Mike Sekowsky

Michael Sekowsky (; November 19, 1923 – March 30, 1989) was an American comics artist known as the penciler for DC Comics' '' Justice League of America'' during most of the 1960s, and as the regular writer and artist on ''Wonder Woman'' during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Biography

Early life and career

Sekowsky was born in Lansford, Pennsylvania, and began working in the comics medium in 1941, as an artist at Marvel Comics' predecessor, Timely Comics, in New York City. There he worked as both a cartoonist on such humor features as " Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal", and as a superhero artist on such star characters as Captain America and the Sub-Mariner in issues of '' All Winners Comics'', '' Daring Comics'', '' Marvel Mystery Comics'', '' USA Comics'', and '' Young Allies Comics''. Sekowsky developed a reputation as one of the fastest artists in the comics field. Fellow Timely artist Gene Colan commented on his work: "His pencils were something to behold. Very loose, but so beautifully done. At the time, there was no one like him."

During the 1940s, Sekowsky married his first wife, Joanne Latta. Concurrently, he began a complicated relationship with artist Valerie (a.k.a. Violet) Barclay, who was working at the Manhattan restaurant Cafe Rouge. As Barclay recalled in a 2004 interview, "I was 17, and ... was making $18 a week as a hostess. Mike said, 'I'll get you a job making $35 a week as a taff inker, and you can dditionallyfreelance over the weekend. I'll let you ink my stuff'. He went to editor Stan Lee and got me the job. I didn't know anything about inking. taff artist Dave Gantz taught me — just by watching him".Barclay interview, ''Alter Ego'', pp. 4-5 Sekowsky bestowed expensive gifts on her even after his marriage to Latta,Barclay interview, ''Alter Ego'', p. 3 causing friction in the Timely bullpen, which she left in 1949. She later described the office environment,

Sekowsky, one of the nascent Marvel Comics' mainstays, chose to remain and "make George's life hell",Barclay interview, ''Alter Ego'', p. 4 Barclay said in 2004. She further described, "I was married before I met Mike, but my husband's divorce was not final. ... had to go to court and get an annulment. Mike paid for it and it cost $350".Barclay interview, ''Alter Ego'', p. 11

Sekowsky continued drawing for Timely in multiple genres through the 1940s and into the 1950s, on such Western characters as the Apache Kid, the Black Rider, and Kid Colt for Marvel's 1950s iteration, Atlas Comics. He later freelanced for other companies, drawing the television show spin-offs ''Gunsmoke'' and '' Buffalo Bill, Jr.'' for Dell Comics; romance comics (for Crestwood, Fawcett Comics, Nedor, Quality Comics, and St. John Publications); horror comics (for Nedor and Ace Magazines); the jungle adventure '' Ramar of the Jungle'' for ( Charlton Comics); war, including Ziff Davis' '' G.I. Joe'', and others. He continued to draw for Dell in particular through the early 1960s.

DC Comics

In 1952, Sekowsky began working at DC Comics, where he drew romance comics and science fiction titles under the editorship of Julius Schwartz. Sekowsky drew the first appearance of Adam Strange in '' Showcase'' #17 (Nov. 1958). Sekowsky and writer Gardner Fox co-created the Justice League of America in '' The Brave and the Bold'' #28 (March 1960). After two further appearances in that title, the team received its own series which Sekowsky drew for 63 issues. Fox and Sekowsky added to the membership of the Justice League by inducting new members Green Arrow, the Atom, and Hawkman. Among the adversaries which Fox and Sekowsky introduced for the team were Amazo and Doctor Light. ''Justice League of America'' #21 and #22 (Sept. 1963) saw the first team-up of the Justice League and the Justice Society of America as well as the first use of the term "Crisis" in reference to a crossover between DC's characters. The following year's JLA team-up with the Justice Society introduced the threat of the Crime Syndicate of America of Earth-Three.

Sekowsky married his second wife, Josephine, called Pat, in October 1967.

Sekowsky and writer Bob Haney introduced B'wana Beast in '' Showcase'' #66 (Feb. 1967). In 1968, Sekowsky became the penciler of ''Metal Men''. The following year, Sekowsky also became the writer and changed the direction of the series by having the Metal Men assume human identities. The series was canceled six issues later.

