photograph by Lander. A map by Lander appeared in a 1977 issue. 

In 1974 Lander and his wife were registered voters in Manhattan according to the Board of Elections in the City of New York. 

Charliann passed away on May 29, 1990. She was a World War II veteran who served from February 28, 1943 to March 21, 1946. The Social Security Death Index said her last residence was East Hampton, New York. 

Lander passed away on October 29, 2003. The Social Security Death Index said his last residence was Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

* All documentation had Lander as the surname. Lazarus and Bellman called him Landers.

Related Posts

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Gerald Altman

Vivian Berg

Milton Cohen

Ellen Cole

Herb Cooper

Danny Crespi

Jon D’Agostino

Martin DeMuth

Marty Epp
Howard Ferguson
Gerda Gattel

Al Grenet

Alex Jay

Albert and Charlotte Jetter
Abe Kanegson

George Kapitan 

Gary Keller
Grace Kremer 

Morrie Kuramoto

Bob Laughlin
Bob Leatherbarrow

Shelly Leferman

Joe Letterese

Jim Novak

Bill Oakley

Ben Oda

Joe and Sam Rosen
Ira Schnapp

Artie Simek

Lora Sprang aka Pat Gordon

Herman Stackel

Stan Starkman

Daisy Swayze

Zoltan and Terry Szenics

Irv Watanabe

Leo Wurtzel

(Next post on Monday: Comic Book Trademarks, Part 13)

Comics: Artist Lily Renée in the 1940s and Early 1950s

Lily Renée Willheim was born on May 12, 1921, in Vienna, Austria, according to her Declaration of Intention naturalization application at Ancestry.com. Lily’s parents were Rudolph Willheim (1891–1958) and Else (Elsa) Goldstein (1895–1973). 

Trina Robbins’ interview with Lily was published in The Comics Journal, November 29, 2006. Lily talked about her early life and explained how her parents came to America. 

Lilys overseas travel was documented on a passenger list. She was 18 years old and aboard the steamship MV Georgic which departed Liverpool, England on January 30, 1940. She arrived in the port of New York on February 11, 1940. According the passenger list, Lily had been staying at Bloomsbury House. Her destination was 205 West 87 Street, New York, New York, where her father resided. 

Lily is on line seven.

The 1940 United States Census recorded Lily and her father at 129 West 86th Street, Manhattan, New York City. He was a bank bookkeeper and she an artist. The whereabouts of her mother is not known.

On July 3, 1940 Lily began the naturalization process when she filed a Declaration of Intention. 

Lily’s comics career started in 1942. 

Lily and Ernest Siegfried Meyer obtained a Manhattan marriage license on November 18, 1944. They married on November 23, 1944. The marriage ended in divorce. Meyer was born on January 5, 1914, in Langenfield, Germany. He passed away February 28, 1994, in New York. 

Lily became a naturalized citizen on September 6, 1945. 

In 1946 she married Eric Andrew Peters in New Jersey. Earlier he had married Susanne Stierstadt on January 5, 1940 in Queens, New York. The 1940 census said he was self-employed cartoonist (who contributed to Colliers and The Saturday Evening Post). Peters was born on May 12, 1899 in Vienna, Austria (World War II draft card) and passed away in September 1979.  

The 1950 census said Lily and Peters lived at 143-50 Hoover Avenue in Queens, New York. Both were freelance artists working in the magazine field. In 1952 their divorce was finalized in Dade County, Florida. 

In 1953 Lily married Randolph Godfrey Phillips in Manhattan, New York City. The couple were issued license number 15407 on June 23, 1953; see pages 1267 for Phillips and 1720 for Lily. During World War II Phillips served in the Army. Lily and Phillips had a daughter and son. Phillips’ obituary was published in the New York Daily News, October 12, 1982 (below), and Columbia College Today, Spring 1983. 

