Clarence Matthew Baker (December 10, 1921 – August 11, 1959
at the

Lambiek Comiclopedia Galerie Lambiek is a Dutch comic book store and art gallery in Amsterdam, founded on November 8, 1968 by Kees Kousemaker (, – Bussum, ), though since 2007, his son Boris Kousemaker is the current owner. From 1968 to 2015, it was located ...

) was an American

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. ...

artist and

illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicat ...

, best known for drawing early comics heroines such as the costumed crimefighter Phantom Lady, and

romance comics Romance comics is a comics genre depicting strong and close romantic love and its attendant complications such as jealousy, marriage, divorce, betrayal, and heartache. The term is generally associated with an American comic books genre published ...

. Active in the 1940s and 1950s

Golden Age of comic books The Golden Age of Comic Books describes an era of American comic books from 1938 to 1956. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. The superhero archetype was created and many well-known cha ...

, he is one of the first known

African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

artists to find success in the comic-book industry. He also

penciled A penciller (or penciler) is an artist who works on the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms, with a focus on the initial pencil illustrations, usually in collaboration with other artists, who provide inks, colors ...

St. John Publications' digest-sized " picture novel" '' It Rhymes with Lust'' (1950), the first

graphic novel A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...

despite that term not having been coined at the time. Baker was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2009. His influence can be seen in artists such as

Dave Stevens Dave Lee Stevens (July 29, 1955 – March 11, 2008) was an American illustrator and comics artist. He was most famous for creating ''The Rocketeer'' comic book and film character, and for his pin-up style "glamour art" illustrations, especially ...

and

Adam Hughes Adam Hughes (born May 5, 1967) is an American comics artist and illustrator best known to American comic book readers for his renderings of pinup-style female characters, and his cover work on titles such as ''Wonder Woman'' and ''Catwoman''. H ...

Biography

Early years

Baker was born December 10, 1921, in Forsyth County,

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia a ...

. At a young age he relocated with his family to

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

, Pennsylvania,Becattini, Alberto, in and after graduating high school in 1940, moved to Washington, D.C. Prevented by a heart condition from being drafted into the U.S. military 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 World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, he began studying art at

Cooper Union The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (Cooper Union) is a private college at Cooper Square in New York City. Peter Cooper founded the institution in 1859 after learning about the government-supported École Polytechnique in ...

, in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...

. He entered comics through the Jerry Iger Studio, one of the 1930s to 1940s "packagers" that provided outsourced comics to publishers entering the new medium. Iger recalled that Baker came into his studio with a single sample of a color sketch in his portfolio; he thought the woman was so naturally beautiful that he hired Baker on the spot, as a

background artist A background artist or sometimes called a background stylist or background painter is one who is involved in the process of animation who establishes the color, style, and mood of a scene drawn by an animation layout artist. The methods used can ...

before he was given his first scripts. Baker's first confirmed comics work is penciling and inking the women in the 12-page "

Sheena, Queen of the Jungle Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, is a fictional American comic book jungle girl heroine, originally published primarily by Fiction House during the Golden Age of Comic Books. She was the first female comic book character with her own title, with h ...

" story in

Fiction House Fiction House was an American publisher of pulp magazines and comic books that existed from the 1920s to the 1950s. It was founded by John B. "Jack" Kelly and John W. Glenister.Saunders, David"JACK BYRNE (1902-1972),"Field Guide to Wild American P ...

's '' Jumbo Comics'' #69 (

cover-date The cover date of a periodical publication is the date displayed on the cover, which is not necessarily the true date of publication (the on-sale date or release date); later cover dates are common in magazine and comic book publishing. More unu ...

d Nov. 1944), otherwise penciled by Robert Webb and Alex Blum.Matt Baker
at the

Grand Comics Database The Grand Comics Database (GCD) is an Internet-based project to build a database of comic book information through user contributions. The GCD project catalogues information on creator credits, story details, reprints, and other information useful ...

Much of Baker's work was originally penciled backgrounds as well as female figures for other artists, and most of his work has been inked over, with the

inker The inker (sometimes credited as the finisher or embellisher) is one of the two line artists in traditional comic book production. The penciller creates a drawing, the inker outlines, interprets, finalizes, retraces this drawing by using a penc ...

credited for his work. He quickly developed a reputation as one of the best "Good Girl" artists in the business for his attention to detail when drawing women. During this period, known as the

Golden Age of Comic Books The Golden Age of Comic Books describes an era of American comic books from 1938 to 1956. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. The superhero archetype was created and many well-known cha ...

