|
| |
I started
a life long fascination with comics as a small child. In 1973 my Father
purchased a copy of Flash #223 for me, it was drawn by Irv Novick. While I liked
the comic I didn't realize how special it was at first. It was just a comic. My
Father had the idea that I would enjoy Sunday School more if were went to 7-11
after and he buy a comic and a Slurpee for me. After a few weeks I decided I
there was a difference between the comics, it was more then the heroes, the
Flash had better art. In fact, I liked it so much that I spent all summer doing
odd jobs at home and for the neighbors, for a nickel or a dime, trying to save
to subscribe to the Flash so I couldn't miss an issue. Irv continued his run on
Flash until #270 and I was there for every issue. I discovered the Shield in the
pages of Flashback reprints, my Father found them in a used bookstore in
Hollywood and wanted to read his childhood comics to me and my brother. I didn't
immediately realize that the man who had drawn comics for my Father was also
entertaining me with his art more then 30 years later. Irv created a link
between my childhood and my Father's. While I enjoyed Irv's art work in Action
Comics, Batman, DC Comics Presents, Detective Comics and the Joker, I will
always remember the joy I felt reading that first Flash comic. Although I never
met him, I miss Irv. My deepest sympathies go out to his wife, Sylvia and their
children.
Rik
Offenberger
October
16, 2004
Below are the thoughts and
condolences from his many fans...
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2004_10_15.html#009100
Irv Novick, R.I.P. 09:55
AM
|
 |
Another great comic
book artist of the medium's first generation has
died. Irv Novick, seen in this 2002 photo with
his loving wife Sylvia, passed away this morning
following a long illness and a recent fall. He
was 88 years old and had been drawing comics,
pretty much without stopping, from 1939 until
his retirement more than fifty years later. He
was a graduate of the National Academy of
Design. In '39, he worked briefly in the studio
of Harry "A" Chesler, who paid low rates to
young illustrators who cranked out pages in what
Novick later called a "sweat shop atmosphere."
Everyone told Novick he was good enough to get
work on his own...and after a few months, he
did. He went to work for MLJ (the company now
known as Archie Comics) and his first-known work
there was in Blue Ribbon Comics #2
(December, 1939) where his art introduced a new
character, Bob Phantom, who stuck around for
many years. The very next month, he did the
cover and lead story of Pep Comics #1,
which debuted The Shield, the first "patriotic"
super-hero. Written by Harry Shorten, The Shield
predated Captain America by a year, offering a
similar premise and -- because both heroes wore
the American flag -- similar costume. |
Thereafter, Novick was MLJ's
lead superhero artist, drawing all their major costumed
characters at one time or another, including The Hangman
and Steel Sterling, until they began cutting back on
heroes and increasing their Archie titles around 1946.
From '46 to '51, he worked on two syndicated strips --
Cynthia and The Scarlet Avenger -- neither
of which achieved wide circulation. He also began
working intermittently in advertising but that wasn't
steady so he started drawing for DC, hired by editor
Robert Kanigher, who had written many of the stories
he'd drawn for MLJ. Kanigher was the DC war editor so
Novick became a war artist, his work appearing in Our
Army at War and all the DC combat titles, and
occasionally in the romance books during the occasional
periods when Kanigher worked on them. Kanigher had a
reputation for being rough on artists but he loved
Novick's work and, according to Irv, they never had a
cross word in all their years of working together.
For many years, Novick drew
for DC and also freelanced for Boys' Life
magazine and for the Johnstone-Cushing advertising
agency. In the mid-sixties, the agency offered him a
full-time position and he briefly left comics. Novick
was unhappy in the job and Kanigher was unhappy to lose
one of his two favorite artists, Joe Kubert being the
other. With Kanigher's intervention, Novick landed a
then-unprecedented freelance contract with DC. It
included many perks not available to other artists and
guaranteed him the company's highest rate and steady
work. When he finished one job, he had to immediately be
given another. Kanigher had no trouble keeping him busy,
though other artists complained that assignments
promised to them would sometimes be suddenly diverted to
Irv. After 1968 when Novick began working for other DC
editors, there was sometimes a wild panic in the
company's office: "We have to find a script to give Irv
tomorrow!" The one story I wrote that Novick drew came
about in part because editor Julius Schwartz needed
something to keep Novick busy. (By that time, many
artists had such contracts but for years, Novick was the
only one.)
