Monday, August 15, 2022

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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(Next post on Monday: Iceberg Drive Inn)


Monday, August 8, 2022

Comics: Valerie Barclay, Artist


Valerie Barclay was born Violet A. Barclay on November 5, 1922, in the New York City borough of Queens, New York. Her birth was recorded by the New York City Department of Health in “Births Recorded in 1922—Borough of Queens”, page 696: “Barclay…..Violet A…..Nov. 5…..[birth certificate number obscured]”. 


In Alter Ego #33, February 2004, Barclay was interviewed by Jim Amash. Barclay said she was born in Manhattan. 

Barclay’s father was Robert Clifford Barclay who was born on May 6, 1888, in Long Island City, Queens County, New York. When his first wife died in 1917, he married May Skilton, an English native, on November 30, 1918, in Surrey, England. The marriage date is from Find a Grave*, and location from marriage records at Ancestry.com. 

On November 29, 1920, Mr. Barclay applied for a passport. He planned to take his wife and infant daughter, Irene, to England. He was a steelworker residing at 143 William Street in Long Island City. The family was to sail on the S.S. Aquitania on December 14. The family is pictured below.


The 1925 New York state census recorded Barclay as the fourth member of the family who resided in Manhattan at 501 West 31 Street. Mr. Barclay was employed as a driver. 


The 1927 and 1928 Sacramento, California city directories listed a salesman named “Robert C Barclay” whose spouse was “May”. They resided at 2221 I Street. Barclay did not mention living in California.


The Barclays have not yet been found in the 1930 census.

In the 1940 census (enumerated April 3), Barclay’s mother answered the enumerator’s questions. The Barclay family numbered six with the addition of two boys, Robert and Arthur. They lived in an apartment building at 4207 34th Avenue in Long Island City, New York. Mr. Barclay was a milkman at the Sheffield Milk Company. According to the census, seventeen-year-old Barclay had three years of high school education and still in school since March 1, 1940. 


Barclay may have graduated in June 1940 or in January or June 1941. Many high schools had two graduating classes in the winter and spring. Barclay (born November 5, 1922) said she was seventeen when she met Mike Sekowsky at the specialized high school, School of Industrial Art (SIA), which was founded in late 1936. Sekowsky was born November 19, 1923, so he may have graduated in 1941 or 1942. Gil Kane, who also attended SIA, said Sekowsky graduated and immediately found work at Timely Comics. Howard James and Allen Bellman graduated from SIA, around the same time as Barclay, and joined the Timely staff. 
 
Barclay said she was seventeen when she worked as a restaurant hostess at Cafe Rouge which was in the Hotel Pennsylvania**. Barclay said her hostess income helped support her brothers and mother, who left her father. It would appear the family break-up occurred after the census enumeration. However, when Barclay’s father filled out his World War II draft card, on April 25, 1942, her parents were at the same address. 


In the interview, Barclay said “I was married before I met Mike, but my husband’s divorce was not final. Later my mother kept asking him for the divorce papers. After that, his wife sent him divorce papers, and they were dated after our marriage. But I had to go to court and get an annulment. Mike paid for it and it cost $350, which I didn’t have. My husband hated him.” If Barclay was married before meeting Sekowsky the marriage would have been before 1940.

Barclay was referring to Robert Ainsley. In the 1940 census there was a Robert Ainsley, age 21, who was married to Jeanne. They resided in Manhattan at 201 West 103 Street. Ainsley had one year of high school and worked as an elevator operator in an apartment building. Additional information about him has not been found.

According to the New York City, Marriage License Indexes, at Ancestry.com, Barclay and Ainsley obtained a marriage license in Queens on October 1, 1941. A week later they married on October 8. Barclay’s sister was a witness. It’s not known wby Barclay changed her birth year from 1922 to 1919. 



Barclay said Sekowsky helped her get a job with a higher salary as an inker at Timely. Amash asked Barclay when she was hired. Barclay said it was Christmas 1941 when she was nineteen. Amash noted that Timely was in the McGraw-Hill building at that time. Barclay replied, “Yes. Just after the party was when Timely moved to the 14th floor of the Empire State Building….” My research showed that Timely moved to the Empire State Building in 1943, not 1942. 

