But it wasnt the color of his skin which made him such a significant figure in the history of the medium. You get fantastic matt baker art including his 7 page phantom lady story satans cargo. The regular format comic book with the most baker pages is classic comics 32, with 52 pages of matt s art. Baker romance page 526 golden age comic books cgc comic. Matt baker comic book art for sale value guide heritage. He also penciled an early form of graphic novel, st. The regular format comic book with the most baker pages is classic comics 32, with 52 pages of matts art. The next volume in the lost art of matt baker series will collect his entire output for the wartime romances comic, and a final volume will provide a sampling of his best war, western, and. Jun 27, 2016 clarence matthew baker was a black comic book artist who died in 1959. Published by picture this press for their lost art book series, im glad i ordered this book instead, as its printed much larger than your average comic books at least by 20%, and features the complete adventures of canteen kate as drawn by the fantastic matt baker.
He was the son of clarence and ethel baker, matt had two brothers, robert and john. Mostly golden age, silver age and bronze age comics. Matt baker american 19211959 is considered to be the first african american comic book artist. Baker is best remembered for the costumed crimefighter phantom lady and as the. As part of their tribute to black history month the westland public library invited comic book enthusiast john lay to discuss the work of matt baker who. Many of you are likely familiar with the comic book art of matt baker, but for those of you who have not yet heard that name, you are in for a treat. Matt baker comic book artist december 22, 20 ive finally purchased the biography as well as another book entitled the lost art of matt baker showcasing his work on the canteen kate comic stories from bud plant.
Baker was active as early as the 1930s and 1940s golden age of comic books. But it wasnt the color of his skin which made him such a significant figure in the history of the. It would be a onetime use mayjune 2017 issue, fullcolor, halfpage, inside with full credit given. Clarence matthew baker was an american comic book artist and illustrator, best known for drawing early comics heroines such as the costumed. Clarence matthew baker was born on december 10, 1921 in forsyth county, north carolina. Matt baker the art of glamour hc 2012 twomorrows comic. Matt baker was a pioneering artist during comic books the golden age baker was a halloffame illustrator for much of the 1940s and 50s, the time period regularly referred to as. Baker demonstrates his mastery of good girl art with this largescale composition, depicting the ominous beginning of an adventure in china. Matt baker flamingo daily comic strippanel page original. Matt baker, the first black comic book artist, was born on december 10, 1921, in forsyth county, north carolina. He is best known for the costumed crime fighter phantom lady. Here, baker does new york city again, but this time strictly for laughs. Matt baker was a pioneering artist during comic books the.
Trackingnumbering continues from anchors andrews st. Oft en considered the first ever graphic novel or picture novel, as it was then called, it rhymes with lust features luscious art by matt baker, the first prominent african american creator in comics. Matt baker, comic book artist fine art and antique appraiser. 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. Artists adams 440 baker 324 barks 307 brunner 122 byrne 293 ditko 435 frazetta 262 jones 71 kirby 446 kubert 364 manning 237 miller 207 newton 176 nino 174 ploog 120 redondo 141 rogers 152 simonson 188 smith 177 starlin 228 steranko 98 toth 393 williamson 359 wood 409 wrightson 248.
Baker was inducted into the will eisner comic book hall of fame in 2009. Selected pages from a comic book illustrated for the bible society. Baker began his art career in 1944 when he joined the iger studio after graduating from cooper union school of engineering, art, and design. Baker returns to the genre scene with his first booklength narrative since why i hate saturn 1990, the clever sendup of the downtown bar and dating scene of 1980s new york that became an underground comics classic. Matt bakers rightful place in the annals of comic book history has been debated by followers of the genre. Creator of the phantom lady comic book character and the early graphic novel it rhymes with lust from 1950. Matt baker surrounded by his glamorous gals on the cover of twomorrows matt baker. 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.
He is most famous for his work on the phantom lady he did for fox feature syndicate. Jul 12, 2019 it rhymes with lust 1950 oft en considered the first ever graphic novel or picture novel, as it was then called, it rhymes with lust features luscious art by matt baker, the first prominent african american creator in comics. But by most accounts, he is considered the first successful black comic book artist, and perhaps the first altogether. In 1944, he got a job as a background artist with the s. I mean, even if youre a fan of classic comics and have an interest in golden age comics well, youve probably heard of baker if you fall. Their latest isolated offering, a hardcover celebration of comic book artist matt baker, follows the expected pattern. 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. It would be a onetime use mayjune 2017 issue, fullcolor, halfpage. Comic book art selected pages from a comic book illustrated for the bible society. 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. Cinderella love 14 matt baker art all photos are of the actual comic you will receive.
This graphic novel depict the life of little known comic book artist in the 1940s and 50s. But it wasnt the color of his skin which made him such a significant figure in. 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. Clarence matthew baker was a black comic book artist who died in 1959. Not much is known about matt because he died in his mid. His specialty was good girl art, a comics and cartooning subgenre. Jul 01, 2009 matt baker comics checklist by pencil ink, a blog on comics and comic book artists of the past. Matt baker comics checklist by pencil ink, a blog on comics and comic book artists of the past. Shop for matt baker art comics on, your friendly online comic book store. Matt baker is often considered the first known successful black comic book artist. In 2008, he was inducted into the will eisner comic book hall of fame. 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.
Clarence matthew baker december 10, 1921 august 11, 1959 was an american comic book artist. The son of clarence and ethel baker, matt and his brothers robert and john, moved with their parents to pittsburgh, pa. What it means to remember africanamerican artist matt baker. 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.