At roughly the same time, Sekowsky began working on ''Wonder Woman'' with issue #178 (Sept.-Oct. 1968), first as artist and then as writer and editor, until issue #196. His run on the series included a variety of themes, from espionage to mythological adventure. He contributed a story about Wonder Woman and Batman to ''The Brave and the Bold''. Comics historian Mark Voger has praised Sekowsky's work from this era by noting "More than any other artist then working for DC Comics, Sekowsky...captured the look and sensibility of the late 1960s."

Sekowsky wrote and drew features for the series-tryout comic-book series ''Showcase'' during the last three years of its run. This included "The Maniaks" in ''Showcase'' #68–69 (June–August 1967) and #71 (December 1967) and "Jason's Quest", an adventure series about a young man on a motorcycle searching for his family, in ''Showcase'' #88–90 (Feb.–May 1970). He became the writer/artist of the Supergirl feature in ''Adventure Comics'' as of issue #397 (Sept. 1970) and frequently disregarded continuity by scripting stories which contradicted DC's canon.

Later career

Upon leaving DC, Sekowsky returned to Marvel, where he had gotten his start in the 1940s. From 1971 to 1975, he sporadically provided penciling for stories in '' Amazing Adventures'' vol. 2, featuring the Inhumans; and ''Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up''.

Sekowsky and writer Greg Weisman planned a ''Black Canary'' miniseries in 1984 for DC Comics. After the first issue was pencilled, the project went unpublished due to the character being used in writer/artist Mike Grell's '' Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters'' series. Elements were used for Weisman's '' DC Showcase: Green Arrow'' short film. Sekowsky returned to ''Justice League of America'' to pencil a flashback tale in issue #240 (July 1985), which featured the Justice League from his era.

For the last decade of his life, Sekowsky lived in Los Angeles and worked primarily on Hanna-Barbera animated television series, including '' Scooby-Doo''. After hospitalization with health problems stemming from diabetes, he began freelancing for publisher Daerrick Gross, who was developing a line of skateboard and ninja comics. Sekowsky died before he could complete the assignment.

Awards

Sekowsky won a 1963 Alley Award for Favorite Novel ("Crisis on Earths 1 and 2" in ''Justice League of America'' #21 and #22 with Gardner Fox) and a 1981 Inkpot Award.

Bibliography

DC Comics

* ''Adventure Comics'' #397–402, 404–409, 421–423 (Supergirl); #426–427 ( Vigilante) (1970–1973)
* '' All-Star Western'' #114–116 (1960)
* ''Atom'' #38 (1968)
* '' Bat Lash'' #6 (1969)
* '' Blackhawk'' #267, 273 (1984)
* '' The Brave and the Bold'' #28–30 (Justice League of America); #66, 68, 76, 87 (1960–1969)
* '' Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!'' #6, 8, 10 (1982)
* '' DC 100 Page Super Spectacular'' #5 (1971)
* ''Detective Comics'' #371, 374–376 ( Elongated Man backup stories) (1968)
* ''Falling In Love'' #3–4, 9–11, 13–15, 18–19, 21, 23, 28–31, 33, 35, 39, 42, 44, 46–47, 49–50, 52–57, 60, 62, 64–67, 69, 71–74, 79, 84, 87 (1956–1966)
* '' Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion'' #12 (1973)
* '' G.I. Combat'' #132–133, 162 (1968–1973)
* '' Girls' Love Stories'' #38, 44, 54, 68–69, 72–73, 80, 82, 87, 90, 92–93, 96–97, 99–100, 102, 104, 110–111, 124, 141, 179 (1955–1973)
* '' Girls' Romances'' #17, 21, 23, 30, 33, 39, 41–43, 66, 72, 75, 79, 83, 85, 91, 93–94, 96, 99, 102–194, 106, 110, 116, 122, 140, 149, 156, 159 (1952–1971)
* '' Green Lantern'' #4, 64–66, 170 (1961–1983)
* '' Heart Throbs'' #50, 52, 55–56, 61–64, 68, 71–72, 78–81, 83–88, 90, 96, 102 (1957–1966)
* '' House of Mystery'' #198, 202, 206, 224, 282 (1972–1980)
* '' House of Secrets'' #100, 113, 127 (1972–1975)
* ''Inferior Five'' #1–6 (1967–1968)
* '' Justice League of America'' #1–38, 40–47, 49–57, 59–63, 240 (1960–1968, 1985)
* ''Love Stories'' #149–151 (1973)
* ''Metal Men'' #32–41 (1968–1969)
* '' Mystery in Space'' #47, 49, 51–52, 55–58, 66, 68–69 (1958–1961)
* '' Phantom Stranger'' vol. 2 #5–6, 9 (1970)
* '' Plop!'' #5–6 (1974)
* '' Secret Hearts'' #37, 41–42, 44, 46, 48, 51, 60, 65–66, 71, 79, 81–83, 85, 87–91, 93, 95, 102, 104, 115, 120, 123, 135 (1956–1969)
* '' Secrets of Sinister House'' #5, 14 (1972–1973)
* '' Sensation Comics'' #109 (1952)
* '' Showcase'' #17–19 ( Adam Strange); #21 ( Rip Hunter); #66–67 ( B'wana Beast); #68–69, 71 ( The Maniaks); #88–90 (Jason's Quest); #90–93 ( Manhunter) (1958–1970)
* '' Strange Adventures'' #97–98, 101–105, 109–112, 114, 116, 118–120, 122, 124–125, 128–129, 131–132, 134, 136–138, 140, 143, 146, 149, 152, 155, 158, 162 (1958–1964)
* ''Supergirl'' #6 (1973)
* '' Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen'' #152–153 (1972)
* '' Weird War Tales'' #36, 75 (1975–1979)
* '' The Witching Hour'' #44 (1974)
* ''Wonder Woman'' #178–196 (1968–1971)
* '' Young Love'' #41, 45, 58 (1964–1966)
* '' Young Romance'' #125–129, 132–133, 154–156 (1963–1968)