Randolph Godfrey Phillips, 71, a financial consultant who challenged some of the nation’s largest corporations on behalf of their stockholders, died Sunday at Lenox Hill Hospital after a long illness. 

Though not a lawyer, Phillips once argued in front of the United States Supreme Court and in 1977 unsuccessfully sued the Justice Department in an effort to nullify President Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon.

A financial reporter for the New York Herald Tribune and New York World-Telegram in the 1930s, and later a speechwriter for New York Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, Phillips was graduated from Columbia University in 1931. He is survived by his wife and two children. 

Lily passed away on August 24, 2022, in New York City.

Further Reading

The New York Times, September 14, 2022, Lily Renée Phillips, Pioneering Comic Book Artist, Dies at 101 

Lily Renée, Escape Artist: From Holocaust Survivor to Comic Book Pioneer, Trina Robbins, Illustrated by Anne Timmons and Mo Oh, Graphic Universe, 2011

Fritz Ascher, Lily Renée (1921–2022): From Refugee to Renown

In My Not So Humble Opinion, Happy 100th birthday to Lily Renée

Lambiek Comiclopedia

The Times of Israel, Overlooked Jewish female artist from comics’ golden age escaped real WWII peril 

Wikipedia

Who’s Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999

Alter Ego, #70, July 2007, “Lily Renée at Fiction House—and Beyond”

Digital Comic Museum, Fiction House, Abbott and Costello Comics

Newsweek, August 8, 2010 (print edition), “A Real-Life Comic Book Superhero”

(Next post on Monday: Bob Lander, Letterer and Inker)

Lettering: Trylon and Perisphere Variations

Further Reading

The 1939 New World World’s Fair

‘The World of Tomorrow’: Scenes From the 1939 New York World’s Fair

Welcome to the Fair! The 1939 and 1964 New York World's Fairs

The World of Tomorrow: 1939-40 New York World’s Fair

(Next post on Monday: Artist Lily Renée in the 1940s and Early 1950s)

Comics: Tom Palmer, Artist and Inker

Thomas John “Tom” Palmer was born on July 13, 1941, in Queens, New York, New York, according to the New York, New York Birth Index at Ancestry.com. His parents were Leo Palmer and Frances Maute who obtained a marriage license on October 10, 1929 in Queens. In the 1940 U. S. Census, his parents and brother, William, resided in Queens at 71-64 72nd Place. His father was a contractor.

Palmer’s father signed his World War II draft card on April 26, 1942. His address was 71-17 72nd Street, Glendale, Long Island, New York. He worked at the Star Showcase Company in Brooklyn. 

The 1950 census counted Palmer, his parents and brother in Queens at the same address on the draft card. Palmer’s father did architectural drafting; his mother was an envelope machine operator; and his brother delivered newspapers. 

The Ridgewood Times (New York), September 10, 1953, reported the passing of Palmer’s father.

Leo Palmer, of 71-17 72nd St., Glendale, September 2. Husband of Frances; father of Frances Mohan, Emily Barragry, Joseph, Raymond, John, William and Thomas Palmer; also survived by 7 grandchildren. Funeral held Saturday from George Werst Funeral Home with mass at St. Pancras R. C. Church. Interment St, John’s Cemetery.

The Long Island Star-Journal (Long Island City, New York), June 30, 1955, said Palmer graduated from Public School 119 in Glendale. 

In June 1959 Palmer graduated from Newtown High School in Elmhurst, New York. He was on the Lantern school newspaper art staff.

The Newtowner, June 1959

The Comics Journal published an interview with Palmer on October 21, 2015. Palmer said he attended evening classes at the School of Visual Arts and the Frank J. Reilly School of Art. He also explained how he got into comics. An excerpt from his obituary said 

He got his first big break in 1968 when he landed an assignment for Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange series. After pencilling one issue, Tom was asked to shift his talents to inking. The new penciller for the series was Gene Colan, an artist known for fully-rendered pencil art that was notoriously difficult to ink. Tom wasn't intimidated and applied techniques he learned in art school and various ad agencies to bring a lush, illustrative quality to the finished art. 