, Baker did work for publishers including Fiction House,

Fox Comics Fox Feature Syndicate (also known as Fox Comics, Fox Publications, and Bruns Publications, Inc.) was a comic book publisher from early in the period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books. Founded by entrepreneur Victor S. ...

Quality Comics Quality Comics was an American comic book publishing company which operated from 1937 to 1956 and was a creative, influential force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of Comic Books. Notable, long-running titles published by Qualit ...

, and St. John Publications. In later years, he independently teamed with

Jon D'Agostino under the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

Matt Bakerino at

Charlton Comics Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1945 to 1986, having begun under a different name: T.W.O. Charles Company, in 1940. It was based in Derby, Connecticut. The comic-book line was a division of Charlton ...

Personal life

Baker's friend Frank Giusto and artist

Lee J. Ames Lee Judah Ames (January 8, 1921 – June 3, 2011) was an American artist noted for his ''Draw 50...'' learn-to-draw books. He was born in Manhattan, New York. His first job at age eighteen was at Walt Disney Studios. He has since led a caree ...

have said that Baker was gay. Baker's brother Fred Robinson added of Baker and St. John Publications publisher

Archer St. John St. John Publications was an American publisher of magazines and comic books. During the 1947-1958 existence of its comic-book division, St. John established several industry firsts. Founded by Archer St. John, the firm was located in Manhattan a ...

, "They had a very close relationship. I don't know exactly what it was."

''Phantom Lady''

The character Phantom Lady, created by

Arthur Peddy Arthur F. Peddy
at the

, had originated in 1941 as a Quality Comics feature supplied by the Iger Studio. Cartoonist Frank Borth later took over the art. After Quality dropped the feature, which had appeared in ''Police Comics'' #1-23 (Aug. 1941 – Oct. 1943), Iger supplied it to

. Baker redesigned the character into her best-known incarnation. This version (generally but unconfirmably credited to writer Ruth Roche) debuted in Fox's ''Phantom Lady'' #13 (August 1947), the premiere issue after taking over the numbering of the canceled comic ''Wotalife''; the title ran through issue #23 (April 1949). Baker's Phantom Lady also appeared as a backup feature in ''All Top Comics'' #9-16 (Jan. 1948 – March 1949). When psychiatrist

Frederick Wertham Fredric Wertham (; born Friedrich Ignatz Wertheimer, March 20, 1895 – November 18, 1981) was a German-American psychiatrist and author. Wertham had an early reputation as a progressive psychiatrist who treated poor black patients at his Lafargue ...

claimed comics had ill effects on a child's psychological development, he used Baker's ''Phantom Lady'' #17 as a key sample. These criticisms led to the 1954 foundation for the

Comics Code Authority The Comics Code Authority (CCA) was formed in 1954 by the Comics Magazine Association of America as an alternative to government regulation. The CCA allowed the comic publishers to self-regulate the content of comic books in the United States. ...

and decades of industry-controlled censorship.

Other work

His other artwork for comic books includes the light-humor

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distin ...

title ''Canteen Kate'', for which Baker drew all 22 installments, as well as stories in the suspense anthology ''

Tales of The Mysterious Traveler ''The Mysterious Traveler'' was an anthology radio series, a magazine, and a comic book. All three featured stories which ran the gamut from fantasy and science fiction to straight crime dramas of mystery and suspense. Radio Written and dir ...

''; the comedic-adventure feature "Sky Girl" in

's ''Jumbo Comics'', with originals and later reprints running from #69-139 (November 1944 – December 1952); the

jungle A jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past recent century. Etymology The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''ja� ...

adventure "Tiger Girl"; "Flamingo", "South Sea Girl", "Glory Forbes", "Kayo Kirby"; and "Risks Unlimited". Baker illustrated ''Lorna Doone'' for '' Classic Comics'' in December 1946, his one and only contribution to the well-known series. He is the generally credited but unconfirmed artist for Fox's ''Rulah, Jungle Goddess'' #17–27 (Aug. 1948 – June 1949, the title's complete run after having taken over the numbering of the defunct ''Zoot Comics''). He also produced ''Flamingo'' as a syndicated comic strip from 1952 through 1954. His

pen name A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen na ...

s include Curt Davis. Baker shaped women into classy, realistic beauties, full of character in their own stories as opposed to the ways women were portrayed in other comics of the time. In addition to several

and other titles for St. John Publications, Baker

an early form of

, St. John's digest-sized " picture novel" '' It Rhymes with Lust'' (1950), with writers Arnold Drake and Leslie Waller, writing under the pseudonym "Drake Waller." Baker also created or co-created what writer

