Kurt Schaffenberger (December 15, 1920
– January 24, 2002) was an American
comics artist
A cartoonist is a visual artist who specializes in both drawing and writing cartoons (individual images) or comics (sequential images). Cartoonists differ from comics writers or comic book illustrators in that they produce both the literary and g ...
. He was best known for his work on
Captain Marvel and the
Marvel Family
The Marvel Family, also known as the Shazam Family (or "Shazamily"), are a group of superheroes who originally appeared in books published by Fawcett Comics and were later acquired by DC Comics. Created in 1942 by writer Otto Binder and artist Ma ...
during both the
Golden Age
The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology, particularly the ''Works and Days'' of Hesiod, and is part of the description of temporal decline of the state of peoples through five Ages of Man, Ages, Gold being the first and the one during ...
and
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second pri ...
of comics, as well as his work on the title ''
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
''Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane'' is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics. The series focusing on the adventures of Lois Lane began publication with a March/April 1958 cover date and ended its run in September/October 1 ...
'' during the 1950s and 1960s. Schaffenberger used the alias "Lou Wahl" on certain comics, when he was moonlighting from his main job of drawing Lois Lane at DC Comics.
Biography
Early career
Schaffenberger was born on a farm in the
Thuringian Forest
The Thuringian Forest (''Thüringer Wald'' in German), is a mountain range in the southern parts of the German state of Thuringia, running northwest to southeast. Skirting from its southerly source in foothills to a gorge on its north-west side i ...
, Germany, where, as a boy, he ". . . tended geese, herded goats, and hoed potatoes."
["Jimmy Olsen's Pen-Pals," ''Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen'' #155 (January 1973).] Emigrating to America as a 7-year-old, first to
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since the ...
, and then to New York City,
he eventually won a scholarship to the
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private university with its main campus in Brooklyn, New York (state), New York. It has a satellite campus in Manhattan and an extension campus in Utica, New York at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. The school was ...
.
After graduation, he joined
Jack Binder
Jack Binder is an American film producer (''The Upside of Anger'', ''First Reformed'', ''Reign Over Me'') and television producer (''The Mind of the Married Man'', HBO) and second unit director active since 1985. With older brother Mike Binder, ...
's studio in 1941, where he worked on key Fawcett titles including ''
Captain Marvel'', ''
Bulletman
Bulletman and Bulletgirl are fictional superheros originally published by Fawcett Comics.
Publication history
Created by Bill Parker and Jon Smalle, Bulletman first appeared in ''Nickel Comics'' #1 (May 1940). This comic was distinct from othe ...
'', and ''
Ibis the Invincible
Ibis the Invincible is a fictional character originally published by Fawcett Comics in the 1940s and then by DC Comics beginning in the 1970s. Like many magician superheroes introduced in the Golden Age of Comics, Ibis owes much to the popular com ...
''.
While working for Binder's studio, which was located in
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, which at the 2020 United States census had a population of 29,308. Englewood was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from por ...
, Schaffenberger took over an apartment from the local high school football coach,
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas Lombardi (June 11, 1913 – September 3, 1970) was an American football coach and executive in the National Football League (NFL). Lombardi is considered by many to be the greatest coach in football history, and he is recognized a ...
, who had yet to achieve success in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
.
During this time, Schaffenberger's work was also published by Prize,
Street & Smith
Street & Smith or Street & Smith Publications, Inc. was a New York City publisher specializing in inexpensive paperbacks and magazines referred to as dime novels and pulp fiction. They also published comic books and sporting yearbooks. Among t ...
, and Pines.
Schaffenberger served in the
U.S. military
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, including a stint with the
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the intelligence agency of the United States during World War II. The OSS was formed as an agency of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines for all branc ...
,
leaving the military with the rank of
Master Sergeant.
Schaffenberger returned to the world of professional sequential art soon after war's end. He resumed his work for the Captain Marvel family of titles, and expanded his reach to an even more diverse group of publishing houses, including
EC Comics
Entertaining Comics, more commonly known as EC Comics, was an American publisher of comic books, which specialized in horror fiction, crime fiction, satire, military fiction, dark fantasy, and science fiction from the 1940s through the mid-195 ...
,
Gilberton, Premier Magazines,
American Comics Group
American Comics Group (ACG) was an American comic book publisher started in 1939 and existing under the ACG name from 1943 to 1967. It published the medium's first ongoing horror-comics title, ''Adventures into the Unknown''. ACG's best-known ch ...
, and
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
.