Palmer’s credits are at the Grand Comics Database and Who’s Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999. Some of his work can be viewed at Heritage Auctions. 

The New York, New York Marriage License, at Ancestry.com, said Palmer and Ann Louise Tienken obtained a Queens marriage license in 1965.

In the mid-1970s, Palmer moved to Oakland, New Jersey.

The Glendale Register (New York), February 8, 1979, reported the passing of Palmer’s mother.

Frances Palmer

Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Pancras R.C. Church. Interment followed in St. John’s Cemetery, under, the direction of the George Werst Funeral Home, Inc., 71-41 Cooper Ave.

Mrs. Palmer died on Jan. 31st. She leaves two sons, William and Thomas; two daughters. Frances Mohan and Sister Emily Palmer OSM; one sister, Anna Hutter; one brother, Conrad Maute; fourteen grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Mrs. Palmer was a resident of Glendale.

Palmer passed away on August 18, 2022, in Oakland, New Jersey. An obituary is here. 

Further Reading and Viewing

Tom Palmer Illustration

Comics Book Artist #3, Winter 1999, The Art of Inking Neal Adams 

Comic Book Historians, Tom Palmer Interview, Text and Video

(Next post on Monday: Trylon and Perisphere Variations)

Street Scene: Iceberg Drive Inn

• U T A H •

222 UT-34 Street, St. George

(Next post on Monday: Tom Palmer, Artist and Inker)

Creator: Alex Jay’s Comic Book and Comics-Related Logos, Lettering and Graphic Designs

Published works are presented in more or less alphabetical order. In

most cases, the first appearance of the works are shown. Following 

the titles are the people who commissioned the work, the publisher 

or client, and the year of publication.

THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN

Richard Bruning, Design Director, DC Comics, 1987 

AGENTS OF LAW

Marilee Hord, Editor, Dark Horse Comics, 1995

AIRTIGHT GARAGE

Marie Javins, Editor, Epic Comics, 1993

The making of the logo is here and here. 

ALPHA CENTURION

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics, 1996

AMERICAN FLAGG!

Howard Chaykin, Creator, First Comics, 1983

 

ARMAGEDDON: 2001

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1991

ARMAGEDDON: THE ALIEN AGENDA

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1991

ARMAGEDDON: INFERNO

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1992

ARSENAL

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics, 1998

THE ART OF MOEBIUS

Byron Preiss, Editor, Berkley Books, 1989

Alex Jay used the typeface ITC Eras for the book; book designed by Robbin 

Brosterman.

AVATAR

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1991

THE BANK STREET BOOK OF CREEPY TALES

Byron Preiss, Editor

Pocket Books, 1989

There was no budget for hand-lettered logos so the titles were typeset. 

The four books of comics are approximately digest-size.

THE BANK STREET BOOK OF FANTASY

THE BANK STREET BOOK OF MYSTERY

THE BANK STREET BOOK OF SCIENCE FICTION

BATMAN

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1993

Two different covers for issue #500

BATMAN & DRACULA

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1992

BATMAN: CASTLE OF THE BAT

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1994

BATMAN: DEMON

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1996

BATMAN: GORDON‘S LAW

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1996

BATMAN: HOLY TERROR

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1991

BATMAN PHANTOM STRANGER

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1997

BATMAN: PREY

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1990

BATMAN: SHAMAN

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1993

BATMAN: STRANGE APPARITIONS

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1999

BLACKMASK

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1993

BLOODY MARY

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics/Helix, 1996

BUCKY O'HARE

Larry Hama, Creator, Continuity Comics, 1986

BUCKY O’HARE

Larry Hama, Creator; Neal Adams, Publisher, Continuity Comics, 1991

Main character originally named Buck Bunny. 