I remember this being a monster book and reserved for collectors in the know. 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. Matt baker comic artist the most popular comic art by. John publications digestsized picture novel it rhymes with lust 1950. 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. Matt baker flamingo daily comic strippanel page original art universal phoenix features, 1952. Dec 11, 2012 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. Feb 26, 2016 clarence matthew baker december 10, 1921 august 11, 1959 was an american comic book artist. Matt baker was the original good girl golden age artist. Baker began his art career in 1944 when he joined the. In 1950 baker provided the art for the picture novel, it rhymes with lust, thought to be the first graphic novel. Eric garza, mitch putnam, rob jones, gary sassaman.
Clarence matthew baker december 10, 1921 august 11, 1959 was an american comic book artist and illustrator, best known for drawing early comics. He was active during the golden age of comics books, roughly the 1930s to 1950s. From what i can tell, the book with the most pages of matt baker art is the digest size graphic novel it rhymes with lust, featuring 126 pages of baker goodness. Matt baker was a pioneering artist during comic books the golden age baker was a halloffame illustrator for much of the 1940s and 50s, the time period regularly referred to as comic. He is particularly well known for the good girl art of the early part of his career, although he would ultimately work in a. Matt baker author of ghosts and girls of fiction house. In the years hence, the genre has captured the imagination of collectors the world over. Feb 09, 2014 the next volume in the lost art of matt baker series will collect his entire output for the wartime romances comic, and a final volume will provide a sampling of his best war, western, and. Jan 17, 2018 hello boardies feel free to post your baker oa pieces.
Everyone welcome to post and talk about matt baker oa. Active in the 1940s and 1950s golden age of comic books, he is the first known africanamerican artist to find success. Born clarence matthew baker on december 10, 1921 in north carolina, he came of age in pittsburgh, pennsylvania. Matt baker died of a heart attack in 1959 in his late 30s. 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. See more ideas about matt baker, comic book artists and american comics. 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. Matt graduated from westinghouse high school in homewoodbrushton.
He attended the cooper union school of engineering, art, and design in new york. In the early 1940s, matt baker became of one the earliest africanamerican comic book artists. Baker continued illustrating comics for various companies, including atlas comics, the precursor to marvel comics. Wed like to use this art the demoniac in message magazine, americas oldest, continuous, religious journal for the black audience. Jun 07, 2008 from what i can tell, the book with the most pages of matt baker art is the digest size graphic novel it rhymes with lust, featuring 126 pages of baker goodness. Matt baker comic book art for sale value guide heritage auctions. Jan 18, 20 their latest isolated offering, a hardcover celebration of comic book artist matt baker, follows the expected pattern. Matt baker is recognized as the most known africanamerican comic book artist during the golden age of american comics. 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. Hello boardies feel free to post your baker oa pieces.
Back in the 1990s, sothebys held a breakthrough auction of comic book art. Matt baker oa club original comic art cgc comic book. Until you earn points all your submissions need to be vetted by other comic vine users. See more ideas about matt baker, comic books and comics. His artwork spans the genres of action to westerns to romance comics.
Matt baker first black comic artist clarence matthew baker was a black comic book artist who died in 1959. Matt baker had a relatively short career in the four color world, as he passed away before his 40th birthday, but his work is held in very high regard and sought out by collectors worldwide. In their daring and the skill with which their rendered, bakers girls put to shame the work of most modern comic book artists. Although, baker was celebrated in the comics community for his strikingly beautiful and more anatomically correct portrayals of women, his art. Dec 10, 2014 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. Jan 27, 2009 many of you are likely familiar with the comic book art of matt baker, but for those of you who have not yet heard that name, you are in for a treat. Matt baker good girl art clarence matthew baker december 10, 1921 august 11, 1959 1 was an american comic book artist. Matt baker the art of glamour hc 2012 twomorrows comic books. Imagine dave stevens or adam hughes working in the 40s, drawing a new story every month, and youll have a good idea of matt.
Jerry iger pitched flamingo about a heroic gypsy dancer as a newspaper strip but hedged their bets by generating pages in comicbook format. But it wasnt the color of his skin which made him such a. During his career he drew more than 1,000 pages of comics and over 200 covers. The art of glamour is a biographical graphic novel written by the team of jim amash and eric nolenweathington and illustrated by matt baker. Baker was the master of a stylistic phase of comic books in the late 1940s, wedged in between the superhero and the horror comics, known to the fans and collectors as good girl art, which is to say comics that constituted a. Clarence matthew baker, commonly known as matt baker, was one of the first successful black comic book artists. 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. Baker produced so much awesome and incredible art for us to enjoy 19441959. He specialized in the comic book genre known as good girl art. Clarence matthew baker was given his first task as a background artist. Is it a testament to bakers skills that sexy american mainstream comic art in the more socially repressive 1940s and 1950s is so much more effective and sexy than most american mainstream comic art in more anything. 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. He was posthumously inducted into the will eisner comic book hall of fame.
The first known african american comic book artist. Oct 18, 2012 in the early 1940s, matt baker became of one the earliest africanamerican comic book artists. Small marker on back cover top right cgc comics will be boxed in packages specifically made to ensure a safe and secure journey. Matt baker first black comic artist the museum of uncut funk. 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. Matt baker comic book artist bio, facts, family famous. Cover illustration and poster design for the cover of the 2018 san diego comic con souvenir book celebrating ten years of the marvel cinematic universe. Today the appraisal group celebrates the life and work of matt baker 19211959, the first africanamerican graphic artist.
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