John Arcudi John Arcudi is an American comic book writer, best known for his work on '' The Mask'' and ''B.P.R.D.'', and his series '' Major Bummer''. Early life Arcudi grew up in Buffalo, New York. He attended Columbia University as an English major and ...

calls "the first known black hero in American comics." The Tarzan-like jungle hero Voodah, drawn by Baker and scripted by an unknown writer, debuted in the publisher McCombs' ''Crown Comics'' #3 (cover-date Fall 1945, on-sale date Sept. 19, 1945).''Crown Comics'' #3
at the Grand Comics Database. As the

states, based on art credits from "The Matt Baker Checklist" by Alberto Becattini and Jim Vadeboncoeur Jr. in ''Matt Baker: The Art of Glamour'' (cited under References), "Voodah is colored like a native African in this comic, but after this issue he is colored like a Caucasian." He additionally is Caucasian on the cover.

Later work and death

Later in the decade, Baker freelanced for

Atlas Comics Atlas Comics may refer to * Atlas Comics (1950s) Atlas Comics is the 1950s comic book, comic-book publishing label that evolved into Marvel Comics. Magazine and mass market paperback, paperback novel publisher Martin Goodman (publisher), Martin ...

, the 1950s forerunner of

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book 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 Comics'' in 19 ...

, beginning with a five-page anthological story generally, if unconfirmably, credited to writer-editor

Stan Lee Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber ; December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018) was an American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business called Timely Publications which w ...

, in the omnibus title '' Gunsmoke Western'' #32 (Dec. 1955). At some point during this period, working through artist

Vince Colletta Vincenzo CollettaColletta, Vince, in (October 15, 1923 – June 3, 1991) was an American comic book artist and art director best known as one of Jack Kirby's frequent inkers during the 1950s-1960s period called the Silver Age of comic books. T ...

's studio, Baker went on to draw stories for Atlas' ''Western Outlaws'', ''Quick Trigger Action'', ''Frontier Western'', and '' Wild Western''; more prolifically for the company's

Love Romances ''Love Romances'' is a comic book title originally published by Atlas Comics beginning in 1948 and later by Marvel Comics until 1963. Publication history The title began publication as '' Ideal'' #1–5 (July 1948 - March 1949) until issue #6 (M ...

'', ''My Own Romance'', and ''Teen-Age Romance''; and one story each for the

supernatural Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imagination, imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, Paral ...

anthologies ''

Strange Tales ''Strange Tales'' is a Marvel Comics 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. made their debuts in ''Strange Tales''. It was a showcase for the science ...

'', ''

World of Fantasy ''World of Fantasy'' was a science fiction/fantasy comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics' 1950s predecessor company, Atlas Comics. Lasting from 1956 to 1959, it included the work of several notable comics artists, including ind ...

'', and ''

Tales to Astonish ''Tales to Astonish'' is the name of two American comic book series and a one-shot comic published by Marvel Comics. The primary title bearing that name was published from January 1959 to March 1968. It began as a science-fiction anthology tha ...

'' ("I Fell to the Center of the Earth!" in issue #2, March 1959). Baker also supplied artwork for the ''Dell Movie Classic'' edition of ''King Richard and the Crusaders''. In the late fifties, he branched out into illustration work, for instance for the 16-page illustrated condensation he did of Howard J. Lewis' The Complete Guide to Better Bowling (1956, Maco Magazine Corporation) for the General Motors' Information Rack Service number 1R-58-46 and the early issues of the St. John detective pulp digest Manhunt His last known confirmed work is the six-page "I Gave Up the Man I Love!" in Atlas Comics' ''My Own Romance'' #73 (Jan. 1960). His last known work as generally credited but unconfirmed is the first page of the six-page story "Happily Ever After" in Marvel's ''Love Romances'' #90 (Nov. 1960). He died of a heart attack on August 11, 1959.

Awards

Baker was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2009.

References

External links

* Strickler, Dave. ''Syndicated Comic Strips and Artists, 1924-1995: The Complete Index.'' Cambria, California: Comics Access, 1995.
Black Superhero Hype: Matt BakerMatt Baker ''Canteen Kate'' video
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Matt 1959 deaths 1921 births African-American artists African-American comics creators American comics creators Golden Age comics creators People from Homestead, Pennsylvania Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame inductees Artists from North Carolina People from Forsyth County, North Carolina LGBT African Americans LGBT artists from the United States LGBT comics creators Gay artists LGBT people from Pennsylvania LGBT people from North Carolina Cooper Union alumni