Clarence matthew baker was an american comic book artist who drew the costumed crime fighter phantom lady, among many other characters. Born clarence matthew baker on december 10, 1921 in north carolina, he came of age in pittsburgh, pennsylvania. The longrunning jack kirby collector is a defining project. He is particularly well known for the good girl art of the early part of his career, although he would ultimately work in a variety of comic book genres. The son of clarence and ethel baker, matt and his brothers robert and john, moved with their parents to pittsburgh, pa.
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. Matt baker, the first black comic book artist, was born on december 10, 1921, in forsyth county, north carolina. 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 30s. His work on phantom lady sets the standard for beautiful women. African american comic book artist among the most famous comic book artists to emerge during the latter half of the golden age of comic books was matt baker. Artist kara walker, with massive mural on display at atlantas high museum, uses discomfort to make her point. 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. He quickly developed a reputation as one of the best good girl artists in the business for his. He is mostly remembered for his work on the phantom lady series and the daily flamingo comic strip. During his career he drew more than 1,000 pages of comics and over read more clarence matthew baker 19211959. Baker specialized in what has become known as good girl comic book art for such publishers as fox, fiction house and later developed a more sophisticated drawing style for st john, charlton, atlas and other publishers. Like arvell jones, who showed up earlier in the countdown, keith pollard was one of a group of notable comic book artists who came out of the detroit area, following in the footsteps of their fellow artist, rick buckler, who broke in first as a star artist and then slowly but surely brought his friends along, as well. He is most famous for his work on the phantom lady he did for fox feature syndicate.
He drew a variety of different types of comics, including some superhero, sicfi, and horror issues, but his greatest renown is for his work on romance comics. What it means to remember africanamerican artist matt baker. Among the most famous comic book artists to emerge during the latter half of the golden age of comic books was matt baker. Matt baker, one of the few africanamerican comic book artists of the golden age, revamped in more than one sense the newly acquired quality comics character phantom lady in 1947, creating one of the most memorable and controversial examples of superhero good girl art. Then there is matt baker, the most revered of the black artists, whose exquisite art spotlights stunning women and men, and who drew the first groundbreaking black comic book hero, vooda. Not much is known about matt because he died in his mid thirties. Matt baker, comic artist american art archives scans and text are ed material. The first black writer at marvel and dc comes back to. See more ideas about matt baker, comic book artists and american comics. But it wasnt the color of his skin which made him such a significant figure in the history of the mediumit was his innate ability to draw gorgeous, exciting women and handsome, dynamic men in a fluid, graceful style. Tracing the evolution of comic books by looking at the. 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. His iconic female images have made matt baker comics hot property.
Andrew loomis, and comic book artists will eisner, reed crandall. But by most accounts, he is considered the first successful black comic book artist, and perhaps the first altogether. Matt graduated from westinghouse high school in homewoodbrushton. Clarence matthew baker was born on december 10, 1921 in forsyth county, north carolina. But it wasnt the color of his skin which made him such a significant figure in the history of the medium. Matt baker, who was one of the very first african american comic artists and was the leading practitioner of good girl art in comics of the 1940s, was born on this day, december 10, 1921, 93 years ago he died august 11, 1959 at 38 years old. What we do know that he was one of the few africanamericans in comic books.
A list of graphic novels written by african americans andor about the african american experience. 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. Matt baker is often considered the first known successful black comic book artist. It includes comics creators that can also be found in the parent category, or in diffusing subcategories of the parent. Matt baker comic book art for sale value guide heritage auctions. 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. 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. Matt baker, comic book artist fine art and antique appraiser. Clarence matthew baker december 10, 1921 august 11, 1959 was an american comic. Matt baker american 19211959 is considered to be the first african american comic book artist. Clarence matthew baker was a black comic book artist who died in 1959. Episode 9 of my creator spotlight series to close out black history month, we spotlight matt baker, the first successful africanamerican comic artist and the master of goodgirl art let me know. Clarence matthew baker was a black comic book artist who died in he attended the cooper union school of engineering, art, and design in new york. In character, their books tend to be the last outpost of the old comicbook fan syndrome.