1968 was when artist Carmine
Infantino was promoted into management at DC and charged
with improving the look of the company's line. One of
his first decisions was to rotate artists around,
breaking up old editorial holds on certain talent.
Novick stopped pencilling and inking war titles and
became a full-time superhero penciller. His immediate
tasks were Batman and Lois Lane but he
eventually drew most of the top DC titles, including a
long stint on The Flash. He only cut back as his
eyes failed him in the late nineties.
I was honored and frustrated
to interview Irv on several convention panels over the
years -- an impossible task, for in front of an audience
and microphone, he claimed to remember very little of
his career and to have absolutely no fondness for any
job or character over any other. Apart from a mild
preference for working with his friend and neighbor, Bob
Kanigher, he insisted it didn't matter. "I just drew
what they gave me to draw," he'd say. "If it was Batman
or Captain Storm or Flash...I didn't care." Some of his
contemporaries would chide him for saying such things,
for they'd seen the care and effort that went into
Novick's pages...and in private, talking one-on-one with
the man, you wouldn't get quite such a noncommittal
attitude. And of course, you'd know it wasn't true when
you looked at his art. I'm going to miss seeing him at
conventions and trying with no success to get a decent
answer out of the guy. He leaves behind an amazing body
of top-notch comic illustration.
|
|
http://members5.boardhost.com/MightyCrusaders
|
|
Posted by
Eileen
on October 15, 2004, 10:07 pm
198.81.26.13
|
I am trying to
contact as many web sites as possible on behalf of
Irv Novick's daughter, Leslie. It is with much
sadness I am writing to you to inform you of Irv
Novick's (Batman artist among others)death today at
the age of 88 years old.
If you are interested, while you and others know of
Irv Novick's talent, on a personal note - he was
quite a guy! He and his wife Sylvia were married for
64 years, but had been together since childhood -
over 72 years!
Please help us get the word out on the passing of a
true comic book legend.
Thank you.
|
|
|
|
Posted by
jsf
on October 16, 2004, 9:28 pm, in
reply to "Irv
Novick"
205.188.116.10
|
Thanks for the message, Eileen. I have to say that I
remember Mr. Novick's work from when I was young,
and really enjoyed it. He had a really 'clean' art
style, and drew what was pretty much the definitive
Batman of the '70's.
Sorry to
hear that he's passed. He truly was a comic legend,
and I wish his family well.
|
|
|
Irv Novick, Rest In Peace
Posted by
steve cohen on October 16, 2004,
3:23 am, in reply to "Irv
Novick"
4.29.83.115
|
Irv Novick, Rest In Peace
Mr.
Novick, a long-time cartoonist, perhaps best known
for drawing BATMAN, THE FLASH, and many other
characters for DC Comics, passed away today at the
age of 88, following a long illness.
Irv co-created THE SHIELD, the first
patriotically-themed comic book super hero, for MLJ,
the early incarnation of what is now called ARCHIE
COMICS PUBLICATIONS.
Irv was also responsible for helping to re-mold DC
Comics' THE BATMAN character into a more mysterious
feature, closer to what he had originally been
developed as, following the cancellation of the 20th
Century Fox television series BATMAN, for ABC TV,
that was such a huge fad the world over from 1966
through 1968.
Mr. Novick is survived by his wife, Sylvia.