CAGE

Marc McLaurin, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1992

CALEB HAMMER

Jim Salicrup, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1980

Referral from Tom Orzechowski; “The Coming of” added by 

another letterer

CAP’N QUCIK & A FOOZLE

Marshall Rogers, Creator, Eclipse Comics, 1984

Marshall Rogers furnished his logo sketch 

CATWOMAN: HER SISTER’S KEEPER

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1991

“Her Sister’s Keeper” was typeset.

CATWOMAN DEFIANT

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1992

“Defiant” was typeset.

CATWOMAN

The 1992 title lettering was used for the 1993 series logo. 

CINDER AND ASHE

Richard Bruning, Design Director, DC Comics, 1988

CLASH!

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1991

Back cover detail: originally the viper heads art was part of the logo. 

CLIVE BARKER'S THE HARROWERS

Marc McLaurin, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1993

“Raiders of the Abyss” was added by another letterer.

CLIVE BARKER’S HELLRAISER

Dan Chichester, Editor, Epic Comics, 1989

CODENAME: SPITFIRE

Bob Harras, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1987

CODY STARBUCK

Designed by Neal Adams; finished by Alex Jay

Howard Chaykin’s new Cody Starbuck story was picked up by Neal Adams’ 

Continuity Comics. Beginning in 1981 the story was serialized in Heavy 

Metal, numbers 50 through 54.

THE COMPLETE JACK KIRBY

Greg Theakston, Publisher, Pure Imagination, 1997

The making of the logo is here.

CONAN SAGA

Larry Hama, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1988

CONTINUITY COMICS

Neal Adams, Art Director, 1982

Originally the flat edges of the uppercase C were perpendicular to 

the baseline. In 1991, someone changed the angles of the edges. 

COSMIC ODYSSEY

Richard Bruning, Art Director, DC Comics, 1988

COSMIC POWERS

Craig Anderson, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1994

“Thanos” created by another letterer

COSMIC POWERS UNLIMITED ... STARRING

Mark Gruenwald, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1995

“The Silver Surfer” created by another letterer.

COUNT DRACULA

Neal Adams, Publisher, Continuity Comics, 1981

Logo based on the typeface Hoffman; debuted in Echo of Futurepast 

#5, April 1985; reprinted in Neal Adams Monsters, Vanguard 

Productions, 2003

CROSSOVER CLASSICS: THE MARVEL/DC COLLECTION

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, Marvel Comics, 1991

THE CRUSADERS

Michael Golden, Artist, DC Comics, 1992

CBS SATURDAY

Neal Adams, Art Director; TV Guide, September 1978

Alex Jay did production work (making tint overlays) on these advertisements.

DARKHOLD: PAGES FROM THE BOOK OF SINS

Bobbie Chase, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1992

First issue did not use the subtitle; logo previewed in Ghost Rider #25

DC ARCHIVE EDITIONS: SUPERMAN ARCHIVES VOLUME 1

Richard Bruning, Design Director, DC Comics, 1989

Series design by Alex Jay; Kabello Extra Bold and Metro are the

principal typefaces.

DC ARCHIVE EDITIONS: BATMAN ARCHIVES VOLUME 1

Richard Bruning, Design Director, DC Comics, 1990

Series design by Alex Jay; Kabello Extra Bold and Metro are the

principal typefaces.

DCU HEROES SECRET FILES & ORIGINS

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics, 1999

“DCU Heroes” by Alex Jay

DCU VILLAINS SECRET FILES & ORIGINS

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics, 1999

“DCU Villains” by Alex Jay

DOCTOR ZERO: THE SHADOW LINE SAGA

Archie Goodwin, Editor, Dan Chichester, Writer, Epic Comics, 1988

ECHO OF FUTUREPAST

Neal Adams, Publisher, Continuity Comics, 1984

Designed by Neal Adams; finished art by Alex Jay

ECTOKID

Marc McLaurin, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1993

Sketch furnished to Alex Jay to finish. 