Gold Key Comics

* '' The Twilight Zone'' #4 (1963)

Marvel Comics

* ''Actual Confessions'' #14 (1952)
* ''Actual Romances'' #1–2 (1949–1950)
* ''Adventures into Terror'' #1, 3–4 (1950–1951)
* ''All Teen'' #20 (1947)
* ''All-True Crime'' #47 (1951)
* ''All Western Winners'' #3 (1949)
* '' All Winners Comics'' #3 (1942)
* '' Amazing Adventures'' #9–10 ( Inhumans) (1971–1972)
* ''Amazing Comics'' #1 (1944)
* ''Amazing Detective Cases'' #12 (1952)
* '' Apache Kid'' #1 (1950)
* ''Arrgh'' #1, 3 (1974–1975)
* ''Arrowhead'' #2 (1954)
* ''Astonishing'' #13 (1952)
* ''Battle'' #12, 18 (1952–1953)
* ''Best Love'' #33, 35 (1949–1950)
* '' Black Rider'' #14 (1951)
* ''Blackstone the Magician'' #2, 4 (1948)
* '' Blonde Phantom'' #19 (1948)
* '' Captain America Comics'' #11, 33, 39, 55, 60, 64 (1942–1947)
* '' Combat Kelly'' #22 (1954)
* ''Complete Comics'' #2 (1944)
* ''Cowboy Romances'' #3 (1950)
* ''Crazy'' #5 (1954)
* ''Crime Can't Win'' #4 (1951)
* ''Cupid'' #1–2 (1949–1950)
* ''Daring Comics'' #11 (1945)
* ''Faithful'' #2 (1950)
* ''Frankie Comics'' #8 (1947)
* ''Georgie Comics'' #10–17, 26 (1947–1950)
* ''Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up'' #2 (1975)
* '' Girl Comics'' #3 (1950)
* ''Girl Confessions'' #20–21 (1952)
* ''Human Torch'' #20–21, 26–27, 29–34 (1945–1049)
* ''Jeanie Comics'' #13, 17 (1947–1948)
* '' Journey into Unknown Worlds'' #4–5, 9, 21 (1951–1953)
* ''Junior Miss'' #1, 36 (1944–1949)
* ''Justice'' #20, 41 (1951–1953)
* ''Lawbreakers Always Lose'' #2 (1948)
* ''Love Adventures'' #9 (1952)
* ''Love Classics'' #1-2 (1949-1950)
* ''Love Dramas'' #2 (1950)
* '' Love Romances'' #8 (1949)
* ''Love Romances'' #11-13, 20, 23, 25, 48 (1950-1955)
* ''Love Secrets'' #1-2 (1949-1950)
* ''Love Tales'' #37, 39, 41, 50-51 (1949-1952)
* '' Lovers'' #40, 43, 51-52, 80-81 (1952-1956)
* ''Man Comics'' #6 (1951)
* ''Margie Comics'' #45 (1949)
* '' Marvel Mystery Comics'' #47-48, 55, 81, 84-90, 92 (1943-1949)
* '' Marvel Tales'' #96, 98 (1950)
* ''Men in Action'' #9 (1952)
* '' Millie the Model'' #5, 7 (1947)
* '' Miss America'' #22 (1949)
* ''My Diary'' #1-2 (1949-1950)
* ''My Love'' #1, 3 (1949)
* ''My Love'' vol. 2 #16-17 (1972)
* '' My Own Romance'' #5-6, 9-12, 15, 19-23, 29, 31, 33 (1949-1953)
