Anatomy of a Logo: The Masterworks Series of Great Comic Book Artists

The project was for Phil Seuling of Sea Gate, Inc. He had an arrangement with Paul Levitz to produce a comic book series, named by Seuling, The Masterworks Series of Great Comic Book Artists. Seuling also wanted a Sea Gate emblem opposite the DC bullet. 

The Photo-Lettering font, Longacre Round Open Condensed N, second from the top, was used for the series title. 

Photo-Lettering’s One Line Manual of Styles (1971)

A dummy cover featuring Neal Adams’ Deadman. The character could not be used in the series. 

The artists’ names were lettered by Todd Klein. Advertisements appeared in many publications including The Comics Journal. 

The Comics Journal #79, December 1982

Number 1

Number 2

The Comics Journal #82, July 1983

Number 3

Photostat of unpublished cover

The series ended after three issues. 

(Next post on Monday: On This Day Phil Seuling Passed Away)

Anatomy of a Logo: New Gods

In April 1995 Curtis King faxed the previous four New Gods logos for reference.

The first version of New Gods appeared on issues one through eleven from 1971 to 1972.

The series was cancelled then revived in 1977 with a new logo, The Return of the New Gods. The numbering resumed with issue twelve and ended on nineteen.

In 1984 Kirby’s New Gods was reprinted in six issues. The new logo was by Todd Klein who also designed The Death of the New Gods logo.

New Gods was revived in 1989. The new logo appeared on numbers one through seventeen. The 1984 logo was brought back for the final three issues.

My logo sketches from April 1995.

Feedback.

Back to the drawing board, May 1995.

Design number 3 without the bottom diamond.

Final Art.

My New Gods logo, without the diamonds, appeared on issues one (October 1995) through twelve (November 1996). The original logo was brought back for numbers 13, 14 and 15.

My New Gods logo with the diamonds was used on the Kirby collection published in 1998.

(Next post on Monday: China International Comics Festival Expo)