At Gilberton, Schaffenberger provided the interior art for ''Classics Illustrated'' No. 119, ''Soldiers of Fortune'' (May 1954).
DC Comics
In 1957
Otto Binder
Otto Oscar Binder (; August 26, 1911 – October 13, 1974) was an American author of science fiction and non-fiction books and stories, and comic books. He is best known as the co-creator of Supergirl and for his many scripts for '' Captain Ma ...
recruited Schaffenberger to DC to work on the
Superman family
Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' Action Comics 1, #1 (cover-dated June ...
. He stayed at DC for the next 30 years, making an especially large contribution to the development of
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in ''Action Comics'' #1 (June 1938). Lois is an award-winning journalist for ...
. In this capacity, he was the lead artist on the ''
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
''Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane'' is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics. The series focusing on the adventures of Lois Lane began publication with a March/April 1958 cover date and ended its run in September/October 1 ...
'' series for the entirety of its first decade. Indeed, Schaffenberger's rendition of Lane became cited by many
as the "definitive" version of the character, and Schaffenberger was often asked by DC editor
Mort Weisinger
Mortimer Weisinger (; April 25, 1915 – May 7, 1978) was an American magazine and comic book editor best known for editing DC Comics' ''Superman'' during the mid-1950s to 1960s, in the Silver Age of comic books. He also co-created such features a ...
to redraw other artists' depictions of Lois Lane in other DC titles where she appeared.
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. Debuting as "the Cat" in ''Batman'' #1 (spring 1940), she ...
made her first appearance in the
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and widespread commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those featuring the superhero archetype. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an int ...
in ''Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane'' #70 (Nov. 1966) in a story drawn by Schaffenberger. In issue #80 (Jan. 1968), Schaffenberger updated the character's fashions to a then-more contemporary look.
He was essentially fired from DC in 1970 for helping to organize other artists to protest bad working conditions. He then briefly freelanced and worked for Marvel, but returned to DC in 1972.
When, in the 1970s, DC acquired the rights to the
Marvel Family
The Marvel Family, also known as the Shazam Family (or "Shazamily"), are a group of superheroes who originally appeared in books published by Fawcett Comics and were later acquired by DC Comics. Created in 1942 by writer Otto Binder and artist Ma ...
, Schaffenberger was one of the key players in the revival of those characters. The late 1970s saw him contribute outside the Superman family of titles, including work on titles such as ''
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...
'' and ''
Super Friends
''Super Friends'' is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes, which ran from 1973 to 1985 on ABC as part of its Saturday-morning cartoon lineup. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and was based on the Justice League of ...
''.
In 1980, Schaffenberger was again leading a Superman family title, ''
The New Adventures of Superboy'', the final, post-''Legion'' title for the original
Superboy
Superboy is the name of several fictional superheroes appearing in American comicbooks published by DC Comics. These characters have been featured in several eponymous comic series, in addition to ''Adventure Comics'' and other series featuring ...
. Somewhat metaphorically, the Superboy- and Supergirl-less DC universe that followed the events of ''
Crisis on Infinite Earths
"Crisis on Infinite Earths" is a 1985 American comic book crossover storyline published by DC Comics. The series, written by Marv Wolfman and pencilled by George Pérez, was first serialized as a 12-issue limited series from April 1985 to March ...
'' turned out to be a mostly Schaffenberger-less one as well. He largely retired from comics soon after helping with the final pre-''Crisis'' Superman tale "
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?"
Schaffenberger was a special guest at the 1996
San Diego Comic Con.
Personal life
Schaffenberger and his wife, the former Dorothy Bates Watson, who married in
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, which at the 2020 United States census had a population of 29,308. Englewood was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from por ...
, on March 30, 1946, had two children, Susan and her three-years-younger brother, Karl. The family lived for four decades in the same house in
River Edge, New Jersey
River Edge is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the borough’s population was 12,049, reflecting a 6.3% increase from the 11,340 enumerated at the 2010 U.S. Census, , before moving in 1989.
Awards
Schaffenberger's work won him the 1984
National Cartoonists Society
The National Cartoonists Society (NCS) is an organization of professional cartoonists in the United States. It presents the National Cartoonists Society Awards. The Society was born in 1946 when groups of cartoonists got together to entertain the ...
Award in the "Comic Book" division. He received an
Inkpot Award
The Inkpot Award is an honor bestowed annually since 1974 by Comic-Con International. It is given to professionals in the fields of comic books, comic strips, animation, science fiction, and related areas of popular culture, at CCI's annual c ...
in 1996.