--steve cohen |
|
|
Re: Irv Novick, Rest In Peace
Posted by
Rik on October 16, 2004, 3:44
am, in reply to "Irv
Novick, Rest In Peace"
4.29.83.115
|
I can not tell
you the amount of sadness I feel.
|
|
|
http://www.goldcomics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=628
|
Yocitrus
G-Man Extraordinairy
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Posts: 133
Location: Toronto,On,CA
|
|
 Posted:
15 Oct 2004 15:47 Post subject: Irv
Novick passes away... |
|
|
|
I'm having a
hard time confirming this but it it was posted on one of my
Yahoo groups. I hope it's wrong but I doubt it...
"Irv Novick, Rest In Peace
Mr. Novick, a long-time cartoonist, perhaps best known for
drawing BATMAN, THE FLASH, and many other characters for DC
Comics, passed away today at the age of 88, following a long
illness.
Irv co-created THE SHIELD, the first patriotically-themed comic
book super hero, for MLJ, the early incarnation of what is now
called ARCHIE COMICS PUBLICATIONS.
Irv was also responsible for helping to re-mold DC Comics' THE
BATMAN character into a more mysterious feature, closer to what
he had originally been developed as, following the cancellation
of the 20th Century Fox television series BATMAN, for ABC TV,
that was such a huge fad the world over from 1966 through 1968.
Mr. Novick is survived by his wife, Sylvia.
--steve cohen"
This is very sad news and makes Rik's gift from not that long
ago an even more prized possession. I didn't think that was
possible.
Thank-you Mr. Novick for all the joy you gave us fans. You will
be missed.
-Yoc
_________________
>>Love That Monkey<< |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
pokey oakey
G-Man Extraordinairy
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Posts: 213
|
|
Posted:
15 Oct 2004 16:10 Post subject:
|
|
|
|
So many great
covers, such a productive life. He will be missed. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
pokey oakey
G-Man Extraordinairy
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Posts: 213
|
|
Posted:
16 Oct 2004 08:12 Post subject:
|
|
|
|
I hope the
industry pays him the tribute he deserves. I mean a true tribute
and not one that tries to make a buck off of him. As fas as MLJ
superheroes go, he was the man. Look again at Pep 20, Pep 1 and
Zip 20,26 and 22. The guy was amazing. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
kelso
Goldcomics.com REVIEWER!
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 487
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
|
|
 Posted:
16 Oct 2004 19:08 Post subject:
|
|
|
|
I'd agree
with Pokey that the comics industry should pay the late Mr.
Novick the tribute he deserves. After all; he was not only one
of the finest artists to put a pencil to bristol board, he was
also one of the true pioneers of early comics. He was one of
those artists who without whom, there wouldn't be a history of
comics to even write about. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Shield
Administrator
Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Posts: 719
Location: Columbus, Ohio
|
|
Posted:
16 Oct 2004 21:39 Post subject:
|
|
|
|
I just got in
and heard the bad news. Irv Novick's artwork is what inspired me
to create this site, specifically Pep Comics covers 1-32 and
more.
Very sorry to hear he's gone, and I'm sure he's in a much better
place now. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
 |
http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=36&t=002936
|
Author |
Topic: IRV NOVICK PASSES AWAY |
|
Heidi MacDonald
Moderator
Member # 200
http://
Posts: 1354
From: New York, New York
Registered: Apr 99
IP:
Logged
|
posted 10-15-2004 02:24 PM 
Artist Irv Novick has
died at age 88. More information @
The Beat.
Also at The Beat this
week:
TEAM AMERICA reviewed,
UNConventional, a movie about the Chiller Theatre Expo horror
con
reviewed, and the usual gossip, rumros and news bits you
won't read anywhere else. |
|
|
Mr Socko
Member
Member # 15082
http://
Posts: 418
From: Pacific Northwest
Registered: Aug 2004
IP:
Logged
|
posted 10-15-2004 02:32 PM
Noooo!!
Damn, that sucks!
I'm just now
beginning to collect alot of older Batman issues and his run was
quite impressive.
