'Comic Book Artists of the Silver Age, Part 6: Gene Colan' Webinar

Flashback to the early 1940s when the "Golden Age" of comic books was in full swing. Little boys and girls all across America were clamoring for the next edition of their favorite comic book, eager to see how pure-hearted superheroes like Superman or Wonder Woman would defeat those pesky evil villains and save the day. But by the early 1950s, between a post-World War II society and accusations of being linked to violence among adolescents, comic books struggled to capture the hearts and minds they once did. Enter the "Silver Age" of comic books — the morally-perfect superheroes replaced with more relatable, flawed heroes dealing with unresolved issues from a troubled past. These complex stories led to a revival of the medium — geared no longer toward young children, but adults. It's time to uncover the impact that eight incredible comic book artists had on the era, which produced some of the greatest superheroes and storytelling in the history of comic books.

Join New York Adventure Club for an epic eight-part series that explores eight incredible comic book artists of the Silver Age of Comics (1956-1972), whom not only set trends in the art of comic book storytelling, but also drew the definitive versions of the industry's greatest characters that are featured in today's blockbuster Hollywood movies and television series. In Part Six, we'll explore the brightly-colored and super-heroic drawings of Gene Colan, whose lush, atmospheric, and cinematic style was often described as “film noir on paper."

Led by Arlen Schumer, award-winning comic book art illustrator, historian, and author of The Silver Age of Comic Book Art, this "visualecture" and dynamic presentation will include:

• Why Colan used the pseudonym “Adam Austin” when he first started drawing for Marvel Comics
• A look at how he incorporated the dynamics of fellow Marvel artist, Jack Kirby, into his own style
• The inside scoop on who Colan thought was his greatest inker
• Why Doctor Strange adopted a full facemask midway during Colan’s Silver Age run
• The inspirations behind his most famous characters including Iron Man, Daredevil, and Doctor Strange
• Details surrounding how Colan really felt about collaborating with Marvel writer/editor Stan Lee

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A session with Arlen — any and all questions about the Silver Age of Comics are welcomed and encouraged!

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week!

See you there, virtually!

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***A full replay will be available after the experience for all registered guests

About Arlen

ARLEN SCHUMER, MFA is an award-winning comic book-style illustrator and comic book art historian — his book The Silver Age of Comic Book Art won the Independent Book Publishers Award for Best Popular Culture Book. ABC-TV’s 20/20 named him “one of the countryʼs preeminent authorities on comics and culture,” and Comic Book Artist magazine called him "one of the more articulate and enthusiastic advocates of comic book art in America.”

Comic Book Artists of the Silver Age Series

Part 1: Carmine Infantino

Part 2: Steve Ditko

Part 3: Jack Kirby

Part 4: Gil Kane

Part 5: Joe Kubert

Part 6: Gene Colan

Part 7: Jim Steranko

Part 8: Neal Adams

Testimonials

"Arlen was super knowledgable, and did a really good job relating the information to current day comic book movies and characters" -Joseph

"Really engaging speaker with polished presentation and command of the subject" -Al

"I love the historical correlations mentioned along with the accompanying particular comic book issues and storylines that correlate to history." -Maggie

"Great audio visual material, terrific speaker enthusiasm, incredible depth of knowledge" -Eric

"Arlen is fantastic at presenting comic history along with the industry greats in an interesting and engagingly visual way." -Mark

"The lecturer did a great job of turning a presentation into a story" -Joe

"Arlen is a fantastic presenter, did an incredible job!" -Pam

"Arlen brought his knowledge and passion for the subject with a flair unlike anything I’ve experienced anywhere else." -Cindy

"Arlen gave a fantastic presentation on the change in how comics portrayed superheroes, moving from All American middle class types to real people with real lives and issues." -Stuart

"The moderator was incredibly knowledgeable and the subject material well organized." -Barry

"The host has great encyclopedic knowledge and presentation" -Chad

"It was total nerd candy, loved it." -Jonathan

"Arlen is profoundly informative, engaging, and clear." -Joel

"Interesting presenter. Knew his stuff and was able to explain to common folks. Great comparisons of art in the presentation. Linked to current trends or popular movies of which most people would have a connection. Presented at a level that wasn't too geeky." -Brent

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Categories: Virtual, Moments in History