* ''Mystery Tales'' #11, 44 (1953-1956)
* ''Mystic'' #1-2, 4-5 (1951)
* '' Mystic Comics'' #9 (1942)
* ''Mystic Comics'' vol. 2 #3-4 (1944-1945)
* '' Namora'' #2-3 (1948)
* ''Our Love'' #1(1949)
* ''Our Love Story'' #16 (1972)
* '' Patsy Walker'' #11-20 (1947-1949)
* ''Romance Tales'' #7, 9 (1949-1950)
* ''Secret Story Romances'' #3 (1954)
* ''Spaceman'' #4 (1954)
* ''Spellbound'' #5-6, 9 (1952)
* ''Sport Stars'' #1 (1949)
* ''Spy Cases'' #3, 15 (1951-1953)
* ''Spy Fighters'' #2 (1951)
* '' Strange Tales'' #3, 9, 11, 14, 16 (1951-1953)
* '' Sub-Mariner Comics'' #26-28 (1948)
* ''Suspense'' #11, 14 (1951-1952)
* ''Teen Comics'' #21 (1947)
* ''Tough Kid Squad Comics'' #1 (1942)
* ''True Adventures'' #3 (1950)
* ''True Life Tales'' #1-2 (1949-1050_
* ''True Secrets'' #16, 18-19, 23 (1952-1954)
* '' Two-Gun Kid'' #3 (1948)
* '' Uncanny Tales'' #11, 25, 46 (1953-1956)
* '' U.S.A. Comics'' #4-6, 10 (1942-1943)
* ''Venus'' #5, 6, 9 (1949-1950)
* ''War Action'' #11 (1953)
* ''War Adventures'' #12 (1953)
* ''War Comics'' #5, 16 (1951-1953)
* ''Western Life Romances'' #1-2 (1949-1950)
* ''Wild Western'' #23, 29 (1952-1953)
* ''Willie Comics'' #5, 7, 10-12, 16, 19 (1946-1949)
* '' Young Allies'' #11-12, 16, 18 (1944-1945)
* ''Young Hearts'' #1 (1949)
* ''Young Men'' #5, 17 (1950-1952)

Tower Comics

* ''Dynamo'' #1-2 (1966)
* '' T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents'' #1-12 (1965-1967)

References

Further reading

*Evanier, Mark. "Mike Sekowsky and the Silver Age ''Justice League of America''". '' Comic Art'' #3 (2003)
*Bubnis, Bernie. "Chicken Scratchings: A 1964 Meeting of Mike Sekowsky and a Comics Fan", '' Alter Ego'' #33, February 2004, pp. 3–4

External links

Captain Flash
at Don Markstein's Toonopedia
Archived
from the original on April 9, 2012.
*

Mike Sekowsky
at Mike's Amazing World of Comics


at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sekowsky, Mike
1923 births
1989 deaths
American animators
American humorists
American comics artists
American comics writers
Romance comics artists
American science fiction artists
Artists from Lancaster, Pennsylvania
DC Comics people
Golden Age comics creators
Inkpot Award winners
Marvel Comics people
Silver Age comics creators