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John Vest On Mark Millar’s Statement About Comics Creators Having A Shelf Life
posted November 3, 2008
 

A number of the great comic artists really had their finest moments when they were middle aged. The bullpen photos in Fantastic Four Annual #7 (Nov 1969) include Jack Kirby, Gene Colan, Gil Kane, John Buscema, John and Marie Severin, Bill Everett, and Johnny Craig, all in their middle forties to early fifties.

R. Crumb was also 45 during the Weirdo and Hup years.

One of the most amazing contemporary publications with artists predominantly in their mid 60's is Mineshaft. It's the greatest conglomeration of ug artists since Weirdo. Crumb and Deitch have been especially prolific.

There's also something heartening about seeing artists late in their careers still doing their life's work. Tor was an attractive comic with nice writing by Joe Kubert. I'm still looking forward to Gene Colan's collaboration with Ed Brubaker on Captain America. And a new comic from Steve Ditko in 2008 was the most unexpected release of the year.