Barclay said she learned inking by watching staff artist Dave Gantz use a brush. Who’s Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999 shows Barclay working for Timely to 1949, then freelancing for other comics publishers and Timely in the 1950s. The Grand Comics Database lists many of Barclay’s credits. 

In the interview, Barclay said “I was seventeen when Mike first saw me. The last time he saw me, I was 29 and he had come to the apartment where my husband and I were living, though we weren’t married yet….” That event happened in 1951 or 1952. Barclay said she married Jerry Smith but did not say when and where. Barclay said she signed some of her comics as Valerie Smith. 

In the interview, Barclay referred to a Christmas party at Timely where she met Sekowsky’s wife, Joanne. The New York City, Marriage License Indexes said Sekowsky and “Jo Anne Latta” obtained a Manhattan marriage license in 1952. The marriage date is not known.

The Florida Divorce Index, at Ancestry.com, recorded the divorce of Barclay’s parents in 1950 at Volusia. The 1950 census said Barclay, her mother and brothers lived in Queens at 21-24 31st Street, apartment 2F. Barclay was an advertising comics artist. 


Exposed #9, July-August 1949, Inker





When the comic book industry collapsed, Barclay said, “…I tried waitressing, I became a restaurant hostess for several places. One time, Buddy Rogers, the actor, asked me out. He called me “Miss Astoria.” Astoria, a neighborhood in Queens, is next to Long Island City where Barclay grew up. 

Barclay said she studied with Jack Potter at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). Potter joined the school in 1957. Barclay did not say when she started at SVA.

The passing of Barclay’s father was reported in the Long Island Star Journal (Long Island City, New York), November 2, 1960. 
Robert C. Barclay
Canadian Army Vet
Episcopal services for Robert C. Barclay, 72, of Astoria, a native of Long Island City were held last night in the Thomas M. Quinn and Sons Funeral Home at 35-20 Broadway, Astoria.

Services were to he held at 1 P.M. today in the Trinity Episcopal Church of Astoria. Burial was to follow in St, Michael’s Cemetery.

Mr. Barclay enlisted in the Canadian Army in World War I and was wounded in France. He died Saturday in St. John’s Hospital after suffering a heart attack. He lived at 32-85 35th street.

Mr. Barclay was a retired  truck foreman for the Sheffield Farms Corporation in Manhattan. He was a member of the McKenna Post, American legion, and the Crescent Social Club, both in Astoria, and the Maple Leaf Club, a Canadian veterans organization in Manhattan.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Kay [sic] Skilton Barclay; two daughters, Irene and Valorie [sic] Barclay; two sons, Robert W. and Arthur W., and four grandchildren.
Barclay said she studied at The Art Students League of New York which is located at 215 West 57th Street. At some point Barclay lived at 442 West 57th Street in Manhattan, according to a public record at Ancestry.com.

Barclay passed away February 26, 2010 in Massapequa, Nassau County, New York. She was laid to rest at Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum. 

* The photograph posted at Find a Grave is not Mr. Barclay. The man is Edward Milton Berry whose signature is partially visible on the left side of the photograph. The passport applications, viewed at Ancestry.com, are in a bound volume. Berry’s photograph was pasted on the back of his application and faced the first page of Mr. Barclays’s application.

** The Hotel Pennsylvania became the Statler Hitlon where Phil Seuling held his comic art conventions. 



SIDEBAR: Valerie Barclay’s Siblings

Alyce H. Barclay, step-sister, June 14, 1913 – July 28, 1986 

Irene May (Barclay) Eckhart, sister, January 5, 1920 – October 9, 2003

Robert William Barclay, brother, January 2, 1927 – March 24, 2003
Popular Photography, February 1962, pages 65 and 67 
American Showcase of Photography and Illustration, 1978, Robert W. Barclay Studios, Inc.
Bernardsville News, March 27, 2003, obituary, Robert W. Barclay, 76, fashion photographer

Arthur W. Barclay, brother, January 3, 1938 – 


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