Thanks for making me
excited about Batman again!
Rest in Peace.
|
|
|
|
|
the4thpip
Junior member
Member # 3635
http://
Posts: 27
Registered: Jul 2001
IP:
Logged
|
posted 10-15-2004 03:13 PM
Irv was one of THE
Batman artists when I started reading comics as a kid.
Of course, he started
out at Archie, this cover is from 1940:
(note that he was one
of a few artists to sign (most of) his covers back then.
And he never really
went away for the next 50 years, did he?
I'm really sad to
hear of his passing. He's underrated: He was one of the pillars
of the silver age, and a conduit from the Golden Age to modern
times. Rest in Peace, Irv.
--------------------
Proudly banned at DC
- for no other reason than Rob Kamphausen having to prove his
manhood. |
|
|
ettacandy
Member
Member # 10342
http://
Posts: 749
From: Philadelphia
Registered: Sep 2002
IP:
Logged
|
posted 10-15-2004 06:58 PM
His Batman stuff was
great.
I love the 'Robin
goes to college' issue Irv drew.
Let's not forget his
long run on the Flash.
Godspeed Irv.
|
|
|
|
|
bienvenu
Junior member
Member # 12286
http://
Posts: 4
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Registered: Jun 2003
IP:
Logged
|
posted 10-16-2004 12:04 AM
The only series of Mr. Novick's that
really drew me in was his run on Flash. I enjoyed all of his
work, but I felt that his tall, lean anatomical style was well
suited for the Flash. Of course, the fact that his Flash run
covered my young, golden age of comics adds something to my
opinion. |
|
|
Engine Joe
Member
Member # 3412
Posts: 393
From: Nashville, TN
Registered: Jul 2001
IP:
Logged
|
posted 10-16-2004 10:01 AM
Novick was actually
the first penciller who I ever really "noticed" enough to
remember his name. It was for his work on Batman around 1979-81.
I still consider his Batman to be equally as definitive of the
eighties as Aparo's. A trade collecting the Batman-Catwoman-Ra's
storyline would be cool. Have you seen how hard it is to find
some of those early eighties Bat-comics are these days???
My favorite Novick
work is definitely is Flash run, which I began collecting in
back issues from friends in the early eightis and completed when
I grew up. Infantino is obviously "the" Flash artist, but of all
the guys who had runs between Infantino's beginning and end of
that series, I like Novick's the best. The "Death of Iris Allen"
arc was probably the riskiest storyline any publisher did in the
late seventies in shaking up the status quo, but somehow it's
forgotten today. That story was WAY ahead of it's time. The
Novick illustratiosns of an out-of-control Flash hunting down
his wife's killer are as vivid today in my mind as the day I
first read them. How about a trade DC? This was an amazing
storyline!
In the last ten
years, I've discovered MLJ comics. It surprised me at the time
that Irv Novick illustrated the Shield. Upon learning this, I
felt like I had been let in on a well-kept secret. This was
before the Archie Shield TPB came out a few years back, and I
heartily recommend that volume! Novick's work there was VERY raw
at times, but you can see the basics of what he later became
right there at the beginning.
I guess the last
Novick story I remember was the Invasion! Batman story. Not sure
if that was his last DC story or not. It was clear that he had
slipped a bit, be it from rust or from infirmity, but the
nostalgia alone made the read a good one. And even a diminished
Novick had better fundamentals than a lot of the new guys that
were popping up in the nineties!
RIP Irv Novick.
|
|
http://www.comicon.com/thebeat/archives/2004/10/irv_novick_dead_1.html
October 15, 2004
Irv Novick dead at 88
Mark Evanier is reporting that Golden Age artist Irv Novick
has
passed away at the age of 88.
As reported in
The Pulse, Novick had been ailing for some time after a fall.
Novick had a long career that spanned from Archie to Robert Kanigher's
DC war comics, to a stint redesigning Batman and other superheroes in
the '60s. He is also known for creating The Shield.