He attended the cooper union school of engineering, art, and design in new york. Matt baker surrounded by his glamorous gals on the cover of. Matt baker surrounded by his glamorous gals on the cover of twomorrows matt baker. Imagine dave stevens or adam hughes working in the 40s, drawing a new story every month, and youll have a good idea of matt bakers place in the industry throughout his career. In 1944, he got a job as a background artist with the s. African american comic book artist a shroud of thoughts. Comic stripbook creators of africanamerican heritage.
Their latest isolated offering, a hardcover celebration of comic book artist matt baker, follows the expected pattern. Middletons imprisonment became a cause c l bre championed by will durant, which led to middletons release and subsequent comics career. One of the first african american comic book artists was raised in pittsburgh and made his mark during the 1940s and 50s with classic illustrations of female. Baker was an africanamerican comic book artist active from the mid1940s until his death in 1959.
Matt bakers rightful place in the annals of comic book history has been debated by followers of the genre. Matt baker matt baker is often considered the first known successful africanamerican artist in the comicbook industry. African american comic artists through history, part 4. In the years hence, the genre has captured the imagination of collectors the world over. Matt baker broke colour barriers in the comic book industry because he was an extremely talented artist. Baker is best remembered for the costumed crimefighter phantom lady and as the mediums first known black artist. The 100 most influential pages in comic book history. Clarence matthew baker, commonly known as matt baker, was one of the first successful black comic book artists.
Matt baker was the original good girl golden age artist. But it wasnt the color of his skin which made him such a significant figure in the history of the mediumit was his innate ability to draw gorgeous. He is best known for the costumed crime fighter phantom lady. He was the son of clarence and ethel baker, matt had two brothers, robert and john. The first known africanamerican comic book artist clarence matthew baker matt baker worked during the golden age of comics as a cocreator of the phantom lady. In the early 1940s, matt baker became of one the earliest africanamerican comic book artists.
Whereas nature had bestowed an outstanding talent on matt, the rheumatic fever he suffered from as a child left him. 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. 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. Death of captain america ultimate collection tp, signed by ed brubaker. 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. He was one of the industrys first major african american comic book artists. Clarence matthew baker december 10, 1921 august 11, 1959 was an american comic book artist. Back in the 1990s, sothebys held a breakthrough auction of comic book art. 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. Today the appraisal group celebrates the life and work of matt baker 19211959, the first africanamerican graphic artist to find success in the comic book industry. Baker was inducted into the will eisner comic book hall of fame in 2009. Completing this unusual group is matt baker, one of the few africanamerican artists in comic books at the time, renowned for his voluptuous but not exploitative drawings of women. In many respects, he was the jackie robinson of comic books. He was active during the golden age of comics books, roughly the 1930s to 1950s.
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. These types of artists paved the way for comic artists such as reginald hudlin, darryl banks, christopher priest, and aaron mcgruder. He was active during the golden age of comics books, roughly the. The comics illustrator and sometimes story creator was matt baker, who is considered to be the first wellknown africanamerican comic book artist. In celebration of black history month, cbldf has partnered with black nerd. The texan comic book offered dusty, dangerous escapism. His speciality was drawing good girl art, a comics subgenre. While he was not the first african american artist in the comic book industry, he was arguably the most important of the early african american artists to emerge in the golden age. List dedicated to all the black folk in the comic book industry. These latino comic book artists create their own superheroes. Baker was active as early as the 1930s and 1940s golden age of comic books. 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. Matt baker is recognized as the most known africanamerican comic book artist during the golden age of american comics.
Baker was the artist on the arguably first graphic novel, arnold drakes it rhymes with lust. Matt baker matt baker was one of the first africanamerican comic book artists. 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. Find out what your matt baker romance, crime and western comics are worth in this comics price guide. African american artist, american artists, friends who lie, comic book artists, comic books, matt baker, black comics, american comics, barbarian view source image matt baker view source statue sketches image art art background croquis kunst.
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