Up-date: The George Perez fan page has announced that Nick Cardy has passed awa.
Tempus fugit
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This from Mark Evanier on Face Book:
http://www.examiner.com/article/comic-artist-corner-nick-cardy
Tempus fugit
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This from Mark Evanier on Face Book:
For younger people unfamiliar with Cardy's work this from Examiner.com of 9th October, 2009
http://www.examiner.com/article/comic-artist-corner-nick-cardy
When most people think of Aquaman, DC Comics'
underwater hero, they usually recall his incarnations in various
animated specials over the years. Truth told, Aquaman hasn't really made
the splash (I'm on a roll!) his contemporaries have, sad as that is
since he's a wonderful character with much potential. That also hasn't
stopped him from having one of the most talented artists in comics
history make his history all the more wonderful.
Aquaman comics art by Nick Cardy, courtesy of DC Comics, Inc.
Nicholas Viscardi, or Nick Cardy, was born October 20, 1920. Like his peer, John Romita Sr., Mr. Cardy had an amazing ability to draw women with uncanny beauty and detail, thus garnering him much attention in the 50s and 60s. However, Mr. Cardy's career began in 1939 when Superman and Batman were making the first ripples in the comic books tide. He contributed with Kaanga Comics, Fight Comics, Jungle Comics and Wings during this period, also coming up with "Lady Luck" for Wil Eisner's "The Spirit Section" from 1941-42. This era of comics also carried a much-feared stigma of being labeled a "comic book artist/writer", thereby pigeon-holing a talented young man who even considering lowering himself to the comic book medium. With this looming overhead for all comic talent back then, Mr. Cardy used the pen-name "Ford Davis," but always managed to slip his real initials somewhere into the artwork.
Mr. Cardy also served his country during the World War II, where he earned two Purple Hearts for being wounded as a tank driver. Interestingly enough, he also designed the panther logo for his 66th Infantry division. Even in terrible times of war, Mr. Cardy was keeping his creative skills alive. He eventually gained an office job at the division headquarters because of his artistic prowess.
After leaving the military, Mr. Cardy did some work in advertising and other small work, never intending to return to comic books, but Tarzan came calling and the daily black-and-white was his venture back into the art.
It wasn't until 1950 that his DC career began, marking some of the more beautifully-drawn books ever seen. Gang Busters was his first assignment, but Tomahawk was where he began to get noticed on the larger scale of comics. In 1962, Aquaman was assigned to him and Mr. Cardy handled him with ease and brilliance. Originally a back-up story from Adventure Comics, Aquaman was given his own title with some of the most memorable cover art to grab the reader's attention. Mr. Cardy's run on the title lasted from the first issue up to #39, which ended in 1971. During this time he also inked and/or penciled the Teen Titans and the short-lived Bat Lash books, once again creating some of the most beautiful images with such detailed enthusiasm. He also contributed to the Batman syndicated strip with his boyhood friend and fellow "comic guy" Al Plastino.
Witching Hour and Teen Titans art by Nick Cardy, courtesy of DC Comics, Inc.
His countless cover work in the 1960s and 70s stands up today as some of the medium's best, most identifiable work. Chances are good that you've seen his covers somewhere. Bringing such eye-appeal to comic books was a welcome boost for the medium, one that fellow artist Neal Adams was breaking ground with as well.
Sadly for we comic fans, Mr. Cardy left the medium in the mid-70s and ventured into commercial art, creating some of the more memorable movie posters such as Apocalypse Now and California Suite. He is now retired and resides in Florida, where he still manages to do the occasional comic book show and commissioned artwork. He still has his gifts at the young age of 89 (Happy birthday,sir!) and hopefully we'll see more of his art pop up now and again for a real art lesson that this generation badly needs from time to time.
He's an artist you need to know.
Aquaman comics art by Nick Cardy, courtesy of DC Comics, Inc.
Nicholas Viscardi, or Nick Cardy, was born October 20, 1920. Like his peer, John Romita Sr., Mr. Cardy had an amazing ability to draw women with uncanny beauty and detail, thus garnering him much attention in the 50s and 60s. However, Mr. Cardy's career began in 1939 when Superman and Batman were making the first ripples in the comic books tide. He contributed with Kaanga Comics, Fight Comics, Jungle Comics and Wings during this period, also coming up with "Lady Luck" for Wil Eisner's "The Spirit Section" from 1941-42. This era of comics also carried a much-feared stigma of being labeled a "comic book artist/writer", thereby pigeon-holing a talented young man who even considering lowering himself to the comic book medium. With this looming overhead for all comic talent back then, Mr. Cardy used the pen-name "Ford Davis," but always managed to slip his real initials somewhere into the artwork.
Mr. Cardy also served his country during the World War II, where he earned two Purple Hearts for being wounded as a tank driver. Interestingly enough, he also designed the panther logo for his 66th Infantry division. Even in terrible times of war, Mr. Cardy was keeping his creative skills alive. He eventually gained an office job at the division headquarters because of his artistic prowess.
After leaving the military, Mr. Cardy did some work in advertising and other small work, never intending to return to comic books, but Tarzan came calling and the daily black-and-white was his venture back into the art.
It wasn't until 1950 that his DC career began, marking some of the more beautifully-drawn books ever seen. Gang Busters was his first assignment, but Tomahawk was where he began to get noticed on the larger scale of comics. In 1962, Aquaman was assigned to him and Mr. Cardy handled him with ease and brilliance. Originally a back-up story from Adventure Comics, Aquaman was given his own title with some of the most memorable cover art to grab the reader's attention. Mr. Cardy's run on the title lasted from the first issue up to #39, which ended in 1971. During this time he also inked and/or penciled the Teen Titans and the short-lived Bat Lash books, once again creating some of the most beautiful images with such detailed enthusiasm. He also contributed to the Batman syndicated strip with his boyhood friend and fellow "comic guy" Al Plastino.
Witching Hour and Teen Titans art by Nick Cardy, courtesy of DC Comics, Inc.
His countless cover work in the 1960s and 70s stands up today as some of the medium's best, most identifiable work. Chances are good that you've seen his covers somewhere. Bringing such eye-appeal to comic books was a welcome boost for the medium, one that fellow artist Neal Adams was breaking ground with as well.
Sadly for we comic fans, Mr. Cardy left the medium in the mid-70s and ventured into commercial art, creating some of the more memorable movie posters such as Apocalypse Now and California Suite. He is now retired and resides in Florida, where he still manages to do the occasional comic book show and commissioned artwork. He still has his gifts at the young age of 89 (Happy birthday,sir!) and hopefully we'll see more of his art pop up now and again for a real art lesson that this generation badly needs from time to time.
He's an artist you need to know.
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