(Link via
Thought Baloons)
Posted by THE BEAT at October 15, 2004 02:44
PM
Aw, geez. That's a shame.
Irv Novick drew a run (ho-ho) of FLASH
comics in the early 1970s—the first comics I ever remember reading,
when I was a wee sprat. There was a full-page spread of the Flash
running a gantlet of his united Rogue's Gallery, using their powers
and weapons one against the other—just a model of dynamic
storytelling. I can see it now, if I close my eyes; i's imprinted on
my brain, not just my earliest comics-reading memory, but one of my
earliest and clearest childhood memories, period.
Rest in peace, Irv. And thanks.
Posted by:
Jack Fear at October 15, 2004 02:49 PM
Ah, darn.
Irv Novick drew some of my favorite
issues of Batman and Flash over the years. He had the thankless task
of taking over Batman after Neal Adams had left his powerful mark on
the title, and Irv managed to keep the momentum going with his
dynamic and charming pencils (most ably inked by Dick Giordano).
You know, Novick had a small but
pleasant run on the Superman feature in Action Comics in the
mid-Eighties, and I just happened to be rereading them last week as
a direct result of Chris Reeve passing away, and now Irv goes too.
Darn.
Just darn.
But 88 years is a good run. Thanks for
all the smiles and inspiration Irv, the world was made a better
place by your being in it.
Ty Templeton
Posted by:
Ty Templeton at October 15, 2004 09:27 PM
Man how sad...the first Batman comic I
ever purchased was a beautiful IRV NOVICK issue! I can't honestly
remember the issue or who wrote it, but it still one of fondest
memories of comics in the 1970's. His fluid lines, I loved the
thinnest of his characters and have a soft spot for his take on
GORDON.
Sadly, another giant has passed!
Hopefully if any good comes of this, like finally having him get the
recognization he deserves. A craftsman in the comic book genre.
Thank you Mr. Novick, I will fondly remember your art for many years
to come.
Bklynartist
Posted by:
Neil at October 15, 2004 10:04 PM
We've lost so many of my heros this year
and last.
Irv and Gill Fox had so much in common. Both true PROS.
May Irv rest in peace. May all God's grace comfort his family.
Posted by:
Guy Gilchrist at October 15, 2004 11:12 PM
I had the pleasure to interview Mr.
Novick for COMICS BOOK MARKETPLACE a few years back.
As a child of the 1970s Novick *THE*
Flash artist in my eyes, as well as his stunning and under-rated
Batman.
Rest in peace...
Posted by:
John Coates at October 16,
2004 09:39 PM
I was hitting my comic-book reading
prime when Novick was drawing Batman and Flash--it was truly, for
me, the Golden Age. Rest in peace, Mr Novick.
Posted by:
john austin at October 16,
2004 10:50 PM
http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19638
|
MattBrady
Administrator
Registered: Oct 2002
Location:
Posts: 6114 |
IRV NOVICK DIES
 Comics
legend Irv Novik died this morning following a
long illness. He was 88 years old.
Novick began his career in comics in 1939 at MLJ
(now Archie), drawing many of the company’s
superhero characters. Novick’s art graced the
debut of Pep Comics #1, which also served
as the first appearance of The Shield. Years
after, Novick moved to DC thanks to Robert
Kanigher, and illustrated several of the
publisher’s war comics.
 Novick
moved in and out of comics throughout the years,
but eventually returned to DC, where he worked
freelance. Novick became known for his
distinctive style on nearly all of DC’s
superheroes, only stopping work – reluctantly –
in the late ‘90s as his eyesight deteriorated.
Most recently, Novick had suffered a fall in
2001 and had been confined to a wheelchair.
Despite this, Novick and his wife Sylvia
attended the 2002 San Diego Comic Con. In 2003,
Novick entered a physical rehabilitation
facility.