ECTOKID UNLEASHED

Marc McLaurin, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1994

“Unleashed” added by another letterer.

ELRIC

Walt Simonson, Artist, DC Comics, 1988

“Michael Moorcock’s” and “The Making of a Sorcerer” were set in a 

typeface designed by Alex Jay. 

ELSEWORLD’S FINEST

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1997

EMPIRE

Byron Preiss, Editor, Berkley, 1978

ERADICATOR

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics, 1996

EXCALIBUR

Terry Kavanaugh, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1992

THE FALL OF THE MUTANTS

Ann Nocenti, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1988

Crossover logo for The New Mutants #59-61; The Uncanny X-Men 

#225-227; and X-Factor #24-26

FANTASY ILLUSTRATED

Richard Howell, Editor, New Media Publishing, 1982

referral from Tom Orzechowski

THE FINAL NIGHT

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics, 1996

FIRESTAR

Ann Nocenti, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1986

FORBIDDEN PLANET

Michael Luckman, Proprietor, New York City, 1982

Letterhead

FORBIDDEN PLANET

Michael Luckman, Proprietor, New York City, 1984

Letterhead and shopping bag with art by Brian Bolland. The making of the 

logo is here and here.

FRANKENSTEIN

Neal Adams, Publisher, Continuity Comics, 1981

Logo based on a typeface; debuted in Echo of Futurepast #1, May 1984; 

reprinted in Neal Adams Monsters, Vanguard Productions, 2003

FROM AARGH! TO ZAP! Harvey Kurtzman’s Visual History of the Comics

Harvey Kurtzman and Byron Preiss, Editors, Prentice Hall Press, 1991

“From Aargh! to Zap!” by Alex Jay

THE FURIES

Byron Preiss, Editor

The Illustrated Roger Zelazny, Baronet Publishing, 1978

GEN 13 INTERACTIVE

Mike Heisler, Editor, Image/Wildstorm Comics, 1997

“Interactive” added by another letterer

GOBOTRON GREETINGS

Greg Leeds, Design Director, Gobots Magazine, 1986

Lettering and design by Alex Jay; robot art by Ralph Reese

GODOT ACTION COMICS

David Vogler, Art Director

The Book of Sequels, Random House, 1990

THE GREAT GRIMMAX

Jim Shooter, Editor, Defiant Comics, 1994

THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS

Richard Bruning, Design Director, DC Comics, 1986

The making of the logo is here.

GRIFFIN

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1991

HAMMER OF GOD: PENTATHLON

Anina Bennett, Editor, Dark Horse Comics, 1994

“Pentathlon” added by another letterer; logo also used on Hammer 

of God: Butch, 1994. The making of the logo is here. 

HARVEY KURTZMAN’S STRANGE ADVENTURES

Harvey Kurtzman and Byron Preiss, Editors, Epic, 1990

HAVOK & WOLVERINE: MELTDOWN

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, Marvel Comics, 1988

HAYWIRE

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1988

HEARTBREAKERS

Anina Bennett, Editor, Dark Horse Comics, 1996

HEAVY HITTERS

Marie Javins, Editor, Epic Comics, 1993

Brand logo debuted May 1993 and appeared on several titles.

HELLRAISER NIGHTBREED JIHAD

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, Epic Comics, 1991

THE HUNTRESS

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1989

HYPERKIND UNLEASHED

Marc McLaurin, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1994

Original title was Hyperkind the New Heroes; logo digitally stretched; 

“Unleashed” added by another letterer.

THE ILLUSTRATED HARLAN ELLISON

Byron Preiss, Editor, Baronet Publishing, 1978

I’M LOOKING FOR KADAK

The Illustrated Harlan Ellison, Baronet Publishing, 1978

INCREDIBLE HULK-HERCULES UNLEASHED

Mark Gruenwald, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1996

INVASION! THE ALLIEN ALLIANCE

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1988

INVASION! BATTLEGROUND EARTH

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1988

INVASION! WORLD WITHOUT HEROES

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1988

INVASION FIRST STRIKE! EXTRA!