Bibliography
Apple Press
* ''Mr. Fixitt'' #2 (1990)
Claypool Comics
* ''Phantom of Fear City'' #4–7, 9–11 (1993–1995)
DC Comics
* ''
Action Comics
''Action Comics'' is an American comic book/Comic anthology, magazine series that introduced Superman, one of the first major superhero characters. The publisher was originally known as National Allied Publications, and later as National Comics ...
'' #274, 359, 361–372, 374–376, 437, 442, 445, 460, 464, 474–476, 486, 501, 556, 558–559, 561–562, 565, 567, 570, 573–576, 578, 580–583, 600, 637-640 (1961–1989)
* ''
Adventure Comics
''Adventure Comics'' is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1938 to 1983 and revived from 2009 to 2011. In its first era, the series ran for 503 issues (472 of those after the title changed from ''New Adventure Comics''), ...
'' #382–389, 391–396 (1969–1970)
* ''
Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld
Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld is a superhero published in American comic books created by DC Comics. Created by writers Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn and artist Ernie Colón, she debuted in ''The Legion of Superheroes'' #298 in April 1983.
Born into ...
'' vol. 2 #4 (1985)
* ''
Blue Devil'' #30 (1986)
* ''
DC Comics Presents
''DC Comics Presents'' is a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1978 to 1986 which ran for 97 issues and four ''Annual''s. It featured team-ups between Superman and a wide variety of other characters in the DC Universe. A recurring back ...
'' #32, 50, 59, 93, 96 (1981–1986)
* ''
DC Special Series
''DC Special Series'' was an umbrella title for one-shots and special issues published by DC Comics between 1977 and 1981. Each issue featured a different character and was often in a different format than the issue before it. ''DC Special Serie ...
'' #11 (
The Flash
The Flash (or simply Flash) is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in ''Flash Comics'' #1 (cover date ...
) (1978)
* ''
Detective Comics
''Detective Comics'' is an American comic book series published by Detective Comics, later shortened to DC Comics. The first volume, published from 1937 to 2011 (and later continued in 2016), is best known for introducing the superhero Batman i ...
'' #456–457 (
Elongated Man
Elongated Man (Randolph "Ralph" Dibny) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in ''Flash (comics), The Flash'' #112 (February 25, 1960).
The character made his live-action debut in the The Fl ...
), #483–488 (
Robin) (1976–1980)
* ''
The Flash
The Flash (or simply Flash) is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in ''Flash Comics'' #1 (cover date ...
'' #264 (1978)
* ''
Green Lantern Annual'' #3 (1987)
* ''
Hero Hotline
Hero Hotline is a fictional DC Comics corporate superteam introduced in ''Action Comics Weekly'' #637 (cover-dated January 1989). It was created by Bob Rozakis and Stephen DeStefano.
History
Hero Hotline is a corporate 24/7 hero for hire company ...
'' #1–6 (1989)
* ''
History of the DC Universe
''History of the DC Universe'' is a two-issue comic book limited series created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez which was published by DC Comics following the end of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''.
Publication history
''History of ...
'' hardcover (one page) (1988)
* ''
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, the Legion is a group of superpowered beings living in the 30th and 31st c ...
'' vol. 2 #305 (1983)
* ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' vol. 3 #45 (1988)
* ''
M.A.S.K.
M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) is a media franchise created by Kenner. The main premise revolved around the fight between the titular protagonist underground task force and the criminal organization V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network o ...
'' vol. 2 #1–9 (1987)
* ''
The New Adventures of Superboy'' #1–54 (1980–1984)
* ''
Outsiders
Outsider(s) may refer to:
Film
* Outsider (1997 film), ''Outsider'' (1997 film), a 1997 Slovene-language film
* Outsider (2012 film), ''Outsider'' (2012 film), a Malayalam-language Indian film
* Outsiders (1980 film), ''Outsiders'' (1980 film), a ...
'' #20 (1987)
* ''
Shazam'' #11, 14–20, 25–31, 35 (1974–1978)
* ''
Super Friends
''Super Friends'' is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes, which ran from 1973 to 1985 on ABC as part of its Saturday-morning cartoon lineup. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and was based on the Justice League of ...
'' #14, 18, 20, 29, 32 (1978–1980)
* ''
Superman
Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (cover-dated June 1938 and publi ...
'' #121, 124–126, 128, 131, 142, 150, 282, 288, 327–329, 362, 365, 366, 370, 374, 405, 409 (1958–1985)
* ''
The Superman Family
''The Superman Family'' was an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1974 to 1982 featuring supporting characters in the ''Superman'' comics. The term "Superman Family" is often used to refer to the extended cast of characters o ...