DC Publisher and President said of Novick: "Irv
was one of the stalwart heroes of the DC
universe for decades, moving his deft pencil
from title to title, and genre to genre. I'll
miss his crisp wit and intelligence as much as
his sharp lines, which I (among so many others)
had the pleasure of watching bring my stories to
life."
Donation in Irv's honor may be made to:
Alzheimer's Association
225 N. Michigan Ave.
Ste. 1700
Chicago, IL 60601
Mark Evanier has written a tribute to Novick
that can be found
here.
Report this post to a moderator | IP:
Logged |
|
10-15-2004 06:20 PM |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
skeletorjr
Junior Member
Registered: Jun 2004
Location:
Posts: 22 |
Mr. Novick was and
is my favorite Batman artist ever, and I am sad
to hear of his passing. He was a fantastic
artist.
__________________
"We really shook the pillars of Heaven, didn't
we, Wang?"
Report this post to a moderator | IP:
Logged |
|
10-15-2004 06:28 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matches Malone
(not my real name)
Registered: Oct 2002
Location:
Posts: 695 |
Re: IRV NOVICK
DIES
Sad sad news. Novick
was a great, and often underappreciated artist.
He will be missed.
__________________
thesherf@aol.com
Report this post to a moderator | IP:
Logged |
|
10-15-2004 06:29 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
rock334
Junior Member
Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Alabama
Posts: 3 |
Mr. Novick, you will
be missed. Your art on the Flash will always be
my favorite. My sympathies to the family....
Billy
Report this post to a moderator | IP:
Logged |
|
10-15-2004 06:38 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SpyGuy
Aspiring World Dominator
Registered: Mar 2003
Location: The Death Zone on Gallifrey
Posts: 287 |
Rest in peace, Irv...
Back in the day, Irv
Novick was working on THE FLASH when I became
completely hooked on the character. Needless to
say, I have always had a deep fondness for his
work, especially his talent for facial
expressions.
I was fortunate enough to meet him, briefly, at
his San Diego Comic Con appearance in 2002 and
despite his frailness at the time, he generously
signed my copies of THE GREATEST FLASH STORIES
EVER TOLD and Les Daniels' DC COMICS anniversary
book. I wish DC Comics would issue some trade
paperback collections of Irv Novick's period on
THE FLASH, so that younger people could see more
from this great, great artist.
__________________
"Let's just count our losses and walk away..."
"No! The time for maturity is over!"
-- Emory and Oglethorpe, AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE:
"Diet"
Report this post to a moderator | IP:
Logged |
|
10-15-2004 06:50 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Positive Man
Doom Patrol fan
Registered: Jan 2003
Location: B.C.
Posts: 16 |
Sad news...
When I first started
collecting comics seriously, Irv Novick was the
artist on Batman and The Flash. I thought his
style suited both books very well.
I'm sorry to hear he's gone.
__________________
---------
We now return you to your regularly scheduled
topic...
Report this post to a moderator | IP:
Logged |
|
10-15-2004 06:52 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jed Saxon
U.S. Special Forces
Registered: Apr 2004
Location: Deserted Island in the Carribean
Posts: 128 |
__________________
I have witnessed
the end of the world.
My comrades have been
slaughtered
My country torn apart.
Once there was hope,
now there is only me.
Report this post to a moderator | IP:
Logged |
|
10-15-2004 06:59 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aaron
Senior Member
Registered: Oct 2002
Location: Bear, DE
Posts: 207 |
Irv was one of the
first artists whose work was instantly
recognizable to me. His run on the Flash is
classic and I'm sad to hear about this loss.
Sympathies to his family.
Aaron
__________________
"Reading Grant Morrison books is a lot like
listening to Elton John songs from the
mid-70s... a beautiful melody, but, man, you
need some really good drugs to understand what
the hell he's trying to say."
Report this post to a moderator | IP:
Logged |
|
10-15-2004 07:03 PM |
| | | | |