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1988

Appeared on Holiday 1988 issues

INVASION AFTERMATH EXTRA!

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1989

Appeared on January 1988 issues

IRONWOLF: FIRES OF THE REVOLUTION

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1992

The making of the logo is here.

JACK KIRBY’S HEROES AND VILLAINS

Greg Theakston, Publisher; Pure Imagination, 1987

JHEREG: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL

Byron Preiss, Editor, Epic, 1990

“Jhereg” was set in a typeface designed by Alex Jay. 

JLA

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics, 1997

JLA: A LEAGUE OF ONE

Amie Brockway, Art Director, DC Comics, 2000

JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1989

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: THE NAIL

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics, 1998

Title and Justice League of America seal by Alex Jay

JUSTICE LEAGUE EUROPE

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1989

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1987

JUSTICE LEAGUE QUARTERLY

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1990

JUSTICE LEAGUE TASK FORCE

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1993

A KNIGHT IN BLUDHAVEN

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1998

“Nightwing” created by another letterer.

LAST OF THE DRAGONS

Carl Potts, Creator

Logo created for Neal Adams. In 1982 the logo appeared in Epic Illustrated, 

numbers 15 to 20. In 1988 Epic Comics published the graphic novel with a 

cover logo by Jim Novak. 

LEGENDS: THE COLLECTION

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1993

LORDS OF THE ULTRA-REALM

Richard Bruning, Design Director, DC Comics, 1986

LUCIFER

Amie Brockway, Art Director, Vertigo/DC Comics, 1999

MACHINE MAN

Larry Hama, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1984

MAGIK

Louise Simonson, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1983

The making of the logo is here.

THE MAN OF STEEL

Richard Bruning, Design Director, DC Comics, 1986

THE MAN OF STEEL

Richard Bruning, Design Director, DC Comics, 1986

Newsstand version

MARTIAN MANHUNTER

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1988

MARVEL: FIVE FABULOUS DECADES OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST COMICS

David Vogler, Art Director, Abrams, 1991

The making of the logo is here, here, here and here.

MARVEL MAGAZINE GROUP

In 1980 Jim Shooter hired Neal Adams to create cover brand designs for 

Marvel’s magazines. Neal asked Alex Jay to work on the project. Alex’s 

design with the hand-lettered branding (black-and-white). Marvel’s typeset 

branding appeared beginning with Bizarre Adventures #25, March 1981; The 

Savage Sword of Conan #63, April 1981; and The Hulk! #27, June 1981.

MARVEL SUPER HEROES COLORFORMS PLAY SET

Neal Adams, Art Director, 1983

“Colorforms Play Set” was typeset and overlaid the perspective

lines. The making of the logo is here. 

MARVEL SUPER HEROES ADVENTURE SET

Neal Adams, Art Director, 1979

THE MASTERWORKS SERIES OF GREAT COMIC BOOK 

ARTISTS

Phil Seuling, Creator, DC Comics and Sea Gate, 1983

Series logo was typeset; artist’s name produced by a DC staff letterer

MEZZ GALACTIC TOUR 2493

Anina Bennett, Editor, Dark Horse Comics, 1994

The making of the logo is here.

THE MIGHTY THOR

Walt Simonson, Artist, Marvel Comics, 1983

The making of the logo is here, here, here, here, here, here, here, 

and here. 

THE MIGHTY THOR: I, WHOM THE GODS WOULD DESTROY

Jo Duffy, Editor, Marvel, 1987

First appearance of the modified "T" in Thor.