'' #164, 167, 170, 172–180, 182–185, 188–193, 195–202, 204–212, 216–220, 222 (1974–1982)
* ''
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
''Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane'' is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics. The series focusing on the adventures of Lois Lane began publication with a March/April 1958 cover date and ended its run in September/October 1 ...
'' #1–28, 30–81 (1958–1968)
* ''
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen
''Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen'' is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from September–October 1954 until March 1974, spanning a total of 163 issues. Featuring the adventures of Superman supporting character Jimmy Olsen, it co ...
'' #56, 66, 81, 89, 154–163 (1961–1974)
* ''Superman:The Secret Years'' #1–4 (1985)
* ''
Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #7 (1988)
* ''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe'' #4, 11, 14–15, 19–21, 26 (1985–1987)
* ''Who's Who: Update '87'' #5 (1987)
* ''
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...
'' #218 (1975)
* ''World of Smallville'' #1–4 (1988)
* ''
World's Finest Comics
''World's Finest Comics'' was an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. The series was initially titled ''World's Best Comics'' for its first issue; issue #2 (Summer 1941) switched to the more familiar name. Michael ...
'' #246–249, 253–250 (1977–1979)
* ''
Young Love'' #101, 124 (1972–1977)
Fawcett Comics
* ''Captain Marvel Adventures'' #91, 109, 142, 145, 147 (1948–1953)
* ''
Captain Marvel Jr.
Captain Marvel Jr. (Frederick "Freddy" Freeman) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. A member of the Marvel/Shazam Family team of superheroes associated with Captain Marvel/Shazam, he was created by Ed H ...
'' #41, 45, 47, 55, 57–62, 88, 90, 94 (1946–1951)
* ''
Ibis the Invincible
Ibis the Invincible is a fictional character originally published by Fawcett Comics in the 1940s and then by DC Comics beginning in the 1970s. Like many magician superheroes introduced in the Golden Age of Comics, Ibis owes much to the popular com ...
'' #5 (1946)
* ''
Marvel Family
The Marvel Family, also known as the Shazam Family (or "Shazamily"), are a group of superheroes who originally appeared in books published by Fawcett Comics and were later acquired by DC Comics. Created in 1942 by writer Otto Binder and artist Ma ...
'' #53, 89 (1950–1954)
* ''
Whiz Comics
''Whiz Comics'' was an anthology comic book series published by former American comic book publishing company, Fawcett Publications between February 1940 until June 1953. It is widely known for being the comic run in which hugely popular superhero ...
'' #88–89, 91, 95 (1947–1948)
HM Communications, Inc.
* ''
Heavy Metal'' #v6#9 (1982)
Marvel Comics
* ''Adventure into Mystery'' #1 (1956)
* ''Astonishing'' #49, 51 (1956)
* ''
Journey into Unknown Worlds
''Journey into Unknown Worlds'' was a science-fiction/horror/fantasy title from Atlas (pre-Marvel) Comics published during the 1950s.
The series continued from Timely Comics' teen-humor series ''Teen Comics'' and ran from Sept. 1950 - Aug. 1957.
...
'' #46, 49 (1956)
* ''Mystery Tales'' #41 (1956)
* ''Mystical Tales'' #2 (1956)
* ''Our Love Story'' #19 (1972)
* ''
Strange Tales
''Strange Tales'' is a Marvel Comics comics anthology, anthology series. The title was revived in different forms on multiple occasions. Doctor Strange and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (feature), Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. made their d ...
'' #39 (1955)
* ''
World of Fantasy
''World of Fantasy'' was a science fiction/fantasy comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics' 1950s predecessor company, Atlas Comics (1950s), Atlas Comics. Lasting from 1956 to 1959, it included the work of several notable comics a ...
'' #2, 15 (1956–1958)
3-D Zone
* ''Daughters of Time 3-D'' #1 (1991)
References
Further reading
* Interview, ''Comic Book Marketplace'' #59 (May 1998) pp. 18–33. Gemstone Publishing.
External links
*
"DC Profiles #31: Kurt Schaffenbergerat the Grand Comics Database
Kurt Schaffenbergerat Mike's Amazing World of Comics
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schaffenberger, Kurt
1920 births
2002 deaths
20th-century American artists
American comics artists
American military personnel of World War II
DC Comics people
German emigrants to the United States
Golden Age comics creators
Inkpot Award winners
People of the Office of Strategic Services
Pratt Institute alumni
Silver Age comics creators
United States Army non-commissioned officers