MISTER MIRACLE

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1996

MORBIUS: THE LIVING VAMPIRE

Bobbie Chase, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1992

First issue did not use the subtitle; logo previewed in Ghost Rider #25

MORE THAN HUMAN

Byron Preiss, Editor, Heavy Metal, 1978

MY LIFE AS A CARTOONIST

Harvey Kurtzman, Pocket Books, 1988

Series design by Alex Jay

THE NAZZ

Karen Berger, Editor, Vertigo Comics, 1990

NEAL ADAMS MONSTERS

Vanguard Productions, 2003

Trade paperback edition with Frankenstein, Count Dracula and Werewolf logos 

by Alex Jay; the hardcover edition had a cover design without the the logos.

The making of the logos is here.

NEUROMANCER: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL

Byron Preiss, Editor, Epic, 1989

NEW GODS

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1995

The making of the logo is here.

THE NEW GUARDIANS

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1988

THE NEW MUTANTS

Ann Nocenti, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1985

NIGHT FORCE

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics, 1996

NIGHTSTALKERS

Bobbie Chase, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1992

Logo was digitally stretched; logo previewed in Ghost Rider #25

NTH MAN THE ULTIMATE NINJA

Larry Hama, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1989

NUTS!

Harvey Kurtzman and Byron Preiss, Editors, Bantam, 1985

Mass market paperback

OMAC

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1991

ON SALE HERE

Janice Walker, Special Projects, DC Comics, 1989

OPEN SPACE

Carol Kalish, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1989

Original title was Ad Astra.

ORION

Walt Simonson, Artist, DC Comics, 2000

PARALLAX EMERALD NIGHT

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1996

PENGUIN TRIUMPHANT

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1992

“Triumphant” was typeset.

THE POWER OF SHAZAM!

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1994

POWERLINE: A SHADOWLINE SAGA

Archie Goodwin, Editor; Dan Chichester, Writer, Epic Comics, 1988

QUICKSILVER

Mark Gruenwald, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1996

Scan of original art produced a defective Q. The making of the logo 

is here.

THE RING OF THE NIBELUNG

Andy Helfer, Editor; Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1989

The making of the logo is here and here.

RISE OF THE MIDNIGHT SONS

Bobbie Chase, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1992

Crossover logo used on Ghost Rider #28, Part 1; Spirits of Vengeance: 

Ghost Rider & Blaze #1, Part 2; Morbius the Living Vampire #1, 

Part 3; Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins #1, Part 4; 

Nightstalkers #1, Part 5; and Ghost Rider #31, Part 6

SACHS & VIOLENS

Marie Javins, Editor, Epic Comics, 1993

ST. GEORGE: A SHADOWLINE SAGA

Archie Goodwin, Editor; Dan Chichester, Writer, Epic Comics, 1988

SAINT SINNER

Marc McLaurin, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1993

SAVAGE TALES

Larry Hama, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1985

Logo’s metallic surface airbrushed by Gary Hallgren.

SECRET ORIGINS

Richard Bruning, Design Director, DC Comics, 1986

SECRET ORIGINS

Richard Bruning, Design Director, DC Comics, 1986

SHADOW DRAGON

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics, 1995

SHATTER

Fred Dodnick, Production Manager; Fawcett Columbine, 1988

Book design by Alex Jay included a divider, repeated in different 

colors, for the eleven “down loads” of the graphic novel. Logo by

Michael Saenz.

SHEVA’S WAR

Amie Brockway, Art Director, DC Comics/Helix, 1998

SILVER SABLE & THE WILD PACK

Craig Anderson, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1992

SILVER SURFER

Marshall Rogers, Artist, Marvel Comics, 1987

SKULL & BONES

Jim Chadwick, Art Director, DC Comics, 1992

THE SPECTRE

Dan Thorsland, Editor, DC Comics, 1992

SPELLBOUND

Bobbie Chase, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1988

SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE

Bobbie Chase, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1992

Logo previewed in Ghost Rider #25; appeared on Spirits of Vengeance 

Keepsake Collection envelope and T-shirts. 

Logo was modified and redrawn by another letterer.

SPYKE

Marie Javins, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1993

The making of the logo is here.

STARMAN

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1994

ALFRED BESTER’S THE STARS MY DESTINATION VOLUME 1

Byron Preiss, Editor, Baronet Publishing

1978 advertisement with an early version of the logo. 

ALFRED BESTER’S THE STARS MY DESTINATION VOLUME 1

Byron Preiss, Editor, Baronet Publishing, 1979

THE COMPLETE ALFRED BESTER’S THE STARS MY DESTINATION

Byron Preiss, Editor, Epic, 1992

STEELTOWN ROCKERS

Larry Hama, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1990

STRANGE TALES

Carl Potts, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1987

Character logos by other letterers

STREETWISE

John Morrow, Publisher; Jon B. Cooke, Editor, TwoMorrows, 2000

STRIKEFORCE: MORITURI

Carl Potts, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1986

SUPERMAN: END OF THE CENTURY

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics, 2003

All hand-lettered except writer and artist credits which were typeset. 

SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1999

"For All Seasons" was typeset. 

SUPERMAN: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE MAN OF 

TOMORROW?

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1997

Title except question mark hand-lettered by Alex Jay.

SUPERMAN'S METROPOLIS

Robbin Brosterman, Art Director, DC Comics, 1996

“Metropolis” was based on the 1927 film poster lettering.

TAKION

Georg Brewer, Design Director, DC Comics, 1996

TALES OF THE DARK KNIGHT

Rita Kesler, Ballantine Books Editor; Joe Orlando, DC Special Projects 

Editor, Ballantine Books, 1989

Color cover concept sketch by Alex Jay. Joe Orlando changed the 

position of Batman’s body and sent his tight pencil drawing to illustrator 

Sigmund Pifko.

TIMBER WOLF

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1992

Curtis King furnished his design for Alex Jay to finish. 

TIME MACHINE

Byron Preiss, Editor, Bantam Books, 1984

The figure entering the time portal was inspired by Steve Ditko’s 

Doctor Strange entering an interdimensional portal. Cover 

painting by Jim Steranko. The making of the logo is here.

TOYBOY

Neal Adams, Art Director, Continuity Comics, 1986

Designed by Neal Adams; finished art by Alex Jay. The making of 

the logo is here

TWILIGHT

Andy Helfer, Editor, DC Comics, 1990

UNAMERICAN GLADIATORS

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1993

“Lobo” logo created by another letterer.

UNCANNY ORIGINS

Mark Gruenwald, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1996

“Cyclops” logo created by another letterer. The making of the logo 

is here. 

VENGEANCE

Chris Cooper, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1994

Logo debuted in Midnights Sons, Marvel Comics Presents #147, 

February 1994

WAR DANCER

Alan Weiss, Creator, Defiant Comics, 1994

Original line art was used as a guide for the airbrush art.

WARLOCK AND THE INFINITY WATCH

Craig Anderson, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1993

THE WARLOCK CHRONICLES

Craig Anderson, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1993

WEREWOLF

Neal Adams, Art Director, Continuity Comics, 1981

Logo debuted in Echo of Futurepast #3, November 1984; 

reprinted in Neal Adams Monsters, Vanguard Productions, 2003

WILL TO POWER

Marilee Hord, Editor, Dark Horse Comics, 1994

WOLFPACK

Ann Nocenti, Editor, Marvel, 1988

Logo debuted on the graphic novel. The making of the logo is here. 

WONDER WOMAN

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1992

WONDERAMA

Greg Theakston, Publisher, Pure Imagination, 1993

X-FACTOR

Walt Simonson, Artist, Marvel Comics, 1986

The making of the logo is here.

X-FORCE

Bob Harras, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1991

The making of the logo is here. 

Logo with bold outline

X-TERMINATORS

Bob Harras, Editor, Marvel Comics, 1988

ZATANNA

Curtis King, Art Director, DC Comics, 1993

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